LearningRX Insider Secrets: How to Negotiate a Better Price from LearningRX
March 31, 2013
LearningRX franchise brain training centers charge substantial fees for their services, with LearningRX program costs often ranging from $3000 – $15,000 or more.
According to one LearningRX insider (who’s contributing under the name Former LRX), despite the company’s claims that its programs benefit nearly every student, the LearningRX program “helps some a lot, some a little, and some not at all…”
“LRX gets good results for those students who work hard and stay focused on training, who have fun through the process,” writes Former LRX.
“Signing up is the right answer as long as you do so with your eyes wide open. That’s why I am here, because I don’t think most parents have their eyes wide open.”
Former LRX told UnhappyFranchisee.Com that parents can get the best value if they understand the business motives of LearningRX franchise owners, and work the system.
Former LRX states that “every parent needs to know that this is a sales process and that they are being sold.
“Sure, the business is about caring about students / children / adults / seniors, but the end result of all that caring is supposed to be a profitable business.”
The text in the blue boxes below is from Former LRX.
LearningRX doesn’t “negotiate,” but they do “discount.”
If you ask about negotiating, you’ll be told that the company doesn’t negotiate.
Franchisees are told not to negotiate price.
Fine, but price is negotiable.
So, if you are going to negotiate, do the director a favor. Don’t ever talk about ‘negotiating’. Instead, give her a reason to give you a discount.
Try the LearningRX Flexibility Discount
The parent might say, “I see that this is what my son needs. He needs 24 weeks to finish the program. I also see that it is best if we do this in the center, but we want to only come 4 days per week. However, we only have $8500 for this, so if you can figure out a way to get us into the program for that much money, I’d be willing to do that. Maybe during a lull in your business call me because we don’t need to start right now.
Know this, the director will be looking at the monthly bookings and think, “Wouldn’t these numbers look so much better with that $8500 in there than without it in there?” Or the director will hear a few trainers say that they really want another student as soon as one can be found and the director will think, “We have this open slot and I have the perfect student, I just need to be able to figure out how to say yes to this person without appearing like I’m negotiating.”
Be creative in requesting a LearningRX discount
I saw parents get discounts for all kinds of reasons…
Maybe you are willing to train before school is out, so you might figure out an off-peak discount.
Or, you might ask the director if they ever provide discounts.
Or, maybe you are related to the friend of a trainer and you get the family discount.
Or, maybe you have already shared the program with another family, so you get the shared-with-another-family discount.
Or, maybe you didn’t come in as a result of marketing that was expensive so you ask for the ‘drive by’ discount.
Or, maybe you ask if they ever have coupons.
Also, know this, the slowest times in most centers happen before school opens and during the November/December holiday seasons. You could also use these as leverage points. “Hey, I’ll sign up here in December if you can get me that discount.”
You get the idea, be creative and get a discount. If you directly ask the question whether discounts are ever given, you might be able to figure out an existing discount that makes sense for you.
NEVER pay LearningRX in full, upfront
By the by, you will likely be told that there is a paid-in-full discount of 5% (or whatever) or a pay with a check, not a credit card 3% discount (or whatever).
These are places to find discounts.
Do not pay in full, ever.
It emotionally makes it difficult for you to pull out of the program. But if you say, “Hey, give me the off hours discount and I’ll pay with checks so that you don’t have to incur the cost of my great-perks credit card” this might tip the scales.
Also read:
LEARNINGRX Brain Training: What LearningRX Costs
LearningRX Complaints: Falsified Test Results
LearningRX Insider Secrets: How LearningRX Brain Training is Sold (Coming Soon)
Tip of the hat to Former LRX for sharing his or her LearningRX insider tips and insights.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH LEARNINGRX AND THE LEARNINGRX BRAIN TRAINING PROGRAMS? PLEASE SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
TAGS: LearningRX negotiable, Negotiating LearningRX, LearningRX costs, what does LearningRX cost, Learning RX cost, LearningRX complaints, tutoring franchise, education franchise, brain training, brain training franchise, brain training fraud, brain training scam, Dr. Ken Gibson, Ken Gibson, Learning RX, Learning RX Complaints, Learning RX franchise, Learning RX fraud, Learning RX ripoff, Learning RX scam, LearningRX, LearningRX Complaints, LearningRX franchise, LearningRX fraud, LearningRX ripoff, LearningRX scam, LearningRX results
LEARNINGRX Brain Training: What LearningRX Costs
March 31, 2013
LearningRx franchise brain training centers provide educational and tutoring services throughout the U.S.
