Comments on: Cork & Olive Franchise Corp. Collapse: What’s the REAL Story?

By: admin

admin — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:11:42 +0000

Cork & Olive’s Michael Probst, Deborah Augenti launch new franchise
Have you heard about this? Your input is invited:

http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/cork-olive-team-launches-solera-wine-franchise-beware/

By: Sean Kelly

Sean Kelly — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:27:19 +0000

More stories and lots of discussion about Cork & Olive, Michael Probst & related craziness is available on UnhappyFranchisee.com:

http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/cork-olive-overview-blogliography/

Theyt would certainly be interested in learning about Michael Probst’s latest activities.

By: Solera

Solera — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:57:06 +0000

Interesting. I’ve being following the industry in the last 5 years. C&O appeared to me as a good biz concept. Then all this debacle. A closed friend was “victimized” by them; Corporate America, she said to me. Now, the last month I found on Craiglist an add of a biz looking for investors in a Wholesale Wine Franchise. I found out that Michael Probst is the head of this new venture branded as “Solera Distributors / http://www.soleradistributors.net” . I did contacted the DM and asked him about their conection with the Solera Imports Co. ; openly this person related his biz with the Importers which holds a well gained reputation in the industry for the last 20 years or so. I also, contacted Solera Imports and they don’t have a clue about it. What do you think guys? … the concept of “free enterprise USA” is again challenged ?
Cheers

By: CORK & OLIVE: Overview & Blogliography | Unhappy Franchisee

CORK & OLIVE: Overview & Blogliography | Unhappy Franchisee — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:44:30 +0000

[...] Cork & Olive Franchise Corp. Collapse: What’s the REAL Story? June 6th, 2008 [...]

By: Kim - former Controller

Kim - former Controller — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:54:54 +0000

I walked out of C&O in June 07 after working there only 2 months. I warned an employee at the Valrico store that she should “get out now” and when Stephanie heard this she threatened to sue me. I wrote the self appointed Director of Operations who is really just a bartender a nasty letter about how she continues to lie to people, even after some paychecks BOUNCED! People who continued to work there after June 07 were really stupid. It was all over way back then. I actually went to work for the guy who kept trying to get paid for the floors installed in the stores! What a joke.

By: another another ex employee

another another ex employee — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:38:31 +0000

regarding paycheck yes 1 person got paid stephanie nelson she paid herself and for 2 weeks vacation to b4 leaving town. sweet eh? ask her oh wait she will lie again bout that 2. ck the books they dont lie. well thats a lie 2. but wait there is a new accountant and she doesnt lie so she would tell the truth. I WANT PAID THIS ISN’T FAIR MICHAEL AND STEPHANIE!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: yet another former employee

yet another former employee — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:44:39 +0000

Yikes…..all this is so ugly…but I have to agree and say that I am not surprised, due to the way the owners of C&O ran the stores and managed their employees…it was just bad business!!!

By: yetanotherformeremployee

yetanotherformeremployee — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:57:00 +0000

I worked at the Brandon store, which, as far as I knew, was one of the better-performing stores (I also used to work at the Valrico store a couple of years ago).

My main beef is that I got ripped off for my last paycheck. Did anyone get paid for the last week?

By: say whut

say whut — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:16:52 +0000

for some odd reason… the last posting from WANDA doesn’t seem to be questions WANDA would ask… nor her writing… why do I think it could possible be Ms. nelson inquiring from CA or is it Mexico by now? hmm.

By: say whut

say whut — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:58:48 +0000

wanda… far as I know the AC was shut off by Ms. Nelson the same day the corp office shut down-another smart move of hers! NOT. the wine has probably turned to vinegar now even though most of it was vinegar to begin with. I wonder how many bottles have blown their corks! LOL The only stores that the inventory was removed out of was st. Pete – since we unfortunately lost the lease yeah whatever it’s called didn’t pay the rent yet again! thanks for the lie once again Ms. Nelson! You never gave any of your employees credit for having a brain and thought you were able to patronize them yet again BUT we knew better! actually it was YOU STEPHANIE who didnt have a brain or you would have started being an honest citizen from day one and not listen to your sugardaddy! i also believe the wine is “owned’ by the investors of the particular stores. Word has it that early this week we will know if it’s chapter 11 or 7 and without a doubt it will be chapter 7 cuz mikey doesn’t have any money to open any stores let alone have funds for workers comp or liability insurance! finally!!! he can’t be a wolf in sheeps clothing anymore!