From here onward, the incident will be divided into two major parts. Both the incidents shared here are written words of my friend with adequate proof of WhatsApp screenshots (that I also translated to English for better understanding), transaction screenshots and so on.
On June 12, 2019 I was looking to buy a Pioneer 5290BT head unit to fit in my Baleno. After scouting the local markets of Guwahati, I came to realize that the prices were around 4k higher than Delhi. So I began searching the Delhi market, what better than watching YouTube videos. I came across a seller named Rakha, many different Youtubers had made videos on him. He seemed like a decent guy, answered all my queries. He also offered the lowest price, even lower than the dealer I usually buy products from in Delhi. I immediately transferred the amount on that very evening, everything was fine till then. He acknowledged that he received the amount & said will ship the parcel ASAP.
2 days later he informed me that he had shipped the parcel & I asked for the courier tracking receipt. Few days passed & he still hadn't send me the courier tracking number, which got me a bit worried for the first time. But I kept my calm assuming that he has many customers to adhere to. Every other day I would call him, he'll say the parcel is in transit with confidence but could never give the supporting tracking ID. Days passed, then weeks & finally I realized that I have been made a fool. Almost a month later I couldn't keep my calm & bashed upon him, after which he told me that the parcel has been wrongly delivered to some other place. I didn't believe it since he couldn't give me any courier details to support his statement. Helplessly I waited for the courier to be redirected to my place, by this time he completely ignored all my messages & calls.
Around a month & a half later, I gave up & told everything to my father. He had a friend who lives in Delhi, so came to the rescue. My uncle contacted the guy Rakha anonymously, then next day again as an acquaintance of ours. Rakha called him to some sweet shop for the meeting which seemed very suspicious, of course he didn't turn up. Unfortunately for Rakha, his store's address was available on Google map. My uncle directly went to his store, that Rakha guy was tensed after seeing him. Finally he gave the stereo to my uncle. A part of me till then believed that he had actually sent the parcel. Had he sent the parcel, he wouldn't have immediately given another unit to my uncle. What I learnt is that, not everything you see is greener on the other side. For saving 3-4k, I ended up risking 22k. Hadn't I had contacts in Delhi, I would have surely lost that money. I wonder how many people have been through this. The HU & accessories were of good quality, no issue faced with the actual product.
An YouTube video on this store:
Whatsapp conversation between me & rakha. It is unfortunately in Hindi, so I am translating the conversation to English:
Me: How much for Pioneer 5290?
Rakha: Rs. 20500.
Me: Will be needing courier delivery for Baleno
Rakha: Will you be needing frame and coupler or only the stereo?
Me: Yes I will need it. Please tell me the total with shipping and add a little discount too.
Rakha: Stereo 20500
Frame 600
Main coupler 200
Antenna coupler 200
Stereo coupler 200
GPS + Mic 400
Courier 300
22400 all total
Me: I don't think mic will be needed in Zeta model. Please round off the sum and make it 22000.
Rakha: 22200
Me: Bit busy now, will transfer the amount in evening. Will be sending the amount by 7PM.
Rakha: Ok
Me: Transfer done, please check & let me know.
Me: When will the parcel be dispatched? When will it reach Guwahati?
Rakha: Will be dispatched in this week.
Me: What about delivery?
Rakha: Will be delivered next week.
Me: Send the parcel as early as possible. Also share the tracking ID with me.
Rakha: Ok.
Me: Is it dispatched yet?
(no reply, so I decided to ask about something else the next day)
Me: Will the steering mounted buttons work with this HU?
Rakha: Yes.
Me: Has the parcel been dispatched yet?
Rakha: Yes.
Me: By when will it be delivered? Please share with me the tracking ID.
Rakha: Will share the tracking ID with you by evening.
Me: Ok.
Me: Tracking ID?
(no reply)
Me: Tracking ID?
(no reply)
Few days later i.e on 27.06.2020.
Me: What happened? You were supposed to call me.
Rakha: I am really sorry, was busy today.
Me: I trusted you a lot but you are giving lame excuses, one after another.
Rakha: So sorry.
Me: I have bought other things from Delhi as well, all those reached me within 3-4 days.
Rakha: Was busy today, couldn't attend your calls.
Me: I want the parcel to be delivered by tomorrow, otherwise refund the amount.
Rakha: I will tell you tomorrow why the parcel is getting delayed.
Me: Please do. I have made the full payment on 14th, today is 28th.
Me: I am a college student & my college will start from next week. I had planned to fit the HU before leaving for college.
Rakha: I have shipped the parcel, I promise. Will let you know tomorrow why's the delay.
Me: Did you check?
Rakha: Your parcel has reached Bhopal due to some mistake.
Me: Then cancel it.
Rakha: I will make sure that the parcel is redirected to your place.
Rakha: Courier stores are closed on weekends. The courier will be redirected on Monday, should reach you by Tuesday/Wednesday.
Me: I will be back home after 6 months, I don't want the parcel, please cancel it & refund my money.
Rakha: If I were to cancel the courier, it would take 40 days for it to be cancelled. Don't do like this, the HU will safely reach your home.
Me: It's not my mistake, I had transferred the amount 2 weeks back.
Me: Please take back the parcel & refund my money.
Rakha: Please don't do like this.
Me: You should have responded properly, you could have at least send me the tracking number.
Rakha: I ship many parcels each day, so it's difficult to keep track of each tracking receipt.
Me: I have in the past ordered from other car accessories store like Balaji, OM. They shared the tracking number with me.
Rakha: I ship more couriers than them.
Rakha: Parcel will reach Guwahati by Tuesday/Wednesday.
Me: Can you guarantee it?
Rakha: Yes.
Me: I want it latest by Tuesday, otherwise refund my money.
Rakha: Ok.
Me: Is it shipped yet?
(no reply)
Then on Tuesday i.e July 1, 2019.
Me: The courier delivery guy hasn't called me yet, the parcel hasn't come yet.
Rakha: Where is Namati?
Me: Namati or Noonmati (Noonmati is a place in Guwahati).
Rakha: Namati.
Me: Where is that? Are you talking about Guwahati, Assam?
Rakha: Yes.
Me: Namati (actually it's Namti) is in Sivasagar district, which is 300 km from Guwahati.
Rakha: Parcel has reached that place.
Me: What kind of rubbish is this?
Rakha: They could only get service to only that place from Bhopal, so booked it.
Me: What will you do now?
Rakha: Wait!
Me: I had given you my address properly. I have had things shipped from Delhi to this address without any issue.
Rakha: I am aware that parcel comes to your address from Delhi.
Me: Please tell me the exact location where the parcel is currently at.
Rakha: Will let you know after reaching the store.
Me: What's the update?
(no reply)
Me: Will the parcel reach on Friday?
Rakha: Yes it will reach you on Friday. Send me your address again.
Me: Why it will take so long to reach Guwahati, that place is only 300km from Guwahati.
Me: Any update? It's almost a month since I ordered.
(no reply)
Me: Please call me & give me an update.
(no reply)
Payment slip:
Pioneer 5290 HU: