Chicken Restaurant Charging 4,000 Won Table Setting Fee to Gifticon Customers... Owner Also Has Much to Say

Controversy Over Table Setting Fee Demand from the Same Brand in the Past
"Delivery and Takeout Only, Avoiding Store Restrictions" Explanation

A controversy has arisen over claims that a famous franchise chicken specialty store demanded a 'table setting fee' from customers who used gifticons during dine-in visits.

Table Setting Fee of 4,000 KRW on a 27,500 KRW Gifticon... "It's Not Even a Raw Fish Restaurant"

Fried chicken. The photo is not directly related to the content of the article.

On the 25th, on internet communities, a person identified as A posted a message titled "B Chicken Store Charges Table Setting Fee." A stated, "I was charged an additional 4,000 KRW table setting fee simply because I used a gifticon from Company B at the store," adding, "Before using the gifticon, I asked if it could be used for dine-in and ate inside the store, but I was only informed about the table setting fee at the time of payment." They continued, "If I had been told about the fee earlier, I would not have eaten inside. This is the first time I've encountered such a case. I wonder if others have experienced this. Shouldn't additional charges be notified in advance?"

Ultimately, A paid over 30,000 KRW, including the 27,500 KRW gifticon and the table setting fee, before leaving the store. While it is common for places like butcher shops or raw fish restaurants to charge a table setting fee based on the number of people, it is not typical for chicken restaurants to do so. Netizens who read the story responded with comments such as "I feel upset," "They should notify customers in advance," and "It's too much, it's not even a raw fish restaurant."

Past Controversies Over 'Table Setting Fee'... Store Owners Cite "Commission, Leftover Disposal Costs," vs. Headquarters Requesting to Avoid Using the Term 'Table Setting Fee'

In particular, the company in question has faced criticism before due to multiple reports of customers being charged a table setting fee when dining in with gifticons. However, some point to the gifticon commission rate as the cause of the 'chicken restaurant table setting fee.' It is known that franchisees must bear up to 10% commission on the sale price of the gifticon from this company. Additionally, the brand's gifticons were originally intended for takeout and delivery only, so dining in incurs extra costs for service, dishwashing, and leftover disposal, resulting in a loss for the franchisee.

In fact, a franchisee of a chicken brand told the media, "Other food and beverage sectors share the gifticon commission with the headquarters, but in chicken franchises, the franchisee bears it alone," adding, "Because of the commission, margins are already slim, and having to serve customers when dining in makes it even less appealing."

The franchise headquarters maintain that gifticons are for takeout and delivery only, and that additional charges may apply for in-store use, so there is no problem. A representative from Company B's franchise headquarters said in a media interview, "Prices may vary by store depending on concept and rent, even for the same product," and added, "Side menus differ in size between delivery and dine-in, so to avoid confusion on-site, gifticons are sold exclusively for takeout and delivery." Another chicken franchise headquarters representative explained, "Although gifticons were launched for takeout and delivery, we have requested franchisees not to restrict dine-in use."

However, the fact that important information about possible restrictions on in-store use is placed at the very bottom of the gifticon product detail page, making it less noticeable, and that gifticons also serve as sales promotion and advertising expenses?meaning the commission burden on franchisees may be unfair?are still likely to remain points of controversy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.