Over the last decade, we have seen an influx of bullish corporate culture coming to play in the Indian consumer products scenario. Undoubtedly, things have changed for the betterment of the society while giving comforts and choices to us as consumers, but what happened next?
The economy opened up further, surging the visibility of international brands in India. Be it UPA (United Progressive Alliance) or NDA (National Democratic Alliance), the government in power reinforced the fact that they're doing everything in the interest and favour of the Indian consumers by bringing in cheap and low quality Chinese manufactured products in the country. As a result, everything dumped from China has been landing up in our homes as consumer durables. Be it refrigerator, television set, mobile phone, LED light or for that matter, even, the hazardous toys for kids. We've been DROWNED and ENGULFED in the 'Chinese Ball of Fire'.
On the other hand, we have our 'Desi' companies mushrooming across the country through the 'GLITTERING' malls, trying to give us the option of luxury of products and services, only to be purchased using 'PLASTIC MONEY' mostly 'Credit Cards' (Uncle Sam Will Get You Soon'). We LOVE to ape the West but we're better money planners as we would like to call ourselves.
Today, as MasterCard advertisements say, "Dinner for 2 = Rs. 5,000 + service tax + service charge + VAT + Service tax on soft beverage + service tax on hard drink", "A Movie at a multiplex for 2 = Rs. 750 for tickets + convenience fee of Rs. 80 + Food & Beverage = Rs. 2,000" and the list goes on. FOR EVERYTHING, THERE'S MASTER CARD. SPEND BITCH, SPEND YOUR MONEY, BUY ON CREDIT, GO BANKRUPT BITCH!
We are at WAR in INDIA. Truly, look at it from all perspectives. Picture this. 'Airtel' comes up with the most AWESOME marketing campaign with a daft girl as its brand ambassador to market its AWESOME '4G' service. They give out free sim cards as well without the customer wanting it. You feel EXCITED, "YAAY, I'VE GOT A FREE 4G SIM, SO COOL". What Airtel does not tell you is that you will be CHARGED a BOMB for the 4G Plan and that they will RIP THE SHIT out of you by MAGICALLY over charging for the service you did not avail. You get a SMS from Airtel "You have consumed 100% data assigned to you. WOHOOO! Spend MORE MONEY for the FUCKING FREE SIM we GAVE you which half the time does not connect to the network." BAM! There you go, paying endlessly for a service you never received.
Let me give you another situation of a product. You go buy a TV unit or an Air Conditioner from a dealer of say LG or Samsung. They commit a 48 hours installation and you're super kicked about parking your ass in your chilled room while watching the Cricket World Cup match on your 55 inch TV Screen. You have paid up. You do not hear from the dealer on delivery of your products. You call them up and they come back with a lame response. "Sorry Sir/Mam, your products will be delivered in the next 48 hours." WHAT DO YOU DO? Wait on. Ideally, we should as a customer ask for a compensation from the brand for the delay. We don't do that ANYMORE? Why? Are we being taken for granted by these brands?
YES. You got that right. We are being SUCKED into the most PATHETIC CORPORATE SCENARIO of 'NO RIGHTS TO QUESTION' a corporate on how they treat us. We are heading towards a dangerous situation where in, EVEN AFTER BEING GIVEN THE CHOICE as a consumer, we will NOT HAVE A CHOICE to respectful customer service.
E-Commerce!! What's happening? Order a product, you get a brick instead. The product most of the times turns out to be defective and the seller refuses to take it back. Do ANY OF THESE SELLERS mention that certain products being sold on their website have NOT BEEN AUTHORIZED by the manufacturer and the warranty is INVALID? They just SELL THE STUFF and WE CANNOT DO SHIT ABOUT IT, because at the end we are just BLOODY CONSUMERS, PAYING FOR A PRODUCT or SERVICE. Is it NOT how everything is working now?
We as Indians are being shown newer sources of MONEY, higher SALARIES (What are SAVINGS?), unlimited CREDIT CARDS (cannot pay them back), fancy CARS and BIKES (No roads left to drive though) and but are we getting the DUE RIGHT of a consumer to fight over the wrong doings of these Corporates? Who gives a DAMN? It's TIME WE SHOULD start demanding what we deserve, if not through our legal SYSTEM, through SOCIAL MEDIA tools. Use Twitter (the most effective way of getting a brand to notice your problems). Shame them on Facebook. Go after them and they'll fix your issues right then and there (MOSTLY).
Another example, buy a car, and go to a service center NOT owned by the car brand but a franchise; that's how most car brands operate. Ask for the servicing price. They say its Rs. XXXX + this + this + labour, etc. Call up another service station in the same area, you will be taken aback because the other guy is charging you 20% more than the first one. We pay a premium for ALMOST EVERYTHING that we buy, now should we pay furthermore than what's required for the servicing of our car. But do WE REALLY BOTHER? NO! SHOULD WE BOTHER? YES!
BRANDED LEGALIZED CORRUPTION is what I choose to call this nonsensical behaviour by most Indian and International brands. Let us take a STAND and WE as CONSUMERS shall come out as Winners sooner or later. THINK ABOUT IT. PLEASE.
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