Are You an Unhappy Franchisee? Tell us why.
April 16, 2008
How has your experience as a franchisee differed from your expectations? Share your story so others can learn, offer guidance or just commiserate.
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Cuppy’s Coffee and Elite Manufacturing we want our $35,900.00 deposit back!
On Oct. 9, 06 my wife sent the deposit of $35,900.00 to Elite Manufacturing. We did not receive the Uniform Franchisee Offering Circular before the deposit was made. That was in clear violation of FTC rules! Had Cuppy’s sent the UFOC we would have not pursued this franchise opportunity because of the non refundable deposit. I found out that I could not get a loan in Aug. 07. Cuppy’s knew in Apr. 07 that I could not qualify and never wrote or called us regarding the manner. I received an email from Steve Wesolowski of Medina Management on Dec. 17, 07 showing that the SBA broker could not get us a loan and stated that we should not have been approved for a franchise. I wrote a letter to Doug Hibbing the president of Cuppy’s. He did not respond nor was he available everytime I called. I called Danny Jones of Elite, and asked why he could not return my deposit in full, his response was “It’s impossible and not in the budget”. I tried to work out an amicable agreement but it was to Elite’s advantage. Mr. Jones was all talk but no action. I gave him an ultimatum of Jan. 15, 08 to deliver something to me so both sides would be happy, he did not respond. I put my story out there by putting it on ripoffreport.com.
Cuppy’s and Elite has found a loophole to victimize innocent people. We are struggling to pay back the 2nd loan on our house. Cuppy’s and Elite has our money interest free. Its sad when the Florida State Attorney General’s office Florida Dept. of Consumer Affairs and the FTC can’t or won’t do anything.
[…] The Asbestos Ear Award: This is to be awarded to Cuppy’s Coffee affiliate Elite Manufacturing’s Danny Jones who is reported to work tirelessly to not return money to its rightful owners. Danny Jones has reportedly excelled in call avoidance, using every club in the bag, from “personal illness” and “out sick” to “on the phone,” “in a meeting” and “out of the office.” When time for personal engagement, Jones really shines with such trademark phrases as “Never Gonna Happen,” and the inspirational “It’s impossible and not in the budget.” […]
[…] Are You an Unhappy Franchisee? Tell us why. […]
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I have been studying the franchise world for months now and I am amazed how many people have been hurt. People losing their life savings, homes and their ability to live a normal, not wealthy life style.
123 fit is started by the same people who developed Quiznos. Does that say alot? Thousands of people on a larger scale have lost so much.
;123 Fit is a good product, circuit training yet the coporation is not people I would recommend signing an agreement to be in business for 10 years. The sales people lie and puff material facts. Including tell you an icon is in the business. Ray Wilson has been gone way before we signed the franchise agreement. Yet his name is on the 2006 UFOC.
People need to know that a sales representative of a franchise does not need or have to be honest about anything. They can misrepresent and puff material facts to their hearts delight and enduce you into signing your life away.
People need to take at least 6 months or longer to decide and do their due diligence,. Which is a thorough investication on this company and Quiznos. They will not treat you any better than the Quiznos people treat their franchisees. Even though most of 123 Fit clubs have failed including their CEO’s 2 clubs they will continue to conn people into something that looks good. They will even say the clubs that went out were lousy sales people when many have been in sales most of their lives. Many of the former franchises have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars and many have gone bankrupt. If you are still interested insist you work in a club for 6 months. You will see the truth what happens in a club. People are not dedicated to exercise. Many will drop out and many will ask to go on hold. Please call the first clubs and all the former zees.
It is my opinion after the first 5 clubs failed they should of shut down. Instead of still conning and selling a system that obviously has hurt many people. Good franchisors develop a system on their own buck and if it is a success than sells the system. 123 fit copy- cated the Curves circuit and made it better and it is coed. If you go in business with bad people that is what you’ll end up in an unbearable situation. Buyer Beware! Skip sales people go right to due diligence which is a long process. Study the world of franchising before you sign on the dotted line. Have a franchise lawyer review the FDD and help you with your due diligence. If they rush you- STOP. Be cautious. Do not trust anyone associated with this corporation. I am sure many Quiznos people will back me up. Look at the “Is That All There Is Video.” Stores keep closing and they keep selling. If you are still interested than work in their club for 6 months and you’ll see it doesn’t work. Insanity is doing something over and over and it is not working. This system business wise is financial suicide. Barbara
Barbara:
I wish I could say you are wrong.
Cuppy’s Coffee took more than $100K from Criston, Robyn & Lina and won’t give it back because they don’t want to. They don’t deny that the franchisees have a legal right to it… there’s just no one to make them give it back. In fact, they are rewarded by the AAFD with a “Fair Franchise” award.
Read about the Make & Take Gourmet franchise on FranchisePick.Com. They have opened 16 franchises and 4 of them have closed so far. Michele Bellso cheerfully says that failures are expected, and proceeds to sell more franchises.
http://www.franchisepick.com/why-the-meal-prep-meal-assembly-kitchen-franchises-are-failing-part-3/#comments
It’s unconscionable that someone like that should be allowed to sell franchises.
If anyone wants to help create awareness, please register on this site with your real email address. We’ll notify you of who and what you can email to help bring awareness and justice for cheated franchise owners.
If the AAFD gave Cuppy’s a “Fair Franchise” award what does that say about the AAFD? Zee’s need to speak out and stop feeling sorry for themselves. That is one thing I have learned from sites like BMM. Lawyers say zees never do anything.
My life has changed drastically since we got misrepresented in a franchise scheme. I have no money but I have written my story over and over to warn others. Buying a franchise is not like buying a house. It is more serious because you do not have a title company and inspector to do your due diligence. I believe that is why I and many others got conned into something that looked good. You have to know the people you are giving your money to.
I really hope and pray Cuppy’s people get their money back. I have a few ideas but I need to talk to zees who have been burned and maybe we can execute a plan. What do you think?
If the AAFD gave Cuppy’s a “Fair Franchise” award what does that say about the AAFD?
I think you know the answer.
Zee’s need to speak out and stop feeling sorry for themselves. That is one thing I have learned from sites like BMM. Lawyers say zees never do anything.
As soon as there’s litigation, the lawyers tell their clients NOT to say anything. No doubt some franchisors appreciate the silent time… so they can continue to sell franchises unimpeded while they draw out the lawsuit forever.
You are right. Even if you are in litigation you can post without giving your name. You can still warn people about certain companies and other knowledge you may have to help people know what to do before they sign. As long as people do not tell their true life stories the public will not know. More people will get hurt until we do something. I know there must be more hurt zees out there. Zees seem to go away in a quiet desperation and die.
Personally I don’t want to be one of those people. I want to fight to make sure no one else gets hurt. I have to believe there are good zors out there. There is at least 800,000 franchises out there. There has to be successful zees out there. But I want to investicate further. Are there concrete reasons for their success? Besides they know how to hussle. I am learning more and more everyday.
One thing I know is I hate to see good people of our country having to suffer after a life time of hard work to accomplish something to have it taken away because of greed.