Now Reading: E-commerce delivery, handling fees need clear disclosure
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E-commerce delivery, handling fees need clear disclosure
Times Now Digital's investigation found that the same product often carries different prices across e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms, with delivery and handling charges varying without clear explanation. Consumers can see headline prices…
The Story in Brief
Times Now Digital's investigation found that the same product often carries different prices across e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms, with delivery and handling charges varying without clear explanation. Consumers can see headline prices but struggle to find a full cost break-up, or details on manufacturing, expiry and batch.
Supreme Court advocate Avishkar Singhvi told Times Now Digital that while consumers must exercise reasonable diligence, disclaimers do not let platforms impose arbitrary charges disguised as convenience or platform fees. The Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023 already bans deceptive designs such as drip pricing and basket sneaking.
The Indian Opinion
This is not about stopping quick commerce. It is about stopping the shell game where the headline price is a teaser and the real cost comes with fees that shift between apps and orders. The dark patterns rules exist but enforcement looks thin. Watch for one test: will platforms show a full, line-item cost break-up before checkout on every product page? If a platform objects, that answers the question itself.
Source: timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
