Online shopping major Flipkart.com has restricted its users from using new wallet top-ups to transactions on Flyte, its digital goods store, an email it sent to its wallet users indicates. (see below; Hat tip: @anupamsaxena) Flyte sells only mp3′s and ebooks as of now, and this might help boost Flyte sales and get users accustomed to making ebook and digital music purchases.
We’re expecting Flipkart to announce the launch of its Marketplace shortly. Remember that, as we had reported earlier, Flipkart was looking at a marketplace model, and had begun recruiting merchants in order to comply with India’s short sighted multi-brand retail regime. Now other merchants on Flipkart will sell goods on Flipkart, and because the Flipkart Wallet is a closed wallet, it cannot be used to pay merchants directly, and is valid for Flipkart-only. This was explained on Twitter by Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma:
@anupamsaxena ==> all items are now sold by different merchants not FK. So FK can’t use close wallet to pay other merchants. @nixxin
— Vss (@vijayshekhar) April 5, 2013
We wonder how Flipkart is managing the payments to merchants from the current balance on its wallet, and whether, going forward, customers will be able to choose between adding amount to wallet or a refund, in case of unsuccessful purchases (bank payment gateways in India suck).
Why Flyte Only?
The fact that top-ups are being used on Flyte only indicates that Flipkart is itself selling ebooks and music online, which is multi-brand retail. It is entirely possible that this marks the integration of a marketplace model, and not really a complete switch to a marketplace model, wherein Flipkart doesn’t retail any goods (physical or digital) by itself. I guess it would be difficult to explain to users why they can use the wallet for purchasing some physical goods from Flipkart using the wallet and not others, whereas, it’s easier to indicate that the wallet can be used for Flyte only. From a customer experience perspective – which is something that Flipkart has always emphasized – this is a tricky thing to do. On a brighter note, more people will buy digital goods, even if forced.
We’ve asked Flipkart for a clarification on why they’ve implemented this policy, and will update in case we hear from them.
Related:
- Flipkart Starts Accepting International Cards For Payments
- YouTube India Integrates Music Purchase From Flipkart, iTunes
- Flipkart Sells Front End Ops To Former OnMobile COO & Others: Report
- It’s Official: Flipkart To Launch Marketplace
Email sent by Flipkart to wallet users
From: “Flipkart.com” <noreply@flipkart.com>
Date: 5 April 2013 8:18:29 PM IST
To: *EMAIL REDACTED*
Subject:Changes Relating To Flipkart Wallet Top-Ups
Dear Customer,
Greetings!
As you are an active Flipkart Wallet user, we would like to inform you about changes relating to Wallet top-ups.
Henceforth, any new top-ups made into the Wallet will be limited to purchases only to the Flyte category – MP3s and eBooks.
In case your Wallet has unused topped-up balance from earlier, you may continue to use it to make purchases across all categories till it is exhausted.
Check your Wallet balance | Frequently Asked Questions
For further queries, write to us at cs@flipkart.com or call us on 1800 102 3547 (24×7, Monday-Sunday).
Regards
The Flipkart Team
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