As the clock struck 11, eager customers flocked to Flipkart’s website, only to find that the iPhone 13 was sold out almost immediately. Users reported encountering numerous issues, including unresponsive ‘buy now’ buttons and error messages indicating that the product was out of stock. Many took to social media to voice their dissatisfaction, labeling the promotion a “marketing gimmick” and accusing the e-commerce giant of misleading consumers.
Navneet K. Singh expressed his frustration on X, stating, “Flipkart offers Apple iPhone 13 at Rs 11 only. Products went out of stock and showing coming soon. Is it a good strategy to do free marketing on social media? The government should take action for such malpractices in the name of discounts.” Another user, Neetu Khandelwal, pointed out, “If you were trying to get an iPhone 13 for Rs 11 at 11 PM, you were probably fooled. This is one of the marketing gimmicks used by online shopping platforms to create buzz.”
In response to the growing backlash, Flipkart Support addressed the concerns of frustrated users. They explained, “We understand your concern about the offer. The Fastest Fingers First promotion was claimed by the first three customers. But don’t worry! You can still catch great deals at 9 PM and 11 PM every day during our ongoing Big Billion Days.” This statement, however, did little to quell the anger among users who felt cheated by the rapid sellout of the deal.
The incident has ignited discussions around the ethicality of such marketing strategies. Many consumers voiced their opinions, suggesting that this tactic only serves to create unnecessary excitement while leaving the majority empty-handed. One user even stated, “If true, this is the BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT of the Big Billion Days Sale. What have you done, Flipkart? Is this a scam or not?”
Despite the uproar, some users reported success in purchasing the iPhone 13 at the promotional price. Screenshots of these transactions circulated on social media, where a handful of buyers expressed their gratitude to Flipkart for the “unbelievable deal.” However, these success stories were overshadowed by the numerous complaints about technical glitches and misleading marketing tactics.This incident is not the first of its kind for Flipkart or other e-commerce platforms, as past flash sales have faced similar accusations of unfair practices and limited stock availability. As the Big Billion Days Sale approaches, Flipkart is set to price the iPhone 13 at Rs 37,999, significantly lower than its retail price of Rs 49,990, while competing platforms like Amazon are also expected to offer competitive discounts.