Ordering from Zomato will become more expensive, platform fees increased by 25%, this special delivery service also stopped
Online food delivery platform Zomato has increased the platform fees by 25 percent, after which its users will now find it more expensive to order food from outside. Now, users will have to pay an extra charge of up to Rs 5 per order on their food orders. Not only this, Zomato has also temporarily closed its intercity food delivery service ‘Legends’. The reason for discontinuing the service has been given as the change taking place in it. The service, launched in 2022, would allow users to order food from restaurants in other cities.
Zomato has increased its platform features by 25 percent. Now users will have to pay at least Rs 5 per order. Zomato had increased the platform fees several times before also. This feature was started in 2023. Initially the fee was Rs 2, but it was increased to Rs 3 per order. After this the fee was reduced to Rs 4 and now users will have to pay Rs 5 per order. According to TOI, the changes in fees have been made in major cities, including Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Hyderabad.
Platform fee is a flat fee charged on all orders. Along with Zomato, its competitor Swiggy also charges this fee from its users. Some reports say that Swiggy charges up to Rs 10 in many situations. However, this cannot be confirmed.
Zomato does not charge platform fees from its Gold loyalty program customers. Customers have to pay a hefty additional fee for this program. However, Zomato says that in return customers get many other benefits, such as discounts, free delivery etc. Please note that the platform fee is also applicable to original Zomato Gold members. This fee is a direct means of earning for Zomato.
Apart from this, Zomato has temporarily closed its intercity delivery service Legends. Some changes are being made to improve the service. At present there is no clarity as to when it will be restarted.