[Resolved]  Bata India — Defective hush puppy sandal

Address:	Kolkata, West Bengal, 700069
Website:	www.bata.in

Dear Bata,
I purchased a pair of Hush Puppies Franklin sandal (Model no. [protected]) costing Rs 3499/- from your Grand Hotel Store, Kolkata on 28/06/2016 (Cash Memo no. 0001/1/23062016/00056). The product suffers from serious design flaw, quality problem and workmanship. The insole cracked within a week. I went from my place of living Durgapur (170 kms) to Kolkata to exchange the product. The store people exchanged it without listening to me that the same problem will occur. They also did not listen to my plea that I cannot come from that far again and again and that they should give me a flap (or whatever you call it) to insert the same under the insole to protect it. Again these incompetent sales people did not listen to me. Since then I have made 3 more trips to the store, after getting email from Customer Care, and returned empty handed as my foot size was not available. The sandal's insole is very comfortable, the reason I have refused to take any other model.
After long email exchange and angry telephonic conversations with Customer Care (again, nobody would certify them as competent ones), I was told the company has stopped production of this model. Ideally, the company should have recalled the defective product, rectify the problem and delivered it back to the customers. Instead, the company has chosen to react in a bureaucratic and callous manner, without any regard for the customers of premium products. I just wish to mention that 3 members of our family use Hush Puppies besides other Bata brands, the 4th member being 9 years old uses all Bata brands except Hush Puppies.
Now, please inform me why should not I go to consumer court to seek damage and compensation.
Also, I noticed the Store people selling the remaining stock of the same model to ignorant customers, whereas, the Company should have recalled the product and rectify it.
One more point: I observed that the 'imported' (I think they are imported) shoes and sandal models at the store are better in fit and finish and workmanship than all the Bata and Hush Puppies SKUs made in India. For the record, I am as patriotic as any other common Indian! But I am also a right-conscious consumer.
So, please inform me why I should not warn people through social networking sites about the dishonest practices of Bata involving a premium product like Hush Puppies.
Sincerely
Bijay Bhujabal