Comments on: Cork & Olive Franchise & Why I Love the Tampa Bay Tribune

By: Charles Henry

Charles Henry — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:24:54 +0000

Heard not to long ago that Probts is back to his old tricks. He’s working on craigslist now, selling distributorship rights of some kind. Why can’t anyone stop this Hitler of a man?

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

CORK & OLIVE: Overview & Blogliography | Unhappy Franchisee — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 18:41:32 +0000

[...] Cork & Olive Franchise & Why I Love the Tampa Bay Tribune June 11th, 2008 [...]

By: Johnny J

Johnny J — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:26:53 +0000

I just hope the local community supports these stores and owners who have been misled and robbed! Go buy a couple of bottles of wine from them.

By: Yet another former HQ employee

Yet another former HQ employee — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:08:38 +0000

You are right! Good for him! Thanks for clearing that up. When I was there, the warehouse was out back and Probst was looking for more room.
So, a lot had changed since I was there, except for bad behavior on Probst’s part. Ms. N had known him years before the whole Oldsmar thing. You would think she would have known better. Or so it went.

By: Wanda

Wanda — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:32:16 +0000

Former Employee,
Yes, Ronzino is opening in the villages. Although not a clone. Was told NO franchises! Also the wine is purchased from distributors and small vineyards. Also was told he and his friend used their money. NO hanky panky business deals. Been told he is a nice guy. Wish him well. After what Probst put him through he deserves to be successful!

By: yet another former HQ employee

yet another former HQ employee — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:04:45 +0000

Wanda,
Is that the same Tom Ronzino that is opening Put a Cork In It in the Villages? sounds like he is opening the clone of C&O. I dont know who is was, but though it was interesting.

By: Wanda

Wanda — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 20:21:10 +0000

Sean,
Well yes the story has taken an interesting spin. The real story should be Probst opens co. wine stores. Sells franchise with the promise of big returns. Takes $60,000. from people thinking they are going in to a wonderful business for themselves with co. training and support. In reality Probst steals $60,000. and gives the franchisees nothing but grief. He stole, borrowed, and swindled from anyone he could. Takes the money to Miami and puts it into an offshore account and then goes bankrupt. Remember I told you before he said if the heat gets to much “he would just leave.” He also was heard saying how the Americans legal system takes so long he wouldn’t get caught and by the time they did he wouldn’t be in trouble he would just leave. He also thought he would have sold the whole franchise company by now. I have new info on Ronzino. Seems CEO comes with a price of half a million. Also has a employ. contract thru 2008. So he worked for several months and then was fired, of course for no reason. Probst took his money and then fired him. To me sounds like another scam. Illegal!

By: sean

sean — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:24:54 +0000

I have an article on this on my website, if you are interested.

Feel free to post the link here, Michael. I’m sure these franchisees are interested in all the info they can get.

Unfortunately, some franchisors bestow an extensive learning experience upon their franchisees that are not mentioned in the marketing materials. You will learn a lot from the experience, just not the lessons you had hoped for.

By: Michael Webster

Michael Webster — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:18:16 +0000

Sean, as you know the franchisor’s contractual obligations in 98% of all franchise agreements are: we will help you open your store, unless we are Quiznos and then we won’t do anything.

After that, all of the franchisor’s assistance is discretionary – meaning at law they can pretty well do any god damn thing they want.

(Why on earth nobody explains this to a franchisee is another matter.)

As for getting the fee back, it would depend upon the franchise agreement. Was it earned immediately?

One good avenue to explore would be whether the state required them, or would have required them, to put up a bond for franchisor performance.

I have an article on this on my website, if you are interested.

By: sean

sean — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:05:22 +0000

I also think it’s probably less cruel to a child to leave him in the car than to subject him to the inside of WAL-MART. I know I’d rather be left in a hot car for an hour than to wait in one of those scary lines.