LearningRX claims “We change lives every day through the incredible power of brain training! Our programs are designed to target weak cognitive skills and help anyone from age 4 to 94 to achieve guaranteed results. Our goal is to ensure that people of all ages can receive the help they need to train their brains, get smarter, and be successful in life.”
But what do LearningRX services cost?
According to one company insider, LearningRX will not disclose their fees and costs publicly or over the phone, as they have a very aggressive and systematic sales process designed to get parents into an initial meeting (called an “Assessment”) before disclosing their program’s substantial costs.
No matter how hard you press for their fees over the phone, LearningRX will tell you that costs vary from situation to situation because their program is customized to particular students, and the Director will cover that in the Assessment.
However, our LearningRX insider claims the programs and related costs are fairly standard and predictable.
The LearningRX insider has provided us with a detailed overview of the slick sales process parents can expect (see the related post, to be published soon), as well as ballpark costs and fees currently charged by LearningRX (below).
Former LRX writes:
The shortest duration program LRX centers do is 12 weeks, though this number is increasing as centers sell longer and longer programs. The program is sold in 4 week increments, but the most common program lengths are 12, 24, and 36 weeks.
The program is delivered either as a partner or a pro program.
In the “Partner” program, there are three hours in the center with a trainer and three hours at home with you (or with the online digital trainer called Max).
In the “Pro” program, you will be in the center 5 hours per week. You will often pay more per hour for the Partner program, but there is little justification for this. It is true that the center trains you to train your student, but you also end up doing as much work as the trainer in the center (or more). Be this as it may, we can estimate program costs now.
Let’s use $85 as a per hour estimate. 12 weeks in a 3 hour per week (in the center) program at $85 per hour puts you around $3000. The center I was in had this closer to $4000. So let’s say $3000 – $4000. This is your baseline for a 12-week partner program.
Now, in the Pro program, you’ll have 12 weeks in a 5 hour per week program at $85 per hour. Your calculator will pop out $5000. I have heard some centers are less than this and some more, so this is a good estimate.
If you are going to expect changes in reading *or* math, then double the above, because you’ll be placed in a 24-week program. Partner in the $7000 range. Pro in the $10,000 range. Plus or minus.
If you are going to expect changes in both reading and math, then triple the above, because you’ll be placed in a 36-week program. Partner in the $10,000 plus range. Pro in the $15,000 range. Plus or minus again.
What you cannot know is how much change you can expect to see in your child and how much value you place on this change….
Many parents end up happy.
Some end up disappointed.
Some should be disappointed, but aren’t….
Also read:
LearningRX Complaints: Falsified Test Results
LearningRX Insider Secrets: How to Negotiate a Better Price from LearningRX (Coming Soon)
LearningRX Insider Secrets: How LearningRX Brain Training is Sold (Coming Soon)
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH LEARNING RX AND THE LEARNING RX FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY? PLEASE SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
TAGS: LearningRX costs, what does LearningRX cost, Learning RX cost, LearningRX complaints, tutoring franchise, education franchise, brain training, brain training franchise, brain training fraud, brain training scam, Dr. Ken Gibson, Ken Gibson, Learning RX, Learning RX Complaints, Learning RX franchise, Learning RX fraud, Learning RX ripoff, Learning RX scam, LearningRX, LearningRX Complaints, LearningRX franchise, LearningRX fraud, LearningRX ripoff, LearningRX scam, LearningRX results
SYLVAN LEARNING CENTERS Franchise Complaints
August 17, 2012
Sylvan Learning Centers franchise opportunity: Are you familiar with it?
If so, please share your experience, opinions or insights with a comment below.
The Sylvan Learning Centers franchise website states: “Now is an exciting time to join Sylvan – centers are currently available.
“This rewarding opportunity allows you to benefit from the proven success of Sylvan’s well-established franchise system.
Sylvan supplies you with all the tools to compete effectively in the market…”
However, according to Entrepreneur, Sylvan Learning Centers locations declined from 816 US franchises in 2008 to 740 in 2011.
According to data released by the Small Business Administration (SBA), Huntington Learning Centers franchise owners who qualified for SBA-backed franchise loans have a loan failure rate of 25%.
That earns Sylvan Learning Centers a spot in UnhappyFranchisee.com’s list of WORST FRANCHISES IN AMERICA (by SBA loan defaults)
Sylvan Learning Centers franchise owners have a 25% SBA loan default rate.
