Online shopping is easy. With just a few clicks, we expect everything—from furniture to electronics—to arrive on time. But when delivery delays happen, it’s not just an inconvenience. For small businesses, it can mean real financial loss. This is one such experience that shows how a delay in delivering one office table led to a month of wasted time and money.
1) A Small Business, a Big Problem
A small business ordered a height-adjustable work table from The Sleep Company for their new office setup. The product looked perfect—modern design, premium quality, and marketed as “fast delivery guaranteed.” The sales representative confidently said,
“Sir, you’ll receive it within 7 days.”
by The Sleep Company Sales Person
That assurance was enough. The business placed the order, hoping to start work the following week.
2) The Delay That Stopped Everything
Days passed… the delivery never came. No message, no call, no update.
After multiple follow-ups through phone and email, the business finally received a reply:
“The item is currently out of stock.”
If the company had informed that earlier, the buyer could’ve made other arrangements. But instead, the delay created a chain reaction of problems.
3) The Real Cost — ₹25,000 Gone Without Work
This wasn’t a personal home purchase; it was for office use. The company had already rented a workspace and hired one staff member.
Here’s the reality:
Office rent: ₹15,000 per month
Employee salary: ₹10,000 per month
Total fixed expense: ₹25,000
Since the table didn’t arrive, the office couldn’t start operations properly. That means ₹25,000 went out as expenses—with almost zero output. For a small business, that’s not just frustrating, it’s a major loss.
4) Business Trust Takes a Hit
This experience was more than just a delivery issue. It affected the business’s confidence and reputation. Clients were waiting, plans were delayed, and the team had to sit idle.
A brand may not realize it, but a simple delay can disturb an entire business routine. If customers had known the item was out of stock, they could have planned differently.
Transparency costs nothing—but saves trust.
5) The Right to Ask for Fair Compensation
In such cases, businesses have every right to ask for fair compensation. Not as anger, not as revenge—but as a reasonable recovery for the loss faced.
Under Consumer Protection Act, 2019, a buyer can claim compensation for:
Delivery delays causing measurable financial loss
Lack of communication or false promises
Deficiency in service (as per Section 2(11) of the Act)
This is especially valid when the customer had proof—emails, order confirmation, delivery commitments, and the resulting impact.
6) Lessons for Every Buyer and Seller
For buyers:
Always keep written proof of promises made.
Ask for delivery dates in writing.
Save all communication as evidence.
For sellers:
Always update the customer before the promised date if stock runs out.
Offer alternate products or partial refunds when delays occur.
Respect the business loss—because every delay costs someone real money.
7) Conclusion
A small delay might look simple from the seller’s side—but for a small business paying rent and salary, it’s a heavy hit. Time lost cannot be refunded, but fair compensation can show respect.
Brands build trust not only through their marketing, but through how they handle problems. One honest update could have saved this business from unnecessary loss.
