Our Journey with Dehati Bazaar: Sweet Successes and Tough Challenges

It has been one and a half years since we started Dehati Bazaar, and what a journey it has been! These 18 months have been filled with countless bitter-sweet experiences—moments of pride, endless hard work, and of course, several challenges that tested us.

From the very beginning, procuring goods, selecting the right products, checking quality, and negotiating fair rates became an integral part of our business journey. We embraced these challenges wholeheartedly, and our entire team worked tirelessly—day and night—to build Dehati Bazaar with sincerity and dedication.

But after all this effort, there is one issue that continues to make us deeply sad and frustrated: product returns and unreliable delivery partners.

The Struggle with Returns

Every product we sell goes through a long process—careful selection, strict quality checks, and secure packaging. For example, when we send a turban, we place a rubber ball inside to maintain its shape, wrap it securely, and pack it in a sturdy corrugated box. Our goal has always been to ensure that the customer receives the product in perfect condition.

Yet, despite this effort, 20–30% of orders come back as returns. Out of these, around half are genuine customer-initiated returns. But the rest happen due to reasons beyond our control—delivery agents unable to reach the customer, calls not answered, or last-minute cancellations.

Now, we completely understand if someone doesn’t like a product or decides to cancel—that’s their choice. But what truly hurts is when returns come back in a condition that renders the product useless.

Imagine: a turban worth ₹1500, shipped in perfect condition, comes back tossed in a polythene bag, crushed and damaged to the point where it cannot be resold. Along with that, our travel, shipping, and packaging expenses go entirely to waste.

Delivery Partners: A Constant Challenge

Another issue we face is with delivery partners. Despite multi-layered packaging, we often find that items are mishandled during transit, arriving broken or damaged. And when we file claims, most of them get rejected without proper consideration.

It feels as if the system is designed to protect only the customer’s side, while the seller’s struggles are overlooked. E-commerce platforms and logistics companies often forget that behind every product is a business that has invested time, energy, and money.

The Bigger Question

As small business owners, we wonder:

·         Why is the seller’s perspective ignored?

·         Why can’t delivery partners handle products with the same care that we pack them with?

·         Why don’t return policies consider the losses sellers face?

Running an online business is not just about selling products—it’s about sustaining livelihoods. Every return that comes back damaged isn’t just a financial loss; it’s also a hit to the hard work, trust, and emotions we put into our business.

Moving Forward

At Dehati Bazaar, we’re committed to improving every aspect of our operations. But we also hope that customers and delivery partners become more mindful. A little care, a little understanding, and a little respect for the seller’s effort can make a big difference in supporting small businesses like ours.

After all, e-commerce should not just be customer-centric; it should also be seller-supportive. Because only when both sides are valued can true trust and growth happen.

Conclusion

Dehati Bazaar’s journey reflects a larger reality: small sellers are the backbone of e-commerce, yet they face structural challenges that threaten their survival.

Unless platforms, logistics companies, and policymakers collaborate to create a fairer system, many small businesses will continue to struggle under the weight of returns, unreliable logistics, and one-sided policies.

E-commerce can only thrive when it empowers all stakeholders—not just customers.