Upma Worth Rs 40 For Rs 120? Man Compares Mumbai Eatery's Offline Bill With Zomato's, Company Replies

Amidst the growing trend of diners comparing the prices of food items listed on Zomato with those at the actual restaurants, a man decided to take matters into his own hands. He recently took to ‘X’ to share a revealing comparison of his dining experience at a popular Mumbai eatery. As more people become savvy about their spending, especially on food delivery platforms, this man’s post quickly caught the attention of many netizens who resonated with his observations.

In his post, @kothariabhishek shared two photos to illustrate the price difference. One photo was of a bill from the restaurant ‘Udupi 2 Mumbai’, which showed Upma priced at Rs. 40. The other photo was a screenshot from the Zomato app, where the same Upma from the same restaurant was listed at Rs. 120. The discrepancy didn’t stop there. Another item, Thatte Idli, cost Rs. 60 at the restaurant but was shown as Rs. 161 on Zomato.

To provide a more comprehensive comparison, he also included the costs of a full meal: Thatte Idli, Medu Vada, Onion Uthappam, Upma, and Tea. According to his findings, ordering these items from Zomato would cost Rs. 740 (excluding the tea), whereas dining at the restaurant cost him only Rs. 320.

The post quickly went viral, eliciting a wide range of reactions from the public. Many users expressed their frustration with the apparent price manipulation by restaurants on delivery platforms. One user commented, “I have uninstalled zomato, now i go out and eat if required.” Another user shared a similar sentiment, stating, “Cost of convenience should be a different line item. The menu prices shouldn’t be manipulated.”

Also Read: ‘Pure Loot’: Zomato Charging Rs 29 for ‘Priority Delivery’ Despite Gold Membership Frustrates Journalist

On the other hand, some users explained the rationale behind the price differences. One user pointed out, “The difference is what you pay for convenience.”

Another elaborated, “The cost of convenience. I don’t think Zomato has lied anywhere, their business model has been pretty open. Someone saved you the trouble of calling and checking different restaurants. They pack it for you neatly. A guy puts petrol in his bike to go and fetch it for you. Then in pouring rain brings it to your doorstep. All this in less time than it will take to drive to the restaurant, park, wait for the food, eat and return. It’s expensive I agree, but it’s a free choice.”

Even Zomato replied to the viral post, writing, “Hi Abhishek, prices on our platform are solely governed by our restaurant partners. Nonetheless, we will share your concerns and feedback with them.”

Also Read: Customer Compares Zomato Food Bill With Offline Order, Company Replies

Since being shared, the post has amassed over 460K views on the site.