Tezzbuzz Desk- Online food delivery platform Zomato has started charging additional fees from customers choosing Cash on Delivery (COD) option. According to reports, customers are being charged Rs 5 to Rs 20 for this facility. This charge appears separately on the app's bill.
When customers choose to pay cash on delivery, a cash on delivery charge will be added to their order. In some screenshots of the app, this charge is visible as Rs 5. However, many reports have claimed that even Rs 7 or Rs 20 have been taken from some users. This charge is separate from Zomato's platform charges, restaurant packaging charges and GST. At the same time, cash on delivery fee is not being charged from customers making online payment.
The basis for setting this fee is not yet clear. It is not known whether the charge is being determined based on the value of the order, the location of the customer or any other criteria. Comment was sought from Zomato in this regard, but no response was received from the company till the time of writing the news. Zomato fulfills around 23 to 25 lakh orders daily. At a time when competition is increasing in the food delivery market, this move by the company may increase additional expenses for customers. Rapido's food delivery platform is gaining popularity, while Flipkart is also testing its eat-in service.
Zomato's key rival Swiggy has not currently imposed any such charge on cash on delivery. However, it is not yet clear whether the company will impose such a charge in future or not.