Latest news with #KaivalyaVohra
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Reddit community on Zepto dark patterns grows to nearly 10,000 users, customers slam hidden charges, fake MRPs
A Reddit community dedicated to calling out shady app practices by Zepto has grown to nearly 10,000 members in less than five months. The quick growth of the 'F*** Zepto' subreddit and the sheer volume of complaints it hosts daily highlights the growing dissatisfaction against the quick-commerce platform led by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra. has reached out to Zepto for a statement. This story will be updated when the company responds. 'F*** Zepto' is a community on Reddit that serves as 'a platform for customers to call out anything unethical related to Zepto.' Zepto is a quick commerce platform that was launched in 2021 by Stanford dropouts Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra. Like its competitors Blinkit and Instamart, Zepto aims to deliver groceries and household essentials to customers in 10 minutes or less. The 'F*** Zepto' subreddit was created in January 2025. In less than five months, it has amassed more than 9,200 followers. According to its bio, 'This community aims to hold Zepto accountable by exposing' dark patterns, hidden fees, selective pricing, MRP manipulation, misleading discounts and other such malpractices. The subreddit is inundated daily with complaints against Zepto. Some issues that crop up frequently include: Users being unable to use 'free cash': Zepto is known for offering "Zepto Cash" to users. The company claims that this amount – usually ₹100 – can be used to pay for orders. Customers beg to differ. Hundreds of complaints on the F*** Zepto subreddit suggest that users are unable to apply their free cash to pay for Zepto orders. When they do apply it, the full amount is never applied. For example, applying promotional cash of ₹100 will only reduce the total amount by ₹50 or less. Hidden fees: Another issue that is frequently highlighted on Reddit is the several hidden charges that send the bill amount skyrocketing. Users have pointed out that Zepto charges a 'Rain Fee' and a GST on top of the fee; a 'Cash Handling Fee' of ₹10, 'Item Handling Cost'; 'Convenience Fee'; 'Small Cart Fee'; 'Processing Fee' and more. Late deliveries: Many frustrated Zepto customers have taken to Reddit to vent about their deliveries being delayed by hours. MRP manipulation, lack of customer support, being unable to return rotten or expired items are other issues that customers have complained about. Leading players like Zomato's Blinkit and Swiggy's Instamart also have communities dedicated to them on Reddit. However, neither of them has a community dedicated exclusively to critcising their dark practices.
Business Standard
26-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Truecaller and Zepto Partner to Power Trusted Engagement from Onboarding to Delivery in Quick Commerce
NewsVoir Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], May 26: Zepto, India's fastest-growing quick commerce company has partnered with Truecaller, the global communications platform, to build trust, streamline operations, and enable seamless interactions between users and the Zepto workforce. In the high-speed world of real-time commerce, where every second matters, Zepto ensures reliable communication across customers, delivery partners, support teams, and new hires. Through Truecaller's Customer Experience Solutions, this collaboration aims to elevate user engagement at every stage of the Zepto journey--from onboarding to doorstep delivery. By leveraging Truecaller's suite of advanced communication capabilities, Zepto ensures that every user interaction, be it order confirmations, delivery coordination, or support queries is trusted, contextual, and secure. Using Truecaller's Verified Business Caller ID, Zepto displays its brand name, logo, and a verified badge during calls, enabling users to instantly recognize and respond confidently, enhancing trust and reducing friction in critical moments of customer interaction. To further enhance customer engagement or communication effectiveness, Zepto leverages Truecaller's advanced Customer Experience capabilities like Call Reason to add context to calls, Video Caller ID to deliver branded visuals before a call connects, and the Call Me Back feature, which empowers users to reconnect conveniently, especially valuable for missed delivery or onboarding calls. Going a step further, Zepto has implemented Verified Campaigns to unlock personalized, high-impact targeted outreach via branded calls and SMS. This enables the brand to connect and engage with high-intent users in a contextual and trusted manner. At the onboarding stage of the Zepto user journey, Truecaller's SDK powers a 1-tap, OTP-less login for Zepto and Zepto Cafe, reducing friction at sign-up, minimizing drop-offs, and accelerating conversions during peak demand periods. Commenting on the partnership, Kaivalya Vohra, Co-Founder, Zepto, said, "In the fast-moving world of quick commerce, trusted communication is foundational to every successful transaction. Whether it's coordinating deliveries or engaging with users, every interaction must be secure, seamless, and reliable. Our partnership with Truecaller enables us to further safeguard these connections through verified communication channels, enhancing both user trust and operational efficiency. Together, we're reinforcing our commitment to building a safer, more dependable q-commerce experience." Speaking about the collaboration, Priyam Bose, Global Head, GTM & Developer Products at Truecaller, said, "Zepto's promise of speed, convenience, and reliability aligns perfectly with Truecaller's mission to power trusted and contextual communication at scale. Through our Customer Experience Solutions, we enable Zepto to deliver seamless experiences from secure onboarding to fulfillment while ensuring every interaction is anchored