My husband and I put our life savings into a sure-fire business venture. A smooth-talking gentleman we knew told us we would make a fortune. This fellow sold manufacturing equipment, and he talked us into a starting a small plant. We were to buy the machines from him, and he would teach us how to run the business. He even offered to hire an experienced factory manager.
I could write a book on what happened. The machines quickly broke down, and we had to buy new parts, which cost us a lot of money we hadn’t planned on spending. The plant manager he hired turned out to be an alcoholic who stayed home three days a week. My husband and I both out in 12-, 14-hour days, and we worked like slaves. At the end of seven months we were broke and the business was in debt. We had to mortgage our home and borrow money from my father-in-law. Three months later we were broke again. So, the man who talked us into the business offered to buy us out for 10 cents on the dollar. And we had no choice but to accept. Today, that man is running the plant himself and making money hand over fist. We later learned he owns four other factories which he took over in the same way. We’ve consulted a lawyer, but legally the man is on safe ground.
In the aftermath, my husband has developed high blood pressure and ulcers. Being around our kids makes him nervous, and he hasn’t spoken a civil word to me in weeks. We’re still deeply in debt, and a lot of our old friends avoid us. The whole episode just makes me sick!