The apparent drop in Sylvan Learning Centers franchises in recent years and high SBA loan default rates could be franchise due diligence red flags.
| Sylvan Learning Centers Franchise | |
| Sylvan Learning Centers U.S. franchises in 2008: | 816 |
| Sylvan Learning Centers U.S. franchises in 2011: | 740 |
| Growth in franchise units 2008 – 2011 (#) | -76 |
| Growth in franchise units 2008 – 2011 (%): | -9% |
| SBA loans granted since 2001: | 193 |
| SBA loan failure rate: | 25% |
| Sources: Entrepreneur (growth), Coleman report (SBA) |
The inability to repay an SBA-backed loan (or any franchise loan, for that matter) indicates a serious situation for the franchisee.
It’s likely that Sylvan Learning Centers franchise owners who received SBA loans may have collateralized their franchise loan with their homes or other personal assets, and many were unable to repay those franchise loans… despite the serious incentive to do so.
Are you familiar with the Sylvan Learning Centers franchise opportunity?
What do you think accounts for the SBA loan failure rate of Sylvan Learning Centers franchise owners?
What steps should Sylvan Learning Centers be taking to stop further franchise failures?
Has Sylvan Learning Centers taken serious action to address the problems that led to these loan failures?
Please share a comment (anonymous is fine) or Contact UnhappyFranchisee.com.
If you are a Sylvan Learning Centers franchise representative or employee, please feel free to leave a comment or email us at UnhappyFranchisee[at]gmail.com.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE SYLVAN LEARNING CENTERS FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY?
ARE YOU A CURRENT OR FORMER SYLVAN LEARNING CENTERS FRANCHISE OWNER?
PLEASE SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
Sylvan Learning Centers, Sylvan Learning Centers franchise, Sylvan franchise, Sylvan Learning Centers franchise complaints, Sylvan Learning Centers complaints, Sylvan complaints, children’s franchise, tutoring franchise, education franchise, test prep franchise, franchise failure rates, SBA franchise loans, worst franchises, unhappy franchisee
HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTERS Franchise Complaints
August 17, 2012
Huntington Learning Centers franchise opportunity: Are you familiar with it?
If so, please share your experience, opinions or insights with a comment below.
The Huntington Learning Centers franchise website makes success seem easy:
“You’ll be ready to launch and operate your business soon after joining our franchise family. Our dedicated management team is fully committed to your success. Once open, we’ll help you develop a full-blown marketing plan to drive business in your community.
“The market opportunity is huge… Parent-pay tutoring is a $6 billion industry! … There is a cry for our services in every market…. and you can offer the answer in your market.
“Why a Huntington franchise? Our proven approach works…. resulting in tremendous financial rewards for our many franchisees.”
However, according to Entrepreneur, Huntington Learning Centers locations declined from 342 US franchises in 2008 to 250 in 2011.
According to data released by the Small Business Administration (SBA), Huntington Learning Centers franchise owners who qualified for SBA-backed franchise loans have a frighteningly high loan failure rate of 49%.
That earns Huntington Learning Centers a spot in UnhappyFranchisee.com’s list of WORST FRANCHISES IN AMERICA (by SBA loan defaults)
Huntington Learning Centers franchise owners have a shocking 49% SBA loan default rate.
The apparent drop in Huntington Learning Centers franchises in recent years and high SBA loan default rates are franchise due diligence red flags.
| Huntington Learning Centers Franchise | |
| Huntington Learning Centers U.S. franchises in 2008: | 342 |
| Huntington Learning Centers U.S. franchises in 2011: | 250 |
| Growth in franchise units 2008 – 2011 (#) | -92 |
| Growth in franchise units 2008 – 2011 (%): | -27% |
| SBA loans granted since 2001: | 178 |
| SBA loan failure rate: | 49% |
| Sources: Entrepreneur (growth), Coleman report (SBA) |
The inability to repay an SBA-backed loan (or any franchise loan, for that matter) indicates a serious situation for the franchisee.
It’s likely that Huntington Learning Centers franchise owners who received SBA loans may have collateralized their franchise loan with their homes or other personal assets, and many were unable to repay those franchise loans… despite the serious incentive to do so.
Are you familiar with the Huntington Learning Centers franchise opportunity?
What do you think accounts for the SBA loan failure rate of Huntington Learning Centers franchise owners?
What steps should Huntington Learning Centers be taking to stop further franchise failures?
Has Huntington Learning Centers taken serious action to address the problems that led to these loan failures?
