Online deliveries: Heavy rains disrupt e-commerce business in Pune | Pune News

Pune: Heavy rain AND flooding There were serious disruptions in the city e-commerce operationswhich led to a huge backlog of online orders.
E-commerce services are struggling with flooded warehouses, which is causing delivery delays and damage to delivered products and their packaging.

“Most of our micro-warehouses and distribution centres were located on the ground floor to ensure smooth distribution. Several such centres were flooded, which resulted in damage to the cardboard packages. While we were already full of orders that could not be delivered, we also have a large number of fresh deliveries. On the other hand, some delivery agents and employees have fallen sick, while others have vehicle issues and are unable to deliver,” said a city-based delivery manager from an e-commerce website.
Extreme weather conditions in other states also contributed to the backlog as orders were stuck in various warehouses across the country like Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Assam and others.
This has left online shoppers frustrated and disappointed, facing an uncertain and disrupted shopping experience. “After a delay of a few days, my home furniture order was cancelled by the seller, so I had to look for other options on various e-commerce sites. These too are now delayed,” said Sudhir Mahadik, a resident of Bibvewadi.
“I ordered some clothes but they were damaged. I decided to exchange them but got something completely different from what I had originally ordered,” said Sana Ahmed, a college student from Erandwane.
Over the past two weeks, damaged packaging and damaged products have become a common problem for consumers. There is also a shortage of workers to receive returns, which further delays the refund or exchange process.
“I had ordered a pair of earphones as a birthday gift for my sister well in advance, but the shipment got delayed. Upon receipt, it turned out to be a faulty product and had to be returned. I was informed that it would take another two weeks for the replacement to arrive. I have no choice but to wait,” said Nishika Trivedi, a homemaker from NIBM Road.
Santosh Pramane, a delivery agent working in Kondhwa district, said, “We have to brave waterlogged, potholed roads, soaked in downpours, to deliver parcels, but now we have the extra work of collecting more returns. Many of us also have to replenish stocks and help clean distribution centres, etc.”

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