[Resolved]  Flipkart — fake product florsheim shoe

I bought a pair of Florsheim Shoes order no
OD[protected] from Flipkart. The product was available at a certain discounted rate which made it attractive for me.
This shoe got spoilt in 2 days. The sole just crumbled.
On my first complaint they agreed to refund.
The details were as follows. I have copy pasted this from the Flipkart email.
“Your return request has been accepted!
We will pick up the item shortly and the refund will be initiated within 1 day of the item being picked up.
Order Id: OD[protected]
Return Id:[protected]”Hi,
Then the scam started.
The Ecom person refused to pickup saying the package was opened.
My contention was that the the sole disintegrated after two wears and that was the reason why I was asking for the refund.
So every time I complained they said they would send someone to pick the shoe up. But he refused because the package was opened.
On further communication with the Flipkart Customer support, I got a mail from their executive who wrote -

“Thanks for writing in.

We understand your concern about your order 'OD[protected]' for 'Florsheim For Men'.

We are sorry to know that the product you received is duplicate product.

As specified by you, a return request has been created for the order and a refund of Rs. 2543/- will be initiated as soon as the pickup of the originally delivered product is confirmed by the courier service provider.

You’ll receive an email and SMS with the refund details, after which the money will be credited to your Credit card within 7 business days, as per standard banking procedures.

Please keep the item along with accessories and tags packed and ready for pickup in the original product box by September 06, 2018.

Also, remember to collect the acknowledgement receipt once you hand over the product.

We would like to thank you for your continued trust and support.

Regards,
Priyanka Kumari
Flipkart Customer Support “

Please note that she acknowledged it was a duplicate product.
How did I know it was a duplicate product? Because the sole disintegrated after two wears. There was no way of knowing it was duplicate by not opening and wearing it.
So in spite of their acknowledging it was a duplicate product they kept me on the ringmarole refusing refund.
So basically this is how the catch 22 situation unfolds for the consumer.
1. A vendor on Flipkart sells a dud product.
2. Consumer finds out after use.
3. Consumer complains and asks for refund.
4. Flipkart says ok, send us the product back.
5. The courier guy comes to pick the product up but refuses because he has been instructed not to accept opened packages.
6. Flipkart refuses refund because according to them, the consumer did not send the item back.

Anyway I wanted to save others from the ordeal by posting a review of the shoe with photographic evidence. I use the word ‘fake’ a synonym of ‘duplicate’ the Flipkart team used in their correspondence.
Flipkart sends a canned response saying the review was inappropriate.
So mean time another consumer taken in by the picture and the brand name and the discount gets sold another fake product for this nonsense to continue again.
I am quite sure there will be no resolution for this and I have said goodbye to my 2500/- ( after all it’s just money).
But anyone reading this review kindly note the pitfalls of buying on Flipkart.
My experience with consumer complains redressed by this rival company on the other hand has been much more productive.