HD admitted it was a single call, and complainant can’t be reached on follow up calls. This competitor has been spreading false rumors around town, encouraging their family to post about us in a negative light and harassing us online. All of my clients have recently left positive reviews and we have received zero complaints directly from actual clients. How should I handle harassment at the hands of a local competitor?
It happens occasionally by low quality competitors who are desperate losers. Mine was a google review and luckily google was able to figure this out and remove it. It sucks man but unless can trace it to them clearly you don’t have much legal recourse.
My advice, up your quality even more and drive them out of business. Also, poach whatever good employees they might have if you’ve got the cash flow. Also, see if you can team up with another local competitor of theirs to put increased pressure on them. Most people are decent, reputable, business owners, the ones that aren’t you have to snuff them out. Most of your interactions in the business world will be pleasant and most people are good people but sometimes you have to be brutal. Just make sure you take the highroad.