An End to Misleading Discounts
Have you ever felt pressured by a '60% off' deal, only to suspect the original price was inflated? The new rules directly tackle this. When an e-commerce platform advertises a discount, it must now also display the 'prior price'. This is defined as the lowest
price the item was sold for in the preceding 30 days. This change prevents sellers from artificially raising a price just before a sale to make a discount seem larger than it is, giving you a true benchmark of the deal you're getting.
Tackling 'Dark Patterns' and Deceptive Design
The regulations take a firm stance against 'dark patterns'—deceptive design tricks that manipulate you into making unintended purchases or choices. This includes practices like 'basket sneaking' (adding items to your cart without your consent), 'false urgency' (using fake countdown timers to rush you), and 'drip pricing' (revealing hidden charges only at the final payment stage). E-commerce companies must now conduct annual self-audits to ensure their platforms are free of these 13 specified dark patterns and prominently display a compliance certificate.
Fairer Search Results and Clearer Ads
The order of products you see in search results can significantly influence your purchase. The new rules prohibit platforms from manipulating search rankings to mislead users or showing results that aren' not relevant to your query. If a listing is promoted or sponsored, it must be clearly and prominently identified as such. This ensures that you see the most relevant products first, not just the ones the platform wants to push, and you can easily distinguish between organic results and paid advertisements.
Stronger Grievance Redressal
Getting help when something goes wrong is becoming easier. The rules mandate a more robust and accountable grievance redressal system. When you file a complaint, the platform's grievance officer must acknowledge it within 48 hours and provide you with a copy of the recorded complaint. They are then required to resolve the issue within one month. Furthermore, all e-commerce entities must integrate with the National Consumer Helpline, creating a unified system for escalating and resolving complaints.
Your Right to Clear Information
Clarity is now non negotiable. Platforms must ensure sellers provide comprehensive details about products. This includes mandatory information like 'best before' or 'use by' dates, detailed return and refund policies, warranty information, and delivery specifics. For imported goods, the country of origin and details of the importer must be disclosed. This wealth of information empowers you to make informed decisions before you click 'buy'.
Holding Platforms Accountable with 'Fallback Liability'
In a significant shift, marketplace platforms like Amazon or Flipkart will have 'fallback liability'. This means if a seller on their platform fails to deliver goods or services, causing you a loss, the marketplace itself can be held responsible. This prevents platforms from simply blaming third party sellers and encourages them to exercise greater oversight, ensuring sellers on their platform are reliable and that you receive what you paid for.
