Zepto Price Disparity: YouTube content creator Vinita Singh on Friday reported price disparities on fast online commerce platform Zepto.
According to his social media post, the price of “green pepper” was lower on an Android device than on an iPhone. Screenshots attached to the LinkedIn post showed Zepto loading ₹21 for 500-600 grams of green pepper on an Android device, while the platform would have charged ₹107 on an iPhone for the same quantity of product.
“Zepto. Is there any clarification on this? “” Singh questioned in his post.
She pointed out that both screenshots were taken at the same time (8:15 a.m.). Looking at the UI screenshots, we can identify that the first one was taken from an Android and the second one from an Apple iPhone.
“Both screenshots were taken at the same time this morning. But why such a difference, Zepto? (sic),” she wrote.
Internet users react
The post sparked mixed reactions on social media. A social media account called Overhyped responded to Singh’s post and said, “Please don’t hurt iPhone users, they bought their phone on EMI, let them buy pepper on EMI.” »
Others, like Ruturaj Mestry, mocked Zepto and sarcastically claimed that iPhone users could get fresher groceries, hence the high fees.
“Think about it this way: iPhone users may receive the freshest groceries and leftovers will be available to other users. That’s why it’s cheap for others. This may not answer the original question, but iPhone users might feel better,” Mestry said, in response to Vinita Singh’s post.
Debate on the price disparity between Android and iPhone
Mint earlier reported that the Consumer Affairs Ministry had taken action against cab service aggregators Ola and Uber over concerns over differential pricing based on the type of mobile device used by consumers.
Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food, Public Distribution and New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said on January 23 that the two taxi aggregators had received notices seeking their responses in the matter.
After the Union Minister’s direct intervention, Ola spokesperson said, “We maintain a uniform pricing structure for all our customers. There is no differentiation based on the operating system of a user’s phone for similar journeys,” according to a statement cited in an NDTV report.
They also said the company provided detailed clarification to the CCPA to clear up any misconceptions.
Uber also released an official statement to the media: “We do not set prices based on a rider’s phone manufacturer. We look forward to working with the Central Consumer Protection Authority to clear up any misunderstandings.
