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I'd like to share a bitter experience with a shop called "House of Interiors" in Gurgaon Mall: JMD Regent Arcade. They took payment from us and did not get our work done. Suggest, people think before they deal with them.

They sell tiles.

• Two young professionals, who make big promises, of doing a turnkey project.

• Asked for our budget, and promised they will ensure the tiles are installed.

• Both partners confused us by calling at different times and saying different things about the scope.

• When they got a 50% of the payment, one of them called up to say u can now handle and get it installed. He said we are unable to handle the tile installation person and that we should cooperate by doing the same.This was certainly not part of the agreement.

• Then the lady called and shreaked over the phone about what is the matter. Whereas, the matter was the confusion they were trying to create. They said they wanted full payment even before the work was completed.

• When we denied it, they obviously did not send the tiles or return the 50% payment.

• When we asked for a bill they very matter of fact said it will mean increasing the amount and refused to give us a bill.

They have not returned our money yet. If we talk to them they only scream and shout and blame us for everything.

This organization lacks professionalism and honesty in their interactions. I recommend that people should be careful when they deal with them.We have been given a very unfair deal by them.

I want to share my experience with Celebrity Fitness so that other new members are careful while selecting health clubs.

I changed from well known club to Celebrity Fitness thinking that it is new club and would be better.Here is the catch -

1. They charge slightly more than other clubs. But you don't get any professional help. You are just given 2 sessions - B1 and B2 which are just for the name of them. None of them would prepare your exercise schedule even and would ask you to join an extra and exorbitant personal training program.

2. Club adhoc changed timings from Oct 1.The sales persons maintained that it is the only club till midnight. I am sure like me large number of members are effected badly. I really hope the management takes note and compensate accordingly either by reducing fees or by providing an option of an early 1 hour for 8 to 8 members.

3. You have to pay parking fees which is an extra expense.

Otherwise all the best to their foray in Indian market.

Industry sources familiar with the development say all major realty companies around the country are collecting cash from private financiers and even individual lenders at a whopping interest rate of 36-48% per annum to save and complete their projects.

These sources further say that the developers are taking at least Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,500 crore from financiers and putting on block projects with these financiers in lieu of these loans. In fact, such is the situation, that the top five listed developers in the country have reportedly picked up Rs 4,000 cr to Rs 6,000 cr at interest rates of 40-48% from these financiers in the last four to six weeks. Many developers confirmed to SundayET that they were picking up money from the market at such high rates to complete their projects. SundayET in August had reported that liquidity concerns were squeezing the real estate sector, with developers taking loans between 24 to 36%.

Says Ganesh Raj, partner, Ernst & Young India: "Private equity deals have dried up and there are no financial sources to support smaller real estate developers. Banks have made it clear that they are looking at viable lending options and will consider providing support to only large real estate companies. It remains to be seen how these companies go about re-assessing their consumption model to bring it in line with the current market expectations."

Residents around Sushant Lok II to Sector 56/South City may be getting leaflets inside newspaper regarding LEO CAR REPAIRERS.

I want to share my bad experience with LEO CAR REPAIRS with other motorists.

We all know that going to the authorized service center of any car manufacturer costs extra money. After seeing the Leo pamphlet I was tempted to go for cost reduction for my repairs. All the money was taken in advance(given in good faith).

Every time the car came back after some repair a new problem(not there when originally sent) would crop up leading to more and more money being paid out. Finally I put a stop to this and got it checked by an authorized garage.

• To my utter surprise I found that sub standard parts were used and
• the money charged was even more than what the authorized workshop would charge.

Gurgaon-based Grass Roots India is one of the companies that provides services to telecom, banking companies and food chains on their products and staff, using ‘mystery shopping' as a tool to measure the quality of retail service or gather specific information.

Armed with real-time feedback, it also helps retailers improve their performance by providing a range of tools, training and professional advice.

Apart from housewives and young girls, male customers can also join the league of ‘mystery shoppers' a concept popular in the US that has entered India recently. Once you register online with the agencies, you are paid to try out services and offers according to your profile and preferences.

"In a country like ours, where lot of women are home-makers, mystery shopping will help them in providing a helping hand in the home income," Grass Roots India Managing Director Samhita Rao said.

"What we pay to our ‘mystery shoppers' varies on the nature of the assignment. They can easily earn from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1,00,000 annually by meticulously evaluating the business and filling an online feedback," she said.

There are, in fact, many big companies especially retail chains, malls which hire the services of companies to provide feedback relating to their sales staff and product ranges, price and quality of items from "genuine buyers" especially housewives.

