Several months after launching its VIP subscription programme, Walmart-backed ecommerce giant Flipkart has rolled out the service to 8 new cities in order to increase its client base.
With this expansion, Flipkart’s VIP subscription programme will now be available for customers in Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Patna, Pune, and Ranchi.
Previously, the programme was restricted to customers in Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, Kolkata, and Mumbai.
The Flipkart VIP subscription program provides benefits such as 48-hour free delivery, an additional 5% savings through SuperCoins, immediate access to specialized customer support, and the ability to cancel or reschedule Cleartrip flights for just INR 1.
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Moreover, there are extra perks, including special offers on Cleartrip hotel reservations, return pick-up within 48 hours, and early access to shopping festivals.
As part of the program, customers can purchase a subscription for INR 499 and enjoy VIP membership for a year. Additionally, there’s a limited-time offer allowing all new VIP customers to save on every grocery order.
Prabh Singh, Flipkart’s Senior Vice President for Growth, Customer, and Ads, expressed, “Following the success of this program in four cities, we’re excited to introduce the launch of Flipkart VIP in eight new cities.”
It’s worth noting that Flipkart introduced this program in October last year as a strategic move to compete with its rival, Amazon.
While Flipkart’s VIP program offers similar features to Amazon Prime, it doesn’t universally ensure free same-day or next-day deliveries, a service that has given Amazon a competitive edge through its Prime program.
In contrast, Amazon Prime provides a comprehensive package, including access to Prime Video, Prime Music, Gaming, and Reading. Currently, Flipkart VIP does not include entertainment offerings.
This development comes in the wake of reports from a month ago, suggesting that Flipkart is venturing into the quick commerce space to compete with platforms like Zepto, Zomato’s Blinkit, and Swiggy’s Instamart.
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In the next six to eight weeks, Flipkart plans to roll out 10-15 minute delivery services in at least a dozen cities.
Recently, the company has expanded its travel service offerings by launching a bus booking facility on its app, providing customers access to 10 lakh bus connections covering over 25,000 routes across India.
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The company has recently secured numerous investments.
Last week, the company received INR 1,421 crore (approximately $170 million) from its Singapore parent through an internal cash transfer.
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In March, Flipkart Internet, its marketplace arm, received a cash injection, garnering approximately INR 924 crore ($111 million) in two installments from its affiliated entities located in Singapore.
However, amidst these developments, the ecommerce giant witnessed a decline in its valuation by $5 billion (INR 41,432 crore) as of January 2024 compared to January 2022, according to equity transactions reported by its US parent company, Walmart.
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