Alma Mater — Fraudulent practices by Alma Mater (www.almamaterstore.in)

Address:

Bangalore, Karnataka

---- Complaint Text ---- This complaint is regarding two orders placed with Alma Mater. The order numbers and their details are as follows: ****Order 1**** Order No.: 1311170 Amount Paid: Rs 83, 375.00 online via SBH account. Order Details: a) The order was placed for 145 hoodies (90 Blue, 55 Grey) and we paid Rs 83, 375.00 for 145 hoodies @ Rs 575 online via SBH account (Reference number:56149245IGO0727359). The price included Rs. 45 per hoodie for flight delivery and the order was to be delivered by 5-December-2013. b) The order was delivered on 9-December-2013 (4 days later than promised date). The invoice for the bill mentions only 143 hoodies (2 hoodies less than ordered and paid for) but there were only 138 hoodies when counted later. Thus, there were 7 missing hoodies. This was notified to Alma Mater and they agreed to deliver the remaining hoodies within a week. c) The 7 missing hoodies were received within a week but 2 hoodies had manufacturing defects which was notified to Alma Mater but we haven't received them yet. d) The invoice received for this order mentions only 143 hoodies @ Rs 100 each. When I contacted Alma Mater regarding the pricing they told me that it is a "dummy" invoice and actual invoice will be mailed to me. I asked them repeatedly to mail me the "actual" invoice and I haven't received it yet. When I contacted someone named Varun today he informed me that if I want the actual invoice then I'll have to pay service tax too. I would like to mention here that their website (http://www.almamaterstore.in) never mentions anything that price of hoodies is with or without service tax and I was also not informed while placing the order that if I want an "actual" invoice I have to pay service tax. This is clearly a malpractice by this company and I would like for you to investigate similar cases of fraud by this company. d) I don't understand why I paid Rs 20 extra for flight delivery when I received the order 4 days late. ****Order 2**** Order Number: 1312351 Amount Paid: Rs 33, 855 online via SBH account Order Details: a) The order was placed for 61 hoodies (36 Blue, 25 Grey) and we paid Rs 33, 855 for 61 hoodies @ Rs 555 each online via SBH account. The price included Rs. 25 per hoodie for flight delivery and the order was to be shipped by 15-January-2013. b) I was informed yesterday (16-January-2014) that only partial order (grey hoodies) have been shipped and they require an extra week to ship the remaining blue hoodies and 2 hoddies of the previous order. This is a clear violation of their promise. c) I have also not received the invoice for second order for Rs.33, 855 too. Consequences --Emotional Damage-- We had taken advance payment of these 145 hoodies from the students. We are being harassed repeatedly by them to fulfill the order and are not able to do so because of fraudulent practices by Alma Mater. -- Monetary Loss -- 1) We had paid Rs 20 extra per hoodie for flight delivery. The order was delayed by 4 days and some of the pieces are still not available. Therefore, we faced a loss of Rs 20 * 145 (hodies) = Rs. 2, 900 as we paid extra for faster deliver but in fact received the order late. 2) The invoice received mentions the price of hoodies as Rs 100. each when in fact we paid Rs 575 per hoodie. Either there is someone within the company who charged us Rs 475 extra per hoodie in which case we are under a loss of Rs 475 * 145 (hoodies) = Rs 68, 875 Someone named Varun from Alma Mater told us that if we want the "actual" invoice we need to pay additional service tax. This is clearly a trick to extort more money from us and to hide their fraudulent practices as neither while placing the order nor afterwards were we informed that there is additional service tax. What relief do you want a) We want the additional charges we paid for flight delivery to be refunded back for all the hoodies. {Rs 20 * 145 (hodies) = Rs. 2, 900} b) If the price of the hoodies is in fact Rs 100 then they need to identify the employee who charged us Rs 475 extra and refund us the amount. {Rs 475 * 145 (hoodies) = Rs 68, 875} Proof: I have attached the copies of the fraudulent receipt. I have various email conversations as proof too. Kindly let me know how to forward them.