Ruchira states that from unexpected scams to delightful surprises, she explores the highs and lows of online shopping through a personal journey of digital discovery for Different Truths.
At the turn of the century, the worldwide impact of the Internet ushered in yet another phenomenon: online shopping. My experience with online shopping has been a mixed bag. Before I tried it myself, I often heard negative comments about the system. For instance, my late aunt, Sadhana, once shared a story about how her daughter, Rinki, had gifted her a sari purchased online. After wearing it a couple of times, she decided to wash it, and to her dismay, the colour bled, leaving the sari ruined.
Similarly, an acquaintance named Bharati ordered a sari online from a premium brand. However, when she opened the package, she was shocked to find a piece of rag inside instead of the saree. Without losing her composure, she immediately contacted the brand’s customer care. After a rather intense conversation, the representatives were highly apologetic and replaced the product by the end of the business day. I would consider her lucky.
So far, I’ve only shopped online for clothes—both for myself and for the young lady at home. These items were delivered promptly. I opted for cash on delivery (COD) because I find both debit and credit cards cumbersome and risky.
Everything went smoothly until one day when I needed to buy a wok (kadhai) and ordered online due to paucity of time. The kadhai arrived punctually in a nice-looking package and seemed sleek enough. However, after scrubbing it with dishwashing gel, the non-stick finish faded away, revealing a rusty, hideous iron vessel underneath. I was disappointed, but I refrained from making a fuss.
It occurred to me how our mothers, aunts, and grandmothers cooked with iron utensils for decades without any hassles. Therefore, the kadhai would do us no great harm. It still resides on my kitchen rack and is used occasionally.
My transactions while ordering toiletries and medicines have been relatively uneventful.
However, recently, I had an exciting experience that was not related to shopping for goods but, as you might guess, for food. Let me explain how it happened. It was Ganesh Chaturthi, and I was chatting with my cousin, Gublu, who lives in Pune. He is quite religious and devout, so I playfully asked him where the prasad and special dish of the day were. To my surprise, around lunchtime, a food delivery person knocked on my door, delivering a large aromatic parcel from Gublu!
Inside was my favourite chhole bhature, along with salad and raita. Though I couldn’t expect to find the ‘Elephant’ deity’s favourite modaks up here in the North, yet a pair of piping hot gulab jamuns was a delightful substitute! Before diving into the meal, I called to thank him. It was a memorable experience.
Another positive aspect of online shopping occurred at a Big Fat Indian Wedding—my niece’s—where I met my cousin Humpy, who looked stunning in a shimmering silk sari. When I complimented her, I was astonished to learn that she had bought it for a high three-figure amount! I had to pinch myself to believe it.
Probably the massive proliferation of manufacturers and business platforms has resulted in competitive (and pocket-friendly) prices, benefiting consumers.
In conclusion, while online shopping offers advantages, buyers must stay vigilant and exercise abundant caution when making purchases.
Picture design by Anumita Roy
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