Please share a comment (anonymous is fine) or Contact UnhappyFranchisee.com.
If you are a Huntington Learning Centers franchise representative or employee, please feel free to leave a comment or email us at UnhappyFranchisee[at]gmail.com.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTERS FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY?
ARE YOU A CURRENT OR FORMER HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTERS FRANCHISE OWNER?
PLEASE SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
Huntington Learning Centers, Huntington franchise, Huntington Learning Centers franchise, Huntington Learning Centers franchise complaints, Huntington Learning Centers complaints, Huntington complaints, children’s franchise, tutoring franchise, education franchise, test prep franchise, franchise failure rates, SBA franchise loans, worst franchises, unhappy franchisee
GYMBOREE Franchise Complaints
August 17, 2012
Gymboree franchise opportunity: Are you familiar with it?
If so, please share your experience, opinions or insights with a comment below.
The Gymboree franchise information website claims “More than 650 Gymboree Play & Music Program franchises in over 33 countries prove what we’ve known for more than 30 years–play and music combined with learning is serious business!
“We bring fun, creativity and friendship to our customers and our franchisees too!
“…Our franchisees also have the advantage of being part of a rapidly growing Gymboree brand. We are quickly expanding in U.S. markets and opening new franchises all over the world.
Key markets are still available in the U.S. and internationally. Come Grow With Us Today!.”
However, according to Entrepreneur, Gymboree locations declined from 262 US franchises in 2008 to 205 in 2011
According to data released by the Small Business Administration (SBA), Gymboree franchise owners who qualified for SBA-backed franchise loans have a disturbingly high loan failure rate of 31%.
That earns Gymboree a spot in UnhappyFranchisee.com’s list of WORST FRANCHISES IN AMERICA (by SBA loan defaults)
Gymboree franchise owners have a 31% SBA default rate.
The apparent drop in Gymboree franchises in recent years and the SBA loan default rates are franchise due diligence red flags.
| Gymboree Franchise | |
| Gymboree U.S. franchises in 2008: | 262 |
| Gymboree U.S. franchises in 2011: | 205 |
| Growth in franchise units 2008 – 2011 (#) | -57 |
| Growth in franchise units 2008 – 2011 (%): | -22% |
| SBA loans granted since 2001: | 70 |
| SBA loan failure rate: | 31% |
| Sources: Entrepreneur (growth), Coleman report (SBA) |
The inability to repay an SBA-backed loan (or any franchise loan, for that matter) indicates a serious situation for the franchisee.
It’s likely that Gymboree franchise owners who received SBA loans may have collateralized their franchise loan with their homes or other personal assets, and many were unable to repay those franchise loans… despite the serious incentive to do so.
Are you familiar with the Gymboree franchise opportunity?
What do you think accounts for the SBA loan failure rate of Gymboree franchise owners?
What steps should Gymboree be taking to stop further franchise failures?
Has Gymboree taken serious action to address the problems that led to these loan failures?
Please share a comment (anonymous is fine) or Contact UnhappyFranchisee.com.
If you are a Gymboree franchise representative or employee, please feel free to leave a comment or email us at UnhappyFranchisee[at]gmail.com.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE GYMBOREE FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY?
ARE YOU A CURRENT OR FORMER GYMBOREE FRANCHISE OWNER?
PLEASE SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
Gymboree, Gymboree franchise, Gymboree franchise complaints, Gymboree complaints, Gymboree Enterprises, children’s franchise, Kid’s franchise, fitness franchise, gym franchise, children’s play franchise, franchise failure rates, SBA franchise loans, worst franchises
MY GYM Franchise Complaints
August 17, 2012
My Gym franchise opportunity: Are you familiar with it?
If so, please share your experience, opinions or insights with a comment below.
The My Gym franchise information packet on the My Gym website claims “My Gym has grown by leaps and bounds in the last several years. We currently have over 200 locations and are in over 25 countries. We have been named as one of the top 300 franchises by Entrepreneur Magazine’s ‘Annual Top 500 Franchise List’ and also listed on their ‘Annual Top 200 International Franchise List’ for the past 5 years.”
My Gym claims that risk-reduction is a benefit of their franchise. Their info packet states:
“THE BENEFITS OF BUYING A FRANCHISE
…in purchasing a well-structured franchise, you greatly minimize the risks and strains of starting a new business….
“Our pre-opening, post opening and continuing support to our franchisees is unparalleled in the field of franchising.
