Rediff’s shopping truly redefined my online shopping experience. To rediff, online shopping means take the payment and forget about it. I placed an order for a headphone and paid for it through online banking (not credit card but bank transfer) on the 11th of April’ 05. Till the 13th of April the status of my order showed as ’’Awaiting bank approval’’. Online bank transfer is instantaneous, it either goes through or doesn’t unlike a credit card payment. Apparently, rediff wrote a snail mail to my bank asking for an approval.
On the 14th of April, I get a mail thanking me for the payment and informing me that the item delivery is expected between 24th and 28th April. FOURTEEN days after I place and pay my order!!! I bet the Government of India moves faster than that. Are they going to invent a new headphone for me? If I buy through Baazee (now eBay.in), most vendors deliver within 2-3 days of payment but FOURTEEN days!!! That’s a new record.
Two years ago, I had ordered flowers from rediff when I was abroad for my girlfriend. I wanted them delivered to her place before she left for office in the morning and I wanted them delivered within 2 days of placing the order. Not a tall order I imagine because any local flower-walla will do it. Rediff replied saying that they take 5-6 days to deliver and that too only between 9 to 6 and not on weekends. Goddamn it, I am ordering flowers not a business shipment. Do these people have any sense in them or not?
Finally, mails written to them go unheeded.
My advise, DON’T shop from rediff. They are perhaps the most lousy online shopping service. I wish rediff all the worst in their endeavour to establish an online shopping service. Die!!!