Zepto explains why 100g coriander was priced at Rs 141, issues refunds to customers

The screenshot of the prices listed on Zepto as shared by Harsh Upadhyay on X.

A day after Zepto was trending on social media for charging Rs 141 for 100g of "aromatic" coriander and Rs 131 for the "local variety", the grocery delivery app issued a clarification and attributed the high prices to a system glitch.

"Yesterday, a system glitch caused significant pricing disparities across our platform, leading to some unusual price tags for various products, including coriander," the company stated. "While some items were priced three times lower, others saw a substantial hike. We are pleased to inform our customers that the issue has been resolved, and accurate prices are now back on track."

Zepto also clarified that refunds have been issued to customers who bought the items at inflated prices. "Zepto team promptly reached out to affected customers and issued recovery for the inconvenience caused," a spokesperson told Moneycontrol.

Moreover, the company also acknowledged that prices of items listed on their app might be higher than those listed by other grocery-delivery services.

"At Zepto, our prices might not always match those of our peers, and there's a good reason for that! We prioritise quality above all else," it stated. The company further attributed the high prices to sourcing premium quality products directly from farmers, offering them fair compensation, ensuring that the produce is packed hygienically with proper labels and packaging.

The inflated pricing on Zepto's app came to light after a Gurgaon resident, Harsh Upadhyay, shared a screenshot of the prices on X.

Dhaniya 100 gm costs you Rs 131 on Zepto pic.twitter.com/u1La4duidU

— Harsh Upadhyay (@upadhyay_harsh1) July 8, 2024

The post soon went viral and curious shoppers began to share prices at which they bought the herb from various grocery delivery apps. One among them, Luffy (@luffyspeaking) shared that on Blinkit, 100g of coriander leaves are available for Rs 40. Delhi-based edtech entrepreneur Saurabh Jain (@skjsaurabh) said he bought the herb from Blinkit for "around Rs 50".

The posts triggered a discussion on why a common herb which is easily available in the market for Rs 10 is so extravagantly priced on shopping apps.

"The difference between normal and aromatic (Rs 10) is the actual cost," Upadhyay said.