Zomato is making yet another change to its Gold membership, and this time it’s not great news for subscribers. After recently pressing pause on its 50:50 refund policy with partner restaurants, the food delivery giant is now tweaking what Gold actually gets you.
Starting May 16, even Gold members will have to pay a rain surcharge. That’s right—one of the more appreciated perks of the membership, the rain fee waiver, is being scrapped. While the update wasn’t announced with much fanfare, users received a notification in the app informing them of the change.
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“Surge fee waiver during rains will not be part of your Gold benefits,” the message read. Zomato added that the fee will go toward better pay for delivery partners who work in poor weather conditions.
The company’s reasoning is understandable—rainy days can be rough for delivery workers, and extra compensation is fair. But for users who pay for Gold expecting a little extra convenience, the news might sting.
The Gold plan, which has undergone several iterations over the years, was initially rolled out to offer free deliveries, discounts, and various small comforts that made ordering in more affordable. With benefits now being slowly peeled back, some subscribers may begin to question the value they’re getting.
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Whether this is a one-off adjustment or the beginning of a broader shift in how Zomato structures its memberships remains to be seen. For now, though, Gold users should keep an umbrella handy—and a few extra rupees.
