An Indian consumer court in Bengaluru has ordered Swedish furniture retailer Ikea to refund a customer and pay her Rs 3,000 in compensation for charging her for a paper bag to carry her purchases.
The court found that Ikea’s practice of charging for paper bags with its logo amounted to unfair trade practice. The court also noted that Ikea did not allow customers to bring their own bags, which was inconvenient and unfair.
Ikea had argued that it does not indulge in hidden charges or conceal information from its customers. However, the court dismissed this argument, stating that it is the seller’s responsibility to bear all costs incurred in making goods ready for delivery.
The court ordered Ikea to comply with the order within 30 days.
