Order Number: 3002677934. It is the worst experience ever with online shopping. I usually shop online every now and then, but never faced such issues. This is the second time I have bought anything from shopping.indiatimes.com.
First time, I ordered a mobile phone Galaxy Y, which I received with an opened box. But still I did not raise any complaints thinking not necessary as the product seemed good. So, first experience was not satisfactory that was almost a year back. Later, I ordered Lg Optimus G pro on September 18, 2013 thinking it’ll be delivered without fail before my holiday plan that was scheduled on September 30 (more than 10 days from the date of delivery). I ordered the product and they gave me the estimated date of delivery before September 28 (10 days from purchase), which is significantly high compared to other online websites.
I kept in touch with the customer care and alerting them daily that I will not be available to receive the product if it reaches me late. But, initially they assured it’ll be delivered on time and kept saying daily "it’ll be shipped today." But, finally on 24th, they clearly said it’ll be delayed, which made me think how could anybody do this even after taking ample time even when the product is in stock.
When I said if it reaches late I will not be available (I had ordered the product only after seeing the maximum delivery time), then they said the only thing they can do is cancel the order. I told them go ahead and cancel the order. They said it’ll be refunded within 5-10 days. Now, it’s 30th. The order was cancelled on 24th. Still no refund. God knows when they’ll refund?
People don’t ever buy from this website seeing the tempting price. Rather, pay some extra amount and order from other sites those are good at customer service and delivery as well as refund.
Bottom line: As far as I can understand from my experience with shopping.indiatimes.com, they process the order only after crossing the time limit given by them to deliver (10 days) and same goes for refund. I am sure they will process my refund request only after crossing the 10 days timeline that they have given for refund and it’ll take 10 more days to get refunded to my credit card. Will keep all of you posted when they actually refund so that you people can be aware and stay away from this website.
One more thing is that, all other websites almost 100% of them except indiatimes.com, mention the delivery time that is maximum and they deliver the product well within time and much earlier than the expected time, but this particular website considers the time as a minimum time limit and starts processing the order only after crossing the deadline and takes even more days of the promised time to delivery as well as refund.
I can compare this particular website with https://timtara.com, which followed the same strategy and is now closed and their CEO is now behind the bars. I think shopping.indiatimes is also following the same footsteps of timtara and will soon have same fate.