Bengaluru Designer Calls Out Swiggy Instamart for Adding Unwanted Free Tomatoes

 A Bengaluru product designer, Chandra Ramanujan, recently sparked a debate online after criticizing Swiggy Instamart for automatically adding free tomatoes to his order. He described this practice as a "dark pattern," noting that there was no option to remove the item from his cart.

In his post on X, Ramanujan expressed frustration over the 500 grams of tomatoes added without his consent. He stated, "Very bad design in Swiggy Instamart, where an item is automatically added to my cart. I don’t want tomatoes, but I cannot remove them. Even if I’m not paying for it, this is basket sneaking, which is a dark pattern."

"Dark patterns" refer to design tactics used by websites and apps that manipulate users into making choices they might not want, such as unnecessary purchases or subscriptions. Although Ramanujan acknowledged he wasn’t being charged for the tomatoes, he maintained that forcing the item into his order without an opt-out option was problematic.

The discussion drew various responses, with some users agreeing that consumers should have the final say over what they receive, even if it’s free. One commenter noted that Zepto, a competitor in the quick-commerce sector, allows customers to remove freebies from their carts.

Ramanujan emphasized that the core issue wasn’t about receiving tomatoes, but rather the lack of control consumers have over their orders. "I should have full control as a consumer of what I choose to receive," he asserted before deciding to mute the conversation due to its divisive nature.