Woman Wins Rs. 3000 As Compensation Against Ikea In A Consumer Court Battle (image:.ikea.com/in)
A consumer court in Bengaluru on Monday ordered Ikea India Private Limited to refund with interest Rs 20 charged for a carry bag, along with an additional Rs 3,000 as compensation to its customer. A woman named, Sangeetha Bohra, a resident of Jogupalya, has won her battle against the furniture giant in a remarkable court verdict.
It was on October 6, 2022, Ms. Bohra visited the Ikea outlet located in Nagasandra. She made a purchase amounting Rs 2,428, and upon receiving the bill, she found that an additional Rs 20 had been charged for a carry bag with Ikea logo. Ms Bohra inquired the Ikea staff about the necessity to buy a carry bag, since she made the purchase it should be given free of cost. But the store staff did not budge to her reasoning, so she had to purchase the bag.
She then issued a legal notice to Ikea on October 17, 2022, citing the forcible purchase of bags with the printed logo of the brand is a deceiving advertising and unjust business practice. Responding to her notice, Ikea stated that there is nothing unjust in demanding customers to buy bags featuring their brand and declined to give refund.
In March 2023, Ms Bohra filed a complaint against Ikea India with the Bengaluru Urban First Additional District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Shantinagar.
On October 4, 2023, the judges of the Bengaluru consumer forum pronounced that all costs associating with preparing goods for delivery should be taken up by the seller; henceforth, Ikea”s claim doesn”t stand a chance.
The judges said that placing purchase of a carry bag optional was necessary, since customers couldn”t be expected to bring bags for each individual item. Concluding their statements, the judges added that Ikea had failed to facilitate proper service and committed unfair business practices. Therefore, the customer was qualified for a suitable compensation.
Besides refunding Rs 20 with interest for the bag, the court ordered the furniture giant to pay additional Rs 1000 as a compensation for harassment and Rs. 2000 for her court expenses.
