President "Provided in good faith but discouraged"
A story of a study cafe owner struggling due to selfish members who take free snacks excessively has sparked controversy among netizens.
On the 5th, a post titled "The Tears of Our Neighborhood Study Cafe Owner Today" was uploaded on an online community bulletin board.
The author attached a notice posted by the study cafe owner and wrote, "Since it is near a local academy district, many students do come, but I didn't realize it was this bad," adding, "I was surprised to see that even adults take a lot of snacks."
A story has been shared about a study cafe owner struggling with selfish customers who take free snacks excessively while using the study cafe. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Asia Economy DB
According to the notice, the owner said, "I took over the cafe on January 1st, and it has already been 4 months since I started operating," and "As a parent raising a child, I always cared and worried about wanting to provide even one more thing, a cleaner and more pleasant environment, and various kinds of good snacks."
The owner revealed that some customers were recklessly taking snacks stocked in the cafe. It was reported that some people took 5 to 6 snacks to their personal lockers, some filled their pockets with snacks after eating a lot at their seats, and others just ate snacks while passing by or stopped by on their way to the academy to take snacks.
The owner lamented, "Because of those snacks, groups of customers gathering in threes or fives created a noisy atmosphere," and "It seems like people come to the study cafe not to study but to eat snacks with friends," adding, "It is very discouraging and upsetting for me who sincerely prepared everything with the members' best interests in mind."
On the 5th, a post titled "The Tears of Our Neighborhood Study Cafe Owner Today" was uploaded on an online community bulletin board. [Photo by Online Community FM Korea]
In the notice, the owner stated, "After much consideration, I have decided not to provide snacks daily anymore," and "I plan to offer them randomly about 2 to 3 times a week."
The owner also said, "Even if I prepare plenty of snacks for members who come back late from the academy and then leave, it is useless. Members who study hard in the cafe for a long time end up not even getting to see the snacks because of the 'sweepers' who take everything," and asked for understanding, saying, "Please understand if you feel disappointed when snacks suddenly disappear until the situation settles down."
After the story was shared, netizens expressed sympathy for the owner's situation and showed regret. Comments included, "They are not beggars, so why can't they use it in moderation?" "The owner must have been very hurt," and "I worked in self-employment, and there were more strange customers than I imagined. Even at convenience stores, people take dozens of chopsticks or straws," among others.
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