India’s food delivery boom started with irresistible discounts, cashback offers, and near-free deliveries. But like every other industry here, once customers got hooked, the “pampering phase” ended and the “loot phase” began. Now, with swiggy and zomato quietly hiking their platform fees (Swiggy: ₹14, Zomato: ₹12) — over and above delivery charges, packing fees, rain surcharges, and GST — it feels like daylight robbery in the name of convenience. Here’s how the dacoity unfolds:
1. The Hidden Platform Fee Trap
Originally, there was no such thing. Then it began at ₹2–₹5, and now it has ballooned to ₹12–₹14 per order. This is not delivery, not tax, not packing — just a “because we can” charge.
2. Death by 100 Cuts (Delivery, Packing, Rain, Surge, GST)
Every order comes with a cocktail of extra charges. Delivery fee if you’re too far, packing fee even for a samosa, surge fee when it rains, and government GST on top. By the end, your ₹200 biryani often becomes ₹350.
3. The Festive Season Excuse
Instead of spreading cheer during diwali or Ganesh Chaturthi, platforms shamelessly say, “fees are rising due to the festive season”. Translation? We know you’ll order more, so let’s milk it while we can.
4. Loyalty Betrayal — The End of Discounts
In the beginning, customers were showered with promo codes, cashback, and “free delivery” promises. Today, those offers are rare, watered down, or locked behind paid subscriptions — and even then, extra charges creep in.
5. When Convenience Becomes Exploitation
Food delivery is no longer a luxury; for many urban Indians, it’s a necessity amid long work hours. Companies know this dependence and exploit it with every new fee. Once pampering stops, full-blown exploitation takes over.
⚠️ Final Word
In India, it seems every service starts with freebies to build addiction, then flips the switch to loot mode. swiggy and zomato are just the latest proof. As customers, we must call this out, demand transparency, and avoid mindlessly paying every new charge thrown at us. Convenience should not come at the cost of daylight robbery.
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