Sale of TTD calendars at higher price on Amazon triggers row

Even as the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) claims to have taken a giant leap in promoting its products to offshore devotees through a tie-up with online major Amazon, it is not without its share

Even as the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) claims to have taken a giant leap in promoting its products to offshore devotees through a tie-up with online major Amazon, it is not without its share of controversy in terms of pricing.

Left party leaders have raised a hue and cry over the sale of TTD’s calendars and diaries at an unbelievably-huge price that is much above its Maximum Retail Price (MRP). “The simple calendar bearing the image of Lord Venkateswara and Goddess Padmavathi is priced at ₹15. But, Amazon shows the same as priced at ₹299 and offers it at a discounted price of ₹149. How can anyone sell the product at a price over and above that fixed by the TTD?” questions Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) general secretary Kandharapu Murali.

The TTD diary costing a mere ₹130 is shown as a whopping ₹799 and offered at a discounted price of ₹499. “The TTD vigilance sleuths get a small-time middleman arrested for selling the laddu in the open market for an extra price of ₹10, but strangely remains mum on such a grossly unlawful practice”, Mr. Murali wondered, while demanding that the TTD divulge the terms and conditions behind the tie-up entered into with the online retailer.