Zomato became a household name by offering competitive prices and quick delivery to its customers. However, a recent post by a LinkedIn user has raised severe doubts about the app being a cost-effective way to get meals delivered to your door.
The Linkdin user Rahul Kabra, made a comparison of online and offline food order bills and noticed a shock-worthy price difference between the two bills. The marketing manager shared two pictures of the same food order, but with different total bills.
In the bills, the food order is for black pepper sauce, vegetable fried rice, and mushroom momos. The total price for this food order, when made offline, stood at Rs 512, inclusive of taxes. While the total bill for the same food, when ordered at Zomato, stood at Rs 689.90 (this after applying a discount code of Rs 75). When the user did the math, he noticed that Zomato charged him Rs 178, which is 34.76% more than that food order.
The post further reads, “I think there is a need to cap this cost escalation which should be implemented by the government as to make this a win-win for all stakeholders.” Kabra, also added, “Customer acquisition cost is what all start-ups are struggling with. Retention is the key to enhancing customer lifetime value. Zomato is always on top of my mind due to its constant omnichannel advertising! But I must say me being a normal value-driven Indian customer, at the end of the day will always make a price to benefit comparative analysis as an end result of any higher pricing.”
While Kabra’s post went viral on LinkedIn, the platform where it was originally shared, garnering more than 8k reactions and over 1k comments, other social media platforms were not far behind in taking note of the anomaly.
“This is sheer breach of trust. They make us believe that they offer the most competitive rates and quick delivery and pass on the benefit to the end consumer, whereas they do otherwise,” wrote a user.
Same old issue, similar sentiment
Social media is not yet over the scandalous charge of Rs 442 for two bananas at a five-star property in Chandigarh. The bill, shared by actor Rahul Bose, saw the kind of virality that only shocked and amused netizens can offer.
The actor, who shared his bizarre experience in a video on social media, also revealed that he was in the hotel gym when he ordered two bananas. The incident almost inspired the term “Rahul Bose moment,” in which everyone came together to share the crazy prices they were charged for simple food in various parts of the world.