New Delhi: Freebies are usually taken kindly by the customers, however a free delivery package of tomatoes has not gone down well with an X (formerly Twitter)user, who called out Swiggy Instamart for practicing ‘Dark Pattern’.

In an X post, the user that goes by the name Bengaluru Man wrote that he received free tomatoes from Swiggy Instamart. However the frustration was not on getting free tomatoes, but he mentioned the problem of not being able to remove it from his cart, despite willing to do so. 

Further explaining, he wrote, “the problem isn’t that I’m getting tomatoes. The problem is that basic expectations of e-commerce aren’t being respected. I should have full control as a consumer of what I choose to receive, which isn’t happening.”

“Very bad design in Swiggy Instamart, where an item is automatically added to my cart. I don’t want tomatoes but I cannot remove it from my cart. Even if I am not paying for it, this is basket sneaking which is a dark pattern,” he wrote.

Very bad design in Swiggy Instamart, where an item is automatically added to my cart. I don’t want tomatoes but I cannot remove it from my cart. Even if I am not paying for it, this is basket sneaking which is a dark pattern. pic.twitter.com/9mRpqqexWL

— Bengaluru man (@NCResq) October 12, 2024

A user wrote, “This is nearest dark store having too much stock of tomatoes and want to just dump them off. Give it to your watchman or someone bro”.

This is nearest dark store having too much stock of tomatoes and want to just dump them off. Give it to your watchman or someone bro
— Papps (@papps_gunner) October 13, 2024

Yet another user wrote, “Customer must have the final say. Offer freebies but costumer must decide yes or no. Swiggy is losing it’s way & Zomato is becoming very dominant briskly. We need a brand that generates profits for businesses & serves us, the consumer better.”

Customer must have the final say. Offer freebies but costumer must decide yes or no. Swiggy is losing it’s way & Zomato is becoming very dominant briskly. We need a brand that generates profits for businesses & serves us, the consumer better.
— Deepak M A (@deepakmambalam) October 13, 2024

Sharing his experience, a user said, “I faced the same issue few days back. I am pure vegetarian but they just offered me a free non veg dish. I had no discretion in changing my preference or to remove that item. Quite unusual.”

I faced the same issue few days back. I am pure vegetarian but they just offered me a free non veg dish. I had no discretion in changing my preference or to remove that item. Quite unusual. pic.twitter.com/w0Gj4QjPqh
— Suraj Sureka (@surajsureka9) October 14, 2024

Another commented, “I’m trying to understand this better – if it’s free, does it still considered as dark pattern? I do understand that you’re unable to remove it”.

I’m trying to understand this better – if it’s free, does it still considered as dark pattern? I do understand that you’re unable to remove it
— Mohamed Siddique (@msiddique26) October 12, 2024

To which the response came, “I don’t want something but it’s coming anyway. Dark pattern by definition. Doesn’t matter if it’s free.”