Episode 3: The Un - APP - Etizing Illusion

Tuesday, 25^th February 2025

Milk? Check. Bread? Eggs? Curd, butter? Coca-Cola? (Obviously). Ouuu, LEGO at 70% off—oops, didn’t see you there.

Look, I can explain. It started as a simple grocery run, a responsible, well-planned list. But then… the algorithm whispered sweet nothings about limited-time deals, and well, here we are. Again.

Honestly? I deserve that exclusive 2015 Batman LEGO. Haven’t we all earned a little treat? One second, you're buying essentials; the next, you’re convincing yourself a dinosaur-shaped waffle maker is a need, not a want.

Welcome to The Un-APP-etizing Illusion—where self-control is a myth, discounts feel like destiny, and somehow, I now own a moon-shaped lamp that I swear will change my life.

I am your host—full-time procrastinator, part-time overthinker, and my parents’ worst financial investment—a serial impulse spender. Or as I like to call myself, The Cartographer—because every checkout feels like an uncharted expedition, except the only treasure I find is an empty wallet and a pile of regret.

And let’s be real—we all fall for it. One innocent scroll, and suddenly, a self-stirring coffee mug feels like a necessity. The algorithm knows. It waits. It whispers: Only 2 left in stock. And at that point, it’s not even about wanting it—it’s about not losing it. Scarcity marketing? 1. Rationality? 0.

Oh, and don’t even get me started on “Buy Now, Pay Later.” You mean I can delay my financial ruin and pretend it never happened? Sign me up. At this point, I’m not even shopping—I’m taking loans against my future disappointment.

Honestly, take me back to a time when we had hisaab-kitaab with our local kiranawalas. At least back then, the shame of my mom finding out kept my spending in check. (And yes, Mom, I finally paid off my ₹200 debt at Ganesh . I’m a responsible adult now. Kind of.)

The worst part? We justify it. Every. Single. Time.
• I work hard, I deserve this.
• It’s on sale, so technically, I’m saving money.
• Future Me will figure it out.” (Spoiler: Future Me is sobbing.)

And so, our carts become confessionals—tiny bursts of retail therapy that feel great in the moment. Right until the regret kicks in.

So today, I’m going to talk about my experiences—because why not? Four years in Pune have taught me a lot, mostly about how easy it is to burn through money without realizing it.

But instead of the usual rants, I’m sharing some intriguing things you may or may not know. And if you do know, just pretend you don’t—help a poor guy out, alright? I’m just here trying to keep things interesting.

The Great Food Delivery Chess Match

Zomato and Swiggy have been my loyal companions—never judging my late-night cravings or the fact that I’ve ordered Stuffed Parathas three times this week. But over time, food delivery turned from a simple convenience into a game of strategy and survival.

Until mid-2024, Swiggy was my go-to for deliveries—free delivery above ₹159 and solid discount codes made it a no-brainer. Zomato, on the other hand, was my top choice for dining out. But after both companies went public, things changed. New charges popped up—GST hikes, platform fees, and mysterious restaurant charges (seriously, why does Theobroma need an extra ₹100 from me?). Then came 2025, and Swiggy launched Swiggy Black to rival Zomato Gold, making affordable food harder to find.

And don’t even get me started on flash sales—that ₹99 shawarma sounds great until you realize you need two to dodge delivery fees. If you’re ordering for a group, it’s fine. But for solo eaters? It’s a scam disguised as a deal.

My Quick Survival Guide:

1. Swiggy One over Swiggy Black for food deliveries.
2. Zomato Gold still rules for dining out.
3. EatClub (Box8 umbrella) is great for group orders—decent food at solid prices.
4. EatSure… exists.
5. Zepto Café – Has to be my new favourite for late afternoon or evening munchies – is in limited locations but is really doing a solid job

And hey, if this somehow finds its way to Deepinder :) —know that it’s all in good fun. This is just my perspective, and I understand the business side of it. Would love to chat about it sometime!.

Meter Down – The Surge-ical Strikes Back

I’ve used them all—Uber, Ola, Rapido, inDrive, and even S-Ride—which means I’ve been through every possible scenario, from the classic “Sir, cash dijiye warna ride cancel karna padega” to the eternal “Bhaiya, AC chalu karenge?” struggle. But today, let’s talk about something that might actually surprise you (or maybe not, because let’s be real, nothing shocks us anymore).

Uber charges higher fares when your phone battery is low.

