Chinanews client, Beijing, August 18 (Gong Hongyu) Takeaway orders are 42.2 yuan, and the packaging fee is 4.9 yuan. When consumer Xiao Wang saw the takeaway checkout receipt, he joked and exclaimed, "Now the packaging is getting more and more. The more expensive it is, the more you can't afford to pay for the packing."
And this 4.9 yuan packaging fee is only two more disposable bags, one disposable gloves, one wet wipe, one popping candy, and one love sticker than dine-in.
The issue of take-out packaging fees is increasingly being criticized by consumers.
Takeaway packaging worth 4.9 yuan.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee
A few days ago, the incident of Yonghui Supermarket’s unauthorized collection of 1 yuan packaging fee has become a hot topic, and netizens have left messages: Compared with the packaging fees of supermarkets, the packaging fees of take-out and group-buying delivery platforms are even more "hardest hit"-the price is high , There are many routines, and each single product has to be charged.
Open the major take-out platforms at will, and most stores have set up packing fees.
Consumers have to pay a packaging fee for every single product they order, and the cost of a single packaging is about 1-2 yuan.
"What's outrageous is that some shops even charge packaging fees for gifts, and the packaging fees are even higher than the value of the gifts." A consumer reflects.
What makes customers particularly dissatisfied is the phenomenon of mandatory packaging fees for takeaways.
"The meal box is acceptable. A steamed bun, wrapped in a plastic bag, has to charge 1 yuan for the packaging fee, and two steamed buns are charged for two packaging fees, which is puzzling." A consumer expressed The doubts about the cost of packaging and pricing have been resolved.
A screenshot of an order on a food delivery platform.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee
Ms. Huang, who often orders takeaways for three people in her family, also said, “One egg is charged one package fee, and three eggs are charged three package fees. Why can’t consumers choose how many packages they need? Three eggs can’t be put in one. In the packaging? Isn't this a waste of resources?"
In this regard, a shopkeeper who once ran a takeaway shop admitted that many packaging fees that far exceed the cost price are for profit.
"You think that is the packaging price, but it is actually part of the commodity price. These are all merchants' routines."
For example, the extra price is hidden the first time the consumer sees the product.
What was originally worth 2 yuan was broken into 1 yuan for pricing and one yuan for packaging fees, giving customers the illusion of low prices for products, and encouraging customers to buy and place orders.
Customers feel that they are taking advantage, but actually spend more money.
Who makes the packaging fee paid by consumers?
A staff member of the food delivery platform told Chinanews.com, “The packaging fee is set by the store itself, and the fee is also paid to the store instead of the platform.”
However, many merchants do not buy the platform.
They believe that the problem of packaging fees is essentially caused by the high price of takeaway platforms and low-price competition among stores.
“For every order sold, the takeaway platform will have to pay 20%-30%, and the store will not make any money. We dare not increase the price of the dishes, so we can only increase the packaging fee.” said Zhang, the owner of the noodle restaurant.
In addition, “the platform requires activities. Most businesses need to raise prices and then perform full reductions. If there is no platform activity, there will be no traffic, and without traffic, there will be no orders.”
Boss Zhang said, “The packaging fee is a helpless move for most stores. It is a choice made to compensate for the loss. If the packaging fee is not added, the price of the vegetable will be increased. It is the same for consumers.”
A screenshot of an order on a food delivery platform.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee
"This unreasonable way of charging packaging fees has constituted legally compulsory consumption in disguise, and businesses must not force consumers to purchase unnecessary services." Gao Guangtong, a lawyer at Beijing Dacheng Law Firm, told Chinanews.com.
"According to the "Measures for the Punishment of Acts in Violation of Consumer Rights and Interests" (revised in 2020) formulated by the General Administration of Market Supervision, business operators shall not compel consumers in a disguised form to purchase and use goods or services provided by them or by designated business operators. Consumers who accept their unreasonable conditions refuse to provide the corresponding goods or services, or raise the charging standards."
How can we solve the problem of packaging fees?
After the hot search of the Yonghui Supermarket incident, many old Yonghui customers said that when they buy fresh frozen products or heavy items, they still actively spend money to add a package.
"But it is too overbearing to force the collection without authorization, and I feel bullied."
It can be seen that the key to merchants' charging of packaging fees lies in the price tagging of composite costs and giving consumers the right to choose, rather than adopting infringement and compulsory methods.
What do you think about the take-out packaging fee?