Are THE UPS STORE / MAIL BOXES ETC. Franchise Owners Happy?

Are you familiar with the The UPS Store® franchise opportunity? 

Are The UPS Store® or MBE franchise owners happy?  Why or why not?  

Please share your thoughts and opinions below.

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In 2009, Entrepreneur magazine named The UPS Store/Mail Boxes Etc. franchise opportunity #8 on it’s much-hyped Franchise 500 list. 

Previous years The UPS Store/Mail Boxes Etc. was also favorably ranked at #11 (2008); #5 (2007); #4 (2006); and #5 (2005). In it’s listing, it claims “The UPS Store® – the perfect opportunity to be your own boss. We are the top-rated postal & business services franchise. Locations available nationwide. Take control of your business future & benefit from a world-class support system with The UPS Store.”

According to Entrepreneur’s franchise listing:

The first Mail Boxes Etc. store was opened in Carlsbad, California by Gerald Aul, Pat Senn and Robert Diaz, who designed it as an alternative to the U.S. Postal Service. In 2001, Mail Boxes Etc. became a subsidiary of UPS and began re-branding as The UPS Store in 2003. The UPS Store locations provide packaging, shipping, copy and print services, mailbox services, computer time rentals and more. Franchises are located throughout the United States and in over 40 countries.

According to Entrepreneur, The UPS Store/Mail Boxes Etc. has 4,459 U.S. franchises, 332 Canadian franchises, 1,236 foreign franchises and 0 corporately owned locations. 

Are The UPS Store/Mail Boxes Etc. Franchise Owners Happy?

Do The UPS Store franchise owners enjoy control of their business futures?  Do they benefit from a world-class support system with The UPS Store? The high ranking bestowed by Entrepreneur magazine and other advertising-driven magazines seems contradictory to the highly publicized franchise lawsuits and the negative comments from The UPS Store Franchise owners we’ve seen (Read THE UPS STORE: Overview.)

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  DO YOU OR HAVE YOU OWNED A THE UPS STORE or MAIL BOXES ETC. FRANCHISE?  ARE THE UPS STORE / MAIL BOXES ETC. FRANCHISEES HAPPY?  WHY OR WHY NOT?