in trust. We're excited to partner with Zepto as they continue redefining urban convenience in India." Truecaller's Customer Experience Solution is trusted by more than 2500+ businesses globally. It delivers enhanced communication capabilities that promote brand recognition, build trust, and safeguard customers from scams and fraud. Founded in 2021 by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, Zepto is on a mission to save you time - making every second count towards life's real joys. Our platform has revolutionised rapid commerce in India with cutting-edge technology and strategically optimised delivery hubs. Zepto offers an extensive range of 45,000+ products, from fresh groceries to electronics, beauty essentials, apparels, toys and more, delivering across 80+ cities in 10 minutes*. Zepto Cafe extends our commitment to convenience, featuring a curated menu of over 200 fresh items. Reach out for any further queries or media assistance: Zepto@ Truecaller is an essential part of everyday communication for over 450 million active users, with more than a billion downloads since launch and close to 56 billion unwanted calls identified and blocked in 2024 alone. The company has been headquartered in Stockholm since 2009 and has been publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since October 2021. Visit for more information.
Fashion Value Chain
26-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
Truecaller and Zepto Partner to Power Trusted Engagement from Onboarding to Delivery in Quick Commerce
Zepto, India's fastest-growing quick commerce company has partnered with Truecaller, the global communications platform, to build trust, streamline operations, and enable seamless interactions between users and the Zepto workforce. In the high-speed world of real-time commerce, where every second matters, Zepto ensures reliable communication across customers, delivery partners, support teams, and new hires. Truecaller and Zepto Partner to Power Trusted Engagement from Onboarding to Delivery in Quick Commerce Through Truecaller's Customer Experience Solutions, this collaboration aims to elevate user engagement at every stage of the Zepto journey-from onboarding to doorstep delivery. By leveraging Truecaller's suite of advanced communication capabilities, Zepto ensures that every user interaction, be it order confirmations, delivery coordination, or support queries is trusted, contextual, and secure. Using Truecaller's Verified Business Caller ID, Zepto displays its brand name, logo, and a verified badge during calls, enabling users to instantly recognize and respond confidently, enhancing trust and reducing friction in critical moments of customer interaction. To further enhance customer engagement or communication effectiveness, Zepto leverages Truecaller's advanced Customer Experience capabilities like Call Reason to add context to calls, Video Caller ID to deliver branded visuals before a call connects, and the Call Me Back feature, which empowers users to reconnect conveniently, especially valuable for missed delivery or onboarding calls. Going a step further, Zepto has implemented Verified Campaigns to unlock personalized, high-impact targeted outreach via branded calls and SMS. This enables the brand to connect and engage with high-intent users in a contextual and trusted manner. At the onboarding stage of the Zepto user journey, Truecaller's SDK powers a 1-tap, OTP-less login for Zepto and Zepto Cafe, reducing friction at sign-up, minimizing drop-offs, and accelerating conversions during peak demand periods. Commenting on the partnership, Kaivalya Vohra, Co-Founder, Zepto, said, 'In the fast-moving world of quick commerce, trusted communication is foundational to every successful transaction. Whether it's coordinating deliveries or engaging with users, every interaction must be secure, seamless, and reliable. Our partnership with Truecaller enables us to further safeguard these connections through verified communication channels, enhancing both user trust and operational efficiency. Together, we're reinforcing our commitment to building a safer, more dependable q-commerce experience.' Speaking about the collaboration, Priyam Bose, Global Head, GTM & Developer Products at Truecaller, said, 'Zepto's promise of speed, convenience, and reliability aligns perfectly with Truecaller's mission to power trusted and contextual communication at scale. Through our Customer Experience Solutions, we enable Zepto to deliver seamless experiences from secure onboarding to fulfillment while ensuring every interaction is anchored in trust. We're excited to partner with Zepto as they continue redefining urban convenience in India.' Truecaller's Customer Experience Solution is trusted by more than 2500+ businesses globally. It delivers enhanced communication capabilities that promote brand recognition, build trust, and safeguard customers from scams and fraud. About Zepto Founded in 2021 by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, Zepto is on a mission to save you time – making every second count towards lifes real joys. Our platform has revolutionised rapid commerce in India with cutting-edge technology and strategically optimised delivery hubs. Zepto offers an extensive range of 45,000+ products, from fresh groceries to electronics, beauty essentials, apparels, toys and more, delivering across 80+ cities in 10 minutes*. Zepto Cafe extends our commitment to convenience, featuring a curated menu of over 200 fresh items. Reach out for any further queries or media assistance: Zepto@ About Truecaller Truecaller is an essential part of everyday communication for over 450 million active users, with more than a billion downloads since launch and close to 56 billion unwanted calls identified and blocked in 2024 alone. The company has been headquartered in Stockholm since 2009 and has been publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since October 2021. Visit for more information.
