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Flipkart expects 200 million visits as 'End of Season Sale' begins
The Walmart-backed company said the sale will feature an expanded product range and promotional offers aimed at drawing millions of customers from across India. Flipkart emphasised that the event will be accessible in all serviceable regions, with curated selections covering more than 1,000 style trends.
Flipkart has seen a significant uptick in the adoption of premium products. Branded accessories witnessed strong year-on-year growth, while the premium clothing segment has also been on the rise this year. D2C brand collections have expanded three times, with 60 per cent growth over last year.
'From Gen Z curations on Spoyl to premium selections across apparel, footwear, and accessories, we're making fashion more accessible, faster, and more affordable for millions across the country,' said Kunal Gupta, Vice-President, Flipkart Fashion. 'As we connect lakhs of sellers, brands, and customers, our focus remains on delivering unmatched value and convenience.'
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Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Return fraud is rising. E-commerce platforms are done playing nice
Bengaluru: A designer dress is returned—only it's been swapped for a used T-shirt. In another case, fraudsters created fake accounts and dummy addresses to claim ₹1.1 crore in refunds from Myntra, without returning a single product. These aren't isolated incidents. E-commerce platforms say they're part of a fast-growing pattern of return fraud that's costing the industry thousands of crores. As fraudulent claims surge, platforms are rethinking their once-liberal return policies—an issue that's quietly eating into margins and prompting course corrections across the industry. While genuine returns remain a core part of the online shopping experience, platforms say deliberate misuse—through false delivery claims or product swaps—is rising fast. According to Vanita Pandey, chief marketing officer at global compliance and fraud prevention firm Bureau, Indian e-retailers lost as much as ₹15,000 crore ($1.8 billion) to e-commerce fraud in FY24, a category that includes return-related abuse among other forms of digital fraud. More recent data was not available. Mint asked several leading e-commerce platforms for data on return rates and return fraud. Most did not respond. Myntra and Zepto were the only companies that shared comments, though neither disclosed figures. Flipkart, Amazon, Meesho, Purplle, and Nykaa did not respond to emailed queries. Quick-commerce players Swiggy and Blinkit also declined to comment. While platforms don't publicly disclose return volumes, industry estimates suggest return fraud may account for around 10% of all returns in Indian e-commerce. Overall, about 15–16% of all e-commerce orders are either partially or fully returned, according to research firm Forrester. Globally, e-commerce firms lost an estimated $103 billion to return fraud in 2024. Platforms have long relied on easy returns to attract and retain customers. But reverse logistics—often costlier than forward shipping—has made the model increasingly unsustainable. The shift comes at a pivotal moment: even as online shopping expands into newer geographies, companies are still posting significant losses. Flipkart's marketplace business reported a loss of ₹2,358 crore in FY24, while Amazon's touched ₹3,469 crore. 'While some part of the fraud is being done by bots, consumers too are increasingly exploiting policies," said Pandey. 'Instances of fraud in India are significant simply by virtue of the size of the country. And it's getting more sophisticated." To counter this, e-commerce platforms are rolling out tighter rules. Customer experience vs fraud control Flipkart-backed Myntra, for instance, unilaterally suspends accounts with high return rates and disables cash-on-delivery for users who frequently cancel or reject orders. The platform also collects a fee on low-value orders and now permits exchanges for different products—not just size or colour—as a way to reduce return volumes. It has also introduced features such as detailed product information and virtual try-ons to help customers make better purchase decisions. 'In recent months, we have improved the return rates while enhancing the shopping journey of our customers," a Myntra spokesperson said. Amazon has shortened the return window for categories like fashion, home décor, and accessories to 7 days from 30, and reserves the right to warn or suspend users for excessive returns or cancellations. Marketplaces have been tightening return policies gradually over the past few years. In 2023, Myntra began charging ₹199– ₹299 for customers with a high return rate. But as return fraud continues to rise, platforms are now scrutinising customer behaviour more closely. Quick commerce companies like Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto—while newer to the space—are also adapting. These platforms had introduced easy return options last year, but their smaller product ranges have limited exposure to the kind of refund fraud plaguing broader e-commerce. 'We verify every return request, and if it's genuine, we go ahead and process it," said a Zepto spokesperson. 'Returns are also easier to manage on our platform since our delivery partners operate within a defined, local radius." D2C brands feel the heat Direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands are facing the impact as well. Chirag Taneja, co-founder and CEO of enablement platform GoKwik, said about 12% of customers return at least half of six orders, raising concerns for companies selling through their own websites. GoKwik works with over 4,000 brands including Lenskart, Shoppers Stop, and Purplle. 'Some categories are easier to exploit than others," Taneja said. 'Fashion and general merchandise see higher return rates than beauty and consumer electronics, where policies are generally stricter." According to a 2024 report by GoKwik's Return Prime, frequent returns could cost Indian e-commerce companies $20-30 billion in lost revenue by 2025. This compares to an industry expected to touch $188 billion in size by then, according to the Brand Equity India Foundation citing Grant Thornton estimates. India's online shopping gross merchandise value (GMV) stood at around $60 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $170-190 billion by 2030, according to a report by Flipkart and Bain & Co. Independent experts say the rise in returns—and the resulting policy pushback—could reshape customer experience. Ashutosh Sharma, vice president and research director at Forrester, said this significantly impacts margins and can be especially challenging for newer players. 