When Ethics Goes Unethical

In the era of strong rivalry, companies are heading towards unethical means to become trend setters, resulting in popularity for shorter periods of time. We forget that these things don't last forever because we earn higher income, which result in the demise and limit brand name or reputation of the businesses.

The leading crowd-pleasing pizza company 'DOMINO'S PIZZA' operated by Jubiliant Food Works Limited is being penalized 10 Lakhs for charging customers Rs 14 for carry-bags. Whereas similar cases have been filed with the Consumer Commission against the District Consumer Forum alleging that, "there is no regulation that can prohibit sellers from charging for bags." Precedent cases revealed that the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I fined Jubilant Food Works Limited Rs 5 Lakhs in July 2019 as it charged Rs 14 to a customer, Jitendra Bansal. Although the company continues to charge extra for the same. Another customer Pankaj Chandgothia, an attorney, also lodged a complaint with the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-II on 13 November 2019. The case reached the consumer commission that rejected the appeal of Domino's Pizza and ordered them to pay Rs 10 Lakhs.

In Sub Section (5) of Section 36 of the Sale of Goods Act, 1930, it states that, unless otherwise agreed, the seller shall pay the expenses and the incidental costs of bringing the goods into deliverable condition. Therefore, under this provision of law, the vendor/ seller shall pay these and many more expenses relating to packaging in order to improve the value of the goods in the deliverable state.

Top leading Chandigarh brands like Bigg Bazar, Westside and Bata India are heavily fined for asking customers to pay extra for carry-bags. Bata India was fined Rs 11,000, Westside paid Rs 10,500, and Bigg Bazar was asked to pay 11,518 for charging the carry-bags to the consumers.

So, it's not judgemental that these top-leading companies are becoming brand-name pick pocketers as the main goal of these companies is to extract the money from the consumers leading them empty-handed.

Claiming for additional charges is unfair, as it not only impacts the brand value but also raises a question against unethical means carried out by companies pillaging consumer regulations, leading to a decline in business ethics and the value system.