Comments on: Cuppy’s Coffee Responds to Franchise Allegations

By: CUPPY'S: Medina Gang Hawking San Gelato Franchises | Unhappy Franchisee

CUPPY'S: Medina Gang Hawking San Gelato Franchises | Unhappy Franchisee — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:01:02 +0000

[...] to the Elite Manufacturing scam, fondly recalls his dealings with DeMerchant & St. Clair in a comment on FranchisePick.com: Cuppy’s rep Rich DeMerchant put me on with Elite for a quikie that Elite would pay the franchise [...]

By: sean

sean — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:02:40 +0000

CUPPY’S COFFEE: Interview With Franchisee Rick Noem Rick Noem tells how he gave Cuppy's Coffee a deposit of $125,000 in March, 2008 shortly before Dale Nabors took over. He's been unable to get even workeable plans or his phone calls returned, much less construction. Meanwhile, he's gone broke paying $6000 a month rent and a $3000 monthly loan payment on a business that hasn't been built.

CUPPY’S COFFEE: List of Locations, Status Here's the location list from the Cuppy's website. I've started adding closed locations, and those who paid but never opened. Contribute additions or clarifications with a comment or by emailing unhappyfranchisee[at]gmail.com.

Cuppy’s Coffee Overview Here's a central page with links to Cuppy's Coffee franchisee interviews, stories, documents and information. Direct people here to get them up to speed on the Cuppy's Coffee story.

CUPPY’S COFFEE, Java Jo’z, Elite Manufacturing, Medina Blogliography Franchise Pick's links to Cuppy's Coffee, Elite Manufacturing, AAFD, & Java Jo'z related posts.

By: Charles

Charles — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:56:34 +0000

to confidential 2: It’s not much consulation, but know that by you explaining your situation you have helped many others with your story. I truely hope and pray that some how some way you become financially whole. Yes, something should be done against these scam artists. But what? Maybe the new owner, Nabors, can offer something if he is the real deal. I do think a TV report about this would do something. Maybe only warn others to beware, if nothing else. Elite is the Devil’s advocate, for sure.

By: confidential 2

confidential 2 — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:32:32 +0000

I, too am an unhappy, failing franchisee. It took 22 months to get open due to Java Jo’z/Cuppy’s failed relationships with first a real esatate search firm and then a construction management firm. We were told at the start we would be in business in six months. We, too, had the high pressure tactics thrown at us (no franchise fee, no royalties, free site search, etc. if we sign on that day). All costs were higher (some triple or more) than they projected,and revenue since opening was not even half of a half of a percent of traffic count. What a disappointment and nightmare. We closed our doors after 10 months to stop the bleeding and are suffering greatly financially. I don’t know what recourse we as franchisees who went all the way through the process have, but I do believe being vocal is our only avenue to finding any help out there. I think this story should be told over and over to every agency, publication, reporter, blog, etc. that will listen. Someone must be held accountable for leading so many people to financial ruin.

By: confidential

confidential — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 01:37:48 +0000

For all of you who are trying to get a refund from Elite Manufacturing, which they rightfully owe you, may I say something? You should thank your lucky stars that you were not able to open a Cuppy’s. Our problems began when we were ‘accepted’ by Cuppy’s, and we went through with opening a cafe. Elite Manufacturing cheated us out of much more than $35,000! I am an unhappy franchisee, wondering why I don’t see any postings from other unhappy franchisees. The only reason I can think of is, our franchise agreement seems to have us all hog-tied, unable to do anything about the mistreatment we received at Elite’s hands. But I am looking for a way for all of us to band together and get what is owed to us from Elite. Anybody feel like traveling to Florida for a little r&r? We could all pay a visit to Cuppy’s headquarters at the same time. Maybe walk around on the sidewalk with picket signs. I bet the media would stop and talk to us!

By: Charles

Charles — Fri, 30 May 2008 16:28:36 +0000

Response to Doug Hibbing. Do the right thing. Give the people back their money. You know what’s going on in Cuppy’s and Elite’s efforts to scam people. And if you don’t, you should. Cuppy’s rep Rich DeMerchant put me on with Elite for a quikie that Elite would pay the franchise fee, a one time offer I was told, if I got a deposit in to Elite within two weeks. Shame on me for believing that scam. Therisa St. Clair assured me my deposit would be safe in various ways. I requested the deposit to be put into escrow. My check indicated “escrow” account deposit. I was told by your NEW Director of African franchise affairs, Danny Jones, that, opps, we didn’t see it and it was spent on opperations. What? How? Why? Is Cuppy’s using franchisee’s deposits to finance their business? Seems so. I have written a letter of complaint to Robert Morgan at Elite in late November 2007. Did I get a reply, NO! Cuppy’s and Elite’s people are all using the same offices. When Danny Jones, supposedly of Elite, would call me, my phone ID showed he was calling from a Cuppy’s telephone number and office. When I asked Danny Jones why his calls came from a Cuppy’s office line, he said, oh I don’t know. I know and you know. If Cuppy’s wants credibility as an honest company they should assist consumers in getting their refunds back, immediately. No payments. Full refunds up front. Cuppy’s and Elite are taking money from hard working honest people fraudulently. DO THE RIGHT THING, GIVE US BACK OUR MONEY!

By: sean

sean — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:34:13 +0000

Did any of you ever hear of Supreme Building Technologies?
This is a “vendor” of Elite Mfgr in Angola, Indiana?
Check out:
http://www.ai.org/newsroom.htm?detailContent=146_12814.htm&backEnabled=true

By: Criston Menz

Criston Menz — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:46:16 +0000

It is apparent that you wish for Elite to take the fall for a scam that Medina heads up and that Cuppy’s has not packed in. I suspect you still must be getting franchise applications and submissions. If Cuppy’s was so willing to clear their name with the Roy Snowden incident by paying people back their franchise fees, why on earth would they not clear up the issue with Elite?

By: sean

sean — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 02:59:37 +0000

Cuppy’s Coffee franchisees and refund-seekers: email me in confidence at info[at]ideafarm.net.

By: jls

jls — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 02:50:43 +0000

Mr. Hibbing,
I appreciate your posting but it does not really help any of us with getting our money back. The question really is what are you going to do about it. Since we all lost our money because of an agreement we signed with you in the hopes of opening one of your franchises I think that Cuppy’s should be held accountable in some way. If Elite does not have the money then it only makes sense for Cuppy’s to assist in processing these refunds. You gave all of us no other option but to use Elite for our buildings so in my eyes this is your fault and your problem. You trying to put all the blame on Elite makes no sense to me and makes you look even worse. It would be nice to actually see you do something about it instead of just placing the blame somewhere else. Why don’t you just let us know when you can actually rectify this situation.