WebinarsNew
Deep DiveNew
Explore Business Standard
A consumer commission has asked Amazon to pay a refund to a TV buyer along with compensation, holding that an e-commerce platform cannot avoid liability for a defective product by claiming to be a "mere intermediary" and not the actual seller. District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (suburban Mumbai) on January 6 held Amazon Seller Services Private Limited (ASSPL) guilty of deficiency in service for resolving the issue. The commission, led by president Pradeep Kadu and member Gauri Kapse, ordered ASSPL to refund the customer, stressing that an online marketplace "cannot absolve itself of responsibility merely by describing itself as an intermediary, especially when it actively facilitates the sale, receives commercial benefit, and engages directly with consumers post-sale". "A consumer purchasing goods online does not have direct access to the manufacturer or service centre. The only visible and accessible entity is the online platform. The consumer relies not only on the