TV
Food delivery apps have long been praised for their convenience, but one customer’s experience in Coimbatore has reignited debate over whether that convenience is coming at too steep a price. A resident named Sunder (@SunderjiJB) took to X to share how his Swiggy order cost 81% more than buying the same dishes directly from a restaurant located just two kilometres away.
The Price Difference
According to the screenshots he posted, the Swiggy bill came to Rs 1,473, while the exact same meal cost him only Rs 810 at the restaurant. “Hey @Swiggy, please explain. Why does ordering food in the app cost 81% more than buying the same food directly? Is this the real cost of convenience? The extra I have to pay is Rs 663,” he wrote. The post quickly went viral, amassing over 2.1 million views and sparking heated conversations online.
Swiggy’s Stand on Pricing
Swiggy has yet to respond to this particular complaint, but the company has previously clarified that menu prices on its platform are set by restaurants, not Swiggy. In an earlier statement, its support team explained that pricing differences between dine-in and delivery are at the “sole discretion of the restaurant.”
Rising Platform Fees Add to Frustration
The outrage also comes at a time when both Swiggy and Zomato have been hiking their platform fees. Swiggy has increased its fee three times in three weeks, now charging Rs 15 per order with GST, while Zomato recently raised its fee by 20% to Rs 12 per order.
While convenience remains the biggest draw of food delivery apps, cases like this highlight growing consumer frustration over hidden costs. The debate continues: is convenience worth the premium?
