Who doesn’t love it when an e-commerce site adds something free to your cart? Unless, of course, the item is perishable and something you do not need! Well, a Bengaluru-based man took to X (formerly Twitter) to call out Swiggy Instamart for adding free tomatoes to his order. As per his tweet, he was not able to remove the free item from his cart and has called his forceful addition “basket sneaking”, which is a “dark pattern.” Read on to see his tweet and how the internet reacted to it.
Man Calls Out Swiggy Instamart’s Basket Sneaking
Very bad design in Swiggy Instamart, where an item is automatically added to my cart. I don’t want tomatoes but I cannot remove it from my cart. Even if I am not paying for it, this is basket sneaking which is a dark pattern. pic.twitter.com/9mRpqqexWL
— Bengaluru man (@NCResq) October 12, 2024
Chandra Ramanujan, a Bengaluru-based man took to X (formerly Twitter), @NCResq, to share how Swiggy Instamart added 500 grams of free tomatoes to his recent order. Now, usually, you have the option to remove freebies from your cart. However, that wasn’t the case for this Bengaluru man. He shared the screenshot of the free addition to his card and called it “basket sneaking”, which is a “dark pattern.” He slammed Swiggy Instamart for “bad design” as he was unable to remove the free item from his order.
Now as per a Hindustan Times report, dark patterns are design tricks used by websites or apps. With this, the website/app can make users buy something extra, subscribe, or even give away information that they might not willingly do. Through this trick, customers face difficulties while opting out, cancelling, or protecting their privacy online. In this case, Chandra was not forced to pay extra for anything unwanted. However, the app did add something he did not need and that’s why he called it “basket sneaking.”
Netizens React To His “Dark Pattern” Claim
As you can imagine, the comments on this post were definitely interesting. On one hand, people were asking Chandra Ramanujan to simply enjoy the free tomatoes from Swiggy Instamart. On the other hand, many people agree that forcing freebies on customers isn’t right. The customer should have the option to remove unwanted items from their cart. Here are some comments you cannot miss out on.
Generally I was able to remove the free items. Idk if it’s a bug or intended.
— Arpit verma (@arpit_vermaniac) October 12, 2024
Customer must have the final say. Offer freebies but costumer must decide yes or no. Swiggy is losing it’s way & Zomato is becoming very dominant briskly. We need a brand that generates profits for businesses & serves us, the consumer better.
— Deepak M A (@deepakmambalam) October 13, 2024
This is nearest dark store having too much stock of tomatoes and want to just dump them off. Give it to your watchman or someone bro
— Papps (@papps_gunner) October 13, 2024
One of the simplest reasons I could think of for such unbranded freebies. Goods spoiling fast/close to expiry + Storage and Disposal costs.
Love your Dark Pattern posts. You should totally make a thread on it separately, consolidating your observations.
— Akshatha Shenoy (@Akshenoy) October 14, 2024
I’m trying to understand this better – if it’s free, does it still considered as dark pattern? I do understand that you’re unable to remove it
— Mohamed Siddique (@msiddique26) October 12, 2024
In Zepto, they add the free stuff to the cart but they have a “Remove” button in case you don’t want it.
— Farhad Tarapore (@farhad_tarapore) October 13, 2024
Usually you can. Weird – maybe it’s glitching?
— NoPennies (@tiny_pen) October 13, 2024
Can you instead take it and give it to your maid or someone who needs it, if you don’t.?
— Tushar Tajane (@tushonline) October 13, 2024
Seems people will complain about anything these days. Even free items which can be donated to those who need it.
— Kevin | Email Copywriter (@kevinrod81) October 13, 2024
I believe it’s a bug because I’ve always been able to remove free items from my cart on Swiggy
— Mukund Madhav (@mukundmadhav02) October 13, 2024
modern people need modern solution😄
— Saurabh (@youmefy) October 13, 2024
Salad kha lo brother
— Nishchay (@bankerraver) October 13, 2024
The just want you to eat those tomatoes I guess 😊
— Sandeep (@IAmSandeepChand) October 13, 2024
Matlab kuch bhi. If you don’t need it just give it to someone who needs it. Why complain about anything and everything
— neeraj dhoot (@neerajdhoot) October 13, 2024
Dark pattern would refer to when something you are paying for without your knowledge has been sneaked into your list of ‘needs to be paid’ items. This one is free.
— Maharani Mandodari (@Mahalankeshwar2) October 13, 2024
If you don’t want tomatoes just give it to someone who needs it. It doesn’t do any harm to help others.
— Prakhar Varshney (@Prkhr_Varshney) October 13, 2024
Comments are fun to read. Most can’t fathom that some people don’t like to waste stuff. Why should the onus be on you to donate/cook something with the freebie?
— Priyanka (@thepenwoman) October 13, 2024
Seeing a lot of comments asking him to enjoy the freebies, the Bengaluru man shared why he posted about this in the first place.
Muting this because the idiots of twitter have found this tweet. the problem isn’t that I’m getting tomatoes. The problem is that basic expectations of e-commerce aren’t being respected. I should have full control as a consumer of what I choose to receive, which isn’t happening
— Bengaluru man (@NCResq) October 13, 2024
Also Read: Bangalore, Mumbai, And More, These Cities Can Now Avail 10-Minute Meal Deliveries On Swiggy Bolt!
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments!
Cover Image Courtesy: X/@NCResq & Canva (representative image)
For more such snackable content, interesting discoveries and the latest updates on food, travel and experiences in your city, download the Curly Tales App. Download HERE. First Published: October 14, 2024 2:28 PM