“My Gym Children’s Fitness Center is a proven, productive business with locations across the country.
“Comprehensive financial, marketing and administrative systems help you avoid the mistakes and perils independent business owners must combat alone.”
However, according to Entrepreneur, My Gym locations declined from 179 US franchises in 2008 to 152 in 2011
According to data released by the Small Business Administration (SBA), My Gym franchise owners who qualified for SBA-backed franchise loans have an outrageously high loan failure rate of 51%.
That earns My Gym a spot in UnhappyFranchisee.com’s list of WORST FRANCHISES IN AMERICA (by SBA loan defaults)
My Gym franchise owners have an outrageous 51% SBA default rate.
The apparent drop in My Gym franchises in recent years and the high loan default rates are franchise due diligence red flags.
| My Gym Franchise | |
| My Gym U.S. franchises in 2008: | 179 |
| My Gym U.S. franchises in 2011: | 152 |
| Growth in franchise units 2008 – 2011 (#) | -27 |
| Growth in franchise units 2008 – 2011 (%): | -15% |
| SBA loans granted since 2001: | 68 |
| SBA loan failure rate: | 51% |
| Sources: Entrepreneur (growth), Coleman report (SBA) |
The inability to repay an SBA-backed loan (or any franchise loan, for that matter) indicates a serious situation for the franchisee.
It’s likely that My Gym franchise owners who received SBA loans may have collateralized their franchise loan with their homes or other personal assets, and many were unable to repay those franchise loans… despite the serious incentive to do so.
Are you familiar with the My Gym franchise opportunity?
What do you think accounts for the SBA loan failure rate of My Gym franchise owners?
What steps should My Gym be taking to stop further franchise failures?
Has My Gym taken serious action to address the problems that led to these loan failures?
Please share a comment (anonymous is fine) or Contact UnhappyFranchisee.com.
If you are a My Gym franchise representative or employee, please feel free to leave a comment or email us at UnhappyFranchisee[at]gmail.com.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE MY GYM FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY?
ARE YOU A CURRENT OR FORMER MY GYM FRANCHISE OWNER?
PLEASE SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
My Gym, My Gym franchise, My Gym franchise complaints, My Gym complaints, My Gym Enterprises, MGE, children’s franchise, Kid’s franchise, fitness franchise, gym franchise, children’s gym franchise, franchise failure rates, SBA franchise loans, worst franchises, Cory Bertisch, Jamie Bertisch, Mike Chalovich, Monique Vranesh, Randy Bertisch, Susi Sherman, Yacov Sherman
LearningRX Complaints: Falsified Test Results
June 22, 2012
LearningRX Complaints: Falsified Test Results.
(UnhappyFranchisee.com) According to the LearningRx franchise website: “LearningRx is one of the top educational and child franchises in the nation. We change lives every day through the incredible power of brain training! Our programs are designed to target weak cognitive skills and help anyone from age 4 to 94 to achieve guaranteed results.”
LearningRx franchise centers promise guaranteed results for children and adults with ADD, ADHD, autism, dyslexia, reading problems, learning disabilities and other challenges.
LearningRX programs are pricey, often costing $5000 – $15,000. However, part of the LearningRX sales pitch is that they guarantee results – or your money back. However, some former LearningRX employees have claimed that their LearningRX franchise either put undue pressure (and financial incentives) on testers to do whatever it takes produce positive test results – and thereby avoid a refund.
Others claimed they were blatantly instructed to falsify test scores to exaggerate the effect of their program.
Are you familiar with the LearningRX franchise? Please share a comment below.
Does LearningRX Falsify Test Results?
Some allege that some LearningRX franchise locations intentionally falsify test results to show bogus improvement – and avoid paying refunds.
thetruthbetold wrote:
I worked for learningRx in a management position and as a trainer… i witnessed test scores being changed to persuade parents to sign up or continue after completion… It is grossly overcharged without a flat rate so each family pays what the owners can get out of them! …its not the program itself that’s a problem it is the fact that now franchisees can open up shop, claim to be pseudo-medical and exploit children with disabilities by taking advantage of their desperate families…
ErinM wrote:
I worked for them for many years, and they are EXTREMELY corrupt. The trainers are all great people who do exactly as they are told, and help motivate the students. However, they will scam you out of your money and falsify test results. I felt guilty being a part of it after a while.
