Is Snappy Auctions a Great Franchise Opportunity?
April 20, 2007 by Sean Kelly
Filed under Business
While the largest, most celebrated eBay drop-off store franchise concept , iSold It, has closed 60 stores, suspended domestic franchise sales and warned it may be on the verge of collapse, its next-largest competitor remains upbeat and continues to promote its franchise program.
In a company press release, Snappy Auctions celebrates inclusion on the list that made iSold It famous:
Snappy Auctions has been listed in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list for the first time… With over 63 units open, Snappy Auctions ranked 309th in the survey, in only its 2nd full year of operation. The Nashville, Tenn. based franchise enables customers to make money off of items that are sold on eBay…
Snappy Auctions CEO Debby Gordon claims that Snappy Auctions is not suffering the same fate as competitor iSold It. In fact, snappy Auctions is doing phenomenally:
“We are poised for a phenomenal 2007, after an incredible 2006,” Gordon continued, “and this accolade is just the beginning.” In 2006, Snappy Auctions launched Snappy Sales Solutions, S3, which has contributed to its recent success. “S3 is yet another step toward our goal of changing the way businesses get value from retired equipment and inventory.”
Snappy Auction also boasts having been named one of Franchise Business Review’s Franchise 50, which honors franchise systems based on outstanding franchisee satisfaction through owner surveys and comments.
According to a Ina Steiner’s column on AuctionBytes.com, “Despite the challenges, Snappy Auctions CEO Debbie Gordon believes in the concept and says it’s all about execution.”
Can Snappy Auctions really be succeeding while iSold It, with much the same business model, is fighting for survival? Have they successfully overcome the challenges that eBay drop-off store critics contend make the concept unworkable? What do you think?
YOU’RE INVITED TO LEAVE A COMMENT ON WHETHER YOU THINK SNAPPY AUCTIONS IS A GREAT FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY.
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You pathetic losers! Whine whine whine. GET A LIFE!!! Oh and tell me where I can get one of those hankies to go with my Ginsu Power Facial blotter. After I ordered my Ginsu Power Facial blotter, I had a guy from Nigeria contact me about a check. WOW!!!! Now I can afford to open a Snappy Auctions store!!!!
Hahahahahahahaha HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA hAAAAAAA is he actually reading these posts or just having the odd verbal bowel movement??
Corporate Guide to Obtaining Wealth Hankie:-
1. Go to Franchisepick and click on the link thoughtfully provided by Sean.
2. Er…that’s it.
I agree with R. 2d2 — STOP WHINING! Whine – Whine – Whine. I just about rolled on the floor laughing.
Don’t take my likeness you pathetic swine. Go find other people to make fun of! These people are MINE!
Remember…. the burden of proof lies with the accuser — not the the accused. Owner’s needn’t post their magic numbers.
It’s all so funny and fun — like an online playground.
:-)
RupertG
Remember…. the burden of proof lies with the accuser — not the the accused. Owner’s needn’t post their magic numbers. It’s all so funny and fun — like an online playground.
RupertG
All too funny is right. This thread and the entire site is all too funny and really lacks any creditability which makes it even funnier to read.
This group of people really think owners and franchisors are going to post their numbers. Well that thought will keep them busy as they wait and wait and wait and the thread goes on and on.
I wonder if this little group of people can hold out for say maybe 1,000 posts on the same topic and yet still no replies from the accused. That could be some kind of record.
RupertG, you just don’t get it do you son? We’ve already proven the position that it doesn’t work. We’ve provided the numbers for the stores and guess what? They stink link 3 day old potato salad that’s been left outa the fridge. We’re waiting for you (i.e. Snappy) to do somethng, anything to prove us wrong and I don’t think you’re up to the task.
You aren’t the sharpest knife in the drawer are you son? You see, R. 2d2 was being what we call sarcastic. He was making fun of you and while I don’t think it’s very nice to make fun of peope like that, you just showed us again that you just don’t get it.
I’ll call your Uncle and he’ll make sure you take your meds. It’s time for you to go to your happy place.
Some people never get it, they are the same people still dumping money into their stores believing they know more than the 200+ store owners that have closed. Darwinism at its best!
I’ll take two of those hankies!
RupertG, R. etc…..you just keep on being condescending and snide. The more you keep coming back, the more visible this forum is. Just keep on racking up the visits and Google will just keep moving this site up the list.
Our goal is to educate and we appreciate your help!
