Free Tomato Pill I Notification, Recent Speed ​​Trading Incidents That Sparked Outrage

In the past, going to the supermarket or grocery store to do something last minute was common. However, in 2024, fast trade applications like Zepto, Flashes and Swiggy Instamart made life easier in India. Need some supplies for a party that was planned minutes ago? You understood. No dairy or vegetables? No problem. Almost any complaint can be resolved by these apps and they keep adding new features to enhance the customer experience. But sometimes things go wrong and what starts as a simple delivery can provoke public protests. Let’s take a look at some recent incidents where fast trading platforms missed the mark, causing waves on social media.

Big Basket’s combo went wrong

BigBasket was recently the subject of social media chatter after a customer raved about a unique discount combination: sanitary pads paired with Kwality Walls vanilla ice cream. Created to meet the needs of women during menstruation, the combo drew laughter and admiration from online users. “Well played, BigBasket,” the user wrote, tagging the platform and attaching a screenshot of the combo she received.

However, things took a bizarre turn when BigBasket responded with an apology, assuming the compliment was a complaint. “We regret the inconvenience caused,” they wrote, requesting the customer’s contact details. The automated response generated even more humor online. Users quickly started commenting like, “Dude, she’s complimenting you, why are you sorry?” and “Bot Life Is So Weird.”

What could have been a PR victory for BigBasket turned into a comical misunderstanding that highlighted the sometimes robotic nature of customer service.

Zepto’s Pill notification

In Bengaluru, Zepto faced backlash after sending an inappropriate push notification to customer Pallavi Pareek. The message read, “I miss you Pallavi. It says emergency contraceptive pill i-Pill”, followed by teary-eyed emojis, left Pallavi shocked. Given her professional work in diversity and inclusion, she turned to LinkedIn to highlight the inappropriateness of the message, especially since she had never ordered the product.

Pallavi’s post quickly went viral, with many users pointing out the dangers of insensitive messages in fast trading. Zepto quickly issued an apology, acknowledging his mistake and promising to retrain his team. While the company’s quick response mitigated some of the outrage, the incident served as a stark reminder of the importance of responsible communication, especially regarding sensitive products.

Free tomato controversy

In another curious incident, a Bengaluru-based product designer called out Swiggy Instamart for adding free tomatoes at your command without consent. Chandra Ramanujan labeled this a “dark pattern” – a term used to describe deceptive design practices that manipulate user choices.

Ramanujan took to social media to express his frustration: “I don’t want tomatoes, but I can’t take them out of my cart.”

Although Swiggy was not charging for the tomatoes, the incident raised broader questions about consumer autonomy in online shopping. Some users echoed Ramanujan’s concerns, stating that customers should always have the option to decline freebies. Swiggy is yet to respond to the uproar, but the incident has fueled online discussions about transparency in e-commerce.

Blinkit’s underwear accident

Last month, Blinkit customer Priyansh ordered men’s underwear and received women’s bikini bottoms. Unable to get a refund or return through customer service, Priyansh turned to X, where his frustration quickly went viral. Blinkit’s failure to resolve the issue has sparked discussions about the platform’s return policies, with many users calling for better customer support.

Despite widespread attention, Blinkit remained silent, further worsening the situation. As of now, Priyansh’s viral tweet, which has racked up millions of views, continues to serve as a wake-up call to platforms that ignore customer complaints.