Lauren P. wrote:
I worked with a LearningRx franchise for 2 years before taking on the role as a test examiner. Shortly after taking on the role, the director pulled me aside and complained about the lack of growth in the final testings I had administered. He said it was very important to remember that our success as a center relies on results found in the final tests and that basically my paycheck relied on seeing growth in the final tests. I’m not stupid and I know what he was asking me to do… I refused to alter final testing scores and was fired from the role. The excuse was that I was not administering the test correctly. I was heartbroken. All of the results I thought my own students were achieving were false. The director was willing to trick parents and manipulate a credible test like the WJIII to make money. It seems most, if not all of these franchises carry this attitude about testing and it’s all about the buck with the directors. I would advise buyer beware.
first-hand-experience wrote:
I also was in management with LearningRx. Let me start by saying, I worked at two different locations (each with different owners). I started as a receptionist and tester and worked my way up to Assistant Director. The first center I worked at was everything negative you’ve heard so far. Everything from falsifying test scores to trying to make her employees claim they were independent contractors…
Are LearningRX Test Results Intentionally Skewed?
Others allege that the type and frequency of testing used by LearningRX skews results to indicate progress that doesn’t exist.
One commenter states that progress demonstrated is a result of LearningRX “teaching for the test.”
Alan Balter writes:
…The training is specific to the woodcock johnson III, so if I pretest you and you score badly, then train you specifically to the test, then you show growth ( i would hope), did you really grow? It would be like giving you all the answers to the SAT or intelligene quota and then saying you’re brilliant or belong in MENSA when you do well. bottom line they’re not accurately measuring the programs true effectiveness by not accounting for threats to internal and external validity.
Allison Edge agrees:
As a trainer and tester at Learningrx, I’d like to say that you should be careful when going there. Standardized assessments like the initial and supplemental tests are not meant to be given more than once a year. LearningRx gives them every 4-6 months. This allows the student to get a higher than average score on the test…
Is The LearningRX Guarantee Deceptive?
sydneysjrstate wrote:
Keep in mind the tests they use to measure grade improvement don’t necessarily correspond to what children are doing in school, and if your child shows two grade level improvements on THEIR TESTS, they get to keep YOUR MONEY!
Lisa wrote:
If you are not familiar with the system, the entrance test and exit test is identical. LearningRX bases success on whether or not the person being trained moves beyond what they are initially able to complete on the test. For instance, if he/she is able to do 3 out of 8 steps on the test when he/she first takes the test, but completes 5 out of 8 when they complete all training, LearningRX has succeeded in helping the person. So, on paper and according to their guarantee, their program has worked. However, there was absolutely NO improvement in any of the areas that had been discussed during the initial visit! In fact, some grades were even worse while taking the training – this was explained away as “normal” at the half-way review point.
Barbara Crewell wrote:
My daughter went through this program at the beginning of this year… now that she is in 8th grade everything has just gone downhill. She has worse grades than ever and has dozens of missing assignments. So I feel like I threw away 7,000 dollars on the product that has no true guarantee. Your guarantee is if she doesn’t improve they will give you an extra month free. That doesn’t sound like a guarantee at all. Maybe if it doesn’t work they refund your damn money, how bout that?
What do you think?
Do LearningRX franchise owners falsify test results?
Is the LearningRX system skewed to indicate imaginary progress?
Are LearningRX trainers and testers under pressure to return positive results, even if it requires questionable tactics?
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH LEARNING RX AND THE LEARNING RX FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY? PLEASE SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
KIDDIE ACADEMY Franchisees Under Fire
August 19, 2011
(UnhappyFranchisee.com) Sexual Assault. Infant Neglect. Dangerously Unsanitary Conditions. You name it, Kiddie Academy franchise owners are under fire for it.
(Also read: KIDDIE ACADEMY Franchise Complaints)
Franchisee-of-the-year charged with sexual assault of a child
In 2008, Louis Himber was recognized as a Kiddie Academy Franchisee of the Year. Now he’s been charged with sexual assault on a child over a six year period.
In 2008, the Derry News story read: “The owners of Kiddie Academy of Windham… was honored by the premier child care providing company with the Franchisee of the Year award for exceeding Kiddie Academy standards and maintaining awareness of best practices in the early education and child care industry. The ownership group for Kiddie Academy of Windham consists of Kevin Himber, Lou Himber and Karen Flaherty Himber, Dan and Beverly Kennedy and Dale and Carole Tipple.”
The Windham Kiddy Academy is back in the news. The August 13, 2011 edition of the Eagle Tribune reads:
Louis Himber, 44, formerly of Londonderry and a co-owner of Kiddie Academy daycare center in Windham, was recently indicted on seven charges by a Rockingham Superior Court grand jury.
