Blinkit Responds After Customer Says It’s Charging ‘Rain Surcharge’ When There’s Burning Heat

Blinkit, the quick-commerce platform owned by Zomato, is facing backlash after a customer reported being charged a “rain surcharge” during periods of intense heat, leading to confusion and criticism on social media.

An X user, Paresh Pisipat, wrote a cryptic post calling out Blinkit for charging a ‘Rain surcharge’ in scorching heat

Paresh took to the social media platform X and shared a screenshot of his Blinkit order, where he had been charged Rs 30 as ‘Rain Surcharge’, making his order total from Rs 485 to Rs 515. This recent tweet by Paresh Pisipati has ignited a conversation about Blinkit’s surge pricing practices.

Twitter

In his post, Pisipati shared a screenshot of a Blinkit order that included a ‘rain surcharge’ despite the prevailing hot weather conditions. He posted another image showing the weather conditions during the order.

Twitter

He captioned the image,

Does quick commerce, especially Blinkit thinks that everyone is that stupid??
Rain surcharge when there is burning heat

He tagged @letsblinkit, @zomato, @deepigoyal, @albinder, @GoI_MeitY, and @jagograhakjago in his post.

Here is the post

Does quick commerce, especially Blinkit thinks that everyone is that stupid??
Rain surcharge when there is burning heat 🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️@letsblinkit @zomato @deepigoyal @albinder @GoI_MeitY @jagograhakjago pic.twitter.com/r0oQ2kGgxt

— paresh pisipati (@paresh_pisipati) May 6, 2025

The tweet quickly gained traction, with many users expressing confusion and frustration over the apparent mismatch between the surcharge label and the actual weather.

Blinkit responded to the post with a clarification tweet

In response to the accusatory post, Blinkit clarified that the additional charges are applied during rainy conditions across the entire pin code. It might be possible that the specific area has not been affected by rain. The company stated,

Hi Paresh, We would like to inform you that surge charges are applied during rainy conditions across the entire pin code. However, it may be possible that specific areas may not be affected by rain. We have taken note of this concern and will take steps to address it. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Hi Paresh, We would like to inform you that surge charges are applied during rainy conditions across the entire pin code. However, it may be possible that specific areas may not be affected by rain. We have taken note of this concern and will take steps to address it. Thank you…

— Blinkit (@letsblinkit) May 6, 2025

Blinkit’s Surge Pricing Explained

Blinkit generally implements dynamic pricing to manage demand and delivery logistics. While the term ‘rain surcharge’ is used, it appears to be a generic label for additional fees applied during high-demand periods, not exclusively during rainfall.

In response to similar concerns in the past, Blinkit has stated that its dynamic pricing strategy aims to aid delivery partners during challenging conditions and manage orders effectively.

This is not the first time that a customer’s complaint has surfaced regarding this matter. Previously, a Reddit user posted,

“Delivery is free, but Blinkit is charging high demand surge charge fee on a ₹250 product. Kitna niche jayenge ye log.”

Wtf is High Demand surge charge on blinkit?
byu/coderkid2020 inIndiaTech

Another user questioned the motive behind the surcharge, especially when there was no rain,

“I was ordering an item and saw this fee in the bill section. Delivery is free but Blinkit is charging high demand surge charge fee on Rs. 250 product.”

Also read: Blinkit Responds After Customer Slams Company For Delivering Grapes That Weigh Less Than Advertised

Industry perspective of dynamic pricing models

Experts suggest that such dynamic pricing models, adapted by Blinkit, are its efforts to reduce operational costs and focus on profitability. Ankur Bisen, senior partner at Technopak Advisors, commented,

“Quick commerce remains a new concept in India, so different strategies are being tried out by players. But we believe consumers will not pay a premium on groceries.”

©Sam/Instagram

Customer feedback like this emphasizes the importance of transparent communication regarding additional charges. As Blinkit continues to refine its pricing strategies, clear labeling and real-time explanations for surcharges could help it maintain customer trust and satisfaction.

Have you ever faced a surcharge issue while ordering from Blinkit? Let us know in the comments.