Diwali gifting needs a ‘Mehmaan Mode’ too.
Because they don’t like the jacket, but because they can see the price and the middle-class guilt kicks in, not. Festive gifting is a guessing game. You buy your cousin yet another set of uninspired copper tealight holders, they smile politely, and it joins the perpetually re-gifted soan papdi at the back of the pantry. So, you navigate the chaos of the Diwali sales with a vague mandate: ‘Pick something online, I’ll pay. They settle for an economical black T-shirt instead of the bomber jacket they really wanted. It’s a familiar dilemma, and interestingly, a food delivery app has found a way around it. Its ‘Mehmaan Mode’ lets the guests browse through eateries’ menus without seeing the prices when ordering from the host’s phone. The idea is simple: people should be able to choose what they actually want without worrying about the bill. Wishlists and gift cards exist, of course. But wishlists still come with price tags, and a gift card feels like cash wearing a bow. No, thanks. A food delivery app has found a way to spare guests the discomfort of checking prices. Shopping apps could do the same for festive gifting. After all, the best present might just be getting exactly what you wanted without having to ask how much it costs.