The child, who is now 13, was sexually assaulted in Londonderry on multiple occasions between March 2004 and March 2011, according to the indictments. Himber faces five counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault, a felony punishable by 10 to 30 years in prison for each count.
Himber also was indicted on a simple assault charge for punching the child in the arm, a misdemeanor, and a second-degree assault charge for trying to strangle the victim’s mother, the indictments said. Those alleged incidents occurred this year.
Himber’s attorney, Mark Howard, and Kiddie Academy spokeswoman Wendy Odell Magus both maintain that franchisee Himber is solely an "investor" in the business and never worked there. They claim no children at the center were ever in danger. However, a court order specifically bars Himber from going to the daycare.
This tragedy is one more blow to the reputation of the Kiddy Academy daycare franchise chain.
5 month old infant dies under care of Kiddie Academy Staten Island
According to a CBS story, on March 25, 2011 5 month-old Jeremy Davlias was dropped off at the Staten Island Kiddie Academy. The workers there called 911 when they noticed Jeremy was having trouble breathing, but it was too late. Little Jeremy was dead by the time he reached the hospital.
CBS states that the parents blame Kiddie Academy:
The Davlias said they believe Jeremy would not have died if the facility had done its job.
“I think Jeremy would’ve still been here with us, absolutely,” Oscar said. “There is no question in my mind that he still would’ve been here with us.”
So do the Davlias’ attorney:
“Some of the things that went on here are simply beyond comprehension,” the family’s attorney, Marc Albert, said. “How did nobody take a look at this kid for three hours and ten minutes, especially when they knew he was sick?”
Parents claim the unsanitary conditions at the South Hills, WV Kiddy Academy caused their child to contract mycoplasma.
In January, 2011, The South Hills, WV Kiddie Academy was shut down for unsanitary conditions. Parents Kristina Russell and Christopher Aldrich filed a lawsuit claiming Kiddie Academy, claiming their infant has suffered from mycoplasma, an organism contracted by fecal matter coming into contact with the mouth.
According to the lawsuit, Russell and Aldrich’s child was two years old when he began attending Kiddie Academy in March 2010. The lawsuit claims that Kiddie Academy’s "unsafe and unsanitary conditions," include mold growth in the ceiling, on walls and around the kitchen sink; rodent droppings in multiple locations that included kitchen cabinets and utensil drawers, gnats in the kitchen, food rinsed in a kitchen sink that was not washed nor sanitized; staff members washing their hands after diaper changes in sinks where baby bottles were washed; no hand washing sinks near the diaper changing tables; dirty, stagnant water in the mop bucket and dirty diapers stored in open containers.”
The lawsuit claims that, as a result of these conditions, Russell and Aldrich’s child suffered "serious and permanent neurological injuries, including temporary blindness with a severe visual deficit." The family is seeking the $500,000 in medical expenses they’ve incurred, as well as punitive damages, attorney fees and interest.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH KIDDIE ACADEMY? WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
Email Unhappy Franchisee at UnhappyFranchisee[at]gmail.com.
KIDDIE ACADEMY Franchise Complaints
August 18, 2011
(UnhappyFranchisee.com) Kiddie Academy is a Maryland-based daycare franchise founded in 1981 by George and Pauline Miller. Kiddie Academy provides its franchisees with curriculum and helps them obtain all the licenses and permits necessary to build and operate their franchise daycare business.
According to Entrepreneur, Kiddie Academy rose 103 franchise and 4 company-owned centers in 2010, but then fell to 90 franchise locations and 2 company-owned centers in 2011. A recent company press release states that “Kiddie Academy Domestic Franchising… has over 95 academies located in 24 states, including two company-owned locations. Approximately 70 additional academies are in development, with 15 to 20 new locations slated to open each year.”
Kiddie Academy Boasts of its Extreme Franchise Support
According to the Kiddie Academy website, “Kiddie Academy® has achieved market leadership by working closely with each of our franchisees to promote the progress and growth of each academy. We make sure that our franchisees have the tools and guidance they need to run their businesses efficiently, so that they can have time for the other priorities in their lives, as well.”
In a personal message on its franchise website, Kiddie Academy President and CEO Michael Miller states that Kiddie Academy was founded on the philosophy that the franchisor will support each franchise location as if it were their own.
