[ErrantX]

So out of interest; what's it like in India at the moment, buying online?

For example; with Amazon in the UK and can order before about 5pm (often later) and have it arrive tomorrow. That even works for some marketplace sellers.

Is there comparable service from Indian retailers?

(I ask out of genuine interest to see how the markets compare!)

[sameerp1]

The most interesting thing about Indian e-commerce shipping to me (someone who lived 28 years in the USA and the last 1 year in India) is that there is no concept of choosing delivery speed. There is only standard shipping. You need the product tomorrow? Well you're out of luck. It'll be there in a couple days if you're in a metro, which definitely isn't bad for standard shipping. But you don't get to control the shipping speed.

(Note #1: I have gotten some items the next day, but it was out of luck. If you live in Mumbai, New Delhi, or Bangalore, this will happen occasionally that the warehouse on the outskirts of the city will have the product and you'll get it the next day. But it's just not close to guaranteed.)

(Note #2: I heard or read something that Flipkart, often known as "India's Amazon", will soon be offering expedited shipping for an additional fee).

[madmax108]

Well, to be frank, sites like Saholic are trying to improve stuff.... Saholic offers 'x' days delivery (generally 1-2 days) and then fines itself (giving out gift vouchers for every day that the shipment is delayed)

[fakeer]

>>You need the product tomorrow?

If you are in a metro then you get the item shipped next day. I've shopped with Flipkart, Myntra etc and this has always been the norm and when usually it becomes 2-3 days it's because your stuff is being sent from a warehouse in another metro. As I live in B'lore Myntra has almost always done 1-day shipping or 2 at most.

You want your items to be shipped to a small town? There's a problem. You want to ship it to your parents in a very small town or rural area? Forget it!

There are other services like eBay India, which has recently, started 3-4 day shipping. Earlier for them it was 7-8 minimum as standard. Deal sites like SnapDeal etc follow the same minimum 7-8 days golden rule.

Sites like IndiaPlaza are plague. You get your stuff in months or fortnights and then you congratulate yourself.

The thing is there are so many options in India, even on smaller scales, for online shopping and people actively use them where they best deals. In USA when I try to buy sth, to get it via a friend who is coming form USA, I have more or less one option - Amazon!

[prakster]

Hey Fakeer,

Do you have an idea (or know someone who does) as to

1. How is the Shipping Label (with tracking# if that's feasible) generated?

2. Which are the major couriers picking up the packages from the small ecommerce shop locations and delivering them?

3. Is the Indian Post Office a major player at all (in the US, the USPS is the largest ecommerce delivery company...bigger than UPS, FedEx and DHL combined)

[amjd]

It isn't a major player at all. Indian Post Office is mostly used for sending documents and stuff and people prefer it because it's cheaper and available in most destinations ranging from metro cities to small villages. Most ecommerce players use private logistics companies like BlueDart, DTDC, etc. They use Indian Postal Service only for rural orders where BlueDart and the like don't service.

[krat0sprakhar]

My dad happens to lead the e-commerce division at a logistics company and from what I've heard, Indian Post Office is not a major player at all. A large of e-commerce companies/startups are using Bluedart (now merged with DHL) as their primary logistics provider and tracking is provided as a service to the customers. Flipkart, I believe, runs their own logistics service.

[fakeer]

Flipkart, Myntra etc run their own logistics unit Bangalore only and maybe other metros too, but when it's about tier 2 cities and blow the traditional courier firms handled it.

[kamaal]

>>Is the Indian Post Office a major player at all

I don't think Indian Post Office is good option for courier stuff like a mobile phone, or a book.

But they are pretty good if you want to send a money order, letter or a registered post.

[arjie]

Flipkart does not _guarantee_ two day shipping, though. Or at least it didn't when I last used it. Amazon says they'll do it and that's worth more than some vague idea that it will probably make it.

[tcube]

Well there is Flipkart (http://www.flipkart.com/). They usually take about 2-3 days to deliver. Again that depends where you are located and the product you are ordering. But they do have a huge collection of stuff.