There’s a lot of talk around about this, so might as well. Before you hear of it from elsewhere. I’m not sure I should be revealing all this … don’t even think I’m authorised to reveal this … but I’m going to go ahead and do it anyway. All you journalists, feel free to quote me on it:
5> Flipkart funds food
It’s true, and not in the Sodexo Coupon way. Flipkart pays for most of the meals of most of the employees. Breakfast, Tea, Lunch, Tea, Evening Snacks, Tea. Flipkart also caters to the discerning tastebuds; adrak chai, badam milk, turmeric milk, black coffee, con leche, sans lait, food without roots and tubers, fast food, food from Kareem in Delhi, kulchas from the guy across the street. It’s like a wedding every day. Almost.
4> Flipkart provides funding for my shelter
I’m a leech. I have slept in Flipkart’s old office, I’ve slept in Flipkart’s new office, I’ve even slept in Flipkart founder Binny Bansal’s house. I now sleep in Flipkart’s guest accommodation suite. And I’ve been a guest for a year now, so that should give you a good idea.
3> Flipkart is funding telecommunications
I don’t use a cellphone. So they bought me a cellphone. I then went on to lose the cellphone (in Binny Bansal’s house, oddly). Now they are after me to get a phone. Here’s my plan: If I delay it long enough, they will be forced to get me a phone.
Meanwhile, Nandu the office boy had his phone stolen. The other Flipkart founder Sachin Bansal gave him his own cellphone.
Nandu then had his cycle stolen, which brings me to the next point …
2> Flipkart is funding transportation
A few SELECT employees get travel allowance. Fuel allowance. People like Nandu also get a cycle. Which then unfortunately gets stolen, again.
But the most important thing Flipkart is funding is
1> HOPE
Hope to all those who never had access to books they needed, and though not necessarily cheap, making it affordable to these same people.
Hope to all those independent authors who can never go through traditional channels, by making it less cumbersome and by getting them to their audience.
Hope to International authors, by giving them access to Indian markets which they would never have had before.
Hope to other Startups and would-bes, by being an example. It’s not easy and the hurdles are immense. But a lot can be done by two people whose sum capital investment is the price of a Hyundai Santro.
10 Comments
You guys are doin great work. Tapas your writing’s really funny as well. Keep up the great work and service guys you are being thanked daily for making book ordering online a smooth operation.
Simply Funny and yes i agree with Karthick “being thanked daily for making book ordering online a smooth operation.”
hopefully, you turn flipkart into online CDs, VCDs, DVDs store also !
(sometime back i desperately was trying to purchase a frech movie “kirikou”, i didnt buy it as flipkart didnt have it !!)
Good Luck Team
Oh man! I just love you guys!!!!!!
Very Witty and I can tell you that future employees (Or not) will be sold the moment they see this Blog! Should be on your Careers Section Flipkarters!
Nice way to present the routine employee life of any corporate creamy companies…!
1. Transport is free for only selective, bit sad.
2. cellphone is free? not sure if they provide desk extension or not
then.
3. sleeping in office is familiar corporate pattern if you observe it. Also, as a boot startup, that should be routine hobby to all in there. Donno, it’s shared or individual accommodation though if you stayed for 1 year continuously.
4. food stuff list is very common menu though everywhere. I’m sure a fresher definitely fall for it
.
Totally, I liked the presentation skills of this one.
-> Pa1
Indeed a nice presentation of little things. Hope, as it said, is definitely one thing that Flipkart brought about. Have been using the site to buy books and so far great service.
Good luck to you guys.
Don;t let big companies to take you when you get bigger ! We would love to have our very own google.com or amazon.com or yahoo.com kind of company that would be awesome ! Tired of people talking only infosys, wipros and the TCSes.
Y don;t get introduce social networking into flipkart.com , location based services into flipkart ! That would put your run on steroids !
one thing which i can think is add Facebook like button to flipkart items, let folks buy books using facebook virtual currency.
Hi
Great job! I am sure you will exceed most of the global player(s) in the niche. You have hit the largest growing market in the planet. Your cash on delivery strategy should be your Winner!
Wish List:
1. Handheld digital recorders
2. Handheld camcorders eg.Kodak Zi 8
3. Perfumes and toiletry for people on the move
4. Replicas (model 00) of automobile and railway classics
…. to name a few!
Dear Tapas,
I think its high time flipkart starts improving its customer support. I brought a Nikon D3100 from Flipkart believing in your service etc etc. I received a faulty camera and your customer support team is not ready to commit on replacement.
I think Flipkart is loosing its credibility. My order number is OD10924070802. Just in case you take customer feedback seriously.