When Brands Don’t Understand “STOP”: My Weird WhatsApp Experience with Louis Philippe
I recently had a funny but also frustrating experience with the WhatsApp channel of a premium Indian clothing brand - Louis Philippe (LP) under Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. It’s a name that sounds classy, but the way they handle customer data and privacy? Not so much.
One day, I received a WhatsApp message from Louis Philippe (LP) on my personal number. I was surprised because I had never shared my number with them or signed up for any messages. But there it was, an ad from a brand I didn’t care about.
In India, it’s common for brands and their partner agencies to collect personal details like names, phone numbers, emails, and even home addresses. Most of the time, they use this information to send marketing messages without asking us. Consent is often ignored.
As anyone would, I replied with “STOP” hoping the messages would end. To my surprise, LP actually replied. They politely said they would stop sending messages and thanked me for the feedback.
I thought that was the end of it.
I was wrong.
Just a few weeks later, the messages started again. LP was back on my WhatsApp, sending the same unwanted ads as before. It felt like their promise to stop was just empty words — something they said to tick a box, not something they meant.
This made me think about a bigger problem, how brands in India treat our personal data. They collect it without care, and even when we ask them to stop, they don’t listen.
It’s not just irritating, it’s unprofessional. And it makes you wonder if these brands really care about their customers at all.
What brands like LP should do.
- Respect “STOP”, If someone asks to stop receiving messages, that request should be honoured immediately.
- Be transparent, If you have someone’s number, be honest about how you got it.
- Value your customers, Don’t treat people like just a list of targets for your marketing.
I hope more Indian brands realise that customer trust is built through respect, not by sending repeated ads. A little care goes a long way in keeping your customers loyal.
