Are McDONALD’S Franchise Owners Happy?
August 10, 2009
Are you familiar with the McDonald’s franchise opportunity?
Are McDonald’s franchise owners happy? Why or why not?
Please share your thoughts and opinions below.
* * * * *
In the 30 years since it launched its much-hyped Franchise 500, Entrepreneur magazine has named McDonald’s the #1 franchise 8 times (only half as many times as Subway).
In recent years, Entrepreneur has ranked McDonald’s #2 (2009); #5 (2008); #9 (2007); #16 (2006); and #13 (2005).
There are more than 2400 McDonald’s franchise owners in the U.S., owning 13,000 franchised locations. 40% are women or minorities.
According to McDonald’s:
McDonald’s has always been a franchising company and has relied on its Owner/Operators to play a major role in the System’s success. McDonald’s remains committed to franchising as a predominant way of doing business… McDonald’s continues to be recognized as a premier franchising company around the world. We believe a major component of this is the world class training you receive prior to becoming an Owner/Operator. McDonald’s provides hands on training and the materials you need to be a success in your restaurant business.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? DO YOU OR HAVE YOU OWNED A McDONALD’S FRANCHISE? ARE McDONALD’S FRANCHISEES HAPPY? WHY OR WHY NOT?
logo: McDonald’s Corporation
Are SUBWAY Franchise Owners Happy?
August 10, 2009
Are you familiar with the Subway franchise opportunity?
Are Subway franchise owners happy? Why or why not?
Please share your thoughts and opinions below.
* * * * *
In the 30 years since it launched its much-hyped Franchise 500, Entrepreneur magazine has named Subway the #1 franchise 16 times.
According to Entrepreneur’s Subway Hits the Spot, “…In late 2008, the company surpassed the 30,000-restaurant mark. It has 1,600 stores scheduled to open this year. Another 2,400 franchisees have bought in and are waiting in line to open. And it’s on pace to overtake the king of fast food, McDonald’s, in outlet numbers within five years.” Despite a disastrous economy, Subway CEO Fred DeLuca says 2008 was Subway’s “best year ever.”
DeLuca claims their secret to success is the value Subway provides to their franchisees and the simplicity of the concept:
“We work hard to be extremely efficient,” he says. “We give great value for our franchisees: They can build a store for well under $200,000. And we have extremely simple operating systems. The preparation is mostly done in front of the customer. That simplicity is really what attracts our franchisees. You see it, and you can do it”.
Detractors claim that the hype has been bought and paid for, that the Subway franchisor is tyrannical and the system is designed primarily to make money for the franchisor at the expense of Subway franchisees.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? DO YOU OR HAVE YOU OWNED A SUBWAY FRANCHISE? ARE SUBWAY FRANCHISEES HAPPY? WHY OR WHY NOT?
logo: Doctor’s Associates
PLAY N TRADE: MI Bankruptcy Auction
August 10, 2009
Play N Trade: Sad end to someone’s franchise dream. Notice of bankruptcy auction, liquidation of closed Play N Trade store.
Aug 21, 10:00 am 
Auctioneer:
M & W Inc. Asset Recovery
979 West River Center Drive NE
Comstock Park, MI616-785-5310
BY ORDER OF SECURED CREDITOR:
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE FOR FRIDAY AUGUST 21ST AT 10AM
A COMPLETE LIQUIDATION OF THREE RETAIL VIDEO GAME STORES
THOUSANDS OF SLIGHTLY USED VIDEO GAMES, NEW VIDEO GAMES, NEW AND USED GAME SYSTEMS, FLAT SCREEN TVS, STORE FIXTURES, VIDEO GAME SUPPLIES, STORE FIXTURES.
COMPLETE LIST below (first pdf has THREE SHEETS).
* BULK BIDS WILL BE ENTERTAINED UNTIL TUESDAY AUGUST 11TH 5:OOpm (ALL ASSETS)
Here’s a partial list of items to be auctioned:
|
RIVAL MICROWAVE CIVILIZATION REVOLUTION XBOX 360 GAME |
SHAUNWHITE XBOX 360 GAME |
Click here for a complete list of items to be auctioned and photos
Image: M & W Inc. Asset Recovery
WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
PLAY N TRADE Forum Gets Spammed N Slammed
August 10, 2009
The Play N Trade franchise website prominently links to its Official Play N Trade Video Game Forum.
