Nykaa sale saga: Customers enraged over ‘fake discount’ as multiple orders get cancelled

Nykaa customers are up in arms against the e-commerce firm after it cancelled multiple orders for discounted products. The saga began to unfold around three days ago, when Nykaa put several products on sale citing ‘outer box damage’. Instead of announcing a proper clearance sale, however, the Indian beauty and wellness products platform did not advertise the heavily-discounted products, probably fearing an onslaught of orders.

It would have worked too, but Reddit got wind of it. As word spread on Reddit, customers rushed to order the heavily-discounted, outer box damaged products. However, most orders were cancelled by Nykaa and customers were told their money would be refunded.

Very few people who ordered products from Nykaa’s ‘outer box damaged’ sale have received their orders so far, while many have taken to social media to complain about ‘fake discounts’ after having their orders cancelled.

“Nykaa took 2 days to process my order and then in an instant cancels it without any prior info or a good reason. Why have a sale when you can't service your customers,” wrote one Twitter user, adding the hashtag #nykaaouterboxdamaged.

@MyNykaa took 2 days to process my order and then in an instant cancels it without any prior info or a good reason. Why have a sale when you can't service your customers. #nykaaouterboxdamaged

— Habiba (@ItzHabibz) March 21, 2023

Another asked if the company was using “fake discounts” to lure customers.

@MyNykaa #nykaaouterboxdamaged

I spent a lot of time searching for things I need so I can place my orders at a discount.

In the end, you just like that cancelled my order saying that it was an internal reason?
What's the reason? Fake discounts to lure us?

— AnkiP (@anki_p7) March 21, 2023

“Outbox damage sale was scam for customers,” a third alleged.

#Nykaaouterboxdamaged Enough is enough! @MyNykaa’s discriminatory business practices and rude customer service are unacceptable. Outbox damage sale was scam for customers. Let's boycott and spread the word. We deserve better! #Nykaa #BadBusiness #scam #CustomerServiceFail pic.twitter.com/0mNDV25EWq

— Sneha (@sneha_nrao) March 21, 2023

Several people who tried to order ‘outer box damaged’ products were not given any reason for the cancellation, which occurred from Nykaa’s end only two or three days after the orders were placed. Some also shared screenshots to show how the company was not refunding the full amount to customers.

.@MyNykaa was your outer box sale a way to make some scam money before the year end? Why are cancelled order refunds lesser than what I paid for every item? Is THIS the genius of @udaykotak protege? @falguninayar @AdwaitaNayar pic.twitter.com/bqT7kllScM

— Shefali Samdaria #EarthSafe (@ShefaliSamdaria) March 21, 2023

The saga of Nykaa's blowups continues. After their failed outer box damaged sale, when customers took to complain, some received compensatory coupons from INR 50-250, & some were told "we have no compensation policy." There's no uniformity in how they treat their customers.

— Akira (@Akira_Epic) March 22, 2023

Meanwhile, some customers received a compensatory coupon for Rs 50 or Rs 100, while others were told the company did not have a compensation policy. This disparity further enraged people.

Nykaa was founded by Falguni Nayar in 2012. The company has so far not commented on the social media backlash it is currently facing.