[Consumerwide_Hayoung Chang Reporter/Yohan Bok Reporter]  Every year, many consumers experience delivery problems. Failure of delivery influences not only consumers but also partnering businesses, which are Chuseok sales and distribution businesses.

The Korea Consumer Agency guides that consumers have got to use delivery service much earlier than usual in order to get away from any delivery failure, including damage and loss. Would that be the only way? There has got to be a fundamental solution. Many Korean consumers send gifts during national holidays, including Chuseok, and they often use delivery services in connection with gift stores. The problem lies in that there is quite a number of damage and lost cases caused by overloaded orders.

According to Korea Consumer Agency, there have been a total of 18442 cases of consumer consulting due to delivery failure between 2022 and 2020. Among them, only 779 cases were rescued. In particular, there were 3892 delivery failure cases during September and October around the Chuseok holiday, and 153 cases were rescued, which are each 21.1% and 19.1% out of the consumer victims' cases. Representative consumer victim cases are damage, lost, and delay of delivery. There were damage and spoiled food cases of holiday food products as sellers refused to compensate for the loss. This can result in inconveniences for consumers and sellers as extra costs occur due to loss or damage. Furthermore, consumers might get influenced in social and family relationships while sellers lose their customers.

A seafood product seller said during an interview with Consumerwide, "There have been many lost and food spoil cases due to delivery delays this year. It's a fresh food, so delivery time matters. We refund or resend products for consumers when they claim the loss, and we get compensation from delivery businesses. Yet, I perceive that we have got to take the risk of losing customers in relation to delivery failure."

Korea Consumer Agency recommends using delivery services after peak season or making the order in advance if possible. Consumers have got to fill up the order sheets with accuracy regarding type, number, and price of the goods and keep them till the end of delivery. When goods cost over 500 thousand won, they'd  better pay additionally for delivery insurance and extra care. In order to prevent loss of goods, the sender has to notice delivery information, including tracking number, to receive beforehand. In the case of not presenting at home, the receiver needs to communicate with the delivery company to prevent loss of goods. As soon as delivery is completed, the receiver checks thoroughly the condition of the goods, and notices the seller if there is any problem, a maximum of 14 days. An agricultural product seller said during an interview with Consumerwide, "When you send a Chuseok gift, you've got to check with the receiver whether they've received it and the condition of the product and the time of delivery. In this way, we can reduce failure of delivery."

However, even if consumers are paying attention, not all delivery failures are prevented. Thus, delivery businesses need to notice both senders and receivers when delivery has been completed while handling the number of orders. The due date for Chuseok gift delivery order is mostly this weekend. If you plan for sending a gift, you'd better send it asap to prevent delivery failure.