A Hyderabad-based businessman who had ordered a DSLR camera on Flipkart claimed that he was shocked to find a stone and two toy cameras when he opened his parcel.
24-year-old Vinay, a resident of Nagole, worked at a private rice mill machinery manufacturing unit at the IDA (Industrial Development Area) in Uppal.
He said that he had placed an order for a Canon EOS 700 D camera that cost Rs 41,000, on September 4.
“On September 5 evening, Vinay received a parcel through a delivery executive. Vinay opened the parcel and found a stone along with two compact dummy cameras sold as child toys instead of the Canon DSLR camera,” LB Nagar sub-inspector (SI) K Saidulu told The Times of India.
“After verifying the database, the customer service staff told Vinay that their records clearly indicate that genuine Canon DSLR camera was shipped to Vinay's address. Vinay then contacted the delivery executive and he told him that he did not open the parcel,” the SI told TOI.
Telangana Today reported that when Vinay contacted Flipkart’s Customer Care, the company denied the allegations.
“Products at Flipkart will be packed under tight security with surveillance cameras all over. The delivery company should be held responsible for this. We cannot do anything,” the newspaper quoted the company as saying.
Following this, the complainant approached the LB Nagar police in Hyderabad on Wednesday, and filed a complaint.
TT reported that a case had been filed under Section 420 of the IPC, that deals with cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property.
Such incidents are rare but not unique.
In July this year, a Meerut-based man said that he received a stone in his parcel, instead of a smartphone that he had ordered on Flipkart.
In May, when a Mumbai man placed an order for two new phones on Flipkart, he received a bar of soap and a packet of washing powder instead.
However, there were also incidents that turned the tables.
In December last year, two students duped the e-commerce company of Rs 1.05 crore and 152 expensive mobile phones by falsely claiming that they were delivered empty boxes.
At the time, the police said that they would place orders with different names, IDs and addresses, and then lead a lavish lifestyle with the falsely claimed refund amounts.