Chem Dry Carpet Cleaning / Harris Research, The Chem Dry Franchise Lie/ Don't buy (Rent) a Chem Dry Franchise-Waste of years and Money Logan, Utah
I spent over a dozen years and invested well into six figures while operating a chem dry franchise. I walked away completely empty handed, as did many other franchisees I encountered. Many of those who stayed on, have little value in their franchises (even after 20+ years), while Chem Dry regularly sold new franchises or repossed ones at low prices with seemingly attractive terms to keep their revenues flowing uninterupted, but made it hard for franchisees to compete when trying to sell theirs.
Franchise areas were often oversold and saturated. There were price wars among franchises. They changed the terms of the franchise agreement at their will, usually to enrich themselves. They used heavy handed legal tactics to intimidate franchisees.
The bottom line is they are basically an unregulated entity who used that 'self regulated' environment for their own benefit, much like the financial industry did. A legalized sort of 'ponzi' where the deck is stacked against against the franchisee. It was basically like renting a job with no benefits, and where the financial obligation is substantial and I found the returns to be minimal. Unless you like a situation comparable to a dictatorship where you have No Rights, except for the right to breathe (if you can) under the conditions that they dictate, run as far away as you can.
The President and CEO, Craig Donaldson who was responsible for most of the changes that ruined the Chem Dry dream for many good, hard working people, and the founder, Robert Harris, who the Greedy man who professed to care for the franchisees (but ultimately mot as much as money), both have their hands on, still own considerale positions, and influence the direction of this company. Bernie Madoff doesn't have much on these guys, believe me.
Do yourself a favor and stay as far away from them as possible. If you want to go into this business, there are plently of good industry bulletin boards where a wealth of information is available, so you can do it on your own.
Nako
Scottsdale, Arizona
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Nako
Scottsdale,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Chem Dry Non-Opportunity
#3Author of original report
Tue, November 24, 2009
Carpet Pro may be one of the very very few who was ever to sell his franchise and get out of Chem Dry at a decent time. To this day I know of very few in the entire country. The company went through 3 privately held venture capitalist owners who only got involved because of the overwhelming clout they had over the franchisees. It was a license for them to basically print money on the backs of the franchisees, with little to no accountability. Power without conscience is what has destroyed this country. Plain old Greed...one of the seven deadly sins. I have known of people who have some 25 years in this business, and they can't sell their business for anything close to a reasonable price, and by that I mean something that one could at least start to consider the idea of retiring. Others can put in 20-25 years in some other type of job and collect a pension for the rest of their lives, with health care. The owners I speak of are very depressed, and feel trapped after all these years which they feel have been wasted. Others may say take responsibility for your actions, but when you deal with an unconscionable organization whose sole purpose is to line their pockets with money at any human cost, it is hard to crawl into their minds and anticipate the lengths that they will go to to enrich themselves. Especially in the late 1980's when franchising was still evolving, lawyers were colluding over the best ways to control franchisees, and the level of regulations allowed these activities to take place legally. I stand by my assertions.
Carpet Pro
Washington,United States of America
Chem-Dry Rip Off?
#3General Comment
Mon, November 23, 2009
I have now read several of the complaints towards Chem-Dry... 'Harris Research" and "Robert Harris".. Some justified, some just plain "sour grapes". I am the former owner operator of two Chem-Dry franchises, and I sold those and went on to do private consulting in some of the largest Chem-Dry franchises in the country. I would consider myself to be a credible authority on Chem-Dry. I agree that Chem-Dry has over the years gone from one extreme in cleaning to the absolute opposite, but to accuse Robert Harris and Harris research of actively engaging in dishonest practices is going too far. I met Robert Harris in 1994, while working as a commercial accounts consultant prior to purchasing my two franchises. Mr. Harris always was trying to bring the best alternative to steam cleaning to his franchisors and he did in fact want everyone to have success. In retrospect, perhaps had some of the franchise owners done more homework prior to purchasing a Chem-Dry they may have been able to make a more educated decision in what process they wanted to invest their futures in? I admit, when the new Velda-System was pushed on us, my partners were required to purchase 6, at $6k each... only to have the frigging pieces of crap sit in the back rooms... it was a hard pill to swallow. I got out of Chem-Dry because I saw them going into steam-cleaning, and financially it did not make sense to stay with them and continue purchasing their products when I could find better products and equipment at a lower price. The bottom line was always the customer, how satisfied were my customers with Chem-Dry? Very Satisfied. The fall-out from the "switch" that Chem-Dry perpetuated on its franchisors is undeniably huge... but to place all the blame squarely on Chem-Dry is taking the easy way out. In business, nobody but you are responsible when it all boils down. Nobody will pay your bills for you, nobody will do your job for you.. I went into it with my eyes wide open, so stop crying and blaming others, suck it up and move on. I likely know Nako in Scottsdale, he may have even paid me to market his franchises, and he was sure happy then.