SHOPPING GLOSSARY · INDIA
Make sense of shopping terms, from EMI and offers to delivery, returns and warranties, so you can choose with confidence.
38 terms to explore
Prices & Offers
A promotion linked to a particular bank, card or payment method.
It may provide an instant discount, cashback or a financing benefit.
An offer applies to an eligible card but not another bank’s card.
Check card type, minimum spend, maximum benefit and whether EMI transactions qualify.
Payments & EMI
A credit arrangement that lets you pay for a purchase later.
The provider sets eligibility, repayment dates and any charges.
A purchase is due next month or divided into a provider’s payment schedule.
Check the lender, repayment terms, late fees and possible credit-record effects.
Payments & EMI
A payment option where you pay when the order is delivered.
Some sellers offer payment on delivery; supported payment methods can vary.
You select COD at checkout and pay the delivery collection amount.
Check availability, any extra charge and the accepted payment methods.
Prices & Offers
A benefit credited after an eligible payment or purchase.
It may arrive later as money, wallet credit or another specified reward.
Pay ₹1,000 now and receive ₹50 later if the offer’s conditions are met.
Check where it is credited, when it arrives, any cap and whether it expires.
Sales & Events
A promotion intended to move remaining or older stock.
It can include older models, discontinued ranges or limited sizes.
Last season’s shoes are offered in only a few sizes.
Check age, condition, warranty, expiry where relevant and return eligibility.
Prices & Offers
A code you enter to request a particular offer.
Apply it in the coupon box; the checkout confirms whether it works.
Entering SAVE100 may request ₹100 off an eligible order.
Check minimum spend, expiry, eligible products and whether other offers can be combined.
Prices & Offers
The price reduction from an applied coupon.
Some coupons need a code; others need you to select or activate them.
Ticking an eligible ₹100 coupon changes a ₹1,000 item to ₹900 before other charges.
Confirm the reduction appears in the checkout total.
Prices & Offers
An amount taken off a stated price.
A discount may be a fixed amount or a percentage, sometimes with a maximum limit.
10% off ₹1,000 reduces the price by ₹100 if all conditions are met.
Check the reference price, cap and eligibility.
Payments & EMI
Money paid upfront before the remaining purchase amount is financed.
Only the balance is repaid through the loan or EMI arrangement.
Paying ₹5,000 upfront on a ₹20,000 purchase leaves ₹15,000 to finance.
Check whether quoted monthly payments assume a down payment.
Payments & EMI
Equated Monthly Instalment: a payment you make each month to repay a purchase loan.
The lender splits repayment into monthly instalments, usually including interest.
A ₹12,000 purchase repaid over six months is ₹2,000 per month before any interest or fees.
Compare the total repayment, interest, fees and due dates—not just the monthly amount.
Prices & Offers
An extra promotional benefit offered on top of an eligible exchange value.
It is separate from the assessed value of your old item.
₹3,000 exchange value plus a ₹1,000 bonus gives ₹4,000 combined benefit if accepted.
Check eligible models, inspection rules and whether the bonus is already included in the displayed saving.
Prices & Offers
The assessed value of an old item you give towards a new purchase.
The amount may depend on its model, condition and inspection.
Your old phone is valued at ₹3,000 towards a new one.
Describe its condition accurately and check what happens if inspection changes the value.
Checkout & Fees
The amount shown for payment after applicable discounts and checkout charges.
Review all line items. A financed purchase may also have lender charges outside checkout.
₹1,000 minus ₹100 coupon plus ₹40 delivery gives a ₹940 checkout total.
For EMI, compare total lender repayment as well as checkout.
Sales & Events
A promotion available for a limited period or quantity.
An offer can end when its time or stock limit is reached.
A product offer is available for a short window.
A countdown does not make a product suitable. Check the total and conditions before paying.
Sales & Events
Amazon India’s named festive shopping event.
Offers vary by product, seller, payment method and event period.
A phone may have an eligible card offer during the event.
Use Amazon’s current event terms; the name does not guarantee the lowest price.
Amazon India: festival event information (opens in a new tab)↗
Checkout & Fees
Goods and Services Tax: a tax applied to taxable supplies in India.
Tax treatment depends on the item or charge. Packaged-product MRP includes applicable taxes.
An invoice may break out tax already included in the product price.
Check the invoice and any separately quoted service or finance charges.
Department of Consumer Affairs: GST information (opens in a new tab)↗
Returns & Protection
A promise about a product or service whose meaning depends on its written terms.
It can describe performance, satisfaction or a particular remedy.
A seller’s money-back guarantee may have a claim deadline.
Do not assume it means an unconditional refund. Read the exact promise.
Checkout & Fees
A charge labelled for handling or fulfilling an order.
The retailer explains what it covers; it may be separate from shipping.
Checkout shows a handling charge in addition to the item price.
Read the platform’s description and whether the charge is refundable.
