I called to order considering the commission fee... "Charged 6,000 won more expensive than the app"

Demanding "23,000 won" for a 17,000 won menu item
After complaint, offered 18,000 won including 1,000 won packaging fee

A netizen shared a story about how they called a Chinese restaurant directly to order food in consideration of the delivery app fees that self-employed business owners face, only to be asked to pay 6,000 won more than the app price.

A netizen shared a story about calling a Chinese restaurant directly to order in consideration of the delivery app fees for small business owners, only to be charged 6,000 won more than the app price.
[Image source=Online community capture]

On the 14th, a post appeared on an online community describing an experience after placing a phone order at a nearby Chinese restaurant and picking up the food in person. The author, Mr. A, said, "There has been a lot of talk lately about the delivery app fees that restaurants have to pay. Since self-employed business owners are struggling, people try to order by phone and pick up the food themselves. I have done it too," adding, "This was the third time, but I was disappointed again." On that day, he searched for the Chinese restaurant menu on the delivery app and ordered a small portion of Lajoyuk priced at 17,000 won by phone. When he went to pick up the food, the restaurant asked for "23,000 won," he said.

Mr. A said, "I hesitated for a moment. Times are tough these days, so I thought about just paying and leaving without saying anything," but added, "However, I felt I had to say something even if I was going to pay." When Mr. A pointed out, "It’s 17,000 won on the delivery app," the restaurant replied, "Then just give us 18,000 won." When Mr. A asked why it was 1,000 won more expensive, the restaurant said it was for "packaging fees."

Mr. A lamented, "No matter how difficult things are, does the price change depending on the person or situation? I paid in cash myself to avoid the fees and delivery charges," and added, "Actually, last month I ordered Palbochae from this Chinese restaurant through the delivery app. I thought it was a place with generous portions and reasonable prices, so I got involved in this matter." He continued, "Now, even if restaurants complain about difficulties, I don’t think anyone will listen anymore," and advised, "Don’t get hurt by ordering by phone out of sympathy after watching the news; just order delivery comfortably."

A netizen who previously ran a restaurant commented, "Customers order by phone to consider self-employed business owners, so I hope they respond well," and criticized, "I have ordered by phone a few times, but maybe because I couldn’t write reviews, the portions were small and the packaging was often poor." Other netizens also reacted, saying, "I ordered by phone to save the store’s commission fees, but they said the app is more convenient, which was embarrassing," "I hope places like that don’t complain about being struggling," "Consumers can just choose the cheaper option," and "This is why the closure rate of stores in our country is high."

Meanwhile, concerns among self-employed business owners are growing as Baedal Minjok, the leading company occupying over 60% of the food delivery app market, announced that it will raise the commission rate of its fixed-rate plan 'Baemin1Plus' from 6.8% (excluding VAT) of the food price to 9.8%, an increase of 3 percentage points.

On the 15th, the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business Owners, the National Franchisee Council, and the Public Transport Workers’ Union Rider Union held a rally in front of the headquarters of Woowa Brothers in Songpa-gu, demanding the immediate withdrawal of Baedal Minjok’s commission hike plan. They stated, "Recently, even when customers order through the app and pick up the food themselves, they say they will charge a commission for those takeout orders, which is absurd," and urged, "The government should present measures to regulate the monopoly of platform giants like Baemin and Coupang, and the National Assembly should pass the Online Platform Monopoly Regulation Act and the Fair Trade Act before the monopoly of platform giants worsens."