'The abuse by a few makes it difficult for providers to continue with customer-friendly features such as shorter return windows or no-cost returns, which leads to an overall impairment in the experience," Sharma said. Sharma also flagged problems on the seller side. 'Platforms prone to returns like apparel and fashion have introduced some checks, but they still need to tidy the ship on their side," he said. 'We still have issues such as incorrect or incomplete descriptions, delivery of wrong or defective products, or in some cases, outright fraud—all of which contribute to returns." The challenge for platforms is to strike a balance. Taneja said brands that remove easy-return policies risk losing up to 50% of their GMV, especially as most online shoppers prefer brands that offer hassle-free returns. A poor return experience can also cost brands 8% in potential repeat revenue annually, according to GoKwik data. 'The no-questions-asked policy is being closely scrutinized because of growing cases of misuse. But returns continue to be an integral part of the customer experience, so no brand will completely stop returns," Taneja added.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
From heirloom to haute: Sky-high gold prices redefine bridal bling in Gujarat
Ahmedabad: Gold may still symbolise prosperity, but in Gujarat's wedding market, it is now coming in lighter, leaner forms. With prices soaring past Rs 1 lakh per 10 grams, brides and families are moving away from traditional 22-carat sets in favour of sleek and lightweight 18K and even 14K alternatives. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Affordability is shaping aesthetics this wedding season with many opting for those featuring polki, meenakari, jadau, and semi-precious stones. Jewellers across cities report a noticeable drop in weight, but not in style. On Tuesday, the price of gold touched Rs 1,00,400 per 10 grams in Ahmedabad, pushing buyers to make more calculated decisions when planning wedding purchases. Jewellers say footfalls for planned wedding-related jewellery purchases are rising since rath yatra, but the weight of each purchase is literally going down. "Gold is inching beyond the reach of the average bridal buyer," said Haresh Acharya, director at India Bullion and Jewellers' Association (IBJA). "Geopolitical uncertainty and heightened central bank buying are driving prices up. This has nudged a cultural shift away from traditional 22-carat wedding jewellery toward sleeker, lower-carat options." Jewellers and bullion traders also attribute this slump to the shifting dynamics of Indian weddings, where elegance now walks hand-in-hand with budget mindfulness. In Ahmedabad, Jigar Soni, president of the Jewellers' Association, echoed the shift: "The price of gold is forcing families to rethink the size and weight of wedding ornaments. Instead of full-weight neck pieces and bangles, there is a growing preference for lightweight, designer-driven jewellery that combines lower-carat gold with intricate polki, Meenakari, jadau, and stone work." Jewellers say today's bride is focused on function, form, and flair. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Millennial and Gen Z couples want jewellery that reflects personal style and practicality," said Manoj Soni, a jeweller in Ahmedabad. "Rings, bangles, and bracelets in 14- or 18-carat gold allow for better strength, more colours, and intricate detailing, without breaking the bank." The shift is also evident in consumer behaviour. "Younger couples are moving away from heirloom sets toward custom statement pieces," said Soni. "There's an increasing demand for modular, lightweight sets that can be reused or reworked after the wedding." He added, "Several jewellers in Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot report a spike in demand for custom bridal sets under 100 grams, which balance form and function without compromising on festive grandeur." Jewellers also noted minor interest in 10- and 12-carat gold, prompting discussions in the industry on the need to standardize these carat values for quality assurance.
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
House set to pass Trump's Big Beautiful Bill? Here's who's voting ‘No' and what 'NV means
House Republicans noted that they have secured enough votes to pass President Donald Trump's Big Beautiful Bill days after VP JD Vance broke the tie in the Senate. Earlier in the day, GOP leaders delayed the vote to work on locking down enough support to clear the hurdle amid several absences. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks to the press, as Republican lawmakers struggle to pass Donald Trump's sweeping spending and tax bill(REUTERS) Lawmakers were sent to their offices on Wednesday afternoon just before the debate began. Reps Andy Harris, Chip Roy, Ralph Norman, Scott Perry, Eli Crane, Lloyd Smucker, and Andy Biggs were among the several representatives meeting in a room at various points. Read More: Musk-backed Thomas Massie has 10 votes to block Trump's Big Beautiful Bill: Who voted how? Rep Thomas Massie of Kentucky, backed by Elon Musk, meanwhile, reportedly claimed 10 Republicans may vote 'no' to block the tax and spending legislation. Who's voting 'No'? The initial House vote on May 22 provided insight into potential defectors for the upcoming vote. Confirmed 'No' votes Rep Thomas Massie opposed due to the bill's $3.8 trillion deficit impact and insufficient spending cuts, calling it a 'debt bomb'. Rep Warren Davidson, who also slammed the bill, is also expected to vote 'No'. Rep Andy Harris voted present in May, citing deficit concerns as House Freedom Caucus chair, and may oppose again. What does 'NV' mean? In congressional voting, 'NV' stands for 'Not Voting', indicating a member was absent or chose not to cast a vote. Several lawmakers went for the 'NV' option on Wednesday. Read More: How the Republican spending bill super-charges immigration enforcement Will the House pass the Big Beautiful Bill? The bill's fate hinges on a slim GOP majority. Senate changes, including stricter Medicaid work requirements and a $50 billion rural hospital fund, have alienated fiscal hawks and moderates. Massie's coalition, if it reaches 10, could derail passage. 'As you can see, there's still a few members who couldn't get flights in but are driving and finding other ways to D.C. and we need them here. As you know, we need their votes. And they're gonna be here shortly. So when they get here within the next hour we'll come back, finish this vote, then go straight into the rule vote,' Rep Steve Scalise said on Wednesday.
