Food delivery giants Zomato and Swiggy have hiked their platform fees in some markets, according to reports. Customers in Delhi and Bengaluru will now have to pay a fee of Rs 6 per order – which is 20% higher than the previous fee of Rs 5. In Mumbai, some Swiggy orders will attract a platform fee of Rs 7 (it was Rs 5 earlier). Zomato first introduced a platform fee of Rs 2 in August 2023 and since then, it has gradually increased the rate over time. Swiggy is also charging a similar fee.
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People have criticised the platform fee hike on social media. One of the viral posts that has garnered a lot of buzz online is by Deepak Shenoy, CEO of a Bengaluru-based company called CapitalMind. Deepak said that, in general, he has “reduced ordering from Swiggy/Zomato significantly” and orders only occasionally. Recently, when he saw the increase in platform fees, he was “glad I weaned myself off of ordering daily”. He also said that the companies “take 30% from restaurants”. He shared this post on July 13 and it shocked X.
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Although he commented on the fee hike, it was apparently not the main reason for his change in habits. Rather, it was due to health reasons. On July 15, he responded to his original post, saying, “Glad to know from media sources that I have reduced this order due to the platform fee being increased from Rs 5 to Rs 6. Yes, that’s the reason 🙂 I switched to a much more expensive option, but it is much healthier, for health reasons.”
Glad to know from media sources that I have reduced this order due to the increase in platform charges from Rs 5 to Rs 6. Yes, that is the reason 🙂
I went with a more expensive option for health reasons, but this one is much healthier.
— Deepak Shenoy (@deepakshenoy) July 15, 2024
Here’s how some X users reacted to her original post:
30% is for orders only. Now they charge much more because now they promote advertising (sponsored listings) and promotions etc which causes loss to the restaurant or they lose a lot of orders.
— Shantanu Goel (@shantanugoel) July 13, 2024
Did a comparison last week… ordering Rs 350 from Zomato, costs Rs 275 if you go to the restaurant and buy it… This is the price paid for convenience, not for stepping out of the house.
— HShari (@hshari24) July 13, 2024
30% from restaurants and how restaurants can maintain the quality.
The more flavored powder, the more adulterated the items are served to the customers.
— Only Option – Trader (@WithOnlyOption) July 13, 2024
That’s not the case, restaurants pass on the brunt to customers by increasing the price of their dishes by 30%. So the next time a restaurant owner cries about Swiggy taking a commission, show them your menu on paper and in the app.
— Purnesh Tripathi (@purneshtripathi) July 13, 2024
The biggest component in online orders is the packaging fee.
— Kumar Appan (@prosper_haven) July 14, 2024
Earlier, Zomato had announced an increase in its platform fees in April 2024. Click here for more details.
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