[비즈한국] As the settlement delay crisis at TMON and Wemakeprice continues to spiral, companies that sold products on these platforms are issuing a series of consumer support measures. However, the timing and the perceived level of proactivity of these measures have drawn criticism from consumers. Companies that sold their goods on TMON and Wemakeprice are lamenting, "We are victims ourselves, so it is quite bewildering to find the criticism directed at us."
Simmons Decides to Absorb Losses, Yanolja Makes a Bold Move
Among the companies, Simmons has shown the most proactive response. Simmons decided to ship products worth 400 million won that consumers had already paid for via TMON. Although payments from TMON remain uncertain, Simmons made the decision to minimize consumer harm. According to Simmons, the settlement amount they were due to receive from TMON between August and September is approximately 1 billion won, but the company stated, "We intend to first resolve the inconvenience and anxiety of our consumers and then work through the issues with TMON gradually. Trust with our customers is our top priority."
On the 25th, Yanolja announced that it would "proactively cancel products sold through 'T-Mep' (TMON and Wemakeprice) starting with reservations for the 29th." Yanolja explained that it determined that due to the unstable services of TMON and Wemakeprice, it would be highly likely that many reservations could not be fulfilled even if they were maintained. The following day, they decided to provide approximately 80,000 consumers with Yanolja points equivalent to the full reservation amount.
The total value of the points Yanolja is issuing is around 5 billion won. In addition, Yanolja has decided to fully cover the costs for products that had already been processed as used on the Yanolja platform. Including outstanding settlements and bookings for this weekend, the total burden on the Yanolja platform amounts to approximately 30 billion won. Interpark Tour, a travel platform operated by Yanolja subsidiary InterparkTriple, will also proceed normally with package products departing during the peak season in July and August. The industry estimates the combined compensation cost of both companies will reach 40 billion won.
Good Choice (Yeogi Eottae) also issued a statement on the 26th, announcing that all travel products purchased through TMON would be available as scheduled. The company explained, "In the interest of responsible management, we have decided to proceed with all booked accommodations as normal."
A Yanolja official explained, "We were concerned about the damage to consumers who could not verify their reservations due to the shutdown of Wemakeprice and TMON over the weekend, so we issued points to ensure consumers could safely purchase travel products on the Yanolja website," adding, "Yanolja will do its utmost to resolve the inconvenience and anxiety felt by consumers due to this situation."
"The Travel Platform Market Could Be Reorganized"
Furniture company Hanssem009240 is also facing criticism after sending cancellation notices to consumers who paid for interior renovations or furniture through TMON and Wemakeprice. Online posts have surfaced from users who purchased Hanssem Interior products via TMON, only to receive a unilateral cancellation notice from the company. In response, Hanssem stated, "We are communicating with consumers to ensure that construction proceeds as planned in cases where demolition has already begun, in order to minimize consumer harm," while adding, "We ask that you quickly apply for cancellation and refunds via the TMON 'My Page' to minimize damages."
More and more frustrated consumers are criticizing not only TMON and Wemakeprice but also the companies that sold the products. They argue, "Companies that have made profits by selling products through TMON and Wemakeprice all this time are now failing to consider the harm done to consumers."
The targeted companies are expressing their grievances. An official from a company that sold products on TMON and failed to receive settlement payments confided, "We are also major victims who have suffered financial losses of billions of won due to unpaid settlements, so it was truly bewildering to face voices demanding that companies unconditionally absorb all the losses throughout the past weekend."
A PR representative for a platform company explained, "As the crisis at TMON spreads fear that consumers will stop using smaller platforms, travel agencies that have already lost billions of won are now finding themselves in a situation where they must spend even more on marketing," adding, "It seems likely that the online travel platform market will be reorganized due to the TMON crisis."