The Glitter of Festive Sales
Festive Offers-Markets light up during festivals, just like the online world does. The shine of Diwali, the fun of Dussehra—these days are not just about sweets and crackers anymore, but also about big sales. Flipkart’s exciting ‘Big Billion Days’, Amazon’s grand ‘Great Indian Festival’, then ‘Freedom Festival’ or ‘Back to School Sale’—all year, these big online companies attract customers with new names. In 2025, the fun starts from September 23, where Flipkart aims for 250-300 million visitors. Ads show shiny iPhones, bright smart TVs, and promises of ‘50% off’—everything looks so tempting that you forget about your empty pocket. But are these discounts really helping you save money, or are they just a shiny trap that catches customers and fills the companies’ pockets? Let’s uncover this dark truth with data from National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), Ministry of Consumer Affairs, reports like Forbes, Redseer, Statista, LocalCircles, KPMG, and fresh complaints on X (old Twitter).
The Truth Behind the Discounts
Online shopping magic is amazing. In 2024 festive season, Flipkart’s Big Billion Days pulled in over 1.4 billion visitors in just four days, while Amazon’s Great Indian Festival got 110 million hits in 48 hours. In 2025, the same trend continues—companies claim up to 40% off on iPhone 16, Rs 50,000 cut on Samsung S24, or 60% discount on fridges. Plus, 10% cashback on SBI or ICICI cards and zero-cost EMI—it feels like heaven! But the truth? LocalCircles’ 2024 survey says average discount on electronics is just 20-25%, and on smartphones only 10-15%. NSSO’s 2023-24 consumer spending survey shows 35% buyers feel discounts are too hyped up. Forbes Advisor report says by end of 2024, online shopping income reached Rs 4,416.68 billion, but 35% buyers get pooja-Diwali items online. The real game is with MRP (maximum retail price). Ministry of Consumer Affairs’ 2024 report says 60% products have MRP raised by 20-50% on purpose to show ‘discount’. For example, a simple kurta worth Rs 800 is marked as Rs 2,000 MRP and sold at ‘60% off’ for Rs 800. Buyer jumps with joy, but money spent is the same old. Check with price tracking tools like Keepa or CamelCamelCamel—it becomes clear that price before sale is not higher than the ‘discounted’ sale price.
Scary Stories of Customer Cheats
Let’s talk about real scary stories—examples of cheats with customers that make your hair stand up. On social media, hashtags like #FlipkartFraud and #AmazonScam are storming. Fresh complaints on X from 2024-25 show cheating is rising. Here are some bitter experiences, backed by National Consumer Helpline (NCH) 2024 data—where 1.2 lakh complaints are about online shopping, and Rs 22,842 crore loss from internet cheats in 2024:
- iPhone’s Rs 11 Trap: In 2024 Big Billion Days, Flipkart showed iPhone 13 for just Rs 11—ads with shiny screenshots made lakhs restless. But as sale started, ‘out of stock’! One user shouted on X, “What joke is this? Whole family waited, but they kept stock limited just to create hype. My Rs 10,000 EMI got cancelled, but time wasted!” NCH data: 15,000 such ‘flash deal’ complaints in 2024.
- Fake Delivery Pain: Delhi’s Riya Sharma ordered Motorola Edge 50 on September 27. Delivery due on 30th, got ‘out for delivery’ message, but product missing! Support said, “Cancelled, refund in 7 days.” But no money even after 15 days. Riya shared on Reddit, “My festival ruined! Old phone broken, new one didn’t come—what to do? Flipkart closed complaint.” Thousands like this—over 50,000 orders cancelled in 2024, per CCPA report.
- Amazon’s ‘Prime’ Cheat: Mumbai’s Rahul ordered Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones for Rs 12,000 in Great Indian Festival (claim: 40% off) with Prime membership. But delivery 4 days late, and product damaged! Customer care said, “Return it,” but refund process so hard that Rahul gave up. On X, he wrote, “Prime means promise broken! September 27 order didn’t reach till October 4, support silent. This is not discount, it’s theft.” Amazon had 8,000 delivery complaints in NCH 2024. Another X post: “Fake great Indian festival… Spoiled my surprise gift for my son without notice, after contacting Customer support they are offering 150 discount.”
