Flipkart’s Big Billion Days Sale sparks outrage over cancelled iPhone orders and misleading discounts

Several customers expressed frustration online after their discounted smartphone orders on Flipkart were abruptly cancelled, with delayed refunds, non-refundable charges, and the same products reappearing at higher prices, sparking allegations of price manipulation and deception

Flipkart’s much-hyped Big Billion Days Sale is under fire this year as hundreds of buyers have reported abrupt cancellations of high-profile smartphone orders, notably the iPhone 16 and Google Pixel 9, shortly after successful payments. What was marketed as India's biggest shopping festival has quickly turned into a controversy, with many consumers alleging they were misled by deep discounts that never truly materialised.

Several customers took to social media to express frustration, stating they were able to place orders at record-low prices, only to receive cancellation emails minutes later. In some cases, refunds were delayed, while in others, non-refundable service charges were reportedly deducted despite the order being cancelled by the seller.

Hidden fees and price fluctuations raise eyebrows

What particularly angered customers was the reappearance of the same phones on Flipkart’s platform shortly after cancellations—this time listed at their original, higher prices. Some buyers believe the platform deliberately manipulated pricing and availability to create a false sense of demand and scarcity.

Adding to the dissatisfaction were deductions for various add-ons such as “handling fees”, “pickup charges”, and “device protection”, which some users say were non-refundable—even though the orders were never delivered. For many, this felt like being penalised for a failed purchase attempt.

“I waited months to buy the iPhone 16 during the sale, but not only was my order cancelled, I was also charged ₹300 for a plan I never used,” one frustrated buyer wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Pattern of discontent in festive season sales

The backlash follows a familiar trend in India’s festive e-commerce sales, where complaints about undelivered products, delayed refunds, and misleading discounts have become increasingly common. Both Flipkart and Amazon have faced similar scrutiny in past sales seasons.

With consumer anger mounting and calls for accountability growing louder, regulatory bodies may soon be forced to step in. As of now, Flipkart has not released an official statement addressing the ongoing complaints.