L.A. restaurants struggle with a new form of dine-and-dash

[Dashinka 24,733]

I would have never even thought to do something like pandemic or not.

 

L.A. restaurants struggle with a new form of dine-and-dash

 

Spoon by H, Yoonjin Hwang’s celebrated Korean restaurant in Fairfax, is closing. Business had been slow since the start of the pandemic, but last summer, Hwang said, she started to notice more people disputing charges and claiming missing items through delivery apps. The restaurant was bleeding money and she was spending hours on the phone with the people behind the apps, trying to dispute the chargebacks.

“We lost orders, time, precious ingredients, and the problems accumulated to the point where we just couldn’t stay in business anymore,” she said. “We’re losing money to these issues, despite all the evidence we provide.”

Spoon by H is one of a growing number of Los Angeles restaurants dealing with customers attempting new ways to dine and dash during the pandemic. Scammers are taking advantage of restaurants that have prioritized safety over in-person security measures such as checking driver’s licenses and manually swiping credit cards. Some people are scamming restaurateurs with fraudulent credit cards, while others request refunds, claiming they never received part or all of an order.

One of the worst incidents for Spoon by H happened on Nov. 10, when a customer placed an online order for four “meat lovers” combo meals. It was one of the largest orders Hwang had ever received. The meals were elaborate and each included a galbijjim and oxtail tray, spicy beef japchae and a beef short rib rice cake soup.

 

https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2021-02-23/restaurant-scam-credit-card-fraud

 

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[laylalex 7,300]

It's really heartbreaking. Spoon by H was fantastic and I was really looking forward to going back there later this year. It's just too far away from us for delivery to be worthwhile. 

 

I agree -- this would never occur to me. I've had Doordash deliveries missing an item before, but I never ask for a chargeback. I just call the restaurant and tell them something was missing, because I assume they'd like to know, or just say, eh, big deal, if it's something minor like missing sauce on the side. 

[millefleur 5,047]

I think this could be worked around. Print stickers with barcodes and attach it to each item that is charged, scan each once it's delivered, make people sign or agree digitally that they got the items. Basically take a page from how logistics and shipping companies handle things. It might cost extra to implement in the beginning, but once you get the software/label printing machine, it will save everyone stress and money. I don't see why people wouldn't want to double check that everything arrived ok with their order, so I think customers would take the extra time to check as well.

[Prizm123 1,086]

most of the restaurants seal the bags now because too many doordash drivers were stealing the food.

 

also. people are scumbags.

[yuna628 9,700]

We never use Doordash or anything like that. If we can, we'll pick it up ourselves even if it's a bit of a drive out there. Most places around here got out of using delivery services because of how much money they take a cut of, and just send out their own delivery drivers or they have special pickup bays in the lot to run the food out to you.