Recently, I decided to explore a few products (sports goods) via a website called www.tradeindia.com for a new wholesale business I decided to set up in Dallas, Texas.
While entertaining enquiries through tradeindia.com website, I also started getting business requests from businesses all over India saying that they found by product request from tradeindia.com website.
I decided to go with one such request from “Pankaj Enterprises” based out in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh region of India as his prices were looking attractive and moreover the gentleman understood the goods I was interested in. Attached is a invoice to me. After going back and forth over Whatsapp (Pankaj Kumar, I decided to proceed with a test order to get a better understanding of the product quality, shipping experience, customer review etc before going for a large order.
We agreed that once the invoice is finalized, I will send him half of the payment and later he convinced me even for the shipping cost and rest of the payment to be sent after the goods are received here in the U.S.A and are as promised.
As per the understanding, a Payment of $2280 USD (half of the total invoiced amount) was sent using my business account I have with Transfer wise to Mr. Pankaj Kumar’s Indian Overseas Bank. After the festival of Janmashtami, as Mr. Pankaj Kumar was busy, he sent the shipment under a different sender’s name through DTDC which should have been 98 Kgs of merchandise (attached to the shipping document). Mr. Kumar, convinced me again that because how things operate in India, the value of the merchandise shown is 550 India Rupees but I will receive the 98 Kgs of 10 boxes I have ordered and DTDC had repacked it as per as the pictures Mr. Kumar had sent it to me before I sent him a shipping charge transfer of a Dollar amount 350 USD (Aug 20th 2022).
My whole reason to go through a website like Tradeindia.com was to avoid these kinds of issues as time is money for us in the United States and tradeindia should create a better way of vetting and screening their Vendors as well as Clients. Even if Mr. Pankaj Kumar was not a member of Tradeindia.com website, well then, how did he get my contact information and that I am looking for specific sports items? It could be an employee within tradeindia.com but I am checking with a Business Attorney in New Delhi to see if there is a civil case against Tradeindia.com for leaking any client information.
I would like to see what would be a proper channel in India to address this issue and if there is any way to recover goods as per invoice the amount of 2630 USD. The UPS package I received on Aug. 25th 2022 was a torn up Jeans not more then 200 grams which was sent instead of invoiced
merchandise of 98 Kgs of the order.
Please see attached some of the information and I would be happy to provide you with any additional information if needed.
Thank you and wishing you a very happy week.