Kunal Bahl, the co-founder of Snapdeal, has been spotted shopping on rival e-commerce platform Amazon, adding an unexpected twist to the competitive landscape of the Indian e-commerce market.
Bahl, in a recent post on X , sought recommendations for a good squash racket in India. A follower responded with a suggestion, to which Bahl replied with a screenshot of the product he ended up purchasing. Eagle-eyed observers quickly noted that the screenshot appeared to be from Amazon's website, raising eyebrows and sparking discussions on social media.
Founded by Bahl and Rohit Bansal in 2010, Snapdeal experienced rapid growth and commanded a peak valuation of approximately $6.5 billion. However, the company later faced challenges, including a failed merger with Flipkart and increased competition from established players like Amazon.
In recent years, Snapdeal has undergone a transformation with its "2.0" version, focusing on affordable lifestyle products for budget-conscious buyers in tier-II towns. The company has also implemented stricter quality control measures as part of its turnaround strategy.
Public Reaction:
The incident involving Bahl shopping on Amazon has elicited mixed reactions. Some users view it as a harmless instance of personal preference, while others see it as an ironic situation given Snapdeal's history and competitive position.
Regardless of the interpretation, the event underscores the intense competition in the Indian e-commerce market, where even founders of major platforms may occasionally turn to rivals for specific needs.