Do you know❓
💡Flipkart was very close to not being able to deliver their FIRST EVER order.
Here's a very interesting nail-biting story!
🧵👇
💡Flipkart was very close to not being able to deliver their FIRST EVER order.
Here's a very interesting nail-biting story!
🧵👇
It was back in late October of 2007, Mr. VVK Chandra placed the first-ever order on Flipkart! 
Before going into the details of the event, a little bit about Mr. Chandra.
At the time, he used to live in a town called Mahabubnagar around 90 km away from Hyderabad. He ran a freelance web consultancy and was also an avid blogger mostly writing about internet and technology.
At the time, he used to live in a town called Mahabubnagar around 90 km away from Hyderabad. He ran a freelance web consultancy and was also an avid blogger mostly writing about internet and technology.
He also had a habit of reading books and the next book on his wishlist was a book called "Leaving Microsoft to Change The World" by "John Wood".
He tried hard, but couldn't get find it in any of the bookstores.
Remember, we are talking about the pre-ecommerce era in 2007.
He tried hard, but couldn't get find it in any of the bookstores.
Remember, we are talking about the pre-ecommerce era in 2007.
On 21st October 2007 at 11:26 PM, a guy called Sachin left a comment on one of his blog posts along with a link to a website #flipkart .com
Being curious, he clicked on the link to land on a website that sold books and promised to deliver them to your doorstep anywhere in India. This was something unheard of at that time. So he tried his luck by searching for this one book he couldn't get from anywhere else.
Let's just say it was really his lucky day! The website said it is available. But this was a random, unheard of before, website about which a random guy has posted.
It could very well be a scam.
It could very well be a scam.
The book costed around 500 INR.
As with many other things in life, since it was not that big an amount, he took the leap of faith and placed the order.
As with many other things in life, since it was not that big an amount, he took the leap of faith and placed the order.
500 km away, a small team working out from a 2BHK apartment in Koramangla, Bangalore jumped in joy and celebrated the first order on their website.
But there was one little problem. The ordered book was unavailable.
But there was one little problem. The ordered book was unavailable.
Sachin and Binny checked with 50+ major booksellers in Bangalore, Delhi & Mumbai, but luck wasn't in their favor.
To buy some time, Binny shot the below email to Mr. Chandra.
To buy some time, Binny shot the below email to Mr. Chandra.
Finally, they got to know that a copy is available at Sapna Book Store in Indranagar.
Finally a ray of hope. Phew!
But there was a catch. It wasn't looking like a new one. The pages had turned yellowish.
Finally a ray of hope. Phew!
But there was a catch. It wasn't looking like a new one. The pages had turned yellowish.
So Binny tried to call Mr. Chandra but couldn't get connected.
Then he dropped another email.
Then he dropped another email.
A little skeptical Chandra replied to the email
It was time for Binny to get the book.
It was raining very heavily that day. Nevertheless, At 5PM, Binny went on his bike from Kormangla to Sapna book store in Indranagar.
Unfortunately, in all the excitement he forgot to carry his wallet.
Damn!
It was raining very heavily that day. Nevertheless, At 5PM, Binny went on his bike from Kormangla to Sapna book store in Indranagar.
Unfortunately, in all the excitement he forgot to carry his wallet.
Damn!
He had to go back all the way and again come to finally purchase the book for his first customer.
Finally, on 31st October 2007, the first-ever order of Flipkart was shipped and got delivered on 2nd November 2007.
And the rest is now part of the humble history of Flipkart!
Finally, on 31st October 2007, the first-ever order of Flipkart was shipped and got delivered on 2nd November 2007.
And the rest is now part of the humble history of Flipkart!
👋👋 That's it, folks!
If you found this story insightful, please retweet the first tweet to share with your network! 🔥
Also, if you aren't already following, follow me at @jain_harshit to not miss any future interesting threads ❤️
If you found this story insightful, please retweet the first tweet to share with your network! 🔥
Also, if you aren't already following, follow me at @jain_harshit to not miss any future interesting threads ❤️
https://twitter.com/jain_harshit/status/1436690760850575362
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