Sales data ending March 5
31,084
14,784
22,590
17,198
19,670
4,543
5,709
45,737
9,001
12,639
9,952
7,307
8,098
4,154
11,713
20,447
14,196
10,545
12,920
8,139
7,298
21,739
32,701
33,198
6,499
14,503
7,536
6,764
13,737
62,263
22,748
7,485
36,233
4,145
4,695
7,182
23,657
13,480
20
37,172
16,093
7,181
34,670
6,367
14,841
April
21,815
18,627
20,518
12,339
10,449
3,814
31,470
6,902
15,099
11,258
11,789
12,298
7,080
13,375
11,781
26,435
7,846
25,356
4,439
10,295
22,029
22,369
19,266
2,588
8,236
15,353
6,584
4,459
11,783
46,974
22,748
10,158
27,835
4,571
1,924
11,160
21,442
12,651
1,238
34,570
28,853
5,392
22,957
6,010
14,841
May
38,152
6,887
5,323
32,520
10,616
4,458
48,675
11,231
12,194
12,533
6,059
9,167
9,819
7,181
16,662
11,430
9,447
57,616
33,059
5,138
10,868
6,591
19,434
18,895
11,476
22,278
16,045
7,713
3,574
8,990
37,099
11,170
11,643
23,056
4,216
218
8,103
21,561
21,632
4,274
45,354
10,843
16,367
20,505
10,220
14,583
Want more IBwaiten?
There’s your proof RupertG.
I’ve had enough of you both!
What is the matter with you people! Just leave me alone!! I don’t want to hear anymore about reality and, and how the stores are sinking into debt. You people are just mean. Snappy is nice. They talk to me in my head. They say “if you build a store they will come” and I believe them. Forget your numbers and testimonials and supportable data.
Can’t we all just get along!!!!
Oh…I have to go. Snappy is in my head telling me to spend more on advertising and get my cost per item up to millions and millions!!! IT CAN WORK. I KNOW IT CAN.
It’s all so funny and fun — like an online playground.
Snappy Snappy send me your answer do. I’m half crazy all for the love of you. I don’t need the facts or truth. I’ll go set up a booth. But you’ll look cool, even dripping drool, in a Snappy store sold by fools.
Don’t take my likeness you pathetic swine. Go find other people to make fun of! These people are MINE!
Time to go play Dungeons and Dragons.
So, Tim, what is your Snappy contact telling you about what’s going on in the Snappy world? Someone above said 2 more stores closed and I can’t wait to learn about the damage control going on at Snappy HQ!
R. what say you?
Tim their is no proof that this turnkey business works, so they must make excuses to hide the real facts. And IBwaiten, there ain’t no magic in the numbers when the concept doesn’t work!
Do any of those green hankies say “iSold it” on them? If so, forget my order for two.
So Tim, what do your Snappy insider contacts say Snappy is up to these days?
I’m sure they are still in full damage control.
k flat broke tim…. where’s your store?
IBwaitin: You go girl!
Reverend Joe: I ain’t your son, I ain’t got your DNA, the name is RupertG… you’re not Darth Vader and Im not Attikan Sky Walker.
–
Just curious — why didn’t owners do research prior to getting involved. If the model is SO FLAWED, SO BAD and SO OBVIOUS that it doesn’t work, then why did owners open the store? You cannot completely blame the franchiser. Everyone should do their research before buying into any type of business. Whether a franchise or an MLM/Network Marketing scheme such as Mary Kay or Tupperware — you don’t do research after you give the franchiser or MLM company the money. That’s just dumb.
I’m not going to open an Ice-cube selling franchise in the middle of an Eskimo town, even if the CEO of a franchise told me that it would be the best place to open one. I wouldn’t put a Ferrari Dealership in Cuba even if Castro told me he thought everyone would buy won. And I wouldn’t open a Hot Soup stand on the beach in Miami — even if it featured Campbell’s Select. Because none of those concepts work.
All you all keep proving is the lack of research that you (and franchisees) failed to do before opening the business.
:-)
Hope all is well,
RupertG
R2D2 – Standard damage control, don’t know anything new, haven’t seen hide nor hair from anyone in the South. What about yourself? What do you know?
RupertG
tim needs to be Tim, and everyone will buy won, needs to be “one”. You uneducated twit.
My store is right there on the list. I can see it, you can’t? Everyone’s store is right there on the list. Store id’s were removed for the simple fact I prefer not to put people in what could be a compromising situation without their consent.
im soe sorrie that my unedumucated English is two bahd four yous to reed. I dont yousulally edet mi posts on a topick that is stoopid in and of itself two begun with.
Thanks,
The twit that keeps on twitching!
Oh and Mister Timmy you’re right about not revealing the ID numbers because you’re the only one who knows how to use terapeak.com.
May I ask why, if it is so stupid, you are still here reading and posting?
