Ordering food online has become part of our daily lives, but sometimes the final bill can be surprisingly high, especially when you’re ordering something as small as a cold drink.
Recently, a Zomato user was shocked to find that a cold drink priced at ₹57 ended up costing him ₹143 after all the additional charges were applied. He shared his frustration on X (formerly Twitter), which quickly caught the attention of many.
The user posted screenshots showing the cold drink’s original price of ₹57.14. However, when the order was placed, the total shot up to ₹143.79. The breakdown of the bill included ₹43.65 for GST and restaurant charges, ₹31 for the delivery fee, ₹10 as a platform fee, and a ₹2 donation to Feeding India.
The customer also noted that the restaurant he ordered from was just 1.5 kilometers away, which made the high delivery charge even more surprising. This incident sparked a fresh conversation online about the hidden costs involved in food delivery apps.
In response to the viral post, Zomato issued a clarification. They explained that the GST is applied based on government rules, and the restaurant charges are decided by the restaurant itself. They also mentioned that the delivery fee helps in fairly compensating the delivery partners who bring the food. The platform fee, according to Zomato, goes towards maintaining the app and ensuring a smooth user experience. Regarding the ₹2 donation, Zomato said it is completely optional and is only added when a customer taps the “Add” button.
Zomato further assured users that they are happy to explain any charges and invited the concerned customer to send them a direct message if they had more questions. Their detailed response aimed to bring clarity to a situation that many other users have also found frustrating in the past.
This isn’t the first time Zomato has faced backlash for its pricing structure. Many customers have raised concerns over the years about additional charges like platform fees or price differences between a restaurant’s in-store menu and what’s shown on the app. While some users feel these added costs are unfair, others argue that such charges are necessary to cover things like delivery logistics, app operations, and commissions for restaurant partners.
In the end, this incident serves as a reminder for customers to carefully review the full bill before placing an order online. Even a simple item like a cold drink can end up costing more than double its original price once all the fees are included. Transparency and communication from platforms like Zomato help, but many believe there is still room to make pricing more straightforward for everyday users.