Complaint Review: Tapp Palmer

A year ago we started a new journey to own our own business and the best part help others start they’re journey to business ownership. Since the excitement of starting this around July of 2016 has turned from joyous to frustration, to angry, to tears. If this post will prevent one person from having to go through the emotional rollercoaster and financial devastation then it will be worth it. We bought into a franchise known as Clubstore Outlet in July 2016 as not only a store franchise, but also purchased the area developer (or master franchisor) for a territory. At first CEO and Founder Tapp Palmer was all too happy to converse. But, the further along we got into trying to develop the area the more problems existed, from Franchise Brokers no longer offering this franchise because of lack of communication (and so much more) to previous stores closings or going on their own due to lack of a supply chain as Tapp Palmer said he had in place. In February, we asked Tapp Palmer to call us as we wanted to discuss not only moving forward with our store, but discuss major issues and feedback we were getting regarding Clubstore Outlet. Even at this time we felt it was a newer franchise working out the bugs. We still have not heard from Tapp Palmer who has scheduled calls, but not one of the multitudes scheduled has he kept. One reason or another all have been cancelled. I have emailed, called, texted, to no avail. I have emailed and formally requested my store franchise fee be returned since they failed to uphold the franchisor agreement, of course no response. We have been financially devastated. Others are also in the same position, not all will be as financially devastated and they have years to recover. We are not so lucky. I have started the process in filing complaints and reports on a Federal, State and Local level.