I had a chance to go to CTC mall on MG Road Gurgaon.

This wine shop shop is on 1st floor with approx. 2000 sq ft area, displaying all the brands available with price tags.

Must visit to know the variety of brands.

The Wait for their very own Dilli Haat is getting longer for the residents of west and north Delhi. Although officials involved with the project say that everything is ready, the Haat has not been opened for public.

According to Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC) officials, the construction of the Pitampura Dilli Haat is complete in all respects. The only thing left is its formal opening. But this last bit is proving to be more difficult to achieve.

HAAT FACTS

• The administrative approvals for the land were cleared by MCD and DDA in 2004.
  
• The site for the Dilli Haat centre came into promi nence much before the foundation stone was laid. A concert of rock star Sting was organised at the Haat grounds in February, 2005.
  
• The foundation stone was laid in April 2006. The basic structure was completed in October 2007.
  
• Baisakhi, Diwali Mela and Teej were some of the festivals organised at the site.
  
• According to SE, DTTDC, Shailendra Kumar, the Pitampura Dilli Haat is bigger than the INA one at 7.2 acres and has additional features like underground parking for 250 cars, 100 two wheelers, a 500 capacity amphitheatre, 96 bedded dormitory for artisans and a recycling plant for sewage water.

Later, March 16 was fixed for the opening. This time, everything seemed to be set for the opening but at the last minute, the VIPs failed to appear for the ribbon cutting.

So March 16 also went by. The next chosen date was April 5 but the dignitaries could not confirm it, so now April 13 has been chosen as the next date.

"The CM has been pretty busy with the elections approaching fast. Also, the Tourism Minister wanted to inspect the site personally to make sure everything is in order before the formal opening," says a DTTDC official.

DTTDC officials involved with the project are pretty positive about the new date. "It is almost certain that the Pitampura Dilli Haat will be opened on April 13. Everything is ready."

Please beaware of this store.

I needed to get a modular kitchen done. One of the employees, Ghanshyam, came and took the kitchen measurements in my house. He also took an advance of Rs.2000 for the design. I asked him if he would refund if I did not agree to go ahead with their design to which he firmly replied in the positive.

He also gave me a written estimate of Rs. 57,000 for the kind of wood I decided to choose. However when I reached their store, the owner's son (Vinayak) quoted a price of Rs.93,000 - almost double of the estimate given.

Ghanshyam flatly refused that he had stated any refunds would be given. Further, Vinayak suggested I go for laminated cabinets.

Inspite of repeated requests they are refusing to refund the advance.

I am now planning to take them to consumer court.

After having being forced into buying the membership (17/Jun/07), till date I have received neither the membership confirmation letter nor the free gifts promised at the time of presentation.

After several phone calls when no action was in the offing against above matter, I instructed Club Mahindra (19/Jul/07) to cancel my membership & make a full refund. On this I was told that full refund is only possible if cancellation is made within 10 days of application of membership.

I want to ask a simple question to Club Mahindra "How on earth among all the things told in presentation (which luckily are on paper) is such an important point missed out?"

Subsequently, I wrote to Mr. Ramesh Ramanathan, Managing Director, Club Mahindra (25/Jul/07) with all my grievances but there was no reply.
After sending the same complaint to feedback@clubmahindra.com (30/Jul/07), I got a reply that my concerns were being looked into & someone would get in touch with me shortly. However after repeated correspondence thru email regarding the matter, no action, not even a phone call has been forthcoming from Club Mahindra to resolve the issue.

Yet after 5 months of application of membership, I received a letter (05/Nov/07) demanding that the remaining amount due against my membership to be paid or else face cancellation.

Now on what basis Club Mahindra is going ahead in this relationship & demanding balance due when they have not yet come clear & resolved past issues. Even after serving them a notice from a lawyer (19/Nov/07) no effect seems to have taken place.

It is through your esteemed columns, I alert everyone whoever is planning to buy membership with Club Mahindra. It's just not worth it.

It is disgusting to know that Club Mahindra, being a part of a reputed Mahindra group can be so insensitive to customers & hopes to build its business over unsatisfied customers.

I have purchased the Nokia N-73 Music Edition mobile phone on 18th Dec 07.

The phone (IMEI:-358973011770548) was having a problems,it was not connecting with USB Data Cable So I submitted it to Nokia Care Gurgaon with JOBSHEET No-026434038/080212/125.

On 12-Feb 2008 Nokia provided me another phone in replacement of previous phone - this time I found the phone is getting heated-up and battery is working just for 3 hours after full charging. Also the phone was so old as compared to my phone, so again I reported to Nokia Care and ask those people why these things happening again and again with me.