Prices & Offers
A reduction applied at checkout instead of a reward received later.
It is available only when the specified purchase or payment conditions are met.
An eligible payment reduces a ₹1,000 checkout amount to ₹900 immediately.
Confirm it appears before paying; check caps and excluded items.
Payments & EMI
The amount charged for borrowing money.
It is added according to the lender’s rate and repayment method.
An EMI’s monthly amount may include both repayment of the borrowed money and interest.
Ask for the total interest and repayment schedule.
Checkout & Fees
A shopping platform where sellers offer products to customers.
The seller shown on a product or order may differ from the platform name.
You buy through a shopping app from the seller named on the listing.
Check seller details, invoice and who provides support.
Checkout & Fees
A separately listed charge for using a shopping platform’s services.
Amazon India describes a marketplace fee for platform services. Amounts and exceptions can change.
Checkout may show an item price and a separate platform charge.
Check the live amount, exceptions and refund conditions. This is not automatically a delivery fee.
Amazon India: marketplace fee explanation (opens in a new tab)↗
Checkout & Fees
The spending threshold needed for a particular benefit.
Only eligible items may count towards it.
A coupon requires ₹999 of eligible items.
Do not add unwanted items just to unlock a smaller saving.
Prices & Offers
Maximum Retail Price: the printed maximum retail price for a packaged product, including taxes.
The selling price may be lower. MRP is not a record of what the item usually sells for.
A pack marked ₹1,000 MRP may be offered for ₹750.
Compare real selling prices and the exact pack size—not only the percentage off MRP.
Department of Consumer Affairs: consumer handbook (opens in a new tab)↗
Payments & EMI
An EMI offer designed to offset the interest cost of an eligible purchase.
In some offers, an upfront discount offsets interest charged by the lender. Other charges may still apply.
An interest-offset offer can still have a processing fee or tax on charges.
Read the lender’s breakdown. Compare the final total with paying in full.
Returns & Protection
An item sold with packaging that has already been opened.
It does not by itself establish that the item is unused or fully tested.
An appliance has opened packaging and a stated condition grade.
Confirm use history, missing accessories, condition and return terms.
Payments & EMI
A charge for arranging a payment or loan facility.
The lender or provider may charge it separately from interest.
An EMI plan may show a one-time processing fee on your statement.
Check the amount, applicable tax and whether cancellation refunds it.
Returns & Protection
Money returned after an eligible cancellation, return or other adjustment.
Timing and destination depend on the payment method and policy.
An accepted refund is credited to the specified payment account.
Check which charges are refunded and the stated timeline.
Returns & Protection
A previously owned or returned item checked and prepared for sale again.
Testing, repairs, grading and included accessories vary by provider.
A refurbished phone may show wear and have a different warranty from a new phone.
Check condition, battery information, seller, accessories and warranty.
Returns & Protection
Receiving another item in place of the original under an accepted request.
It normally addresses an eligible problem; it is different from getting your money back.
A faulty eligible item is exchanged for a replacement.
Check reasons, deadlines, inspection requirements and availability.
Returns & Protection
Sending an item back under the applicable return policy.
Eligibility, reasons and time limits vary. Some items allow replacement only.
An eligible item is sent back after a return request is accepted.
Read the selected product’s policy before ordering.
Sales & Events
A shopping promotion during which selected items or offers are advertised.
Not every product is reduced, and conditions differ between items.
Some appliances have an offer while other products keep their usual price.
Compare the final price, seller, warranty and return terms.
Prices & Offers
The price at which the seller offers the selected product.
Coupons, payment offers and separate checkout charges can change what you pay.
An item shows ₹800, with delivery charged separately.
Check the chosen variant and final order total.
Checkout & Fees
A charge for delivering your order.
It can depend on location, order value, seller or delivery speed.
An ₹800 item plus ₹40 delivery costs ₹840 before other charges.
Check your PIN code and whether free delivery has conditions.
Payments & EMI
The length of time allowed to repay a loan or EMI purchase.
It is usually shown in months. A longer tenure can lower monthly payments but increase total interest.
A six-month tenure means six scheduled monthly payments.
Check the repayment period and total cost for each available option.
Sales & Events
Flipkart’s named shopping sale event.
Product offers, early access and payment conditions vary by event.
A selected appliance may have a sale-period offer.
Check current Flipkart terms and the exact product’s final price.
Payments & EMI
Unified Payments Interface: a system used to make instant payments through supported apps.
You approve a payment from a linked payment account using the app’s payment flow.
You scan a shop’s QR code and pay after checking the recipient and amount.
Never share your PIN. You do not need to enter a UPI PIN just to receive money.
Returns & Protection
A promise of specified support for covered problems over a stated period.
The manufacturer or seller sets coverage, exclusions and the claim process.
A covered manufacturing fault may qualify for repair during the warranty period.
Check provider, coverage, invoice requirements and exclusions.
Try a shorter word or clear the filters.
