RETURN POLICY

RETURN, REFUND & EXCHANGE POLICY

Alika Fashion Store
Last Updated: September 2026

IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING

All Alika products are handcrafted and made to order by women artisans. Each piece is produced specifically for you after your order is confirmed. Due to the bespoke nature of our products, our return policy differs from mass-produced retail. Please review this policy carefully before placing your order.

1. RETURN ELIGIBILITY

Returns are accepted ONLY in the following circumstances:

Manufacturing Defect: Significant stitching errors, fabric tears, wrong embroidery, or material defects that were not described in the product listing
Wrong Product Delivered: You received a completely different product than what you ordered
Damaged During Shipping: Product arrived damaged (with supporting evidence — see Section 5 below)

Returns are NOT accepted for:

Change of mind or buyer's remorse
Colour appearing different on screen versus in person (minor colour variations are natural due to screen settings, photography lighting, and the handcrafted nature of the product)
Minor variations in hand embroidery pattern, density, or placement — these are characteristics of authentic handcrafted products, not defects
Size not fitting (unless we sent the wrong size). Please refer to our size guide before ordering
Product not meeting subjective expectations
Products that have been worn, washed, altered, or had saree finishing/fall-pico work done by a third party
Products returned without prior return authorisation from Alika Fashion Store

2. RETURN PROCESS — STEP BY STEP

Step 1: Contact Us Within 7 Days of Delivery

If you believe your product qualifies for a return, contact us within 7 calendar days of receiving the product:

Email: hello@alika.in
WhatsApp: +91 81570 25332

Please provide: your order number, clear photographs of the product and the defect/damage, and a brief description of the issue.

Step 2: Return Authorisation

Our team will review your request within 3 business days. If approved, we will issue a Return Authorisation (RA) number along with return instructions.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Do NOT ship any product back to us without receiving a Return Authorisation. Unauthorised returns will not be accepted or refunded.

Step 3: Ship the Product Back to Us

We do not offer reverse pickup. The customer is responsible for shipping the product back to our address. Please use a reputable courier service with tracking.

Ship to:
ALIKA FASHION STORE
Mudra 153A, Mudavanmukal
Poojappura PO
Thiruvananthapuram – 695012
Kerala, India
Ph: +91 81570 25332

The product must reach us within 7 days of receiving the Return Authorisation. Products received after this period will not be eligible for return or refund.

Step 4: Inspection & Resolution

Upon receiving the returned product, we will inspect it within 5–7 business days. You will be notified of the outcome by email.

3. RETURN SHIPPING COSTS

Defective or wrong product (our fault): We will reimburse reasonable return shipping costs upon submission of the courier receipt. Maximum reimbursement: ₹200/- for domestic returns
All other eligible returns: Return shipping is at the customer's expense. We recommend using a trackable courier service
International returns: Return shipping, customs duties, and any applicable charges are the customer's responsibility

Alika Fashion Store is not responsible for products lost or damaged during return shipping. We strongly recommend using a tracked and insured shipping method.

4. CONDITION OF RETURNED PRODUCTS

Returned products must be:

Unused, unworn, and unwashed
In original condition with all tags attached
In original packaging (if available)
Free from any alterations, tailoring, or third-party modifications (including saree finishing, fall-pico work, or blouse stitching done externally)

If a returned product fails inspection (found to be used, washed, altered, or not matching the reported defect), the return will be rejected and the product will be shipped back to the customer at their expense.

5. MANDATORY EVIDENCE FOR DAMAGE CLAIMS

For any claim of damage during shipping, the following evidence is mandatory:

Unboxing video: A continuous, unedited video of the package being opened for the first time, clearly showing the condition of the outer packaging and the product inside. This must be recorded at the time of delivery or immediately upon receipt
Photographs: Clear photos of the damaged outer packaging, the shipping label, and the damaged product
Report to courier: If the outer package appears damaged at the time of delivery, please note this to the delivery person and, if possible, refuse delivery

Damage claims without an unboxing video may not be accepted. We recommend recording an unboxing video for every delivery as a standard practice.

6. REFUND POLICY

Refund Method: Refunds are processed to the same payment method used for the original purchase. We do not issue refunds by cheque, cash, or to a different account.

Refund Timeline:

Refund initiated within 7 business days after inspection and approval
Bank/payment gateway processing: Additional 5–10 business days (varies by bank and payment method)
Total time from return receipt to refund credit: Approximately 14–21 business days

Refund Amount:

Product price will be refunded in full (if return is approved)
Original shipping charges are non-refundable except in cases where we sent a defective or wrong product
Any discount or coupon applied to the original order will be deducted proportionally from the refund
Return shipping costs borne by the customer are not refundable (except as stated in Section 3)

7. EXCHANGE POLICY

We do not offer direct exchanges. Since all products are made to order, an exchange would require a new production cycle. If you wish to exchange:

Return the original product (if eligible, following this policy)
Place a new order for the desired product
Both processes follow their standard timelines (return processing + new production of 3–4 weeks)

8. CANCELLATION POLICY

Within 24 hours of order placement: Orders may be cancelled for a full refund. Contact us immediately at hello@alika.in or +91 81570 25332.

After 24 hours: Orders cannot be cancelled as production may have already commenced. No refund will be issued for orders cancelled after production begins. This is due to the made-to-order, handcrafted nature of our products — once an artisan begins work on your piece, the materials and labour are committed.

9. NON-RETURNABLE ITEMS

The following items are not eligible for return under any circumstances (except manufacturing defect):

Customised or personalised products made to specific customer requirements
Products purchased during sale or clearance events (unless defective)
Gift cards or store credits
Products where saree finishing (fall-pico) or blouse stitching has been completed by Alika as an add-on service, unless the defect is in the base product itself

10. LATE OR DELAYED DELIVERY

Alika Fashion Store's standard production timeline is 3–4 weeks for made-to-order products, plus shipping time. If delivery is delayed beyond the estimated timeline:

We will proactively communicate the revised timeline
You may request cancellation and a full refund if the delay exceeds 14 days beyond the original estimated delivery date, unless the delay is caused by force majeure (natural disasters, government restrictions, courier disruptions, pandemics, or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control)

11. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of a return or refund request, please escalate the matter to our Grievance Officer:

Name: Sarath Kiran Sasikumar
Designation: Proprietor & Grievance Officer
Email: hello@alika.in
Phone: +91 81570 25332
Address: Mudra 153A, Mudavanmukal, Poojappura PO, Thiruvananthapuram – 695012, Kerala, India

All grievances will be acknowledged within 48 hours and resolved within one month from the date of receipt, in accordance with the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020.

We encourage all customers to exhaust the grievance redressal process before approaching any external forum.

12. JURISDICTION

Any disputes arising out of or in connection with this Return, Refund & Exchange Policy shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.

Alika Fashion Store
Mudra 153A, Mudavanmukal, Poojappura PO
Thiruvananthapuram – 695012, Kerala, India
Email: hello@alika.in | Phone: +91 81570 25332
www.alika.in