A post on social media has started a debate online after claiming that some customers may be using a loophole in Zomato’s delivery system to avoid paying platform fees and restaurant commissions. The post explained
how people could place a very small order through the app while arranging the rest of the order directly with the restaurant.
The claim was shared by X user Prem Soni, who described the method in detail and warned that it could affect the business model of food delivery platforms if more people started doing it. The post quickly led to discussions about delivery costs, restaurant profits and possible misuse of the system.
User Explains How The Method Works
According to Soni, a customer places a small order on Zomato, such as one roti worth Rs 40. At the same time, the customer directly contacts the restaurant over a phone call or WhatsApp and places a much larger order separately.
“He calls the restaurant directly six rotis, paneer butter masala, malai chaap, dal makhani, gulab jamun and pays them on UPI. Tells the restaurant to pack everything with that 1 roti Zomato order. The Zomato rider picks it up. Delivers home. No clue that Rs 1,200 of food is riding shotgun with a Rs 40 order,” Soni wrote.
According to the post, most of the payment happens outside the app, helping both the customer and restaurant avoid commissions, platform charges and surge pricing on the larger order.
I have heard of a Zomato loophole which is so simple, terrifying and Zomato should be losing sleep over it
A person orders 1 roti on Zomato. ₹40.
Then he calls the restaurant directly 6 rotis, paneer butter masala, malai chaap, dal makhani, gulab jamun and pays them on UPI.…
— Prem Soni (@ValueWithPrem) May 25, 2026
Social Media Users Debate Impact On Food Delivery Apps
Soni argued that such behaviour could hurt the economics of food delivery companies because they would still handle delivery while earning only a small amount from the transaction. “If this spreads, the unit economics of food delivery don’t just dip—they bleed out from the inside,” he warned.
The post received over a million views and triggered mixed reactions online. Some users said the idea showed how people try to save money, while others called it misuse of the platform.
A user commented, “Don’t be the whistle blower. Enjoy the loophole.” Another person claimed such practices were already common in some places and wrote, “There are so many restaurants in my city who sends coupon codes for us, prompting us to order directly from them.”
The same user also alleged that some customers misuse refund systems by reporting missing items after placing such orders.
Some Users Call It Risky
Several people pointed out that restaurants could face trouble if platforms discovered such practices happening regularly. A user wrote, “Can we please stop sharing ways to scam. There are already so many scammers out there.”
Another commented, “This is creative genius and a nightmare wrapped in a roti. Zomato needs to wake up fast.”
A user also pointed out that delivery partners cannot open food packets to verify what is inside. “Yes. The bigger problem is that a rider cannot open the package to validate what’s inside,” the comment read.
Another person said, “The Zomato guy has full rights to deny additional addition as you owe him only for 1 roti & he might be having other orders too with him.”
Zomato has not publicly commented on the claims so far.
