Abhishek Kothari, a user on X, raised a public outcry over discrepancies between restaurant prices listed on Zomato and the actual menu prices at Udupi2Mumbai in Vile Parle. On July 28, Kothari shared images of his bill and the Zomato menu, revealing a significant markup on items ordered through the app.

.@zomato
There is a restaurant called Udupi2Mumbai in vile parle
Below is my bill and screenshot of zomato menu card

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Difference:
Upma in bill Rs40; in zomato Rs120
Thatte idli in bill Rs60; in zomato Rs161 pic.twitter.com/0LJZBYfwSi

— Abhishek Kothari 🇮🇳 (@kothariabhishek) July 28, 2024

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In his post, Kothari highlighted that while Upma cost ₹40 on his bill, Zomato listed it at ₹120. Similarly, Thatte Idli was billed at ₹60 but listed for ₹161 on Zomato. His post has garnered nearly five lakh views and over 2,600 likes.

Zomato’s response addressed the issue, stating, ‘Hi Abhishek, prices on our platform are set by our restaurant partners. However, we will forward your concerns and feedback to them.’

Hi Abhishek, prices on our platform are solely governed by our restaurant partners. Nonetheless, we will share your concerns and feedback with them.

— Zomato Care (@zomatocare) July 28, 2024

Reactions to Kothari’s post varied:

• One user suggested that restaurants inflate prices on platforms like Zomato and Swiggy to offset commission fees.
• Rajat Agarwala commented, ‘The message is simple: dine in at the restaurant. You can’t dictate Zomato’s premium pricing.’
• Ishwar Singh proposed, ‘Consider buying directly from the restaurant to avoid the markup, or accept that online and offline prices differ due to platform commissions.’
• Another user pointed out, ‘Understanding the business model of platforms like Zomato and Swiggy is crucial. They’re not charities; their pricing reflects their business needs.’

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The discussion underscores the ongoing debate over pricing transparency in the online food delivery industry.