- Fake Websites Trap: Bangalore’s Priya got caught by a fake site in ‘Big Billion Days’ name. Showed 99% discount on Samsung Galaxy, took order, stole card details. Result? Bank account hacked, Rs 50,000 loss. Priya warned on Quora, “Use official app, but these companies promote fake links too. My festival buried under debt.” Cyber crime portal says 1,200 fake online sites caused Rs 2.5 crore fraud in 2024, and India Today exposed 11 fake Flipkart sites selling iPhone under Rs 1,000.
- Exchange Offer Mess: Hyderabad’s Vijay exchanged old iPhone 12 for new 15. Claim: Rs 25,000 value. But got only Rs 10,000. “Took old phone, gave less money. Appeal? They said ‘policy’.” Vijay vented on Instagram. LocalCircles survey: 30% customers get 40% less exchange value. X user: “Flipkart is running a scam under the guise of Big Billion Days… If my order is cancelled again today, I will expose this formally.”
Why and How Companies Trick You
These are just drops—LocalCircles 2024 survey says 45% customers feel festive sales are fake. Cloudsek report: 50% rise in phishing attacks during festive season. Now question: Why, how, and on which items do companies give these discounts? The reason behind is even darker.
Why They Do It
Main aim is business growth and market share. KPMG’s 2024 online shopping report says India’s market will hit Rs 3.5 lakh crore by 2025, with 40% growth from festive sales. Redseer report: 2024 festive GMV up 12% YoY to $14 billion (about Rs 1.17 lakh crore). Companies clear old stock—sell it as ‘discount’ to boost cash flow. Plus, data collection: During sales, they gather browsing habits, search history, buying patterns to run targeted ads with AI. Statista data: Amazon earns 20% yearly from sales, but real money (60%) from long-term subscriptions and ads. Statista: 2024 festive GMV Rs 996 billion, GMV growth 7%.
How They Trick You
Tricks are dirty—inflate MRP (CCPA 2024: 60% cases), create FOMO (fear of missing out) with flash sales, show limited stock to increase traffic (Flipkart 2024: 70% flash deals ‘sold out’ in 1 hour). They use algorithms for ‘personalised deals’—one user 50% off, another 20%—feels special. Behind, negotiate with sellers for margins, but give buyer full discount illusion.
Which Items Get Discounts
High-volume, low-profit ones: Electronics (smartphones, TVs—KPMG: 40% sales cover, Rs 25,000 crore business in 2024), fashion (clothes, shoes—trends change fast, 30% market share, Redseer: three times rise in fashion sales), home appliances (fridge, washer—clear old stock, 15% growth, Amazon: 30% growth in premium appliances), and grocery (quick items, 10% sales). Low-demand like books or toys get less discount (5-10%), as they are profitable. One study (IIM Ahmedabad, 2024) found smartphones ‘discount’ only 15% real, rest hype. Foldable phones 50% market growth (Financial Express). All planned—companies run ‘sales’ all year to make habit of buying only with discount. Finology report warns: These festivals focus on company profits, not customer savings. Flash sales create rush, but control stock behind. One study found Amazon-Flipkart competition, but brands like Nike discounts same—no real price war. And fake sites? Over 1,000 reports in 2024.
Some Real Deals Exist
Not all shine is fake. Some real benefits—like 50% off on washing machine (KPMG: 12% real saving in 2024) or 20% discount on new launches like OnePlus 13. 2024 analysis: Flipkart gave better deals than Amazon—50% on Adidas shoes. Exchange saves extra Rs 5-10k (LocalCircles: 25% customers benefit). But these are few—most lost in hype. Expert advice: Track prices 15 days before sale. Use Google Shopping or PriceHistory apps.
Government’s Response
Government is waking up. CCPA fined Rs 50 crore on fake discounts in 2023-24 (Rs 25 crore each on Flipkart-Amazon). But 2025 same story. X trend: “Flipkart ads full of fake prices, confirm order cancel—screenshots proof!” NCH: 20% rise in complaints in 2025.
How to Shop Smart
Avoid hype. Read reviews, check stock. Try local market—no traps (NSSO: 40% customers prefer). Celebrate festivals, but be smart. These discounts are half truth—some benefit, most cheated. Stay alert in 2025, or shiny trap will turn festival sweet into bitter. Smart shopping for real joy!
