Owning a business made me very cautious about who I let into my life

★ signal-weak r/entrepreneur · ↑ 269 · 💬 45 · 2025-06-24 · kw: negative review · open on reddit ↗

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Issue

Vet clinic owner received fake negative reviews from dissatisfied customer who demanded free services; had to report reviews one-by-one to platforms with incomplete removal, damaging business reputation.

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Recommendation

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anthropic/claude-haiku-4.5 · 2026-05-08

Body

We opened a vet clinic in a village and my first thought was that locals will be happy to have this service here. While it is true and we have steady long term clients, there are those people that come in looking around like detectives challenging my partner who is a Vet on almost everything because they googled something. Another thing is when we made some friends in the area. (Family of 2) and they got into a fight at home the lady came to our house and started getting angry at us because her pet was sick and she was unhappy that she wasn’t getting the service for free. (We asked to at least cover material) She gathered all her friends and everyday we were receiving fake negative reviews popping up on our page. We had to report them one by one and not all of them got taken down I’m now not socialising with anyone and if I do I don’t mention my business at all. I’m also a gypsy which is an issue in CZ (check my post in how my partner exposed her client) We don’t isolate ourselves but we have learned that having a business can definitely make you more vulnerable so we are very careful about who we let into our lives now.

Top comments (6)

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[score=67] TheSodaCEO

It’s an important lesson! I have a beverage product and get people asking for freebies, too. I don’t mind giving out some free product strategically to friends who are influential or likely to buy in the future. But sometimes people just want a handout. Keep your personal policy strict. People might protest at first, but they’ll eventually understand. Most just don’t know what it’s like to operate your own business.

[score=24] red8reader

Welcome to the human race.

[score=7] alexnapierholland

Starting and running a business has substantially changed my outlook on people. Most people don't want to do the work, take responsibility and take risks. They think they do. But they actually don't. Throw them a line and you'll find out. And some will react poorly when they realise that you have built an enjoyable, pleasant life. The same people who mock your plans to build a business will switch their narrative to, 'You're priviliged' when it pays off: with no hint of irony or self-awareness. Most people in the developed world exist in a contradictory fantasy where they waste tens of hours a week consuming digital content while they quietly blame others for their misfortune. A small handful want to work hard, take a responsibility and take action. It's important to remember this and continue to look out for them.

[score=11] Plenty_Fun6547

I'm sorry...anyone wanting stuff for free...ju d t because friends.... doesn't understand friendship means not taking advantage of others. I'm sure you've poured your heart and soul into being g a vet and if people don't want to pay for your services, Either cut them off...or try not to let them drag you down.

[score=6] Impossible-Goose-437

It's difficult when friends and family expect your professional services for free, yet alone, when they are ungrateful. I feel like working with pets would make it messier because now you've got fear and grief in the mix which tends to cloud peoples judgement. I'm so sorry this happened. If you've got friends or customers you are close with, you might share with them what happened as ask them to leave a positive review to help counter. I've known a few business owners who experienced this and it helped motivate people who've been "meaning" to leave a review, finally do it.