Premium Disappointment: Swiggy and Zomato Cut Back on Free Delivery for Members

Zomato and Swiggy, two of India's most popular food delivery services, have recently updated their policies regarding free delivery for premium members. Previously, both platforms offered free delivery from restaurants within a 10-kilometer radius to their premium subscribers.

However, this radius has now been reduced to 7 kilometers, affecting many users who relied on the previous benefit.

Premium Membership Details

Swiggy One Membership:

• Price: Rs 99 per month.

• Benefits: Free delivery from restaurants within a 7-kilometer radius on orders above Rs 199, 30% extra discount on select restaurants, unlimited free Swiggy Instamart delivery for orders over Rs 99, and a 10% instant discount on Genie's delivery fee.

Zomato Gold Membership:

• Price: Rs 99 per month (promotional price), standard price is Rs 999 for three months.

• Benefits: Free delivery from restaurants within a 7-kilometer radius on orders above Rs 199, up to 30% off on top of existing offers.

Customer Reactions on Social Media

The change in policy has sparked frustration among premium members, many of whom have taken to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to voice their concerns. Users have shared screenshots and expressed their dissatisfaction with the reduced delivery radius.

One customer commented, "Zomato has reduced its Gold free delivery range up to just 7 kms??? This is pure nonsense. Nearby restaurants themselves do a free delivery why would I pay for gold then?"

Another user echoed this sentiment, stating, "Zomato and Swiggy have reduced free delivery radius from 10km to 7km! That's outrageous. Why is no one talking about this?"

Some users have even threatened to switch services. A disgruntled customer wrote, "My Zomato Gold is about to expire. The new offer is very lucrative but deceiving. The distance has been reduced from 10km to 7km. Why can't I have the same gold offer as last time? You'll lose a customer to Swiggy if this isn't reverted."

Company Responses

In response to these concerns, Business Today reached out to both Swiggy and Zomato for comments. Zomato declined to comment, while Swiggy has yet to respond at the time of writing this article.

Detailed Membership Benefits

Swiggy One Membership: Swiggy One offers a range of benefits designed to enhance the user experience. In addition to free delivery from restaurants within a 7-kilometer radius on orders above Rs 199, members also enjoy a 30% extra discount at select restaurants.

The membership includes unlimited free Swiggy Instamart delivery for orders over Rs 99 and a 10% instant discount on Genie's delivery fee. The membership is priced at Rs 99 per month.

Zomato Gold Membership: Zomato Gold members benefit from free delivery on orders above Rs 199 from restaurants within a 7-kilometer radius. Additionally, members can enjoy up to 30% off over and above existing offers.

The standard price for Zomato Gold is Rs 999 for three months, but it is available for Rs 99 or Rs 149 with ongoing discounts.

Implications for Customers

The reduction in the free-delivery radius has significant implications for premium members. Customers who frequently order from restaurants that are now outside the new 7-kilometer range may find the premium memberships less valuable.

This change has prompted many users to reconsider their subscriptions, and some have already indicated they might switch to alternative services if their concerns are not addressed.

Conclusion

The recent policy changes by Swiggy and Zomato have clearly caused dissatisfaction among their premium members. As both companies navigate these changes, it remains to be seen how they will respond to the feedback and whether they will make adjustments to retain their customer base.