It’s a great idea for Play N Trade to establish an open community of gamer enthusiasts to gather, trade ideas and tips, and build their relationship with Play N Trade. It’s a great opportunity for Play N Trade to demonstrate how highly it values its gamer customers and how actively it supports and promotes its franchise stores.
Unfortunately, the only thing the Play N Trade forum communicates is that the lights may be on, but ain’t nobody home.
As of this morning, Of the Play N Trade 100 most recent forum topics:
98 of 100 most recent posts are spam.
The vast majority of the recent posts on the Play N Trade forum are spam advertisements with titles such as “cannabis growing lamps,” “probation drug tests,” “drug detox facilities,” “adulterated cannabis,” “Check out these hot euro babes in these hot sex pics and vid,” “swinger party milwaukee,” and “belly button piercing info.”
1 of the 100 most recent posts is titled “FUK PLAY N TRADE Corporate”
Matt Average on Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:51 pm how many days can i keep this active without it getting modded?
Matt Average on Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:29 am bump
Matt Average on Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:11 pm to the top
Matt Average on Thu Aug 06, 2009 5:08 pm pushed off the 1st page by spam in about 8 hours
Matt Average on Sat Aug 08, 2009 8:28 am just remove the board from the website
Matt Average on Sat Aug 08, 2009 7:57 pm fart
pizz_excellence on Sat Aug 08, 2009 11:19 pm LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
U finally see the way FUK PNT CORPORATE THEY SUCK AND DONT GIVE A FLYING FUK
To all customers i apoligize for the vulgar language you see but Realize PNT corporate will never care about the customer or franchiseeMatt Average on Sun Aug 09, 2009 8:28 am !
pizz_excellence on Sun Aug 09, 2009 11:39 pm point proven!
1 of 100 most recent posts call for the resignation of CEO Larry Plotnick & demise of the company.
The only other actual post out of the most recent 100 (When Will Corporate GO OUT OF BUSINESS) not only calls for the resignation and demise of the company, but includes internal communication between corporate Franchisee Support Specialist Micah Thomas and a franchisee or franchise store manager. Allegedly, the manager’s detailed complaints have gone unanswered.
Please quit already Larry Plotnick !!!!!!!!!!!! Go start another failing business and screw over another unknowing group.
email i received
Subject: Please email or call me so we can talk about your complaints
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:43:45 -0700
From: Micah.Thomas@playntrade.com
Hi, I’ve seen your posts on the PNT Forum complaining and making accusations against Play N Trade corporate as well as against other PNT stores, and I sincerely would like to speak to you about your complaints. Although I’ve deleted a few different posts, I hope that you have noticed that I have not deleted all posts or your profile for that matter. Please reach out to me via either email or phone – both of which are listed below, beneath my signature line.
Micah Thomas
Franchisee Support Specialist
3400 Irvine Ave. Suite #205
Newport Beach, CA 92660
*NEW NUMBER* 888.768.4263 – “Region 3″
F: 949.474.6005
My responce
From: Anonymous for personal reasons
Sent: Sun 6/21/09 4:05 AM
To: micah.thomas@playntrade.com
Yes, I would like to start off by keeping myself Anonymous, For various reasons.
First off i would like to know how long you personally have been with the company. In the time that i have been managing my pnt i have gone through 3-4 regional contacts on corporate end. Some were really good in the begining to really bad current to the point that is why bother.
Second I would like to know how many pnt’s have closed down. since opening. I know of 2 near me that have already closed in the past year and 2 more that will be closing in the next 2 month (ones i’m sure you have o idea about).
Third How does corporate expect their franchisees to turn profit if they are expected to pay royalties on all items sold. Now i understand that royalties should be paid on all used games. The new though makes no sense. We buy xbox 360 from our vendors for 290 then have to pay for shipping $15 then pay royalties on the total amount. royalties 5% so let’s do the math. 290 + 15(shipping)+ 15(royalties)= 320 – sale price of 299.99 total is negative $20.01 …. You got to be kidding me right! But lets move on to new games cost 52. shipping 3 royalty 1.8 total 3 dollar profit…. Yah!!!! have you ever done break even analyst. I have to sell 20 new titles to make up for every one that does not sell while trying to stay competitive. Impossible. Corporate makes half my profit while sustaing absolutely no risk. SEE MY COMPLAINT but i cntinue…
4. I have never had a corporate rep come into my store to see if their is anything they can be doing to lend a helping hand. at this point i would probably call security to escort them out because of the frustration of never seeing them before.
