If an Alphonso mango carton arrives damaged, photograph it before opening further and message AlphonsoMango.in within 24 hours of delivery with photos or video and your order number. Approved claims get a replacement or a refund, your choice, within two business days of approval. Normal ripening variation is not a claim reason.
By Prashant Powle, founder of AlphonsoMango.in (operated by Powle Home Foods, Mumbai). Last updated 23 October 2026.
What counts as damage?
Three things, in our published return policy: transit damage, a wrong or missing item, and a clear quality failure. Crushed corners, a wet or leaking box, an open flap, mangoes split or bruised through the skin, a different grade from the one you ordered, a missing dozen from a two-dozen order. Those are claims.
A mango that is slightly green on day one is not damage. Alphonso is shipped semi-ripe on purpose, so that it survives the journey and ripens at your home. A box that looks perfect and contains hard, olive-green fruit is a box doing its job. Wait a few days before judging.
The first five minutes: what to do at the door
Look at the outer carton before you sign. Do not sign first and inspect later. If the box is crushed, wet or open, tell the delivery person, photograph it with them in the frame if you can, and note the condition on the delivery slip or app.
Then open it. Photograph the whole box with the lid off. Photograph any split, leaking or squashed fruit close up, with a coin or a pen next to it for scale. If you can, record a short video of the unboxing, a slow pan from corner to corner.
This takes three minutes. It decides how smoothly your claim goes.
The evidence that gets a claim approved
Keep this list and tick it off.
- Your order number (it is in the confirmation email and WhatsApp message).
- Photo of the outer carton, all sides, including the shipping label.
- Photo or video of the opened box.
- Close-ups of each damaged fruit.
- A count: how many mangoes were in the box, and how many are affected.
- The time of delivery.
Send it to WhatsApp +91 70830 75556 or support@alphonsomango.in. The window is 24 hours from delivery, and I would send it the same day. Do not wait for the fruit to ripen further, because a claim raised on day four reads as ordinary spoilage.
What compensation looks like: a per-fruit example
The published remedy is a replacement or a refund, at your choice, issued within two business days of approving the claim. Refunds go to the original payment method within seven business days of approval. Which you pick is up to you.
To get a sense of scale, work out the value per fruit. This is an illustrative sum, not a formula the policy uses.
- A medium dozen costs ₹2,099, so each mango is worth about ₹175 (₹2,099 ÷ 12).
- If 3 of 12 arrive crushed, the affected value is roughly 3 × ₹175 = ₹525.
- A two-dozen large box costs ₹4,699, about ₹196 a fruit; 5 affected is about ₹980.
What the team approves depends on the evidence and the assessment of the claim. If the damage is widespread, the entire box may be replaced or refunded; if it is partial, discuss it with them. Delivery is free, so there is no shipping amount to argue over.
The thing to notice is that proof of the count matters more than the per-fruit price. A clear photo of 12 mangoes in the box, 4 of them split, makes the arithmetic obvious.
What is not covered
Be clear on this too, because it avoids a disappointing conversation. Our return policy does not cover normal ripening variation or natural size mix within a grade, claims made after 24 hours, wrong storage after delivery, wrong or incomplete addresses, or refused or delayed deliveries. Fresh fruit also has no physical return: you keep the fruit, and send evidence.
Packaged goods run on different terms. Unsealed returns for items such as Alphonso pulp go through a 10-day return when unopened and sealed, and damage must be reported within 48 hours. Read the full return policy.
Bulk and corporate buyers: terms to ask for
If you are ordering 20 boxes for clients, the 24-hour window and the evidence list still apply as the baseline, but you may want more in writing. Ask the supplier:
- Who inspects at delivery, and how is a damaged box recorded?
- Is the claim window the same for multi-box orders?
- Can the replacement be re-sent to the recipient's address in time for the event?
- How does a credit note or refund appear on the invoice?
AlphonsoMango.in handles bulk and corporate orders by enquiry; terms beyond the published policy are confirmed in the quote, so start with the corporate gifting form.
Ripening, carbide and how orders are sent
Fruit is harvested to order, packed against the order and shipped semi-ripe. Orders received before 1:00 PM IST, Monday to Saturday, dispatch the same day, with fresh mangoes carried by BlueDart to serviceable PIN codes. You get tracking by email and WhatsApp. Be there on the first attempt. Payment is prepaid and there is no cash on delivery.
One thing you might see in a damaged or old carton elsewhere is a white or grey powder. It can be a carbide residue (calcium hydroxide), and it is a warning sign. Calcium carbide is prohibited for ripening fruit in India under Regulation 2.3.5 of the FSS (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, because it releases acetylene and can carry arsenic and phosphorus impurities. FSSAI permits controlled ethylene ripening up to 100 ppm; check fssai.gov.in for the current text. We do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally (on hay beds, as our FAQ states). If you ever do see powder in one of our cartons, tell us at once, with a photo.
Verified business details
- Operated by Powle Home Foods, Kurla West, Mumbai 400070
- GI Authorised User AU/5974/GI/139/260 (Alphonso), AU/6932 (Devgad)
- FSSAI Central Licence 10020022011783 (FSSAI)
- APEDA registration 225579 (export)
- Claims and support: WhatsApp +91 70830 75556, support@alphonsomango.in (contact)
- Policies: shipping, returns
- Press: Press and Media; buyer feedback: reviews
You can verify the GI, FSSAI and APEDA numbers on the official registers.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if my Alphonso mango box arrives damaged?
Photograph the carton and fruit, then message WhatsApp +91 70830 75556 or email support@alphonsomango.in within 24 hours of delivery with your order number. Approved claims get a replacement or refund, your choice.
How long do I have to report damage?
24 hours from delivery for fresh fruit. Packaged goods have 48 hours to report damage. Claims after the window are not covered, so report the same day.
Do I have to send the damaged mangoes back?
No. Fresh fruit has no physical return. You send photos or video as evidence and keep or discard the fruit.
Will I get a refund or a replacement?
The choice is yours once the claim is approved. A replacement or refund is issued within two business days of approval, and refunds reach the original payment method within seven business days.
Is a slightly green mango a damaged one?
No. Alphonso is shipped semi-ripe and ripens at home over a few days. Normal ripening variation and natural size mix within a grade are not claim reasons.
Is there a separate charge for a replacement shipment?
Delivery is free on our orders, and the policy does not list a charge for approved replacements. Ask the team to confirm the arrangement for your claim.
Are your mangoes ripened with carbide?
We do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally (on hay beds, as our FAQ states). Carbide is prohibited for ripening fruit in India.
See also: Alphonso Mango 6 Dozen Carton
Sources and further reading
- FSSAI
- GI Registry, Intellectual Property India
- AlphonsoMango.in return policy
- AlphonsoMango.in shipping policy
- Contact AlphonsoMango.in
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