Customer Ordered 1000-Won Sauce to Meet Delivery 'Minimum Order Amount'
Received Baffling Note Saying "Sauce Is No-Margin"
A customer shared a story about ordering a 1,000-won sauce just to meet the delivery 'minimum order amount' and receiving a baffling note in return.
On the 22nd, a post titled "What happened while trying to meet the minimum delivery order amount" was uploaded on an online community. The author, Mr. A, said, "When I tried to order cold buckwheat noodles and king-sized dumplings, the total was 11,900 won. However, since the minimum order amount was 12,000 won, I chose to add a 1,000-won sauce from the menu to meet the minimum order amount."
But Mr. A was surprised when he received the delivery. There was a Post-it note attached to the delivery container that read, "The cost price of the mixed sauce is 980 won, so there is no profit ㅠㅠ." Mr. A expressed his confusion, saying, "Did I do something wrong? Are you telling me to add 5,000-won pancakes or dumplings just to make up the 100 won shortfall in the minimum order amount? Or does this mean I shouldn't order in the future?"
Feeling upset, Mr. A protested through a review on the delivery platform. In his review, he started, "The minimum order amount is 12,000 won, but the set is 11,900 won, so it's 100 won short. I understand the encouragement to order more." He continued, "So I legitimately added the 1,000-won sauce from the menu. It was the cheapest option, and I also planned to mix the sauce. I paid the exact amount the owner set for the items I ordered." Then he added, "But why did you send a Post-it note saying the sauce cost is 980 won with no profit? Does this mean I should order a more expensive additional menu item instead of the sauce? Are you suggesting I order a more expensive set menu? I'm really sorry for adding an item that only leaves a 20-won margin," expressing his anger.
The store owner responded, "There was no intention to upset the customer. We disclosed the cost price because some might think the portion is small." He further explained, "The minimum order amount is high because Coupang's delivery commission fee is higher than other platforms. We set the minimum order amount high, but if we don't match the selling price with other platforms, the benefits are excluded, so we aligned the prices. There was no intention to encourage a higher amount." Then he shared his phone number, saying, "There are many complaints. Here is my phone number." He concluded, "Please call to report any complaints. I will listen to everything."
Netizens who saw this reacted strongly, saying things like, "The owner's reply just made things worse," "What are they supposed to do if there's no profit?" "There are strange customers, but there are also many strange owners in reality," "Because of people like that, self-employed people get criticized," "If it's not a profitable menu, don't sell it," "Should customers have to consider the owner's profit margin when ordering?" "If there is a delivery fee, then why is there a minimum order amount at all?"
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