Sounds like a wild conspiracy theory, right? But it’s been backed by reports, including this one from the Economic Times. And I can confirm—it’s not just a theory. It’s happened to me multiple times.

Source: Economic Times

Picture this: My battery dips below 10%, I open Uber, and suddenly, my usual ₹200 ride jumps to ₹320. Coincidence? Maybe once. But every time? Nah. The logic is simple—when your battery is low, you’re desperate, and Uber knows you won’t risk refreshing the app or switching to another platform.

Pro tip: If your battery is dying, try checking fares on a friend’s phone or plug in your charger before booking. Because clearly, in the world of ride-hailing, even your phone’s battery percentage can cost you extra.

Pro Rider Tips

• Uber One is actually worth it – You get 10% cashback on every ride, and while it might not seem like much, it adds up fast over time.
• Ola plays hard to get – Ignore it for a while, and suddenly, you’ll see a mysterious drop in pricing. But if you’re thinking of taking an Ola Auto? Don’t. You’d have a better shot at finding a meter auto in Pune (good luck with that)
• Rapido is a gamble – Their cabs are often cheaper than Uber and Ola, but the quality of cars? A lucky draw. You’ll either get a brand-new sedan or something that makes you question your life choices.
• inDrive? Just start walking. By the time you and the driver finish the classic “Na tera, na mera” bargaining ritual, you might as well just hitchhike your way home.
•  S-Ride is gold for carpools – If you manage to find a reliable person in the first or second attempt, lock it in—set up a regular arrangement, and you’ll probably have the best daily commute deal out there.

iPhone vs. Android – The Price Tag Scam or Just a Conspiracy?

Ah, the iPhone vs. Android debate. A tale as old as time, or at least as old as the first time an Android user said, “But my phone has a 6000mAh battery and charges in 15 minutes!” and the iPhone user responded with, “Yeah? But can your texts be blue?”

Look, I’m not here to settle that fight (because let’s be honest, it’s never-ending). But recently, another claim has been making the rounds—that things cost more on an iPhone than they do on Android. Apparently, apps and services adjust prices based on the phone you’re using, which, if true, is the kind of scam that would make even my electricity bill jealous.

So, like any self-respecting overthinker, I decided to investigate.

The (Highly Scientific) Experiment

To keep things fair, I picked five apps across different categories:

• Food: Zomato & Swiggy
• Groceries: Zepto
• Travel: Uber
• Hotels: Booking.com

Here’s what I found.

Food Delivery

I picked the same restaurant and the same item—a Bean Burger from Good Flippin’ Burgers. (No, I didn’t actually order them—mom made cheelah for dinner because apparently, home food builds character.) The result? Same price.

Zomato

                                                                                Swiggy

Groceries

I added eggs, milk, butter, bread, and Coca-Cola (yes, I’m aware this isn’t the healthiest list, but let’s move on). The price? Same on both devices. BUT—here’s where it gets shady: the iPhone had the Gold Pass, while the Android didn’t—and yet, the price was still the same. Zepto, I see you.

Zepto

Travel

Now, this is where things actually differed. The Uber ride was cheaper on Android. But before we scream iPhone tax, there’s context:

• The Android Uber app is barely used (probably installed for that one emergency ride).
• The iPhone Uber app is used almost daily (because walking is overrated).

Uber’s pricing adjusts based on how often you use it, so this could just be personalized pricing rather than an iPhone surcharge.

Uber

Hotels

On Booking.com, hotels were cheaper on Android. But here’s another catch:

• The Android account had a “Genius” tag (earned from leaving frequent reviews).
• The iPhone account? Only leaves reviews when a hotel has scammed me or given me a room that looks like a crime scene.

So, this might be a loyalty perk thing rather than an Android vs. iPhone thing.

Booking.com

The Verdict?

Is there some truth to the whole “iPhone users pay more” theory? Maybe. But based on my (very serious) research, most of the differences come down to account history, app algorithms, and how often you use a service.

That being said, Android users may pay less for Uber, but they also get green lines on their screen out of nowhere, so really, who’s winning here?

If you’ve spotted actual price differences between iPhone and Android, drop them in the comments—I’m always up for another unnecessary experiment.

Final Thoughts

Apologies for the long episode and the delay—some things take time, much like waiting for Google Maps to decide whether you should take the flyover or stay below. A huge thank you for 500 subscribers! If you enjoyed this, or just appreciate the chaos, feel free to share it—consider it a small act of recklessness that won’t land you in trouble (probably).

See you Around :)