5. Pos is so screwed up with trade values it makes me sick. I constantly see where corporate wants to trade a game for 7 when it sells for 12.99. (Are you trying to put us out of business< Seriously) On average trades are 50-60% of sales price. That business model will not be able to stay afloat in these economic times where price drops occur daily. Their is no hedging future losses.
6. Other local pnt’s ( the ones going out of business give us bad reputation for numorous reasons. 1. customers call us to complain that their local store has been repairing their system for over 6 week now and is refusing to call them back. 2. Customer”I traded all my games at X location but they never get new games in or always are 3 weeks behind.” 3. The employees at x location never show the customer the respect and service. they find it necesary to play their video game instead of greeting the customer. 4. The store is disorganized and everything is scattered about making it confusing for the customers.
5. other stores refusing to inform the consumer that we are all independent and have no connection to each other. Most customers tell me that the other stores suggest that they are the onlypnt’s in the area and go to thm only.
I know you have started on site reviews which is steps in the right direction but really doesn’t mean anything. I can get all loweest scores but nothing will ever come to fruition nobody is going to make them change.
I’ve already had the pleasure of explaining to customers why they can’t use their credit from location x who deided to jus close up with no warning even though they had $300 credit. Always getting the F’ this store i’m never going to another pnt again. That is bad pr and bad news travels faster than good news. so now i have to try to overcome the bad tastes in peoples mouth’s that other stores have left.
These are not Accusations but the day to day reality that i go through. Trust me Our store is ranked top 20 every month (tha was before you stopped printing the rankings because someone sold the info to gs which is another head ache) So we make it happen the best we can but we still struggle to stay afloat. So if we are at the top struggling their is no way others are even surviving which should tell u something.
I can tell you i’m not brain washed in the whole pnt is awesome idea because it’s not the logo but the people who make it good. We are the place we are because of the way WE not corporate run our store. In all honesty pnt franchisees are not together but against each other because we all independently want and need the business to stay alive. Wether thats cutting the legs out from another franchisee. It’s bad because it creates distress in the consumer because the lack of consistancy.
Also the website is so horrible a 4th grader could do better, Trust me i have customers come in and complain to me about it.
The forums are a joke, Delete my comments they were not obscene jus very truthful. You let porn continue to flood it so kids can see and loose another family of customers becuase mismanagement on your end. Everything i said is honest and from the heart. And yes our perfered distributors refuse credit lines because we do business as PNT. Trust me i have heart to hearts with my vendors. We had our credit line cut in half because some pnt’s stop paying them even though it had nothing to do with us.
So yes Micah please inform me if shed any light on any of these issues. I will stay anonymous because i am the manager but i feel the pain of the owner and the fear of going out of business.
Suggestions cut all royalties in half
No royalties on new products.
Give us some monetary incentive to continue carrying your name because what your doing now is not working.
Stop finding these cheap vendors who offer us flea market products, we are i retail not a tent shop.
Share your discounts or kickbacks that you get from vendors so that we can turn profit. (you do i know it you may not) All i ever hear about is new stores opening do these people even know what they are getting into????
I’m looking forward to hearing your responce on these issues.
A Very concerened individual, nothing to do with my owner
sorry bad grammer it is late
——-No responce so i write
From: Anonymous for personal reasons
Sent: Thu 7/23/09 1:23 AM
To: micah.thomas@playntrade.com
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my email (Sarcasm), This just proves again how helpfull you guys really are. The vegas trip was frustrating to say the least. Great new ideas (changing the entire store floor plan like i said prior to the event) only one problem no help on the cost. Here’s my idea make a fund for everything you guys think will be cool (las vegas convention example) then use that money to hand out to the franchisee’s to help with the new store change cost. Oh wait why bother giving my input u don’t bother responding to my first email but who knows maybe you got fired as well. respond if u still want to keep communication was interested in hearing the honest failure ratio for pnt.
