Consumers cry foul over cancelled iPhone orders
Bengaluru, Flipkart’s Big Billion Day 2025 sale, which kicked off with much fanfare on September 22, has landed in controversy after multiple consumers reported that their iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro orders were abruptly cancelled. Buyers who had successfully booked the devices at heavily discounted prices took to social media, alleging that the e-commerce giant had duped them. Many called the episode Flipkart’s “Big Billion Scam”.
The lure of steep discounts
Ahead of the sale, Flipkart had advertised steeply reduced prices for Apple’s previous-generation flagships. The iPhone 16 (128GB variant) was listed at Rs 51,999, while the iPhone 16 Pro (128GB variant) was offered at Rs 75,999. These prices, significantly lower than market rates, encouraged many buyers to choose the iPhone 16 series instead of waiting for the newly launched iPhone 17 models.
The offers were made available to Flipkart Black and Plus members from September 22, while regular members could access them from September 23. The promise of affordability drove thousands of users to the platform the moment the sale went live.
Orders placed, then abruptly cancelled
Initially, several consumers successfully booked the devices at the advertised prices. However, within hours, Flipkart began cancelling these orders. Many buyers received notifications citing “payment failure” as the reason, despite successful transactions being reflected in their bank accounts or wallets.
Screenshots of cancelled orders and refund status updates quickly went viral on social media platforms, sparking outrage. Some buyers also claimed that refunds were delayed, further fuelling anger.
Social media backlash and calls for accountability
The incident has prompted a wave of criticism against Flipkart, with users demanding transparency and accountability. The hashtags “#BigBillionScam” and “#FlipkartFraud” trended across X (formerly Twitter) and other platforms.
Industry watchers say such controversies could impact consumer trust during festive sales, which form a major chunk of annual revenues for e-commerce platforms. Legal experts note that repeated cancellations after payment could expose companies to consumer rights litigation and regulatory scrutiny.
What lies ahead
Flipkart has yet to release an official statement addressing the cancellations, though customer service representatives have reportedly assured users that refunds will be processed. For many consumers, however, the damage to trust may prove more lasting than the refunds themselves.
As festive sales intensify across platforms, the episode highlights the need for clearer regulations and stronger safeguards to protect consumers from misleading advertisements and abrupt cancellations.