Slender Lady Corporation Slender Lady owner treats Franchisors as if they are employee of him! ripoff San Antonio Texas
Slender Lady promises strong aggressive branding and name recongition but delivers very little. Owner treats franchisee as if they are his employee's rather than his business partners.
If you do or say anything they do not like or approve of they blackball you with out even an explanation, and although you are paying them $590 to $690 a month for support and promotion all you receive is complaints about your loyalty to the company.
Please be very aware of this company, the owner plays games, if fact I think he must be only 10 yrs old. Be sure to contact your Securities & Exchange Commission and/or the Federal Trade Commission before you giving any money. I believe there are even some states they are not allowed to sell and/or resell a franchise in.
Quite honestly you don't need a franchise to make it as a small business. Just do more research and you will find you can do it yourself with just as much success and save yourself a lot of money. Good Luck
Blackballed
Everywhere
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Debie
Tucson,Montana,
U.S.A.
Yes I Can Make it Own My Own, and so can anyone else
#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Thu, May 12, 2005
As an owner of a Slender Lady Franchise, my point was we are NOT treated as a business partner's (owner's), but rather employee's for which that is how you posted your rebuttal.
Franchise's are sold with the premise that you are the business owner and you can make your own decisions however it has become very apparent that this is just not so. Case in point, I purchased a Weight Loss, Nutrition and Fitness Center NOT a Weight Loss Center with fitness available should you want. Had I wished to be a weight loss center I would of purchased one. The idea was to show new member's that yes you can lose weight exercising, but with good sound and nutritional support your success is ensured and can be acheived at a much faster healthier rate. However, by promoting that we are a weight loss center which by the way now follow's almost verbatum the LA Weight Program we become nothing more than a diet center.
Slender Lady, Inc. as you may or may not be aware is presently in legal litigation in the State of California and has been asked to cease selling franchises due to many, many complaints by other Slender Lady Franchise owners. So I don't believe it is unreasonable to suggest that anyone who is consider purchasing a franchise do their research before they buy. This not the first time and as part of the complaint Slender Lady, Inc. continued to sell 4 franchises when instructed not to, why?
On top of this a 49% owner of the company "Dr Verdugo, has filed a huge lawsuit (in the Millions) against Slender Lady, Inc. and the owner Bruce Sharpe, again I ask why? This by the way is of public record.
As far as branding it just isn't happening yet, and has been promised for year's. By the time they finally do something many franchise owners will be out of business, this is a fact. We are first told about something such as the working with the Angel's Network which is a charitable organization that Ophrah Whinfrey supports, however now we are told they are just looking into it, just like everything else it is always being looked into. Why tell us about it if it is not going to be done.
Althought, it is true that some franchise owners are doing very well, it is a sad statistic that out of over 300 franchises purchased, less than 150 stores are open with over 22 closing back in April 05. Why so many failures? Are they all just bad sales people Or are they just not truly receiving the support & promotion that they where promised and are paying for monthly?
My posting is NOT due to Sour Grapes, but rather a lot of REGRET and if I can get even 1 person to truly do their homework before making the same mistake than my posting has served it's purpose & that is what this wonderful site is for.
Allen
Schaumburg,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Sour Grapes Of course you can do it on your own
#3UPDATE Employee
Fri, April 29, 2005
I am truly disappointed that there is a post of this nature on this site. It has been my experience that those who have posted information about a company were factual and provided supporting information about their claim.
I am a Slender Lady franchise owner and what this person is telling you is nonsense.
My wife and I opened our franchise one year ago in May. We went to Slender Lady corporate for training and received ongoing support throughout the past year.
Yes, Slender Lady charges a franchise fee, as do all other franchisors, why should Slender Lady be different? There is a marketing fee, which allows the corporation to produce marketing material and produce a consistent look across all the operations in the country. It takes money to run a company, franchise fees and marketing funds are the fuel to make this company go into the future.
The advantage of buying a franchise, opposed to doing it on your own, is the synergy of those who have been there before you. Of course you can do it on your own, but that's just it, you are on your own.
It saddens me when someone cannot take responsibility for their own failure and some how must find someone else to blame for their inability to succeed.
Upon completing our first year in business, we are in the black.
One should consider their ability to run a profitable business, before entering into any venture.