A small business owner's decision to withhold a Michelin-starred restaurant's laundry over unpaid invoices has struck a chord with online readers, with many supporting his direct action.
The owner, who runs a pickup and delivery laundry service in a major city, explained on Reddit this week that they had a contract with a two-star Michelin restaurant, handling their tablecloths and napkins.
Despite offering competitive rates, the restaurant's finance manager, identified as "M," routinely attempted to renegotiate prices after services were completed.
Decisive Move
While the logistics manager, "A," appreciated the company's reliability, M continuously withheld payments, pressuring the laundry business to accept lower amounts.
After months of delayed payments, the restaurant owed the business $1,700—money the owner could not afford to lose.
Frustrated with ongoing disputes, he and his business partner made a decisive move: They withheld the restaurant's clean and pressed laundry until full payment was made.
"I told A that M could stuff it," original poster (OP) Altruistic-Slide-512 declared.
"We have all your laundry—it's all pressed and ready. It's Monday. You're planning to open again on Tuesday.
"When you pay us in full for this order and everything that you owe us for previous orders IN CASH, you'll get your laundry back."
Rather than fight the demand, A took the matter to the restaurant's other owners, who swiftly agreed to pay. The head chef, rather than M, met with the laundry service and handed over a check, which successfully cleared.
Although A later proposed continuing the business relationship under better terms, the OP declined, relieved to move on from the ordeal.
'Good for you!'
Many Reddit users praised the owner's strategy, pointing out that small businesses are often put in impossible situations when large clients refuse to pay on time.
One user commented, "If they can charge $400 a plate, they can pay their invoices. Good for you!"
Another added, "People love to squeeze the little guy because they think they can get away with it. You made the right call."
The situation reflects broader concerns faced by small business owners, particularly regarding unpaid invoices.
According to Business News Daily, cash flow issues are one of the leading reasons small businesses struggle or fail. Late payments from clients can create huge financial strain, forcing owners to make tough decisions about how to recover lost funds.
Newsweek has reported that small businesses often hesitate to take strong measures against larger clients due to fear of losing future work. However, experts argue that small businesses should take a firmer stance, just as larger corporations would.
"You have to protect your bottom line," a financial expert told Newsweek.
"If a client doesn't pay, they're not really a client."
While some might argue that holding a customer's property until payment is received is extreme, many small business owners see it as a necessary action when dealing with repeated non-payment.
'No plan B'
The laundry service owner expressed, "No regrets!", about his approach, emphasizing that businesses relying on essential services should respect the work that keeps them running.
"Don't try to stiff a small business that stands between you and setting tables for $20,000 worth of seatings in your fancy restaurant when you have no plan B," the OP summed up.
Newsweek has contacted Altruistic-Slide-512 for comment via Reddit.
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