Zepto controversy: Bengaluru entrepreneur claims huge price difference for Android vs iPhone users. Netizens demand answer
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The Incident That Sparked the Debate
Singh shared two screenshots from the Zepto app showing the price of 500 grams of green capsicum. On an Android device, the price was listed as Rs 21, while the same product on an iPhone was priced at Rs 107. Singh emphasized that both screenshots were taken simultaneously from the same location. “Zepto, is there any clarification for this? First Screenshot: Android. Second Screenshot: iPhone,” she wrote, tagging the platform's founders.
Her post quickly went viral, sparking debates on platforms like LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter). Users shared similar experiences, questioning Zepto’s pricing practices. “Is this an ‘Apple tax’? They charge vendors up to 35% for in-app purchases, but this applies only to digital goods,” one user commented on X. Others pointed out that discounts could vary by account, with one user asking, “Were both screenshots taken from the same account?”
Broader Issues with Discriminatory Pricing
The controversy comes amidst growing scrutiny over differential pricing strategies by online platforms. Just last week, the Consumer Protection Authority sent notices to Ola and Uber for allegedly charging different rates based on users' devices. Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi confirmed this development
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