Timtara.com is attracting negative publicity due to its pathetic approach towards consumers through delayed shipments of products, inefficient consumer support systems and lack of refunds
 

Despite several warnings and outcries raised by duped consumers, online shopping portal www.timtara.com continues to cheat. Consumers allege the website treats its buyers very rudely. The site neither offers cash-on-delivery, like other portals dealing with online shopping, nor does it deliver products in time to buyers, with innumerable complaints posted on Timtara’s own fan page on social networking website Facebook, as well as, on review websites such as Mouthshut.com.

The e-buying website has been attracting negative publicity due to its pathetic approach towards consumers through delayed shipments of products, inefficient consumer support systems and lack of refunds from the website. A Google search about the site throws up interesting results. Most of the complaints generated online, refers to delayed shipments of products.

In an e-mail to Moneylife, a disgruntled consumer Niraj Prasad explained that he had purchased a mobile phone Micromax A110 Canvas 2 worth Rs8,990 on 4 December 2012 from the website. His e-mail pointed out that the products, if delivered, are often found to be faulty and the website does not refund the amount to consumers. An inefficient consumer support mechanism chooses to ignore phone calls and refuses to resolve complaints launched by consumers. Consumers allege that the consumer support mechanism of the website seems to have a standard answer for all queries posed to them. Sadly, Niraj’s case is not a stand-alone case. There are numerous complaints, which are similar, across the Internet.

Disillusioned by the process of waiting for refunds, the consumers have now launched an online campaign and formed a group on Facebook. The dubious activities of the website and its unclear motives were also featured on a TV programme. In the programme, cyber law expert Pawan Duggal pointed out that consumers can launch complaints under Section 34 of the Consumer Protection Act.

Regular monitoring and complaints by consumers ensured that the activities of this website were also highlighted in some newspapers. Moneylife had earlier covered Timtara (please click here to read the article) and noted that even though various discounts were displayed on the official fan page of the website on Facebook, there were several complaints registered against the portal.

The National Consumer Helpline informed Moneylife that a consumer can lodge an official complaint with the company, of which a copy has to be retained with the complainant. If the company does not respond within the stipulated period of 10 days, the complainant can move court and the proceedings would be carried forward by the consumer court. An e-mail to Mr Amritlal Saha, chairman, Consumer Coordination Council from Moneylife received a response saying that the complaint has been treated on a priority basis and a copy of the complaint has been forwarded to Mr Suresh Sharma, the director of the Consumer Coordination Council and Mr Giriraj Singh, chief manager of Consumer Online Resource and Empowerment Centre of the Consumer Coordination Council. An e-mail to the consumer support mechanism has also been sent by Moneylife.

Nearly every person who owns a computer has bought something from the Internet at least once. The trend of online shopping has been rising rapidly. In the crowded space called Internet, consumers have a plethora of e-commerce websites to choose from. Shopping online has become a matter of convenience for working professionals as it offers greater variety of products and cheaper price deals. Unfortunately, sites like Timtara are ruining the party with their careless attitude and apathy towards buyers.