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Treat the MRP and the "was" price with care
Many online shops show a high crossed-out price beside a sale price. That high price may never have been a real price. In India, the MRP is the most a seller may charge for a packed product. It tells you nothing about what the product is really worth, and a shop can print a big "70% off" against it. Compare the product on other shops, and judge the price you would pay, not the size of the discount.
Ignore countdown timers
A timer or a message like "only 2 left" is designed to rush you. Refresh the page or come back tomorrow. If the timer has reset or the same sale is still running, you have your answer. Indian consumer authorities have issued guidelines against tricks like false urgency, but you will still see them.
Festival sale tactics
Diwali, Navratri, Republic Day and Independence Day sales bring real offers, and a lot of noise. Watch for these:
- Price raised before the sale. Note the price a few weeks early, so that you can tell a real drop from a fake one.
- Bank offers. The headline price may need one bank's card, a minimum spend or a limit per card. Work out what you pay with the card you own.
- No Cost EMI. Check for a processing fee, and whether you lose a discount by choosing EMI.
- Exchange offers. The top value is for an item in perfect condition. The final value is often set at pickup.
- Cashback. It may come later, or as a coupon that expires. Do not count it as money in hand.
- Older models. Check the model number and the year, because a sale can be a way to clear old stock.
Check who is selling
Look for a company name, a physical address in India and a way to contact a person. Search the company name plus the word "reviews" or "complaints". A brand-new site with no history is a risk. The name on an order page may also be different from the product name.
On a big marketplace, tap the seller's name. The same listing can have several sellers, and the returns and service can differ. Indian e-commerce rules ask online shops to show their details and name a grievance officer, so a site with none of this is a warning sign.
Be extra careful with shops that you find through an Instagram or Facebook ad, or a WhatsApp forward. Fake sale pages copy well known logos. Check the web address letter by letter, and open the shop by typing the name yourself.
Look at the reviews with care
Reviews on the seller's own site are chosen by the seller. Look for reviews elsewhere, and read the 3 star ones first. They are often the most honest. Be wary if every review sounds alike or uses the same phrases.
Search for the same product
Many gadgets are sold under several names. Take a picture of the product and use reverse image search. You may find the same item on large marketplaces for less. This does not always mean it is the same quality, but it is worth knowing.
Check the checkout, line by line
The moment before you pay is where many extra costs appear.
- Delivery and handling charges
- Platform, convenience or cash on delivery fees
- Package protection or shipping insurance
- GST added on the last screen, or customs duty on imported goods
- A monthly membership or subscription
- Extra items added by default
Read every line and every ticked box. Remove anything you did not choose. A monthly membership can cost more over a year than the product itself. See how to work out the real total cost.
Be careful with big claims
Be careful of claims like "cuts your bill in half" or "secret trick". Ask what proof the seller gives. A serious product can usually point to clear test results, not only a story.
Pay in a safer way
A credit card gives you the option of asking your bank to dispute a charge. UPI is quick and handy, but the money moves at once and is hard to get back, so use it only with sellers that you trust. Avoid bank transfers and gift cards for online shopping.
- Enter your UPI PIN only to pay, never to receive money.
- Check the name that shows on your UPI app before you approve.
- Decline any collect request that you do not expect.
- Never share an OTP, your card number or your CVV over a call or a chat.
- Do not install a screen sharing app because a "support" person asks you to.
Cash on delivery helps with a new shop, since nothing leaves your account before the parcel comes. But you usually pay before you see inside. Ask if open-box delivery is on offer, and refuse any parcel you did not order.
Take a screenshot of your order and of the return policy.
If something goes wrong
Contact the seller first, in writing, and then the marketplace or the shop's grievance officer. Search for support numbers only on the official site, since fake helpline numbers are common online. If you paid by card or UPI, tell your bank or app at once, as speed matters.
If the seller will not help, you can call the National Consumer Helpline on 1915. For a formal complaint, consumer commissions take cases online through the government's e-Daakhil system, now part of e-Jagriti. If it is fraud, call the cyber crime helpline on 1930 or report it at cybercrime.gov.in.
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Common questions
Is a countdown timer on a shop a bad sign?
Not always, but it should not rush you. Come back later and see if the offer is still there.
What is the safest way to pay online?
A credit card or a trusted payment service usually gives more protection than a bank transfer or a gift card.
Do I need to enter my UPI PIN to receive money?
No. You enter your UPI PIN only when money leaves your account. If someone says you must enter it or scan a QR code to receive a refund or a prize, stop. It is a trick.
Is cash on delivery always safe?
It is safer against a shop that takes your money and never ships. It does not protect you from a wrong or empty box, because you usually pay before you open it. Never pay for a parcel that you did not order.