Comedian Vir Das alleges Zepto delivered fake Apple Watch worth Rs 50,000, company responds
Follow UsA Rs 50,000 Apple Watch ordered through Zepto turned out to be a suspected Chinese knock-off
Zepto has since scheduled a reverse pickup
Zepto is investigating the matter with its brand partners
Comedian and actor Vir Das took to Instagram and X on Monday alleging that an Apple Watch he ordered through Zepto for a shoot turned out to be what appeared to be a counterfeit product. Das said he paid approximately Rs 50,000 for the smartwatch, which he needed quickly. When it arrived, he found the packaging carried the phrase “Designed by Watch in China” rather than any Apple branding, and the watch itself did not look like a genuine Apple product. While the outer packaging said “Apple Watch Series 11”, the box inside said “Series 9” without any branding.
Survey“Okay. Am I wrong, do all apple watches look like this or is @ZeptoNow @zeptocares being shady with china copies? By the way their customer device agent on the phone said there’s nothing they could do. Full scam. We needed one quick for a shoot. They charged us 50k,” Das wrote on X.
The posts drew a significant response online, with other users sharing their own complaints about receiving incorrect or suspect products through quick-commerce platforms. Some also noted that expensive electronics are generally safer to purchase through authorised brand stores or retailer channels rather than rapid-delivery apps.
Zepto issued a statement in response to the allegations. “We take such concerns seriously and have already scheduled a reverse pickup of the product, which is our standard process in such cases. This will help us investigate the issue with our brand partners,” a company spokesperson said.
The platform also pointed to its delivery process for high-value items, noting that customers receive a one-time password at the time of delivery and should only share it after verifying that the package is properly sealed and in good condition.
The incident raises a practical question for anyone buying expensive gadgets through quick-commerce platforms. While the convenience is real, high-value products carry a higher risk of fulfilment errors or counterfeits.
