FAQ

1. What is Gripe?
While shopping in B&M shops, we often take a liking for a product but don't get it in that shop, in the right size, colour, fitting (slim, regular etc.) or due to some other mismatch of specifications. So, we basically like the product but have a Gripe (complain / "shikayet") about it. Though this shop does not have the product in the right specs, some other shop in town has it. It is to connect these shops (the one who has the demand but not the supply, with those that have the supply but not demand), that we use Gripe app. The following diagram shows the Purchase/Process flow of Gripe app.



2. How many modes of operation does Gripe have?
Gripe app has 2 modes of operation - shop to shop And customer to shop. Gripe firstly acts as a communication channel between the different unorganized retail shops (i.e. one shop can refer his customer's demand to other shops) and secondly as a channel of communication between customers and unorganised retail shops (i.e. the customer can himself/herself directly specify his demand on Gripe)

3. Is Gripe for all sorts of products?
Gripe is by and large for branded products - as of now it does not work for unbranded products or for commodities. In future we plan to tweak our interface to include such products also. At present it supports 5 types of products - Mobiles & Accessories (Typically Rs 1k to Rs 35k), Apparel (Rs 1k to Rs 5k), Laptops & Accessories (Rs 1k to Rs 50k), Cosmetics (Rs 250 to Rs 2500) and Small Electronic Appliances (Rs 1k to Rs 20k)

4. What is the advantage of Gripe?
For the shop the advantage is that Gripe can prevent his customers from slipping out. If a customer likes an item in his shop, but wants it in another specification, then the shop can use Gripe app to broadcast the customer's requirements to other shops, who will reply with their best offers. For the customers Gripe combines the product range of eCommerce with the ability to see and try the items, that only B&M (not eCom) can give.

5. Is Gripe just another ecommerce company?
No. We try to help the small retailers, unlike eCom and corporate retail who tend to crush their business. You can say Gripe is a shop-centric eCom platform, which enables unorganised retailers prevent their customers from slipping out - by coordinating among each other (i.e by "referring" the customer's demand to other shops, who may be carrying the item). Customers can also place their demands directly on Gripe.

6. Was Gripe made due to the Covid lock down?
Not at all. Gripe was actually ready to be rolled out before Covid, first in September 2019 (but at that time we had health issues in our founding team) and then in April 2020 - but April is when the Covid lock down started. So, all our plans got delayed. Interestingly, the way we envisioned Gripe to work in 2019, may turn out to be just what the doctor ordered, for India's small unorganised retailers, who were most hit by the Covid lock-down!

7. Who can use Gripe?
Gripe can be used by unorganised retailers to coordinate among each other and also by the customers who visit in such shops. Customers can use Gripe from outside of shops also, like from their homes, office, public transportation, from the mall or even from the streets!

8. How do I register on Gripe?
Download the Gripe app from the Google play store and register as a customer or a shop. If you register as a shop, your shop needs to be approved first before you can start using Gripe.

9. How can I earn as a Gripe Sales Agent?
You can become a Gripe sales agent and earn with Gripe. All you have to do is download and register on Gripe as a customer. Then you have to go to shops that keep branded items supported by Gripe and get them registered on the Gripe platform. Make sure the shops register with YOUR unique customer id so that we can know that you signed up that shop. You can track your earnings in the Gripe app. We will pay you by electronically.

10. How do I contact the company?
You can email us at feedback@getgripe.com - please include your customer id in your email and if the issue is about an item bought on Gripe, then include the Gripe transaction id of the item also.