The GST 2.0 has been a game changer for the online shoppers and e-commerce platforms like Flipkart and Amazon as they registered multi fold growth on their platforms during the sale which started on September 22. The Walmart-owned Flipkart said that the new GST reforms will drive consumption in high value categories like electronics and large appliances.
“Shoppers have been holding back purchases in anticipation of this shift. Early trends already reflect a surge in interest, now that the reforms are here,” said Pratik Shetty, VP, Growth and Marketing, Flipkart.
“On the Flipkart app and website, we’ve also curated a dedicated GST 2.0 store, making it easier for customers to discover products that benefit from the revised slabs,” added Mr. Shetty.
Flipkart shared that the GST cut has given a boost to the festive excitement, driving a 2.6X jump in new customers during Early Access among Black and Plus members as compared to the pre-festive period.
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“Early data from the Amazon Great Indian Festival that opened exclusively for Prime members shows multi-fold growth across categories. From smartphones to large appliances, fashion and consumer electronics, Prime members have shopped for deals across categories. Premium segments are performing exceptionally well, with smartphones, TVs, consumer electronics, fashion and beauty products,” said Saurabh Srivastava, Vice President, Categories, Amazon India.
Amazon also said that it has enabled sellers to transition smoothly to new GST rates helping customers enjoy the benefits of reduced GST on applicable selection across categories including home appliances, consumer electronics, fashion, daily essentials, healthcare products and more.
Shoppers are quite keen on the quick-commerce side as well, with them ordering premium items like iPhones which are getting delivered within minutes. Flipkart said that it delivered iPhone under 3 minutes during the Early Access with the highest cart value being ₹1.57 lakhs.
During the Early Access of The Big Billion Days 2025, Flipkart Minutes recorded over 45 lakh unique visitors and a 2X rise in order volumes compared to regular days.
“With the recent GST reforms, customers are celebrating tangible savings. Flipkart worked to ensure sellers passed on these benefits to the customers, making this festive season’s purchases more rewarding,” said Hemant Badri, SVP, Head of Minutes and Supply Chain, Customer Experience and ReCommerce, Flipkart Group.
Flipkart said that customers’ trust is increasing in quick commerce for premium purchases like iPhones and flagship Android models which signals a behavioural shift toward high-value instant commerce. iPhone16 emerged as the highest-selling item during the Early Access on Flipkart.
Metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kolkata saw a sharp 2X jump in orders during early access compared to regular days. Pune, Ambala, Chandigarh, and Panchkula, witnessed a 4X surge in total orders, followed by an increase in Tier 2+ markets like Jaipur, Patna, Kanpur, and Mysore, showcasing the growing demand of quick commerce beyond metros.
Not only online, even offline retail store experienced similar footfall during the first two days of the festive season.
“The revision in GST rates has provided a timely boost, and we expect demand during the festive season to settle in. Categories like televisions and domestic appliances have seen an increase in demand post 22nd, with customers showing a strong preference for premium products and larger screen sizes. We are fully passing on the GST benefits to our customers. With all leading brands aligning their pricing to the new directives, this truly is an ideal time for customers to upgrade and shop smart during the festive season,” said Shibashish Roy, CEO and MD, Infiniti Retail Ltd (Croma).
“Although Mondays typically draw fewer customers, yesterday our stores saw a significant rise in activity, with delivery volumes reaching nearly twice the usual daily average. This increase was anticipated, given that sales over the past few weeks had remained below 50%. We expect momentum to build from this point forward, as consumers now enjoy greater flexibility in discretionary spending and are likely to make multi-product purchases,” Nilesh Gupta, Director, Vijay Sales.
Flipkart’s data and insights are from Early Access of The Big Billion Days Sale (12 AM to 11:59 AM of September 22).
Published – September 24, 2025 01:40 pm IST
