Several shoppers reported glitches and discount inconsistencies on social media platforms on Monday, hours after the e-commerce giants Flipkart and Amazon opened their festive sales for premium members. Users complained of app crashes, order failures, difficulty in applying bank offers, and deal prices higher than previously advertised, leading to frustration even before the sale opens for the broader user base.
Early glitches and stockouts frustrate shoppers
Flipkart had heavily advertised Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro at Rs 69,999 in the “Big Billion Day” sale, down from its launch price of Rs 1,19,900 last year. However, many users said they were unable to place orders when the sale opened at midnight, while others reported that actual prices were higher than advertised. Products quickly went out of stock, fuelling complaints about the limited availability of high-demand items. “From the very first moment of the Big Billion Day sale, it was flashing the ‘High Demand!’ message while I was trying to buy the iPhone 16 Pro. And guess what? It went out of stock in less than a minute,” a user posted on social media platform X.
Beyond stockouts, shoppers also highlighted technical issues on Flipkart’s app. Pages froze during checkout, and some confirmed orders were later cancelled, prompting screenshots and complaints to flood social media.
Analysts said that glitches are common during high-traffic sales.
GST rollout and festive demand drive traffic
Flipkart is relying on its quick commerce arm, Minutes, to manage festive demand in 19 cities and 3,000 pin codes, with Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets such as Ambala, Guwahati, Jaipur, Lucknow, Kanpur, and Patna expected to drive growth. Most e-commerce platforms have aligned the sale with the new GST rollout, hoping visible tax savings will encourage purchases across big-ticket items and daily essentials.
Amazon’s Great Indian Festival has so far drawn less criticism, with early access for Prime members receiving positive reactions for its wide range of deals. Yet social media chatter includes reminders to verify discount claims, with some posts suggesting original prices may be inflated. Since the full Amazon sale opens on Tuesday, most discussion remains anticipatory, reflecting both excitement and caution based on previous years.
Industry analysts estimate that sales this year could nearly double last year’s pace, making it the best festive period in the last five years. Millions are flocking online in search of bargains, but widespread cancellations, vanished stock, and app glitches have dampened enthusiasm. Analysts said that for Flipkart and Amazon, the challenge over the coming days will be to sustain consumer excitement while managing expectations and technical issues.