The promised to replace this one with a another handset after 7 days. Now they are replacing my phone again with a very old model N-73ME phone, and giving excuse "we don't have the new phone stock so accept this."

This time I didn't accept the replalcement phone, and I have reported the problems with Banglore team. I told them "why you are giving me the old phone in place of new, and please return me my original phone or with a new manufactured date phone."

Now I am really dissatisfied with N73  Music Edition phone  & do not want to accept the old model phone. The phone even does not live up to the technical specifications & features advertised on website by Nokia.

Kindly request you to help me in escalating the issue to higher authority of Nokia as I am not getting the proper service. My question is why should the end user suffer due to lack of quality check by Nokia before the product is launched in the market? People expect better phone every time from Nokia.

Also kindly provide me the Consumer Court contact details so that I can move to the consumer court for the quality of the product for such high price tag.  Why should I suffer after paying 15,000/- + for a mobile.

Please help me for resolving this issue .

Thanks& Regards,

The government could also extend bar timings by two hours more on special days (weekends) from the present 12.00 midnight. The bar closure deadline in neighboring Delhi is 1.00 a.m. and it is 24-hours in 5 star hotels.

The proposals made to the state government, which is on the verge of finalising Haryana Excise Policy for the year 2008-09, also includes setting up of wine cellars in shops situated in posh areas, availability of miniature bottles in bars, setting of mini bars in individual hotel rooms, availability of draught beer and clubs having rooms accommodation could serve liquor in its rooms.
Ashok Sharma, deputy excise and taxation commissioner (DETC), told Hindustan Times the Haryana Government was planning a new excise policy incorporating world class drinking practices prevalent in developed countries on the lines of global cities.
He said, "Especially Gurgaon, where the profile of the people include young and educated community with deep pockets and global trayeling experience, should have a favourable atmosphere for drinking habits. The new policy aims at the same."

Recommendations for the new policy include allowing large departmental stores to set up their own wine cellars and sell wine to customers in malls as well as in posh localities.

It is also proposed that hotels in the category of three-stars and more to set up individual mini bars in hotel rooms for their guests.

With this the room occupants could enjoy the liquor already stored in their mini bars in their room. Draught beer, which is not sold in Gurgaon, could also be allowed in new policy skahujal3@gmail.com

Call it a grey market if you please, but for many decades now it has been a favourite onestop-mart for those seeking `imported' goods at less than the `official prices'. Garments , cosmetics, crockery, electronic gadgets, toys, shoes, you name it, and it's here.

The market, where many shops have no names, witnesses a carnival-like atmosphere every hour of the day, crowded as it is with shoppers from all parts of the country. `Imported' is the key word for both shoppers and customers.

At Gaffar, nothing sells except `imported' goods. Says Ajay, who runs an electronics goods shop in the market, "This is the only place in the country where one can get a wide variety of gadgets and gizmos much before they are launched in India. In fact, at times you can get here what you will not get even in Europe." And the man does not exaggerate. The iPhone, hailed by Time magazine as Invention of the Year, was available in Gaffar market in August this year, while it was launched in Europe only in November.

No bill, No Cry
Similarly, PlayStation 3 (PS3) the latest gizmo for video game fanatics - was available at Gaffar a month before its launch in India early this year. "It is a market for those who do not look for bills or guarantees, but wish to stay ahead," says a shopkeeper.

And while talking to people, it seems there is no dearth of such customers. "I have come to buy a 32-inch Sony Bravia LCD TV which the company launched recently. I bought it for Rs 37,000 - much less than the official price, and I am not bothered about the bill," says Mukesh Gupta who has come all the way from Meerut.

Main aapke saath apna ek experience share kar rahi hoon. maine apni car "paid servicing" ke liye "SOMESH AUTOMOBILES, DLF I, NEAR MEGA MALL, GURGAON" main de thi.

jab vo car vapas karne aayato maine dekha usne meri car ke right hand bumber ko neeche se thoka hua tha maine pucha to kahta hai yah to pahle se tha. maine poocha aapne jobcard main to nahi likha to kahta ab har cheez thode hi na lekhege. finally usne apni galti nahi mani.

maine confirm karne ke liye apne car washer se poocha ki kya car main neeche koyi dent tha to usne bola nahi. main ab tak car service "APRA AUTO" se hi karayi hai par maine iis tarah ki problem abhi tak face nahi kari thi.

ab lagta hai thoda paisa jyada lagega par hamesha AUTHORISED DELER AND SERVICE CENTER mani hi jana chiye.

maine iisy liye aapse apna experience share kiya ki agar aap bhi apni car servicing ke liye de rahe hai to zara dhayan de dhijiye. main to kisi ko "SOMESH AUTOMOBILES, DLF I, NEAR MEGA MALL, GURGAON" main jane ki advise nahi karoogi.