Still no responce he was probably fired or quit because of all the Chocolate Rain. Fraggle off Corporate.
Franchisees rise together to give them Hell!!!!!!!!
Advice to Play N Trade: If you want to declare yourself a gamer community, you’ve got to commit the resources necessary to maintain an active forum. If you’re not committed, you might want to take down your forum because you are making your franchisees look out of touch and apathetic.
Social Media Lesson: Kwiqq, an webbuilder company, just posted Play N Trade as a social media success story (Retail Industry: Increase web traffic through social media (Play N Trade)). Kwiqq might want to update its case study to show what happened after their initial increase. Because Play N Trade failed to allocate needed resources to keeping up with their forum, it got overrun with Spam and negative comments.
This further fueled the unrest from their unhappy franchisees: http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/play-n-trade-ca-revokes-pnt-franchise-registration/
This is not necessarily a negative reflection on Kwiqq, as the strategy was sound. It just illustrates the point that using social media requires a committed and consistent effort or it can backfire.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
THE UPS STORE: Overview
August 10, 2009
Is HEALTHSOURCE CHIROPRACTIC a Great Franchise Opportunity?
August 9, 2009
Is HEALTHSOURCE CHIROPRACTIC a great chiropractic franchise opportunity or a borderline scam designed only to make the franchisor wealthy?
What do you think? Share a comment below.
Dr. Chris Tomshack is the founder and CEO of HealthSource Chiropractic and Progressive Rehab, and has been a chiropractor in private practice for 15 years. Dr. Tomshack offers a conversion franchise for established chiropracters to convedrt their practices into a “franchised clone” of his business. On his website, he pitches chiropracters:
…My solution I’d like you to consider is much more complete and all encompassing than any of these things piece-meal: the conversion of your practice to a franchised clone of mine… with a great many things done entirely for you (including advertising and marketing)… a powerful brand… …and with absolutely certain, substantial improvements in the efficiency of your practice, which should lead to increased take home income and equity value.
The benefits are seemingly appealing:
A New Opportunity To Replace Your Current Chiropractic Practice With The Potential For A Much More Profitable, Much More Valuable, Much More Efficient Business
That’s Designed To Give You And Your Staff Less Stress… …That’s Designed To Attract An Ample Quantity Of Really Good New Patients With NO Struggle… …And Flexibly Addresses Legal And Insurance Hassles… …That’s Designed To Help You Build The Practice Of Your Dreams And Give You Freedom And An Exit Strategy At The Same Time.
Only one D. C. per area will be accepted. Please read and consider this IMMEDIATELY, or risk being permanently excluded in favor of another, competing doctor in your area.
However, comments left on complaint boards suggest that Dr. Tomshack and the HEALTHSOURCE CHIROPRACTIC franchise might be less than ethical in approach and less-than-effective in results. According to Dr. jt on RipoffReport:
Dr. Tomshack is a great talker and sales person. If you google HealthSource specifically in Chiropractic Economics magazine you will find lots of others that have nothing good to say about this guy…
His entire organization is based on ‘killer’ ad marketing…
Bring in a PT and Massage person and MAX bill their insurance…
Also sell them ALL on a low back belt or other braces..regardless if they need it or not…
People are dropping from his company as they discover that this is a HUGE expense and after the multiple increases in office expenses…you dont make any more money…you make him money…
Very gray areas of billing and snake oil marketing…lowers the chiropractic profession…I bet based on multiple suits against this guy that HealthSource goes away in the very near future..
JOE
Cleveland, Ohio
U.S.A.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? IS HEALTHSOURCE CHIROPRACTIC A LEGITIMATE FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY PROVIDING ETHICAL PATIENT CARE?
CORK & OLIVE Team Launches Solera Wine Franchise. Beware!
August 7, 2009
Michael Probst & Deborah Augenti are at it again.
We received a tip that Probst & Augenti, the same people responsible for creating the Cork & Olive franchise fiasco, have launched a new franchise opportunity using the name Solera Distributors, which they promoted on Craig’s List.
