Discounts lure onion consumers to online portals and mobile apps

With the price of onions in the local markets heading north, a large number of people have switched to online portals and mobile apps to buy the kitchen staple as the sites are offering good discounts.

With the price of onions in the local markets heading north, a large number of people have switched to online portals and mobile apps to buy the kitchen staple as the sites are offering good discounts.

Onions stored at a warehouse at APMC's Market in Navi Mumbai. (Photo: Bachchan Kumar)

Some online portals are selling the vegetable for Rs 20 to Rs 30 less than the market prices.

The price of onion has been soaring and is being sold for around `80 per kg for the past couple of weeks.

E-commerce websites and applications like Grofers, Peppertap and SRS Grocery are selling onions at an a rate of Rs 25 to Rs 40 per kg.

“I have switched to Grofers for buying vegetables, especially onions, which are being sold at a very high price in retail stores. On the app, onions are being sold for Rs 36 only. This is very cheap compared to the market price. Buying through the app is also very convenient,” said Radha Singh, a 34-year-old homemaker.

“I recently ordered 3 kg of onion from Peppertap at Rs 38 per kg when the local retailer was selling it for over Rs 65. These apps are so much more useful. Home delivery is an added advantage,” said Pratik Rao, another resident of Sector 4.

Most of these apps provide home delivery and also offer a number of promotional offers and gifts, which attract customers.

“I ordered 1 kg of onion through an app and got a 10% discount and even received a small pack of lemon and coriander leaves as a gift. These schemes are definitely a plus,” said Sheetal Aggarwal, a resident of DLF Phase 3.