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Instead of ordering through Swiggy or Zomato, the woman simply calls her favourite restaurants and gets the food delivered via Rapido.
She also books her order pickup through services like Uber Courier.
Ordering food online is no longer the easy-on-the-pocket option. With new GST rules, platforms like Swiggy and Zomato have become more expensive for users, and many are now noticing that the total bill is often much higher than the food itself.
The increase has led to a wave of frustration among consumers who are sharing their experiences on social media. Amid this, some users are also coming up with creative ways to keep enjoying their favourite meals without stressing over the higher costs.
Swiggy? Zomato? This Woman Found A Cheaper Route
A woman recently shared a trick that she says saves her from the hefty platform charges. Instead of ordering through Swiggy or Zomato, she simply calls her favourite restaurants directly and gets the food packed. To bring the order home, she books a pickup through services like Uber Courier or Rapido.
“Stopped using Zomato/Swiggy. Now I just call my regular spots, they pack the food & I send Uber/Rapido to pick it up,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
According to her, the delivery charges for Uber or Rapido range between Rs 50 and Rs 100, which is still less than the combined cost of app commissions, platform fees and GST.
“Even after Rs 50–100 delivery cost, it’s still cheaper than ordering on apps (thanks to their markups, platform fee, commissions). Net profitable,” she added.
See The Post Here
Stopped using Zomato/Swiggy. Now I just call my regular spots, they pack the food & I send Uber/Rapido to pick it up. Even after ₹50–100 delivery cost, it’s still cheaper than ordering on apps (thanks to their markups, platform fee, commissions). Net profitable ✅— krisha (@stonksqween) September 22, 2025
Internet Gives It A Thumbs Up
Since being shared online, the post has accumulated more than three lakh views. Many in the comments section supported her approach.
One user commented, “That’s totally true, Zomato and Swiggy have 40 to 50 per cent markup, and when your order is above 300, the actual cost would be 40 to 50 per cent cheaper, sometimes even 60 per cent, so using Rapido or porter would be a lot cheaper.”
Another added, “I too tried this and it’s very low cost compared to commissions of Zomato.”
Supporting this new hack, someone else wrote, “It’s a smart approach to cut down on hidden costs. The key is balancing savings with convenience, and if your local spots provide reliable service, this method makes perfect sense.”
“Smart hack, you basically recreated your own food delivery app at lower cost,” a person remarked, while an individual said, “This is actually the cheapest premium plan.”
Other Cost-Cutting Tips
The comments also brought up another idea: cutting out delivery apps completely and ordering straight from restaurants. Many pointed out that some restaurants still have their own staff or provide delivery at a lower cost.
An X user shared, “The restaurant guy himself delivers in my case, making it much cheaper.”
“Rather directly call restaurants if they are in 5-10 km in range, with a minimal delivery fee they charge some, or even none, and prices are less than shown on Zomato and Swiggy,” another suggested.
A person wrote, “Ordering from a restaurant website or app will also save money.”
Amidst all the money-saving tips, a sarcastic suggestion also appeared. A user shared, “There is something known as a kitchen, if you use that, you can save more and eat healthier food.”
The Hidden Costs Of Convenience
Earlier, a post on X gave a humorous look at just how much GST and other charges have changed the way we order food. The user shared a detailed breakdown of their bill: Restaurant GST at Rs 14.75, a delivery rain fee of Rs 25 plus Rs 4.50 GST, restaurant packaging at Rs 20 and a platform fee of Rs 14.99.
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
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Delhi, India, India
September 23, 2025, 19:05 IST
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