Online fraud @ Indiatimes Shopping

(Genre: Rang de Basanti)

We have all heard of cyber crimes like phishing and are advised to be careful of using our Credit Cards on the internet. But that is not all in how you are susceptible to be cheated on the internet. And this is an instance of a renowned corporate doing it: Indiatimes Shopping.

I bought a book (Games Indians Play) from Indiatimes website by order no. 111111376. The website states that the MRP as Rs. 325 (screen shot below) but the actual MRP printed on the book is Rs. 250 only (second screen shot below). They claim that buying this book at Indiatimes will result in a saving of Rs. 33 (Rs. 81 if you are a Book Club Member), but actually you end up paying Rs. 63 (Rs. 15 if you are a Book Club Member) more than MRP (including the courier charges).





















I brought this to the attention of Indiatimes thinking that this might be a mistake. But the response I get is
"We thank you for contacting Indiatimes Shopping.
We apologize for the delay in responding you.
With reference to your mail dated 17.05.08 for order number-111111376, we would like to inform you that on website MRP (Maximum Retail Price) is mentioned as Rs. 325 which means the maximum amount which can be charged against this book is Rs. 325. But we are offering you this book at Rs. 250 which is equivalent to the price mentioned on the book.
Thank you for being a valuable customer of Indiatimes Shopping.

Thanks & Regards,
Desendar Kaur
Customer Care Services."

And the website displays the same pricing.

Now either I do not know the meaning of MRP or Indiatimes doesn't. Even if their definition of MRP is "technically" correct, I think it is illegal to qoute a price greater than MRP. To add to it if they claim that they are giving discounts (Rs. 81 in this case), that is again deceptive and intention is to fool the customer.

The problem not only stops at Customer Care executive level. I have mailed my grievance to different high level officials, including Mr. Dinesh Wadhawan (who heads Indiatimes), but I have received no response. I guess this is a systemic problem at Indiatimes and "Marketing Policy" to quote a higher than regular price and then reducing it by discounting.

Please do your due diligence before shopping online, specially at Indiatimes!!!