I would like to highlight my bad experience with (each of 1.8T) this shop in DLF Galleria, Phase-4. I bought 5-split ACs of Videocon make (along with paid-installation service) in Mar'07. The total shopping being in excess of 1-lakh twenty-thousand rupees.

Within 3-months of installation (by the dealer's staff) one of the aircon-stopped cooling things down - I called in the dealer for checkup and he sent his team and after inspection, declared that the 'Gas/Coolant was exhausted' and had to be refilled by paying nearly 2000Rs.

I contacted the Videocon service-centre and they said that the responsibility was with the dealer to fix it......The dealer is refusing to do the repairs and is demanding payment to fill-the coolant.

One would expect that a shop-keeper/dealer would be willing to provide customer-service to ensure repeat business - Looks like this dealer is not bothered about such things......

Please make your own-decisions if you would like to deal with such a shop-keeper.

Please be AWARE of TOUCH WOOD CREATIONS furniture shop in DLF phase I.F-9/6 DLF Phase I.

I had a terrible exerience today while purchasing a TV trolley. Mr Vinayak ( owner) asked me to pay some advance money (Rs 1000) for the trolley and promised me to deliver it in 2 days.

After rigorous follow up I was forced to purchase a trolley which was damaged and not the one I had asked for. Mr. Vinayak told me that my money would not be refunded if I want I need to purchase the damged one or forget Rs. 1000.

PLEASE do not plan to purchase any furniture from this shop else you might another victim of tactics.

I have booked one courier for Modinagar via DTDC, Mahindera Complex, Sector 17, Gurgaon on Wednesday (20-Jun-2007)  with consignment # Z54524400, which supposed to be deliver on next day 21-Jun-2007. But it was not delivered on Thursday and when I have checked with DTDC agency , where Mr. Lalit ( who claiming himself as Manager of Mahindra Complex ) told me that Packet is delivered at Ghaziabad and soon it will be delivered at Modi Nagar and give me assurance that I can confirm this via their tracking site also.

When I have called their Ghaziabad Branch, then they told me that packet hasn't received by them yet where tracking information is is showing packet is already delivered at Ghaziabad Branch. On inquire with Mr. Lalit on Thursday (21-Jun-2007), he assured me that this will be delivered on Friday Morning.

But on Friday same episode happened with me, DTDC doesn't have information where is packet lying and when I inquired numerous time with Mr. Lalit , he give up and give me contact number of Mr. Saurav Dixit , who claimed himself as Senior Manager of DTDC. His representative Mr. Upender , give me assurance that Packet at Meerut and it will be delivered at 8 PM of Friday. But DTDC failed to deliver the consignment on 8 PM of Friday.

Finally I have decided to take the original documents copies with me to deliver at Modi Nagar and surprisingly when I have reached Modi Nagar at 11 AM on Saturday (23-Jun-2007), courier haven't delivered yet.

When I have enquired with Mr. Saurav Dixit and Mr. Upender , they told me that courier will be deliver within next 2 Hrs. and around 2 PM of 23-Jun-2007 it is delivered to me.
And height of errors which done by DTDC , his courier boy told me that since I have mentioned that Modi Nagar part of District Ghaziabad , due to this delay happened. Modi Nagar is part of Meerut as per them.

I don't know, what is the parameter of DTDC to claim Meerut as district of Modi Nagar , where is As per UP govt , Ghaziabad is the district of Modi Nagar as per Geographic , Revnuew , Law and Order and Telephone.

Apart from this, their tracking site is always shows that packet is delivered to Ghaziabad Branch and DTDC was failed to covered around 70 KM distance in 4 days.

This all shows that how DTDC is working and how good they are in to provide the service to the customer.

Neither they have enough knowledge of Municipal area of any locality nor also are they giving wrong information on their tracking site also.

"Though sales depends on location and also varies from city to city, a factory outlet usually does anywhere between Rs 25 and Rs30 per sq ft per day," said Venkatchalapathy, Senior Vice-President, Arvind Brands.

With such attractive footfall numbers and sales statistics, even top-notch names can't afford to ignore factory outlets. At Brand Factory, Adidas, Nike, Levi's, Pepe, Woodland, Wrangler, Esprit and Arrow merchandise are all stacked with value brands such as Peter England, Numero Uno and Ruff n Tuf.