On a side note, who is interested in possible legal action? I’ll put up the first $5,000 to get going. I have an attorney that is very interested after listening to recorded phone calls (recorded within laws of this state), documents (UFOC) and interviews with a couple past/present.
RupertG
Where’s you store? What state? Do you own one? Where is your “friends” store?
I keep posting because it is very entertaining to look at y’allz responses.
Above comment should read, past (lots of these) and present owners.
Meow!
Sorry Sean – But it’s a while since I did a long one!
Rupert – (and over here ‘Rupert’s’ are particularly dim kinds of junior army officers in the infantry, all Sandhurst – no brain) this has all been covered before on this page, the iSold It page and the Auctioning4u page, but I’ll try to explain as I’m ex-corporate, while the others are mostly ex franchisee, meaning Indeed; I have less excuse for my actions than others!
Even now with some independents failing as fast as franchises, I still believe in the ‘concept’. My backgrownd was in collectables, I could see people making money selling on eBay – not the odd item (the original idea) but serious selling, I could see business in general leaving the high street and turning to the internet, I could see the swap-meets and shows getting slow – and while they have recovered somewhat, the behavior of door/gate customers has changed forever – due to eBay/the internet – and I could see dozens of charity/thrift stores on every high street in the UK.
It didn’t take the brains of an Archbishop to draw conclusions along the lines of…Lots of stuff in peoples houses the owners don’t want, lots of people round the world who may want them, ebay to bring the two together and ergo; potential for a chain of – what became known as – drop-shops.
Then when Christian Braun of Auctioning4u ‘a friend’ offers me a job with what appears to be real prospects, claiming a massive pay rise will be mine in 6 months, staff, purchasing budgets and other stuff I’ve never dreamed of, I think YES! we’re gonna set the world on fire!
Little by little it becomes obvious that the thing aint gonna work, that ‘The Man’ is only interested in building a paper company, in the hope he will get a big fat offer for it (such irony, he ended up paying too much? for the sales leads of a company he hoped would make HIM an offer!), that he couldn’t give a shit for his staff, even those who put the most in (”I don’t care about *** if she doesn’t like it she can leave”), that he will pile lie on lie, and spend a whole meeting whittering-on about some dumb-arsed idea for an interactive catalogue that’s never going to work, when I want to know why…well…all sorts of why’s!!
Then when he fires me for finally asking a few whys, the penny’s drop from my eyes and I begin to see things in the cold light of day. Not that I couldn’t before, but I needed to keep believing. It’s all human nature, nothing to be ashamed of, we all seek the best for ourselves, we are all susceptible to smooth-talking cloud-merchants, even cynical realists like me!
But now we are free to see the truth, we wish to make sure as many others as possible see it to. So they aren’t F***ed by corporate, crippled by a failed concept or bankrupted by amoral, immoral lying shits like CB (my own personal opinion of course!)
It was – on the part of one or two people in each company – a dot-con (thanks Amitheonlyone!), a calculated attempt to make money with something ‘they’ knew would not work in the long term or on a large scale. Personal risk was kept to a minimum by these individuals, and the risk was passed to investors, angels, VC’s, and franchisees.
DeLorean knew what he was doing, but the British and Irish Governments, and all the car workers in that multi-million quid plant were taken in – management down to cleaners. If Mrs. Thatcher – of all people – can be taken in, what chance you or I, it’s the same people doing the same shit now, just different scam, different decade.
More – In reverse order; Sub-prime mortgages, Enron, Bophal, Rutile plants in Sierra Leone, Nixon, Agent Orange, Thalidomide…….some of many;’The Man’ will always stick it to the little guy, or girl. If you don’t like what we’re saying here, frankly;
piss off! Cos we’re gonna keep saying it.
Missed some post’s writing that lot, as Rupert seems to have degenerated into a childish schoolgirl in the meantime maybe I needn’t have bothered. I was trying to treat him as a grown-up, guess I’m still gullible!!
They say you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, what you’d make out of a boar’s arse is anyone’s guess, but if Rupert pop’s round I’ll get my tools out and see if I can’t fashion a liner for a latrine.
Rupert, I am curious how well your store is doing, you did state “Snappy Auctions has proven to work in our situation.” indicating that you own a Snappy store. So if your store is doing so well in its “location, location, location”, I would think you might be proud enough to back your claims. It would be great advertising, if there were some successful stores. Unfortunately I don’t believe you are successful, and the fact that many of us are right – really bothers you!
Hey Hugh, put me down for two red hankies, I have a magician in the family. He has a better chance of producing those “magic numbers” than any store has!
