Elon Musk
Tesla had placed an order for 4,000 mini cakes, but the X owner paid off the debt after the incident attracted attention
Tuesday, February 27, 2024, 01:44 GMT
A California bakery that claimed Tesla failed to pay for an order worth thousands of dollars said the outstanding bill was settled after billionaire Elon Musk promised to “put things right” following press coverage of the incident bring to”.
Musk's company Tesla placed an order for 4,000 mini pies from Giving Pies, a Black-owned bakery in San Jose in central California, bakery owner Voahangy Rasetarinera said on the cafe's Instagram account five days ago.
Elon Musk intervenes after a California bakery is rocked by the canceled Tesla order
In an email to the Guardian on Monday, Rasetarinera confirmed: “Tesla has just paid the $2,000 I was missing.” This came after Musk responded to the story on X, formerly Twitter: “I just heard about it . “I’ll do a good job with the bakery.”
The incident occurred after Rasetarinera's bakery received a last-minute order for 2,000 cakes from Tesla on Valentine's Day – a $6,000 haul for the small business, KTVU reported. Tesla doubled the order to 4,000 cakes before ultimately canceling the order without payment, Rasetarinera said.
In her Instagram post, Rasetarinera said that to complete the order she had to turn down other Black History Month catering requests, purchase additional supplies and prepare her staff for a “demanding production schedule” – for which she received no compensation.
“It was clear to me that Tesla’s culture prioritized convenience over responsibility and ignored the livelihoods of small business owners like me,” she said.
“This experience is a stark reminder of the vulnerability small businesses face when dealing with larger corporations. Although we make every effort to honor our commitments and provide quality service, we are often at the mercy of decisions made in corporate boardrooms.”
According to reports from NBC Bay Area, Giving Pies saw an outpouring of personal and global support following media coverage of the incident. At the weekend, hundreds of customers lined up outside the store to buy cakes. Rasetarinera said she was “overwhelmed” by the response. In her first Instagram post, Rasetarinera said the incident allowed her to reflect on her journey as a business owner.
“As I reflect on this ordeal, I am reminded of the resilience and determination that propelled me forward as a Black woman entrepreneur,” she said. “Although Tesla’s actions have caused temporary setbacks, they will not stop me from pursuing my passion and serving my community with integrity and pride.”
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