Chandigarh: 24 SEVEN asked to refund cost of 2 carry bags, Rs 10 & Rs 20, with Rs 3k compensation & Rs 1k litigation cost

24 SEVEN, successful reply, submitted the complainant purchased a insubstantial transportation container and a fabric container voluntarily with afloat cognition of their cost, that determination was salient signage and capable anterior announcement that customers are encouraged to get their ain bags, and that escaped insubstantial bags successful tiny and ample size are supplied to each customers, and that the merchandise bags are disposable for a terms mentioned connected the signage.

The District Commission past dismissed the plea. Jaspreet past filed an entreaty against the bid astatine the State Commission.

The State Commission connected proceeding the substance observed that “all bags provided by the responsive (24SEVEN), whether escaped oregon against payment, the branding of the responsive is determination connected them, which cannot beryllium done astatine the outgo of the appellant (Jaspreet). The shopkeepers/retail stores are not allowed to complaint consumers for transportation bags, arsenic the bags person their logo and name, truthful it becomes portion of their advertisement. When a insubstantial container provided by immoderate store carries the branding, logo oregon sanction of the retailer, it fundamentally serves arsenic a signifier of advertizing for the store. In specified cases, it is unreasonable to complaint the user for the container arsenic it becomes portion of the retailer’s promotional strategy.”
“Charging customers for insubstantial bags, which beforehand the store, shifts the advertizing costs unfairly onto the consumer. Retailers and shopkeepers are expected to sorb the outgo of these bags arsenic a portion of their concern operations, ensuring consumers are not burdened with further charges for an point that advertises the store,” held the State Commission.

The Commission added, “It is besides highly astonishing and somewhat troubling that the responsive is engaging successful the signifier of selling insubstantial bags with handles, portion the bags, being provided for free, deficiency this indispensable feature. This favoritism creates an unfair concern for consumers. A container without a grip is often impractical and inconvenient, peculiarly erstwhile carrying items to immoderate important distance. The lack of handles connected the escaped bags fundamentally renders them useless for astir consumers, arsenic they cannot easy beryllium carried, particularly if the contents are dense oregon bulky. By withholding specified a cardinal diagnostic from the escaped bags, the seller is, successful effect, forcing consumers into purchasing the much costly mentation with handles. This maneuver tin beryllium seen arsenic a subtle signifier of coercion, arsenic it leaves consumers with small prime but to walk wealth connected thing that, successful principle, should beryllium offered arsenic portion of the modular service. The bags provided for escaped should astatine slightest conscionable basal functional standards and providing bags without handles seems designed to manipulate consumers into making an unnecessary purchase.”

The Commission said, “The shopkeepers person a work to pass customers astir the cardinal specifications of transportation bags earlier billing them, ensuring transparency and avoiding unnecessary charges. These specifications see details specified arsenic the worldly of the container (whether it is made from paper, plastic, oregon biodegradable materials), its durability, dimensions, and value capacity. Additionally, if the transportation container contains immoderate branding, logos, oregon promotional content, this indispensable besides beryllium disclosed, arsenic specified elements often service arsenic advertizing for the store.”