As many got lured in the purchasing the products at heavy discounts from Indiatimes, So did I and that I guess was the biggest mistake. I have purchased many products including air-conditioners, Television set and even air tickets.
You pay for the product and the product gets delivered Minimum after 2 weeks (if you are lucky or comfortably 3 weeks that too after continuous follow-ups.) Nowhere on the website is it mentioned, where can you call in case of a query.
Sure, they do have section, which states “Contact us” but they never say that they will respond to you. And if you do happen to get a reply (Lucky You!!) Some regular excuses you land up getting is
1 - “Please refer to Terms and Conditions”, - Sure, Terms and conditions, well I was a fool not to read the fine prints. Trust me whatever is mentioned on the website is never what they stick to. For e.g. “For Bulk enquiries, contact” and when you speak to the indiatimes person, they say they don’t have anything like Bulk enquiries (??????). They mention that you do get warranty from the manufacturer/supplier but when you call the company from where you get the product, they say you have to get in touch with Indiatimes. They don’t even bother to install neither do they stamp the warranty card. The best part is Indiatimes doesn’t even bother to send you an Invoice for the purchase, which you can show, and claim to have bought the product legally. So at the end of the day, you don’t know whether this product is under warranty or no.
2 - “Item Not in Stock” – When you ask when would you receive the goods, “As soon as Possible”. They never give you time frame. (If you get agitated – Please refer to Terms and Conditions)
3 - We have processed but we are surprised you haven’t got the delivery” - You may land up getting the contact details of the company to call and fend for yourself if you are in hurry. If you don’t want to put that effort, then they shall get back to you at their convenience.
4 - “We will get back to you” – And when they have given you all the above excuses, this is what you get.
I had a tough time calling to get my products delivered. I somehow managed to get the number 0124-5187000. The only day when someone answers this number is Saturday and Sunday to get a response, “sorry we are closed on Saturday and Sunday and I am the security guy and don’t know anything else”
Try sending mails to Naveen.Mathur@timesgroup.com or tanis.kochhar@timesgroup.com (who I suppose are some responsible guys) you never receive a reply from them. But try marking your concern to vineet.jain@timesgroup (Promoter of times group) you would receive a call and be told excuse number 4. So basically all, from the top to the bottom are least concerned.
All this is a problem only once you are able to get in touch with the Indiatimes. Getting in touch with them is a different harrowing experience
At the end of the day you would land up paying lot on telephone calls and communications and realize that you have ended up paying more on the item then you would purchase from local market that too you don’t know if you would ever receive support on your purchases from Indiatimes.
Avoid Indiatimes completely.