Elon Musk reconciles with California bakery following $2,000 pie incident

Tesla had canceled an order for 4,000 mini pies, but the X owner settled the debt after the incident garnered attention

A California bakery, which previously stated that Tesla had not paid for an order amounting to thousands of dollars, has confirmed that the outstanding bill has been resolved. This development follows billionaire Elon Musk’s commitment to “make things good” after the incident received media coverage.

According to Voahangy Rasetarinera, the owner of Giving Pies, a Black-owned bakery in San Jose, central California, Musk’s company Tesla had canceled an order for 4,000 mini pies. This information was shared on the cafe’s Instagram account five days ago.

In an email to the Guardian on Monday, Rasetarinera confirmed that Tesla had just paid the $2,000 she had lost on supplies and orders she had to decline in order to fulfill the Tesla orders. This occurred after Musk responded to the story on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Just hearing about this. Will make things right with the bakery.”

The incident unfolded when Rasetarinera’s bakery received a last-minute order for 2,000 pies from Tesla on Valentine’s Day, amounting to $6,000 for the small business, as reported by KTVU. Tesla later increased the order to 4,000 pies but ultimately canceled it without making any payment, according to Rasetarinera.

In her Instagram post, Rasetarinera explained that to fulfill the order, she had to reject other catering requests for Black History Month, purchase additional supplies, and prepare her staff for a demanding production schedule, all without compensation.

“It was evident to me that Tesla’s corporate culture favored convenience over accountability, disregarding the livelihoods of small business owners like myself,” she remarked.

This experience serves as a poignant reminder of the vulnerability small businesses face when dealing with larger corporations. Despite our diligent efforts to honor our commitments and provide excellent service, we are often subject to decisions made in corporate boardrooms.”

Following media coverage of the incident, Giving Pies has received an outpouring of support both locally and globally, as reported by NBC Bay Area. Over the weekend, hundreds of customers lined up at the store to purchase pies. Rasetarinera expressed being “blown away” by the response. Reflecting on the incident in her initial Instagram post, Rasetarinera shared that it has allowed her to contemplate her journey as a business owner.

“As I contemplate this experience, I am reminded of the resilience and determination that have driven me forward as a black woman entrepreneur,” she remarked. “While Tesla’s actions may have led to temporary setbacks, they will not dissuade me from pursuing my passion and serving my community with integrity and pride.”