Lunchbox Subscription Service 'WeEat', Will It Become the Second Merge Point?

Temporary Service Suspension on the 4th
Refunds via Points Instead of Cash
Office Clearance and Employee Layoffs Underway

The lunchbox subscription service 'WeEat' operator, WeHurdling, suddenly suspended the service, sparking a second Merge Point controversy. WeEat has started refunding card customers in the form of cash-equivalent points, but victims remain anxious.

The door of the WeEat office located in Mapo-gu, Seoul, was firmly locked on the 5th.
[Photo by Lee Ji-eun]

According to a compilation of Asia Economy's coverage on the 7th, it was confirmed that a significant number of customers who prepaid for the service at WeEat last month have not yet received their prepaid amounts back in cash even after the service suspension.

Victim A (49) said, "I paid 87,700 won on May 16 and received one lunchbox delivery on the 3rd. After that, 76,000 won was refunded entirely as points, but there was no mention of when these points would be converted back to cash." He added, "I visited the office yesterday as well, but they only repeated that they would refund without giving a specific refund date."

WeEat is a service that delivers lunchboxes free of charge to locations desired by users. The accumulated number of members reaches about 190,000. Users have been using the service by prepaying with credit cards or charging points monthly after the next month's menu is announced on the 15th of each month.

Wit announced the refund procedure on its website on the 4th. [Image = Screenshot of Wit website]

The problem began when WeEat announced the service suspension on the 4th. On that day, WeEat posted a notice on its homepage stating that remaining subscriptions would be collectively canceled due to the sudden service suspension, and customers holding product payment amounts and cash-equivalent points should apply for refunds.

However, users are not confident about the refunds. This is because WeEat refunded prepaid customers last month with cash-equivalent points instead of canceling card payments and did not provide any further notice regarding cash returns. Users claim that after receiving the June lunchbox for the first time on the 3rd, the day before the service suspension, they were refunded the entire payment amount except for that order in points. So far, it has been confirmed that partial refunds have been made only for card payment cancellations on May 29 and June customers.

As the controversy arose, WeEat posted on its homepage on the 5th, "We are currently conducting refunds sequentially through reconciliation with the payment agency," and announced that refund plans would be guided through future notices. Users are currently applying for consumer counseling with the Korea Consumer Agency and considering filing complaints.

On the 5th, victim A, met in front of the WeEat office in Mapo-gu, Seoul, is showing the service suspension text message sent by WeEat.
[Photo by Lee Ji-eun]

It is known that WeEat is clearing out its office and proceeding with employee layoffs. The WeEat office, visited directly on the 5th, was dark and the door was closed.

Employee B of WeEat, who requested anonymity, said, "Most employees are believed to be in the process of being laid off," and added, "Employees also heard the news of the sudden suspension of operations abruptly." The building manager where the office is located also said, "WeEat informed us that they would soon clear out the office."

Asia Economy tried to contact WeHurdling, the operator of WeEat, but was unable to reach them.