A bakery owner has hit out at Tesla after claiming that they canceled a $16,000 order last minute, leaving her without payment and thousands of pies.
Voahangy Rasetarinera, owner of The Giving Pies in San Jose, California, was left feeling betrayed when the electric car company allegedly went back on their agreement.
The saga began on Valentine's Day when Rasetarinera received an order for a whopping 4,000 pies from a representative at Tesla, the company owned by tech magnate Elon Musk.
The order was intended for an event commemorating Black History Month, according to NBC Bay Area.
Rasetarinera promptly provided Tesla with a quote, which the company approved. However, despite the green light from Tesla, the payment reportedly did not materialize from the company's vendor, leaving Rasetarinera concerned.
Upon inquiry, Rasetarinera was apparently met with an apology from Tesla, with the representative mentioning that the vendor was new to the process. But instead of resolving the payment issue, Tesla is said to have surprised Rasetarinera by asking to double the order.
Despite the strain it would put on her bakery and staff, Rasetarinera agreed to the increased order. To meet the demand, her team worked tirelessly, canceling other orders and purchasing extra ingredients.
However, just when Rasetarinera thought she was fulfilling Tesla's request, she allegedly received a text message from the Tesla representative, delivering the devastating news: "It unfortunately sounds like we will be changing plans and will not be needing this order."
The sudden reversal left Rasetarinera and her business in a precarious position, with losses exceeding $16,000.
Taking to her Facebook page, Rasetarinera expressed her dismay, stating: "This abrupt reversal left me reeling, realizing the extent of the impact on my small business. I had invested time, resources, and effort based on assurances from Tesla, only to be left high and dry."
She slammed the company, saying: "To me, it was clear that Tesla's corporate culture prioritized convenience over accountability, disregarding the livelihoods of small business owners like myself.
"This experience serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability faced by small businesses when dealing with larger corporations. Despite our best efforts to uphold our commitments and provide quality service, we are often left at the mercy of decisions made in corporate boardrooms."
Rasetarinera finished her post with defiance, stating: "While Tesla's actions may have caused temporary setbacks, they will not deter me from pursuing my passion and serving my community with integrity and pride. And though the scars of this experience may linger, they serve as a testament to the strength and resilience of small businesses everywhere."
Tesla is yet to respond to these accusations.
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