We are sharing our experience with Mario, the owner of LBMA Drywall, as a warning to other small businesses about committing time and purchasing stock before receiving payment. In our case, a $600 crew T-shirt order was agreed to, payment was promised for the following day, and we brought in garments. That payment has not arrived, and five follow-up calls plus text messages have gone unanswered.
Our concern is the way our small business was treated during this transaction. We invested time in the artwork and brought in stock on the strength of an agreed order. We are now left holding those garments without payment or a response.
- Agreed order value
- $600
- Follow-up calls
- 5
- Order status
- Unresolved
What Mario asked us to do
Mario contacted Strong N Free about custom T-shirts for his crew at LBMA Drywall. He supplied artwork created using ChatGPT, which we refined. Drawing on our 25 years of experience, we recommended simplifying the back of the shirt by focusing on the company logo and phone number, instead of filling it with wording from top to bottom.
We prepared mockups and provided a $600 quote. Mario liked the mockups, agreed to the quote and placed the order. He said he would come in the next day to pay cash. We agreed to order in the shirts, and the garments were brought in for his order.
Five calls and text messages without a response
As of September 27, 2026, we have not received the promised payment. We have called five times and sent text messages without receiving a reply. The garments remain here, waiting for this order to be resolved.
The $600 is the agreed value of the order. The impact on us includes the time spent refining the design and preparing mockups, the cost of bringing in garments, and the additional time spent trying to get a response.
Why we consider this unacceptable business conduct
In our view, accepting a quote, approving mockups and promising payment creates a reasonable expectation that a customer will follow through or communicate if circumstances change. Leaving a supplier to repeatedly follow up after it has brought in stock is, in our opinion, unprofessional and inconsiderate.
Small businesses put real time and money into preparing orders. A change of plans can be discussed. An unanswered order leaves the supplier carrying the cost and uncertainty.
We believe basic respect between businesses includes responding when a supplier has acted on your instructions. Based on the experience described here, we do not feel Mario has shown our business that consideration.
Our warning to other small businesses
Based on our experience, we advise other small businesses considering supplying Mario or LBMA Drywall to confirm the order and payment terms in writing and receive payment or an agreed deposit before purchasing stock or starting custom work. We would require payment before committing further resources to another order from him.
This warning concerns our own transaction and the communication surrounding it. We cannot speak for other suppliers or assess LBMA Drywall's construction work.
We remain open to a resolution
Mario is welcome to contact Strong N Free to resolve this order or provide a response. We will update this article to reflect a response, correction or resolution.