Did you know that you might be committing a legal offence while ordering food online? Zomato’s new advertisement informs customers about that.
What Was The Ad About?
In a bold and direct, minute-long advertisement by Zomato, the giant company in the food delivery industry, the customers are requested to not bombard delivery agents with messages to hurry up.
The ad shows a delivery agent who ends up getting hurt after crashing his bike as he got distracted by a zillion messages and calls from his customer. The message of this display was crystal clear- “safety first.”
The ad was posted on LinkedIn with the message, “At Zomato, the safety of our delivery partners and customers is our top priority. Under the Motor Vehicle Act, pressuring someone to drive recklessly is a punishable offence. We encourage you to be patient and understanding while waiting for your order—and hope you’ll spread this message of safety and responsibility. Together, let’s make the roads safer for everyone.”
Read More: “1000 Rs Ke Khane Ke Maje Lena”: Zomato Customer Reveals Scam Going On By Delivery Person
How Did The Consumers React?
The post received a flurry of mixed reactions. “This video presents a one-sided perspective. While I agree that some customers are impatient, Zomato riders often ride on footpaths and in pedestrian spaces, which is also a punishable offence under the Motor Vehicle Act,” said one netizen.
“Doesn’t Zomato & Blinkit fall under this same Motor Vehicle Act for pressuring riders to reach destinations quickly? Your ads promoting 10-minute deliveries create immense mental pressure on riders, even if you don’t directly instruct them to rush,” commented another user on LinkedIn.
“To gain a competitive advantage, you promoted something so unsafe. Do you acknowledge the risk?” one user asked, while others humorously suggested, “Can we put pressure on Zomato to show accurate delivery estimates?” said a third one.
“We trust you to deliver our meals safely, but what happens when the food is not just cold but rotten? As a platform that connects customers with restaurants, it’s concerning that you claim no responsibility for bad food orders. Shouldn’t food safety be a shared priority?” wrote a fourth.
As Zomato underlined that putting an individual under pressure to drive recklessly is a legal and punishable offence under the Indian Motor Vehicle Act, it also brought into light the safety of Zomato’s 10-minute delivery promise. Moreover, its acquisition of Blinkit, a quick commerce firm promising delivery within a couple of minutes, has had customers further scrutinising its marketing ethics.
However, Zomato has been taking measures to ensure road safety and has won a ‘Gold Award’ at the Economic Times HR World Future Skills Award of 2024. Zomato also claims to impart first aid skills during critical roadside emergencies to approximately 37,000 delivery partners in about 46 cities.
Thus, as various home delivery companies are making their way into the market, promising customer delivery in a very short period, it is important to keep the safety of all the stakeholders involved.
Image Credits: Google Images
Feature image designed by Saudamini Seth
Sources: The Economic Times, LinkedIn, Zomato
This post is tagged under: Zomato, delivery agent, delivery, online, netizens, LinkedIn, Economic Times HR World Future Skills Award, 2024, Blinkit, Motor Vehicle Act, Indian, legal, offence, punishable, company, food delivery
Disclaimer: We do not hold any right, or copyright over any of the images used, these have been taken from Google. In case of credits or removal, the owner may kindly mail us.
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