FAQs
Q1: Are festive discounts on Flipkart and Amazon real?
A: Some discounts are genuine, especially on electronics (20-25% off) or new launches (up to 20%), but many are exaggerated. Companies often raise the MRP before sales to make discounts look bigger. For example, a Rs 10,000 TV might be listed as Rs 15,000 MRP and sold at ‘33% off’ for Rs 10,000—same old price! LocalCircles’ 2024 survey found only 10-15% real discounts on smartphones. To be sure, use price tracking tools like Keepa, CamelCamelCamel, or PriceHistory to check price history 15-30 days before the sale. This helps you spot fake discounts and grab real deals.
Q2: How can I avoid fake websites during sales?
A: Fake websites are a big risk during festive sales, mimicking official sites like Flipkart or Amazon. In 2024, 1,200 fake sites caused Rs 2.5 crore in fraud, per the cyber crime portal. Always shop on official apps or websites—check the URL starts with ‘https’ and matches exactly (e.g., www.flipkart.com, not flipkart-offers.com). Avoid clicking links from emails, ads, or social media unless verified. Use secure payments like UPI or credit cards with fraud alerts, not debit cards. If a deal looks too good, like an iPhone for Rs 1,000, it’s likely a scam. Report suspicious sites to cybercrime.gov.in.
Q3: What if my order is cancelled or damaged?
A: Cancellations and damaged deliveries are common complaints—50,000 orders were cancelled in 2024, per CCPA. If your order is cancelled, immediately contact customer support with your order ID and demand a reason. If you get no response, file a complaint with the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) at 1915 or consumerhelpline.gov.in, providing screenshots of order confirmation and cancellation. For damaged products, record an unboxing video as proof, raise a return request within the platform’s timeline (usually 7-10 days), and follow up. If refund delays (like Riya’s 15-day wait), escalate to NCH or consumer courts. Keep all emails, chats, and delivery updates as evidence.
Q4: Is exchange offer worth it?
A: Exchange offers can save Rs 5,000-10,000, especially on smartphones or appliances, but LocalCircles’ 2024 survey says 30% of customers get 40% less value than promised. For example, Vijay got Rs 10,000 instead of the claimed Rs 25,000 for his old iPhone. Before exchanging, check your old item’s market value on sites like Cashify or OLX. Inspect your device for damage, as companies may reduce value for minor scratches. Read the exchange terms carefully—some platforms reject devices at pickup. If the offer seems fair, it’s worth trying, but don’t rely on it for big savings.
Q5: How much do Indians spend on festive online shopping?
A: In 2024, festive online shopping hit $14 billion (about Rs 1.17 lakh crore), up 12% from 2023, per Redseer. Electronics like smartphones and TVs made up 40% of sales (Rs 25,000 crore), followed by fashion (30%) and appliances (15%). Amazon and Flipkart dominate, with 110 million and 1.4 billion visits respectively in 2024. About 35% of Indians buy pooja-Diwali items online, per Forbes Advisor. This spending is driven by flash sales and FOMO, but only a small part reflects real discounts, as companies focus on clearing old stock and boosting profits.
Q6: What action does government take on fake discounts?
A: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) is cracking down. In 2023-24, they fined Flipkart and Amazon Rs 25 crore each for fake discounts, totaling Rs 50 crore. They also banned ‘dark patterns’ like fake urgency (e.g., “only 2 left!”) to mislead buyers. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs’ 2024 report found 60% of products had inflated MRPs. You can report violations to NCH (1915) or consumerhelpline.gov.in. Despite this, 2025 saw a 20% rise in complaints, showing companies still use sneaky tricks. Stay vigilant and report fake offers to push for stricter rules.
Q7: Should I buy from local shops instead?
A: Local shops can be safer—NSSO says 40% of Indians prefer them for festive shopping due to no online risks like fake sites or delivery delays. Local stores offer small but real discounts (5-15%) without inflated MRPs, and you can check product quality in person. For example, a fridge in a local shop might cost the same as online but with instant delivery and no hidden terms. However, local shops may have less variety than online platforms. If you need specific brands or models, compare prices online and offline using Google Shopping to decide what’s best.