You might as vell give up with R. or Rupert or whatefer. Zey are not interested in discussion or debate. Zees person is here to harrass and build up their low self esteem. Zo far they have demonstrated a lack of higher thinking and a propensity to act like a pre-pubescent anti-zocial or what we call undt idiot. Any adult who has worked vith troubled teens can see right through this: a textbook case of moronicus acneiss dumfart.
Plain and zimple. Their efforts are focused on one zing: to feed off your life experiences. Zey cannot provide any useful feedback and to try to make zemselfs look smart in a punkish immature way. Zey don’t read the posts for discussion or facts, they just say the same things over and over again, mock and never address the core issues. Remember R.’s continous legal questions? A clazzic zymptom.
Wiss zat in mind, I say we just ignore zem. I say we put up a sign that says “Don’t feed the morons” undt wait for someone wiss real experience to enter zee discussion.
Plees pay my rezeptionist on zee vay out and ask Uncle Joe to take R. home.
Well Chance, red is off, I was going to produce Pink ones for Auctioning4u, and green ones for iSold It, then I figured a nice gingham-check of the two colours would keep my overheads down!
However, with Snappy being so colour-greedy in their logo, it’ll have to be a tartan ‘fruitful drop-shop hankie’. Of course it needs to be blanket sized to ensure full bountifulness!
Hugh, you’re so British.
Hmmmm…I smell a rat. Or should I say an Adrienne. That last “meow” comment gave her away. I heard her say that on several occasions.
So here’s the equation:
RupertG=R.=J. torse=Adrienne (from corporate)
The “meow” comment. the obsession with legal action, the blame game on franchisors for not doing their research, etc.
It all fits. It’s Adrienne from corporate.
I’ll take that as the compliment you didn’t intend it to be.
It was a compliment completely, you used the word bountiful! ;)
Who cares who R. is? Let her blog away and keep this forum high up in ratings for Google. I don’t think most people will read past 200 or so and that’s enough to get the message across and R. becomes a non-factor.
So R., blog away!
I agree. Let her rant on.
Tim has shown the numbers over and over and they don’t look good. We have told the stores time and time again to get out while they can. Stores, please visit http://www.amitheonlyone.org to learn more about how to take next steps. I know they have helped a lot of people at no charge and in the face of threats from the franchisors. If the franchisors hate them, they must be good at helping stores.
Someone asked me the other day why more iSold It stores had closed then Snappy stores. My reply was that iSold It started (mid 2003) before Snappy (mid-late 2004) so their stores were older and their start up costs were much higher so stores ran out of money faster. Also, iSold It stores peaked out at around 160 and Snappy peaked out in the low 60s. Still, iSold It has an attrition rate of over 40% while Snappy is still hovering at 30%. I’m pretty sure Snappy will catch up soon.
As for Snappy stores, you can get out. It will be painful, but the pain of change will be less than the pain of staying the same. Just ask the folks at amitheonlyone.org or anyone they have helped.
30,396
31,512 3 Stores one ID (A)
10,631
Closed Stores (3)
22,370
2,969
3,855
14,562
9,337 Recycled Belleview, TN ID
Closed Store
Closed Store
Closed Store
10,197
Closed Stores (2)
Closed Store
Closed Store
2,812
Closed Store
6,258
6,957
Closed Store
10,732
8,089
A
5,388 2 Stores one ID (D)
D
Closed Store
14,169
Closed Store
Closed Store
13,118
11,664
Closed Store
Closed Store
Closed Stores (2)
14,725
7,395
16,160 PU only
33,365
Closed Store
22,757
A PU Only
Closed Store
8,324
23,358 2 Stores one ID (C)
21,381
Closed Store
Closed Store
5,388
22,370
1,390 ?
4,744
0 PU only
41,213
16,093
Closed Store
17,598 2 Stores one ID (B)
B
Closed Store
Closed Store
Closed Store
Closed Store
15,240
6,451
Closed Store
3,792
6,932
4,478
9,725
14,539
14,008
9,313
Closed Store
3,829
13,129
12,748
16,210
C
Closed Store
Closed Store
Closed Store
This is a big picture view of the state of snappy. Sales numbers are for September 07. Closed stores are included for reference.
Anyone have a UFOC? Numbers seem to match?
Wow. It’s worse than I thought. How do you know which stores are closed?
The UFOC only has to be updated once a quarter and even then, the official close date for a store can be, um, estimated. So take that as you will.
