Delivery Drivers at Unmanned Stores Told to "Package Orders"? Some Owners Even Coach via CCTV

Controversy Over Unmanned Stores Requiring Drivers to Package Orders Themselves
From Matching Receipts to Selecting Products... Growing Dissatisfaction

Controversy is growing as cases continue to emerge in which unmanned stores require delivery drivers to select and package ordered items themselves. Delivery drivers have voiced complaints, saying, "Time is of the essence in delivery, and asking us to handle packaging as well is excessive." They also point out that it is unclear who is responsible in the event of a delivery error.

Photo of a delivery pickup notice posted in an unmanned store. Online community

Recently, online communities mainly used by delivery drivers have seen posts describing the inconveniences experienced at unmanned stores. The photos shared by users showed a number of absurd notices found in these unmanned stores.

"Check the bill and package it yourself"... Absurd notices in unmanned stores

One store posted a notice that read, "Our store is unmanned, so please check the bill and package your order yourself. Thank you." Another store displayed a sign saying, "Check the product numbers to find your items. If you can't find something, contact us. Thank you for your cooperation." These notices instructed delivery drivers to compare the product names on the order receipt with the items on display in the store, select the correct products, and package them themselves. In effect, the entire process from order confirmation to packaging was left up to the delivery driver.

After seeing these posts, others responded that they had similar experiences. Comments included, "It was a rice cake shop, and I had to do the packaging myself," "I made a mistake while packing, and the owner, who must have been watching via CCTV, gave me directions through a speaker," and "It was a snack delivery, and when I rushed over after receiving the completion notification, I found that packaging was also my responsibility. Delivery is all about speed, so it was very confusing."

Who is responsible for delivery errors... Growing dissatisfaction among riders

Concerns about responsibility for errors have also been raised. One delivery driver asked, "If a delivery error occurs under this system, who will be held responsible?" Another driver expressed frustration, saying, "At this rate, they'll be asking us to cook the food too." Among online commenters, some criticized the situation, saying, "Security is outsourced to the police, payment to the customer, and packaging to the delivery driver-it's the perfect outsourcing model."

Even among store owners who operate unmanned stores, there are calls for self-regulation. Others in the same industry commented, "This has crossed the line," "Isn't this causing trouble for others?" and "Even if it's an unmanned store, packaging should be done by the staff."

As the controversy spreads, delivery platforms have begun responding. Delivery platform operators such as Woowa Brothers have clarified that packaging is not the responsibility of delivery drivers. They are also instructing store owners that, even in unmanned stores, the staff must attach the order receipt and complete packaging before handing it over to the driver.