India.com
25-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
Zepto Cafe shuts down operations in 44 stores due to..., affected areas include..., will resume working...
New Delhi: In an unexpected move, Zepto, the quick commerce player, has temporarily stopped operations in 40 Zepto cafes. These operations have been halted in selected areas in and around Delhi. Reportedly, the step has been taken for Zepto to adjust its supply chain to meet surging demand. This information was shared by sources familiar with the matter. Zepto Cafe is currently unavailable in the Delhi-NCR, Agra, Meerut, Haridwar, Gorakhpur, Mohali, Amritsar and Ghaziabad, said a source adding, 'A total of 44 stores have been impacted and services should resume by Q2, during the July-September quarter.' It is further reported that the cessation of operations is expected to last only until September while the company addresses its supply chain challenges. 'Zepto was getting unprecedented demand which was not matching the vendor availability. To ensure that quality and service are not compromised, the company is halting operations in 40 stores in and around Delhi. 'Less than 100 people have been impacted by this move. Those impacted have been given choice to shift to nearby stores or kitchens, as the company wants to retain them for when operations start again somewhere around in September,' a source told news agency PTI. Zepto's café division operates over 1,000 locations and was processing nearly 100,000 orders daily. In fact, it was about to achieve US$100 million in annualised gross merchandise value (GMV), according to CEO Aadit Palicha who said that the unit consistently maintained a 50 per cent gross margin. Employees who have been affected by the temporary closure were informed of the decision on April 20 and given a month to decide whether to transfer to nearby locations. Currently, Zepto operates around 750 cafes. Meanwhile, a Moneycontrol report says that Zepto has discontinued its cafe services in over seven north Indian cities as the company faces a supply crunch and some of its employees haven't reported to work. Zepto Cafe sells short eats like coffee, tea, puffs, and pizzas. Zepto was founded in 2021 by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra as part of the emerging rapid commerce in India. Aadit Palicha, Zepto Cafe CEO said, 'Had 1 lakh orders per day and was closing in on a $100 million annualised gross merchandise value (GMV) run-rate. The unit has a 50 percent steady-state gross margin.' It remains to be seen how Zepto will recover and bounce back in a market that is dominated by platforms like Zomato and Blinkit.
Fashion Network
29-04-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Zepto pursues talks to raise structured debt
Quick commerce business Zepto's founders Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra are holding talks with Edelweiss Alternative Asset and other investors with a view to raise around Rs 1,500 crore in structured debt as the business moves towards its initial public offering. "Edelweiss has given a binding term sheet and will anchor the raise by committing half of the amount," an anonymous source close to the development told ET Tech. "The remaining Rs 750 crore is being raised from family offices and smaller credit funds, who are expected to come in on the same terms." Zepto is gearing up to launch its IPO in India and this deal is designed to enable Indian businesses to acquire shares from foreign shareholders in order to boost domestic ownership of the company. The proposed loan from Edelweiss has a minimum interest rate of 16% and an equity linked upside which has the capacity to enhance total returns by approximately 18%, ET Retail reported. Zepto, which has a valuation of around $5 billion, expects to close the deal by July this year. The business aims to fit the criteria of 'Indian Owned and Controlled Companies,' which requires that it must be more than 50% Indian owned.