The domain name for Solera Distributors was registered March 1, 2009 by Deborah Augenti:
Registrant:
Deborah Augenti
681 Turnberry Ct
Tarpon Springs, FL 34688
US
Domain name: SOLERADISTRIBUTORS.NET
Administrative Contact:
Augenti, Deborah d.augenti@yahoo.com
681 Turnberry Ct
Tarpon Springs, FL 34688
US
+1.7272781028
Corporation records from Sunbiz.com show that Deborah Augenti was President & Robin Hoover was CFO of Solera Wine Distributors, Inc. from the corporate inception in March, 2008 until August 3, 2009. An August 3, 2009 amendment ( ) named Michael Probst CEO/President & Deborah Augenti is Registered Agent; Robin Hoover’s name was removed.
Florida Profit Corporation
SOLERA WINE DISTRIBUTORS INC.
Principal Address
C/O MICHAEL PROBST
681 TURNBERRY COURTTARPON SPRINGS FL 34688
Changed 08/03/2009
Registered Agent Name & Address
AUGENTI, DEBORAH
681 TURNBERRY CTTARPON SPRINGS FL 34688 US
Officer/Director Detail
Title PS
PROBST, MICHAEL CFO
681 TURNBERRY COURTTARPON SPRINGS FL 34688
The FTC prohibits the promise of success or profits in franchise marketing materials. However, the Solera Distributors franchise website is filled with illegal earnings claims promising franchisee success & profitability:
…Franchisees should be able to support their basic living requirements for 4-6 months while building the foundation of their business. Franchisees will work in a defined territory. The potential of each territory will allow the franchisee the opportunity to obtain at least 40 to 50 accounts out of approximately 100 to 120 identified in the territory…
Area Developers have investment options that range in accordance with the potential of the territory, with capital outlay ranging from $200,000.00 to $400,000.00. We anticipate Area Developers will return investment within the first twelve to fourteen months of operation…
Franchisees will generate their profit from the mark up of wine products to the retailer. Area Developers will generate their profit from the mark up of wine products to the franchisee and receive half of the initial and ongoing fees of their 40 – 60 Franchisees. Because of the low costs to Solera, both the franchisee and the retailer will enjoy significant profits while maintaining a low price list at the retail level.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
Also read:
Cork & Olive Franchise: $2.5 Million in Debt? June 16th, 2008 Cork & Olive Wine Franchise Co. Files for Bankruptcy June 10th, 2008 What REALLY Uncorked Cork & Olive? June 6, 2008 Cork & Olive Franchise Corp. Collapse: What’s the REAL Story? June 6th, 2008 Cork & Olive’s Probst Abandons Franchisees June 5, 2008
CUPPY’S COFFEE: Mechanicsburg, PA Cafe Closes
August 2, 2009
Cuppy’s Coffee of Mechanicsburg, PA closed its doors on July 13, 2009. Our condolences and best wishes go out to the Cuppy’s Coffee franchise owners Jason & Joanne Winters and their son, Jason. 
The Winters opened their Cuppy’s Coffee cafe January 24, 2008 and energetically promoted their cafe with lively events and live music performances, including a musical appearance by American Idol Kristy Lee Cook. On their Cuppy’s Coffee & Catering website, the Winters write that it just wasn’t enough to sustain their business:
Shortly after opening we noticed a downward trend in our walk in business do to a rough ecomony and had to find another way to bring in income to keep the cafe open. We started to offer catering to local businesses for their luncheons or dinner events. This helped keep our business afloat for awhile, however, the economy was still in a bad situation and so were we.
We had to make a decision whether or not to continue keeping the doors of the cafe open or close and continue our catering in another location. Ater much thought we decided that we would have to close the cafe, a sad event for us but one that we had to make financially.
We are now focusing strickly on catering and will continue to grow this portion of our business.
Despite paying a franchise fee and receiving a promise of marketing, operational and purchasing support, the Winters were abandoned by the Cuppy’s Coffee franchisor Medina Enterprises, which disappeared in a cloud of allegations & controversy. Like many Cuppy’s Coffee franchisees around the country, the Winters were left to fend for themselves with none of the support they paid for. And also like many Cuppy’s Coffee franchisees, they were unable to build a sustainable, profitable business despite their best efforts.
Please join us in wishing the Winter’s much success with their catering business and all future endeavors.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH CUPPY’S COFFEE? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
Images: Cuppy’s Coffee of Mechanicsburg