Franchise Lawsuits and a Franchise Warning
Despite the upbeat growth projections, Kiddie Academy has suffered a unit decline of greater than 11%, from 107 locations to 95 locations, in the past year. In recent years, there have been multiple lawsuits involving Kiddie Academy and its franchisees.
Additionally, a strongly worded warning to stay away from the Kiddie Academy franchise recently appeared on Rip-Off Report:
Kiddie Academy Kiddie Academy Franchising Rip off, beware of giving them any MONEY!!! Don’t fulfill their promises!!! Go with any other child care franchise!! Abingdon , Maryland
Joerg — St. Louis Missouri United States of America
Submitted: Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Beware of giving these guys your hard earned money.
They don’t fulfill promises or even contracts.Read the fine print.
Distrust these guys.
Go with any other child care franchise if you want to really make an investment.
Go with any other child care franchise if you don’t want to lose your money.
Beware of the CEO, Beware of the sales men.
Ask to meet EVERYBODY that will be interacting with you (from start to end) and you’ll really see what they are all about.
A rebuttal post followed:
Ask Our Franchisees
AUTHOR: Kiddie Academy Domestic Franchising – Abingdon (United States of America)
SUBMITTED: Friday, August 12, 2011
POSTED: Friday, August 12, 2011
It is unfortunate that you had a dissatisfying experience. I welcome you to contact me directly so we can try and resolve your concerns. With a 30 year track record of helping build successful child care facilities across the country, we are proud of the integrity of our company, the quality of our people and value of our business opportunity.
Consistently heralded by our franchisees for our commitment to their success, Kiddie Academy has demonstrated our willingness to work with franchisees in achieving their desire for business ownership. Hear directly from our franchisees by visiting www.kiddieacademyfranchising.com. Our franchisees’ feedback speaks for itself and for the Kiddie Academy business.
So, we ask our readers, franchisees, employees and those familiar with the Kiddie Academy franchise:
Is the Kiddie Academy Franchise a Scam and rip-off to be avoided at all costs?
OR
Is the Kiddie Academy a growing franchise organization with a franchisor dedicated to the success of each location?
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH KIDDIE ACADEMY? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
Email Unhappy Franchisee at UnhappyFranchisee[at]gmail.com.
PRIMROSE SCHOOLS: Franchise Owner Charged With Rape
August 2, 2011
Primrose Schools childcare franchise now has its very own Franchisee from Hell.
According to FOX19 news in Lebanon, Ohio, the Maineville, OH Primrose Schools childcare franchise is being shut down after the owner was charged with the rape of a 13-year-old.
The alleged 13-year-old victim was not a student of Primrose Schools.
According to the news report:
John Foster, 36, was arrested last Wednesday. He was arraigned on Thursday morning and is being held in the Warren County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
Foster is a franchise owner of the Primrose School in Maineville. He and his wife opened the school in 2008. Police say at this point, they have no reported incidents involving Primrose students.
According to court documents, Foster engaged in sexual conduct with a girl under 13 from 1999 until 2003.
Foster has been ordered to stay away from the victim and all children under the age of 18…
According to the President of Primrose, Jo Kirchner, the license of the franchisee has been officially terminated.
Because of the ongoing investigation, Primrose schools felt it was in the best interest of the students and their parents to shut down the school. The students will be able to attend school at one of the three other Primrose locations.
The decision to close the school came after a meeting Thursday night with the parents of the students that attend the school and the owners of the other locations.
Foster and his wife co-own the private daycare and preschool franchise.
The Foster’s Primrose Schools franchise location offered daycare and kindergarten and had announced plans to add one first-grade class this fall.
About Primrose Schools (from the Primrose Schools website):
“In 2008, Primrose Schools entered into a strategic equity partnership with Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm. Primrose was their first investment to be made in the educational category. The capital from this partnership will allow Primrose Schools to continue to invest in infrastructure, innovation, and our franchise system to maintain continual improvement for the Primrose brand at all levels and raise consumer recognition across the country.
“In 2010, Primrose Schools unveiled our new Primrose School of Education, where we conduct regular training for school staff members and franchise owners. From our beginnings in a single school to the opening of our downtown Atlanta location in 2010, Primrose Schools has grown to more than 220 schools in 15 states.”
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH JOHN FOSTER, PRIMROSE SCHOOLS OR ITS FRANCHISE OWNERS? SHOULD DAYCARE FRANCHISE OWNERS BE MORE CAREFULLY SCREENED? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
Email us at UnhappyFranchisee[at]gmail.com.
