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While making up your mind to buy any consumer durables, better not to go for the product that has come to market lately. Even it is backed by renowned brand name or company of repute. In India, time and again it is observed many companies try off line products (the products which they do not manufacture), and subsequently abandon it, leaving their customers to meet their fate. So happened, when Philips started selling fridge decades ago. It was not a successful venture for them, so they stopped. Imagine the plight of those who bought their fridges being wooed by Philips brand name! With Indian consumer protection laws being elusive, the gullible consumers are treated like guinea pigs practically.
My recent experience with kitchen chimney manufactured by Bajaj Electrical Products is equally bitter. From their web site it appears that they too have abandon their chimney venture. It was in the month of March I bought their kitchen chimney from one of the Kolkata’s most reliable show room Great Eastern, on B.T.Road, Kolkata. On the counter I was told that, the company would take care of fixing it against extra payment. The trauma started when I contacted the company for fixing it in my kitchen. What transpired from their brief conversation, I have to call in carpenter, mason, welders to fix it and their men would come to join the exhaust pipes! I contacted the shop where from I bought it, they denied having made such promises! I requested them to take it back deducting their delivery and pick up charges. A penalty for my naivety is justified. They did not agree. Finally I managed to fix it somehow with the help of a local contractor; Bajaj’s man came and joined the pipes only. They sold the pipes at a premium.
Six month only have past, the pipes loosened from the chimney, neither the chimney works properly. I contacted their local service centre, they promised to send their man. A week past, he is still awaited.
This is my debut article in the interest of Indian consumers. Just my humble contribution; to enlighten them about the product or service of famous TATA SKY. Amir Khan, the brand ambassador or Mr. Ratan Tata, the person at the helm of all TATA affairs, would be ashamed of TATA SKY, once they know instead of making the life “JINA LALA”; it is turning the life “JINA HARAM” with TATA SKY at times. With much expectation I switch over to TATA SKY from local cable operator in the month of May this year. Within six months twice I they have replaced their set top box. They went out of order and it is under warranty for one year. Every time I called their customer care, they receive they call as if your are naïve. They take no less than half an hour, to guide you to switch off and on , take out their digi-card and put it back, whether you are young or old caring a fig for that! Surprisingly their call centre’s number is not toll free! You are put on hold for ten minutes and another twenty minutes to act on their direction while paying for the call! Finally when nothing works, after lot of dilly dallying they take your complaints but send their service personal even after 72 hours. I confirmed, the set top box what they replaced are not new, but repaired stuffs. They always replace new with old and repaired set top box. It is not free once your warranty period is over; you have to pay at the price fixed by them at that point of time. They are generous to offer one year service contract @Rs550/-, which covers, set-top box and every time you call them another no less than Rs30/- more in terms telephone charges. They have bouquet of channels on offer, what costs more than double of the rate of local cable operators. Hey! I forgot to tell you, I am from KOLKATA. Afraid of thinking the plights of them who are in small towns or remote villages!
After a long break I am back to blogging again. In between I had a short stint as a copy writer with some American agency. I fell short with my little knowledge in English to meet the demand of their language churning machines. Well said by one of my friend, they are out to make mass production of literature with that software, as Ford started assembly line of production of his cars, early in the last century. Anyway, I too am thinking to focus on different areas of discussion. Consumer movement is still in nascent stage in our country. Though the relevant laws are framed, many seminars, workshops are held with lots of drum beatings. Still we are there now where we were 20 years ago. Thanks to our system which puts snails ashamed! Getting judgments for your genuine grievances, the time factors saps all your energy. That offers the field day here to manufacturers, service providers, professionals’ et al to loot the gullible consumers.
You know the medicine you buy should cost much less. The bill you pay for any health care service would cost you much less, had they been free from the cut money or commissions paid to doctors! It is open secret, but we stand helpless. The consumer durables, like your TV, Fridge, Music systems, washing machine and all others, you buy may push you in a trap. The trap is laid as after sales service of service contract besides the products itself being substandard, many a times.
So, I thought of making some contribution though this, in the area of consumers’ right. I personally have gathered some experience as gullible a consumer; at least I can share those experiences, so others can stay away from such happenings. Of course your contribution in the form of comments may offer great resource.
