MEINEKE Meineke NOT REFUNDING MY $30,000 DEPOSITE FEE charlotte, North Carolina
TO MEINEKE FRENCHISEE APLICANTS
To THOSE WHO WANT TO INVEST ON MEINEKE CAR CARE CENTER BUSINEESS OWNER SHIP.
I saw their internet advertisement franchisee for investment, I called Mr. Steve Belko (Franchisee sales manager), Ive become interested to invest on MEINEKE car care center and have a franchisee shop.
Finally, Ive signed the contract and pay them $30,000. In advance as a franchisee FEE. Then they let me participate in a one month mandatory class. All subjects and procedures in class they were teaching were related to how to rip-off the customers for big tickets and how to steal from job & parts. At the end, Ive fount out, I do not have such kind of personality to be dishonest with customers to rip them off and always lie to them and make them worry about false repairing to issues a big sales ticket and make A Big profit for MEINEKE COMPANY. At that time decide not continue with them, and ask them to cancel My contract and refund my $30,000 deposits. Unfortunately, they refuse to refund my money.
Now, at this time I eagerly ask the MEINEKE authorities and management team to make a trustee decision and refund my money, Because, I work hard all my life to save this money. Thanks in advance from top management to make right and reasonabledecision to refund my money?????????!!!!!!!
Best regards,
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Rongaudier
cedar creek,Texas,
U.S.A.
Did you read the contract?
#2General Comment
Tue, April 24, 2012
Sorry to hear about your predicament. I have been considering opening a Meineke shop myself, but am put off by the fact that I have to first invest $30K for "market research and training".
As to your comments, while I have little doubt that Meineke stresses "upselling" in its training course, I don't agree that this is necessarily "ripping off" the customer. Upselling is sort of the nature of the beast with this kind of business...one which lowballs the customer with a $49.95 muffler special or $99.95 brake job. Unfortunately the public is conditioned to respond to bottom price only, and does not understand just how quickly repair bills can go up from there. Imagine how difficult it would be to attract people into your shop if you advertisement went something like this: We might be able to fix your brakes for 100 dollars, but that's only if we can get away with replacing pads only. If you drove your car until the brakes were metal on metal then we'll need new rotors too. Did the calipers get damaged in the process? How about the wheel bearings.
Unfortunately, most repairs can't be bid up front without first doing inspection and diagnosis, and many customers don't want to pay for this.
Personally, I'm not ready to shell out 30k with no gaurentee that I'll ever be able to open a shop.
If I were to go ahead and sign the contract and plunk down the funds, it would be with both eyes open and well aware of the risk involved. I think you are SOL, but let me know how it works out.