Repossessed Steaks
Bette
I heard on the radio yesterday that a meat supplier took steaks back from a restaurant that had not been paid for. Then he decided to take back steaks that were being prepared, and finally went and took steaks off of diners’ plates! Can you believe that?
Matt
Are you serious? That’s just not right! Don’t get me wrong, I understand that if you purchase stolen goods, they can be taken away by their rightful owner. These weren’t exactly stolen steaks. The supplier knew the risks of letting the restaurant have the steaks without payment. What was he gaining by taking back cooked steaks? He certainly couldn’t sell them to anybody else.
Bette
He was making a point.
Matt
We’re overlooking the added value. The steaks belonged to the supplier, sure, but he was also repossessing the labor that went into cooking them, as well as any seasonings that were added. Technically, he should scrub the seasonings off, and uncook the meat.
Bette
Now you’re being stupid!
Matt
I’m facetious, not stupid.
Bette
Tomayto, tomahto!
Matt
Anyway, if a jeweler had put stolen diamonds on otherwise legitimate rings and sold them, the rightful owner of the rings couldn’t take back the rings with the diamonds.
Bette
True, but it’s easy enough to take the diamonds out.
Matt
What if a house had been built with stolen studs? Can they rip the studs out?
Bette
Most likely! Houses get seized all of the time!
Matt
That’s just not how it’s done. First you charge late fees. Then you stop giving them new goods. Then you take them to court and get a lien on their assets. Finally, if none of that works, you claim a bad debt and write it off. Sure it’s not satisfying, but it’s the way you do business.
Bette
Well, that’s the polite way, but he was probably tired of being polite. He was being a jerk, but he was within his rights to be.
Matt
So we’re agreed that he was being a jerk, then?
Bette
Yes.
Matt
We’re also agreed that he’s also our hero, right? I mean, all things considered, bad press is worse for restaurants than it is for food suppliers. So good for him!
Bette
Absolutely!
Notes
Source: German Supplier Takes Steaks From Diners’ Plates
(The previous discussion took place under the assumption that this was a local news story. We did not realize that the events actually took place in Germany. Neither of us pretend to know anything about German law, other than the fact that it’s generally written in German.)
Tags: Germany, law, restaurant, steak
April 10th, 2010 at 7:54 am
Have y’all thought about getting a reality tv show? I think it would be a hit. I know I would watch!