Man Orders iPhone From Flipkart, Gets Beard Growth Oil Instead. Court Orders Rs 1.11 Lakh Refund

Last Updated:July 24, 2026, 11:52 IST

While the charger and phone cover ordered separately were delivered, main package received the next day allegedly contained beard growth oil and packing material instead of iPhone.

A consumer court in Mumbai has directed Flipkart and a seller to refund more than Rs 1.11 lakh to a customer who received beard growth oil instead of the Apple iPhone 14 Pro he had ordered. The forum also ordered them to pay ₹70,000 towards compensation and litigation costs.

In an order passed earlier this month, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Additional DCF, Mumbai (Suburban), held that repeatedly closing the customer’s complaints without providing any relief amounted to an “unfair trade practice."

The commission observed that the customer had placed the order through Flipkart after making the required payment and said the platform was responsible for ensuring the correct product was delivered.

“Therefore, the opposite party No 1 (Flipkart) owed a corresponding duty to ensure that the consumer received the product ordered and to provide an effective mechanism for redressal of consumer grievances," the commission said.

It further held that an e-commerce platform cannot distance itself from a transaction after facilitating a sale, particularly when a consumer immediately reports receiving an entirely different product.

The commission noted that the failure to investigate the complaint, recover the wrongly delivered parcel, provide a replacement or refund, and repeatedly close the grievance without offering any relief “amounts to a clear cut deficiency in service and also constitutes an unfair trade practice."

It also found seller International Value Retail Pvt Ltd deficient in service, saying it failed to deliver the contracted product or resolve the customer’s grievance despite repeated requests. Holding both Flipkart and the seller jointly and severally liable, the commission said they were responsible for the loss and inconvenience caused to the complainant.

What Was The Complaint?

According to the complaint, the Powai resident ordered an Apple iPhone 14 Pro (128 GB) on Flipkart on April 22, 2023, for Rs 1,11,793 under a no-cost EMI scheme.

While the charger and phone cover ordered separately were delivered, the main package received the next day allegedly contained beard growth oil and packing material instead of the smartphone.

The customer claimed he repeatedly contacted Flipkart’s customer support between April and May 2023 and submitted all the required documents. However, his complaint was repeatedly marked as resolved without any replacement or refund.

The consumer forum directed Flipkart and the seller to refund Rs 1,11,793 with 9% annual interest from April 22, 2023, until payment is made.

It also ordered them to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation for mental agony and harassment, along with Rs 20,000 towards litigation costs, within 45 days.

Apple India, which was also made a party to the case, argued that it merely sells Apple-branded products through independent dealers and resellers and has no role in the obligations of such sellers towards customers.

Accepting the company’s submissions, the commission dismissed the complaint against Apple India.

It observed that the dispute was limited to the delivery of the wrong product and found no evidence linking the manufacturer to the packaging, dispatch or the alleged deficiency in service.

About the Author

Prisha Vibhavari

Prisha is the Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than 10 years of experience in national and international news. She specialises in editorial leadership, sharp news judgment, and high-impact st...Read More

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