Fake Apple watch delivery: Ecommerce platform, vendor directed to refund and compensate Coimbatore woman

COIMBATORE: The district consumer disputes redressal commission has directed Amazon and a vendor to jointly refund Rs 77,000 to a Coimbatore-based woman and pay her Rs 25,000 as compensation for the mental agony and hardship caused by the delivery of a counterfeit Apple watch purchased through ecommerce platform. The commission comprising president R Thangavel and member P Marimuthu directed them to pay an additional Rs 5,000 towards the cost of proceedings.

According to official sources, S Sridevi of Ondipudur in Coimbatore decided to purchase an Apple watch and found the product listed for sale by Apario Retail Pvt Ltd on Amazon. She placed an order on May 25, 2025, paying Rs 77,000. She received the package on May 29.

Upon unpacking the package, she discovered that the watch was a counterfeit one. An authentic Apple watch functions only after pairing with an iPhone. However, this product operated independently. Furthermore, the packaging described the model as "Ultra 8," a name under which Apple has not released any smartwatch.

Sridevi lodged a complaint with Amazon’s customer service, seeking a refund after returning the counterfeit product. But there was no satisfactory response.

Subsequently, she approached the consumer disputes redressal commission, seeking a replacement for the fake product and compensation for mental agony.