Have you ever been asked to pay extra for a carry bag while shopping at a showroom? A recent consumer court ruling in Haryana may offer an important lesson for shoppers about their rights.
In a case involving fashion brand Red Tape, a consumer court found the company responsible for charging a customer separately for carry bags. The court directed the showroom to refund the ₹30 charged for the bags and pay the customer a total of ₹26,000 towards compensation and litigation costs.
Customer Charged ₹30 for Three Carry Bags
The case dates back to August 31, 2025, when a customer visited a Red Tape showroom in Gurugram and purchased products worth ₹4,713.
At the time of billing, the showroom charged an additional ₹30 for three carry bags. The customer requested that the bags be provided free of cost, stating that carrying the purchased items without bags was inconvenient. However, the showroom authorities did not accept the request.
The customer subsequently approached the consumer court, challenging the separate charge for the carry bags.
What Did the Consumer Court Say?
The consumer argued that providing suitable packaging or a carry bag after a purchase should be the responsibility of the seller.
The consumer court referred to earlier cases while examining the matter and questioned the practice of charging customers separately for carry bags.
The court held that a showroom cannot routinely collect money from customers in the name of providing carry bags. It also observed that proper packaging to enable customers to take their purchased goods home should be the responsibility of the seller.
Red Tape Ordered to Pay ₹26,000
The court ordered Red Tape to refund the ₹30 charged for the carry bags, along with 9% annual interest from August 31, 2025, until the date of repayment.
In addition, the showroom was directed to pay ₹15,000 to the customer for mental harassment and ₹11,000 towards litigation expenses.
Thus, the total compensation and costs amount to ₹26,000, apart from the refund and applicable interest. The showroom has been directed to make the payment within 45 days.
The ruling highlights the importance of consumer rights and provides a reminder that customers can approach consumer forums if they believe they have been unfairly charged for services or packaging associated with their purchases.