New Delhi: Days after the Department of Consumer Affairs pointed out “dark pattern” also known as ‘drip pricing’, several e-commerce platforms, including Zepto, have removed the platform fee. The Consumer Affairs department cited that it has been receiving numerous complaints over the hidden charges taken by the e-commerce platforms.

“The deal looks great at first, but hidden charges at the end hike up the price — that’s Drip Pricing, a Dark Pattern!” the Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India wrote on social media.

Understanding drip pricing, a dark pattern

Drip pricing refers to a practice used by various online shopping platforms in which additional or hidden charges are not disclosed until the final checkout step. As a result, the total price can end up being signifi

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