NEW DELHI – A woman started a big buzz on social media by disclosing her simple but efficient “hack” for avoiding the growing number of fees on food delivery services like Swiggy and Zomato. Krisha, who just graduated from Delhi Technological University, has said that she has gone back to a more conventional way of ordering food, which is saving her a lot of money.
Instead of using the apps, Krisha now phones her favorite local restaurants directly, has them pack her order, and then has it picked up by a delivery-only service like Uber Courier or Rapido.
The Price of Convenience Going Up
Krisha’s post on X comes at a time when people are more angry than ever about food delivery services. A recent survey indicated that customers who buy through aggregator apps pay an average of 11% more than those who order directly from the restaurant. Fees including platform fees, GST, minor order charges, long-distance fees, and surge pricing all add up to this.
Krisha said in her article that even while a courier service costs between ₹50 and ₹100, the entire cost is still less than what she would have paid on a food delivery app. This is because platforms usually add a big markup to the pricing on their menus on top of the fees and commissions they charge.
A lot of people have shared her post, and a lot of people in the comments say they’ve done the same things. Some people even said that they get bigger portions and better service when they buy directly. This feeling shows that more and more people want to save money and help local companies directly.
A Balancing Act: Price vs. Ease of Use
People have praised Krisha’s strategy as a smart way to save money, but others have pointed out the downsides. One person on X said that a big part of what platforms like Swiggy and Zomato offer is convenience. They take care of any problems that come up with an order, such a missing item or a late delivery. The customer is also taking on the risk and trouble if something goes wrong by acting as the middleman.
This popular chat highlights a major problem in the Indian meal delivery market: how to find the right balance between what customers can afford, what restaurants can make money, and what these digital titans have to spend to run their businesses. The industry is anticipated to keep growing quickly, thanks to urbanization and a youthful, tech-savvy population. However, people are becoming more aware of the “hidden costs” that come with convenience.