Gucci Faces Consumer Complaint After Mumbai Lawyer Falls Due to Allegedly Defective Shoes
In a striking example of how luxury doesn't always guarantee reliability, the South Mumbai District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has issued notice to high-end fashion brand Gucci, following a complaint by Mumbai-based advocate Kaashif Khan Deshmukh. The complaint revolves around a pair of shoes that allegedly caused Deshmukh to suffer a public fall and emotional distress, barely an hour after purchasing them.
The notice, served last Friday by a bench consisting of Commission President Sadik Ali B Sayyad and Member Gauri M Kapse, names Guccio Gucci SpA (Italy), along with the brand’s Mumbai retail outlets at Trident Hotel and Jio World Plaza, as respondents.
According to Deshmukh, the incident occurred on March 6, 2024, when he bought a pair of Gucci shoes priced at a staggering ?4,75,500. Within an hour of wearing them, he reportedly experienced significant discomfort due to an uneven elevation between the two shoes. This defect, he claims, caused him to lose balance and fall in public — an incident that not only resulted in physical pain but also deep embarrassment and mental anguish.
Deshmukh stated that when he returned to the store seeking assistance, he was redirected to Gucci’s Bandra Kurla Complex outlet, where he was allegedly treated dismissively by the staff. A written acknowledgment dated March 7, 2024, reportedly issued by Gucci, confirmed that an internal inspection revealed a minor elevation difference between the shoes.
Despite being a loyal customer and spending an additional ?29,500 on a replacement pair, Deshmukh says the emotional toll of the fall lingered. “It wasn’t just about the shoes — it was about how I was treated, the loss of dignity, and the disregard for my concerns,” he noted in his plea.
The complaint calls out Gucci’s failure in providing quality assurance and customer care, accusing the brand of selling a defective product, engaging in unfair trade practices, and failing to uphold the reputation expected of a globally recognized luxury label.
Deshmukh is now seeking ?21.14 crore in compensation, citing deficiency in service, physical injury, mental trauma, and the legal expenses incurred.
The case is currently pending before the consumer commission and is expected to proceed in the coming weeks.