But help me out here. According to Snappy press releases there were over 100 franchises sold:
Debbie Gordon is founder and CEO of Snappy Auctions, a Nashville-based franchisor of eBay consignment centers. With over one hundred franchises sold in twenty-five states, Gordon has grown Snappy Auctions from a simple idea to a nationally recognized franchise concept.
http://www.eventuring.org/eShip/appmanager/eVenturing/eVenturingDesktop?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=eShip_aboutTheAuthor&_nfls=false&id=Profiles/Profile_292.htm
But according to their past UFOC’s there was only ever 64-65 stores opened. What happened to the other 35???
Oh and this story says they are down to 50:
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070917/BUSINESS08/709170378/1051
So if we look at these numbers, Snappy has gone from 100 to 50 stores. Impressive!!
Thanks Been There & Tim. Here is how those numbers happen…The franchisor sells you one store to open now, and three more (or five) in your supposedly protected territory. They then take payment on ALL. This allows them to say they have “sold” -lets say 5 stores, yet only opened ONE (with the 4 others never to open). So they can put out the word in the press that they opened 900 stores (as isoldit boosted), when in actuallity they only opend around 270. Now LESS THAN 140 of those ISI stores are still open. Pretty bad odds. As for Snappy and Quikdrop, attrition rates are just as bad, they just had less open stores to begin with. Ass for the UFOC, most of the time, they are not accurate, and haven’t been. By the time they update the stats (and forget a few-opps!) more have closed. Am I The Only one is talking to about two new stores a week who want to close, yes it is that bad! NuMarkets completely dried up and died, and so have a few other smaller entities. Death by franchise has said, it is all about running out of money, and it is! The strongest suggestion is for stores NOT to wait until they have dumped every dime into these money pits, but to close now, and use what they have left to settle, negotiate, and sue (if necessary), any and all accounts. There is good advice online and others who have been there, are willing to help anyone trying to figure this out. Despite what R or Rupert feel, there are alot of great people (including the posters here) that are willing to help, and they have been there!
Well, we all know Al Gore invented the internet. Now we all know Debbie Gordon invented the eBay drop off store concept:
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070917/BUSINESS08/709170378/1051
“Snappy Sales LLC has also been alert for new opportunities. The company has grown exponentially since founder Debbie Gordon came up with the idea behind it while pursuing her hobby of selling shoes on eBay. With a background in software development, Gordon knew she could improve the process.”
Next you’ll tell me the earth is flat and Elvis is alive. BOY! I need to get out more!
Sean may hate the personal nature of this so ‘no names no pack drill’!!
I’ve just read one of the links above, and seen a picture of one of the people under discussion somewhereabouts one of these pages, and I have to say she looks like Britney’s older, cake-stuffing sister, are they perchance related, I think we should be told!
Call me Tim aka Flat Broke:
I count 33 Closed Snappy Auctions locations, correct?
Are all the closed stores on your list reflected on the Franchise Graveyard list?
http://www.franchisepick.com/franchise-graveyard-ebay-dropoff-stores
OK, I’m not a math professor, but when does 33 stores closed = “grown exponentially “???
And when does average sales of $10-12K a month = “grown exponentially”???
I’m going to sell a certain bridge to the press, because they’ll buy anything.
OK, I want out. What do I do next? I don’t think my store will survive and my numbers fall in the upper range of numbers mentioned in these postings. I can’t afford this anymore and need to find another way to make a living.
What do I do and how do I keep Snappy Auctions LLC from suing me?
I’m BAAAAAACK!
When someone sent this to me, I couldn’t resist:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/isoldit/315406-0.html
Seems iSold-It is not selling new franchises any more. They’ve fessed up and seem to be acting like responsible corporate citizens. However, Snappy is still selling franchises (with 12 employees. Didn’t they cut 5-6 employees?)
http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/snappyauctions/315758-0.html
How long will it take for Snappy’s ego to yield to good corporate responsibility and stop the madness? At least Entrepreneur magazine has downgraded them:
Franchise 500® rank:
#309 (2007);
Here’s another Snappy fun fact from Entrepreneur magazine about Snappy:
80% of all franchisees own more than one unit
TRANSLATION: 80% of all franchisees had options to own more than one unit.
But nice to see the published for total ‘held’ Franchises is down 4, which may start to raise eyebrows??
Strange. Not a word from R. Is it because she’s been outed?
Anyway, Strapped & want out, I have a suggestion for you. Contact the people at:
http://www.amitheonlyone.org
as stated in this post:
http://www.franchisepick.com/is-snappy-auctions-a-great-franchise-opportunity#comment-12542
they are helping about 2 eBay drop off stores a week. Since iSold-It is no longer selling new frachises and has all but admitted the model does not work in most cases, I can only guess that Snappy is going to react more negatively than iSold-It. Just contact the people at the site listed above. They can and will help. Oh and by the way, Snappy HATES them, so they must be doing something good…. ;-)