India’s festive online shopping boom has come with a downside — a growing number of consumers say they were left stuck with defective or wrong products they could not return. A LocalCircles nationwide survey found that nearly six in ten shoppers who purchased via e-commerce and quick commerce platforms this festive season faced problems with returns or refunds. Advertisement

The study, covering over 56,000 responses from users across 321 districts, highlights the widening gap between India’s digital retail expansion and post-purchase consumer protection. Around 62% of respondents were men, and 38% women, with participation spanning metros, Tier-2, and Tier-3 cities.

The festive period — between Navratri and Diwali 2025 — saw record activity in India’s online shopping sector. According t

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