In a notable verdict, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, has mandated Decathlon, a prominent sports equipment retailer, to pay a compensation of Rs 35,000 to a customer due to non-delivery of trekking trousers priced at Rs 1,399. The order, issued on Tuesday by Somashekarappa Handigola, the president of the consumer court, includes a refund of the purchase price, Rs 25,000 for deficiency in service, and Rs 10,000 to cover litigation expenses.
The complaint was filed by Mohith, a 23-year-old resident of Mangaluru, who experienced the failure of delivery firsthand after ordering a pair of Forclaz Trekking trousers MT-500. The transaction occurred on December 22 last year, with Mohith being instructed to pay online as the product was only available at the Decathlon store located in Bengaluru’s ETA Mall.
Despite the assurance of delivery to his address and subsequent payment of Rs 1,399, Mohith never received the trousers. His multiple attempts to resolve the issue included visits to the ETA Mall and numerous follow-up calls. The situation escalated when, after receiving a legal notice in April, the store responded by merely informing Mohith of its closure, without addressing the refund.
