No-Show for 30 Servings of Samgyetang... Restaurant Owner's Heartwarming Response

The Scale of 'No-Show' Damage Continues to Grow
Difficulties in Collecting Deposits to Prevent Losses
Online Community Applauds the Generous Gesture

As many self-employed business owners continue to suffer losses due to 'no-shows'-such as customers making reservations at restaurants and then failing to appear-one owner who incurred damages after a same-day cancellation of a reservation for 30 servings of Samgyetang has become a topic of discussion by distributing the meals for free to local residents. On September 10, a post titled "Samgyetang No-Show, Gave It Away for Free to Neighbors" was uploaded to the self-employed business owner community 'Because It Hurts, I'm a Boss.' The author, referred to as Mr. A, began, "Yesterday, I was a no-show for 30 servings of Samgyetang, which cost about 500,000 won. I wanted to share this because it turned into an interesting episode in my life."

A self-employed business owner who was a no-show for 30 servings of Samgyetang provided all of them for free to the local residents. Naver Cafe 'Because It Hurts, I'm a Boss'

According to Mr. A, he recently received a reservation order for 30 servings of Samgyetang and 8 dumplings, totaling 580,000 won. The person who made the reservation worked at a company near Mr. A's restaurant and said it was for a group dinner. When Mr. A mentioned a deposit, the customer reassured him by saying, "We've had company dinners in this neighborhood more than once. Don't worry." Trusting the customer, Mr. A did not collect a deposit. He explained, "Anyone who is self-employed would understand, but it is actually difficult to ask for a deposit. Since a single word from the business can affect sales, it's not easy to say something that might make customers uncomfortable."

On the day of the reservation, at around 10:54 a.m. on September 9, Mr. A contacted the customer to confirm, just in case. The customer replied, "See you later." However, even after the scheduled reservation time of 4 p.m., no one showed up. Mr. A sent a message to the customer, saying, "It's the reservation time, but you aren't answering the phone. Please respond. You told me not to worry about a no-show, so I didn't take a deposit. What am I supposed to do? Please answer or pick up the phone. What is going on?" The customer eventually replied, "Sorry, please cancel. I don't think I can make it. Something came up."

Frustrated, Mr. A responded, "This isn't a joke, and I accommodated you over the phone. What is this? I will take legal action. This is truly unacceptable, especially since you are older than I am." Mr. A lamented, "I double-checked the reservation just in case, and since I got a reply, I felt reassured. But when the time came, no one showed up. I was overwhelmed with anger and frustration." He added, "Samgyetang takes a long time to prepare, and my mother handles the kitchen, so I felt very sorry. Rather than throwing the food away, I decided to distribute it for free to local residents."

Warm Support from Local Residents Upon Hearing the News

After hearing about the incident, local residents sent messages of encouragement and support, such as, "I saw your post about the no-show. I don't need Samgyetang, but please give me your bank account number so I can help, even a little. I'll come by for a group dinner soon. Stay strong," and "This restaurant is so delicious. Next time, I will definitely bring friends and visit." Restaurant reviews also included comments like, "I heard about the no-show and visited with my children. You must have been upset, but you were so kind without showing it. Thank you. The food, made with such care, was wonderful."

A self-employed business owner who was a no-show for 30 servings of Samgyetang provided all of them for free to the local residents. Naver Cafe 'Because It Hurts, I'm a Boss'

Mr. A said, "I will hold the no-show perpetrator accountable and am continuing to contact them," but also noted, "I learned a lot from this experience." He concluded, "I was touched to realize that the world, which I thought was harsh, still has a warm side. Despite the major blow from the no-show, I felt good. This experience of giving away food for free actually gave me strength. I hope all self-employed business owners achieve great success. Everyone, keep fighting today." Online commenters who read the story responded, "I hope this turns out to be a blessing in disguise and that you have great success in the future," "It seems the world is still worth living in. There are so many good people," and "Just thinking about no-shows makes me angry, but the owner handled it wisely and positively."

Recognizing and Preparing for 'No-Show' Fraud Is Essential

As fraudulent schemes continue to evolve, public anxiety is rising along with the increasing sophistication of these scams. Recently, there have been numerous cases of so-called 'no-show fraud,' where scammers impersonate military units or celebrities to place large reservation orders and then disappear, as well as scams targeting the additional distribution of 'livelihood recovery consumer coupons.' To prevent increasingly sophisticated fraud damage, it is essential to recognize new types of fraud in advance and familiarize yourself with prevention measures.

To prevent increasingly sophisticated fraud damage, it is essential to recognize new types of fraud in advance and familiarize yourself with prevention measures. Asia Economy

To prevent 'no-show fraud,' first, when receiving a large order, it is essential to verify the identity of the person placing the order and directly contact the relevant organization for confirmation. Since scammers may impersonate actual employees and workplaces, simply confirming by voice is not enough. Second, require a partial prepayment or deposit for large orders to prevent financial losses. Third, if you receive a suspicious request, refuse it and immediately report it to 112. For example, if a buyer asks you to "pay the delivery fee on their behalf" or to "purchase other items not handled by the business," causing the seller to pay the buyer instead, this is a typical form of 'no-show fraud,' and you should refuse and report it to 112 immediately.