HOMETOWN-- The Shopping Mall at Rajarhat, Kolkata

The emerging middle class in India is becoming consumptive day by day. Their growing income is leaving surplus funds to spend and there is no dearth of takers. Many have joined the fray in retail business as you find shopping malls, Big Bazars in metro or many big, medium, small towns. People have found shopping is more pleasure than pain. In these malls with fixed price, you don’t have to lose your energy for bargaining.  They sell mostly the branded products, some sell products of their own brand. The added comforts in the air-conditioned shopping complex are new experience for Indian consumers. Specially in festive seasons the rush in these complexes spell their growing popularity. But how the services are? Let us review.

The price you pay there for any sundry products may be higher than what you would have paid in shops at your locality.  Of course, you may argue that local shops are not that comfortable to shop with. But have you ever checked the quality? Sometime what they put on “SALE” or offer at discount may be sub-standard and of poor quality or even expired date. Here is a comment from one of the shopper I stumbled upon on Flickers.com under the picture of glamorous shopping complex “HOMETOWN” at Rajarhat, Kolkata:

‘It looks attractive, the decor inside and the escalator, lifts are excellent. But not the products. I visited the mall on 22/09/2010 and purchased some grocery for their Food Bazar; the sale was on for some products. I bought Jam branded Sera of mixed variety, later I found when the bottle opened back at home, it contained fungus. Then I noted the bottle was packed sometime in mid 2009! How dare they sell such products to gullible customers? Is a big question. There was phone number on their bill but no customer complaint's seemed welcome, as they seemed lackadaisical to redress! They inscribe on their bill " ISSE SASTA AUR ACCHA KAHIN NEHI...." . So. BEWARE OF HOMETOWN AT NEW TOWN, KOLKATA.

On my further search, I found complaints of all variety. So next time you visit these malls be careful.