"My Wife Is Starving"... Self-Employed Person Embarrassed by Delivery App 'Gugeol'

Requesting credit while sharing stories
"Do we look like pushovers?" Self-employed express frustration
Delivery apps where 'ratings' matter... hard to ignore requests

Self-employed business owners are struggling with some customers' absurd demands. When ordering food through delivery applications (apps), customers are pleading for 'credit' along with their stories in the request section.

On the 22nd, an online community for self-employed business owners called 'Apeunikka Sajangida' (Because It Hurts, I'm the Boss) posted an article titled "Delivery requests that have been seen quite often these days." The post included four photos of what appeared to be food order receipts.

Looking at the statement of a customer who chose the 'card payment on delivery' option, the special notes section read, "If you send me your account number via text, I can transfer the money in two days. Credit is probably difficult, right?" followed by "If not possible, please cancel."

Image posted on the self-employed community 'Apeunikka Sajangida'. [Image source=Online community]

Meanwhile, there was an order requesting credit with a message saying, "Boss, I'm really sorry, but I haven't been able to eat since yesterday. If it's not too much trouble, would it be possible to transfer the money tomorrow?" and "I will receive money tomorrow."

In addition, some customers pleaded with stories such as, "Due to circumstances, I will transfer the payment including the delivery fee after I receive my salary," and "My pregnant wife hasn't eaten for three days. I will bring the money on the 25th." One netizen even shamelessly sent an additional message asking for credit while saying, "Please send a text in advance. Do not call."

Self-employed business owners who read the post expressed anger, saying things like, "Does it make sense for someone without money to order through an app with a 4,500 won delivery fee?", "Isn't this a new form of begging?", and "How much do they take self-employed people for fools?"

Self-employed Business Owners Suffering from Excessive Demands Due to 'Ratings'

2021 Delivery App Reviews, Star Rating System Protest Press Conference [Image Source=Yonhap News]

Typically, delivery apps have a request section where customers can leave messages before ordering food. However, some consumers' requests are increasingly excessive, deepening the worries of self-employed business owners.

Previously, many requests demanding side menu 'services' while ordering food caused embarrassment for self-employed owners.

According to a survey conducted last May by 'Baemin Sajangnim Square,' operated by the delivery app 'Baedal Minjok,' the most troublesome customer request was "boldly asking for side menu services" (59.9%). One self-employed business owner complained, "There was even a customer who ordered one serving of French fries but asked for ten packets of ketchup."

No matter how excessive the requests are, it is difficult for self-employed business owners to ignore customers' demands. This is because customer star ratings and reviews on delivery apps greatly affect the app's visibility and sales increase. There is a risk of suffering a 'star rating attack' if requests are not fulfilled.

In fact, self-employed business owners have been found to react sensitively to star rating reviews. According to a 'Delivery App Usage Survey' conducted in June 2021 by the Justice Party's '6411 Livelihood Special Committee,' 74.3% of self-employed business owners using delivery apps responded that "reviews and star ratings affect sales."