"The way we expand our exclusive store distribution, we like to consider the expansion of factory outlets as well," said K K Pant, CEO and MD, Indus League. Factory outlets become a parallel chain to sell the `not so fresh' collection. Pant says in the franchisee kind of environment, the franchisee picks up garments at say a price 45 per cent lower than the MRP and sells it at 35 percent lower.

Generally about 25 percent of annual sales come from factory outlets for any brand, said Venkatchalapathy of Arvind Brands. Internationally, factory outlets have done well, with brands recording sales close to 20 percent in these retail formats.

"The better pull a brand has, the better it does in factory outlets, because consumers like to be associated with the brand," explained Pant.

"Ideally a company should not have surplus. But if stocks get accumulated, it's always better to route them through the factory outlets. One set of consumers buys my brand both in factory outlets and in premium stores on high streets. It certainly is important to be there and offer the same brand proposition there as much as possible," said Shumone Chatterjee, Country Manager, Levi Strauss India.

For Levi's, factory outlet sales contribute 5-7 percent of its total annual sales. For Indus League, 6-7 percent of its turnover comes from factory outlets.

Though Blackberrys, men's premium apparel brand does not have a presence in standalone factory outlets, it is seen at Brand Factory. Sales recorded is Rs3-5 lakh per month per outlet, says Badal Chaudhary, GM, Marketing and Sales.

Some global big names in factory outlets are Chelsea, Tanger Fatctory Outlet, Belz Enterprises, Prime Retail, McArthur Glen Designer Outlets and Bicester Village.

My Reliance phone has been dead for long time now. I have complained from highest to lowest level and every time Reliance officer says it will be OK within next 5 Days, but nothing happens.

Yesterday I visited Reliance Web World and came to know from officer on duty that there are no more instruments in the stock at all India level to replace the defective and nonworking phone. He assured me of earliest action whenever Reliance will import or purchase phone instruments after an indefinite period of time.

When my Reliance phone was new and working I advised many people to switch over to Reliance for better service, and today I am very ashamed that I gave such advice. Reliance has created nothing for me except problems.

Here is what is Reliance's Final Answer to me:

Dear Customer,

This is in response to your concern regarding the instrument for your Reliance Hello Phone number 0124 3267774.

As per our records, we understand that your Reliance Hello Phone instrument has been tampered with. Hence if you want to change your handset, you have to either get it repaired from the LG Authorized Service Centre (ASC) previously visited by you.

Alternatively, you can replace your Reliance Hello Phone instrument at the nearest Reliance World by paying Rs. 3000/-.

On 05/09/2006, i received a gift certificate with six month validity from Club Mahindra in BPCL Contest after bearing their presentation for a hour with my family.

 On 05/09/2006, i received a gift certificate with six month validity from Club Mahindra in BPCL Contest after bearing their presentation for a hour with my family.

I was told that booking can be done 2 weeks in advance and gift voucher is valid at Binsar/ Munnar/ Manali till March 04,2006. We were very happy to receive the voucher from reputed company like Mahindra and started planning for holiday.

My Nightmare started when i started trying to contact them on the designated number (044-30277847/48)which i could not do after trying for one week. I visited their web site, call them their chennai office, it was big harrassment for a non member to call that number, i was told by Ms. Jaya Prada and Bharat that they donot entertain non members and they will ask the concern person to call me. As expected i never recived the promised call.

I further contacted their reservation through e-mail but the net result after 15 days of communication on e mail was that there is no room available in any of the promised resort. I was told by Mr. Bharat they as a company policy they distribute 10 times more gift voucher than the number of seats available with them for non member.

I was asked by their reservation to visit Club Mahindra gurgaon office to extend the validity and return to them after extending that. I have refused to do so now as i know that i will not get any reservation even this time also.

Please be aware of these frauds named Club Mahindra and donot go for their membership or gift voucher.

OM SWEETS

• Arjun Nagar, Gurgaon

• Sector-31, Near Electricity Office, Gurgaon

• Sector-14 Market, Gurgaon

BIKANERVALA

• 3-5, Sector-29, DLF, (Near Leisure Valley Park), Gurgaon-122002, Phone

• Sadar Bazar, Gurgaon

SAMRAT SWEETS

• Sector-15, Gurgaon

• Sadar Bazar, Near Sona Road, Gurgaon

SHAYAM  SWEETS

• Old Delhi Road, Near TATA Moters Showroom, Gurgaon

• Sadar Bazar Near Sona Road, Gurgaon