A Bengaluru woman has successfully won a refund and Rs 3,000 in compensation from Ikea after she was charged Rs 20 for a carry bag with the company logo. Sangeetha Bohra took the multinational furniture retailer to a consumer court, claiming that the charge was an unfair trade practice.
Bohra, a resident of Jogupalya, visited the Ikea store at Nagasandra on October 6, 2022. After purchasing goods worth Rs 2,428, she was surprised to find that she had been charged Rs 20 for the branded carry bag at the billing counter.
Expressing her dissatisfaction, Bohra questioned the staff about the charge and demanded that bags be given to customers free of cost. Despite her protestations, she ultimately had no choice but to purchase the bag for Rs 20.
Unsatisfied with Ikea’s response to her complaint, Bohra sent the company a legal notice on October 17, 2022, claiming that forcing customers to purchase bags with the Ikea logo amounted to spurious advertising and an unfair trade practice. However, Ikea replied stating that there was nothing unfair about the practice and refused to provide a refund.
Taking her case further, Bohra approached the Bengaluru Urban first additional district consumer disputes redressal commission in Shantinagar in March 2023. Ikea’s counsel argued that the complaint was false and should be dismissed, claiming there was no compulsion for customers to buy paper bags and denying any hidden charges.
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However, in their verdict on October 4, 2023, the judges of the consumer forum ruled in favor of Bohra. They stated that all expenses incurred to put goods in a deliverable state should be borne by the seller, and therefore Ikea’s argument was not acceptable. The judges expressed shock at the attitude of big showrooms and malls in this matter and concluded that Ikea had committed service deficiency and an unfair trade practice.
As a result, the court ordered Ikea India Pvt Ltd to refund the Rs 20 collected for the bag, with interest. Additionally, the company was instructed to pay Rs 1,000 to Bohra as compensation for harassment and mental agony, as well as Rs 2,000 for her court expenses. Ikea has been given 30 days from the date of the order to make the payment.
