If ever there were a group in need of an economic bailout, it would be the hundreds of victims of the most blatant franchise scam in recent history:  Cuppy’s Coffee.  Just in case any government official or agency cares (why start now?), there are three distinct groups of victims struggling to recover from their own financial Katrinas:
Cuppy’s Coffee “Depositers”:  As many as 100 or more individuals paid upfront construction deposits ranging from $29,500 to more than $100,000 that were to be returned if they failed to find a location or secure financing for the project;  however, when they requested their …read more

(FranchisePick.Com)
Cuppy’s Coffee Franchise, Elite Manufacturing, Medina Complaints
Cuppy’s Coffee’s AAFD Award for “Fair Franchising”
CUPPY’S COFFEE, Java Jo’z, Elite Manufacturing, Medina Blogliography
Seems like only 7 months or so ago that Cuppy’s Coffee parent Medina Enterprises was joyfully announcing the appointment of Don Ochsenreiter Executive VP and CFO. It seems like just 7 months ago that Ochsenreiter was excited about all that Medina had accomplished, all it was going to accomplish, and its contribution to the local business economy.
A lot sure can change in 7 months.
In that amount of time, Medina was purchased by Dale Nabors’ Fransynergy, Ochsenreiter was reportedly let go, …read more

Franchising’s Worst-Case Scenarios:
Unhappy Franchisee: Franchising rumors, rants, controversies, issues, complaints & insider information you’re not supposed to know.
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Self-Proclaimed Fairness Advocacy Group Quietly Takes its Ball and Goes Home.
What does it take to for a franchisor to lose its “fair franchising” accreditation with the American Association of Franchisees & Dealers (AAFD )*?
Outcries from dozens of franchisees claiming they were defrauded out of their life savings? No, that’s OK….
Allegations that current franchisees were paid to tell prospective franchisees they were happy? No big deal…
What about a public acknowledgement from the company Prez that they violated AAFD standards? No …read more

CUPPY’S RELOCATION LETTER – DALE NABORS
The embattled and controversial Cuppy’s Coffee franchise headquarters will be relocated from Fort Walton Beach, FL 350 miles north to Muscle Shoals, AL, home of its new parent company, FranSynergy.
The remaining staff of the Cuppy’s Coffee home office received the news in a letter from Dale “Believe & Succeed” Nabors who wrote:
“You may have heard we’ve been cleaning house;  now we’re moving the house.  After three months of evaluation, the Cuppy’s management team and I have determined that it is in the best interest, for the future success of our franchisees and the company, to …read more

What’s the fuss about Cuppy’s Coffee? This’ll get you up to speed: CUPPY’S COFFEE, Java Jo’z, Elite Manufacturing, Medina Blogliography
Cuppy’s Coffee franchisees: Enough is enough! There’s been a lot of whining and snivelling around here lately from Cuppy’s Coffee franchisees (or “depositers” as we call them. Or “Involuntary Investors”).
I paid Cuppy’s Coffee $30,000 and they won’t give it back! and I took a home equity loan to give $39,500 for a Cuppy’s Coffee franchise and they won’t give it back! and even I made a $52,000 deposit for a Cuppy’s franchise and they won’t …read more

Supreme Building Technologies filed suit against Elite Manufacturing, LLC alleging breach of contract and $1.7M in unpaid fees.
Dale Nabors and FranSynergy, the new owners of Cuppy’s coffee and affiliate Elite Manufacturing, have been served a big steaming cup of litigation.
July 3, 2008, Supreme Building Technologies, Inc. filed a lawsuit against Elite Manufacturing, LLC. for breach of contract, trade secret misappropriation and unfair competition. In short, SBT alleges that Elite has stiffed them for $1.7M in fees for inline construction of Cuppy’s Coffee stores, and fabrication of Cuppy’s coffee kiosks, carts and mobile units.
Additionally, SBT alleges that Elite Manufacturing …read more

And so another  bizarre twist to the madcap saga of Cuppy’s Coffee, Elite Manufacturing, FranSynergy, and all the people they owe money to… we present you the Supreme BuildingTechnologies lawsuit against Elite Manufacturing Inc.
Supreme Building Technologies Inc v. Elite Manufacturing Inc

Plaintiff:
Supreme Building Technologies Inc

Defendant:
Elite Manufacturing Inc

Case Number:
1:2008cv00163

Filed:
July 3, 2008

Court:
Indiana Northern District Court

Office:
Contract: Other Office [ Court Info ]

County:
Steuben

Presiding Judge:
Judge Joseph S Van Bokkelen

Referring Judge:
Magistrate Judge Roger B Cosbey

Nature of Suit:
Contract – Other Contract

Cause:
Diversity

Jurisdiction:
Diversity

Jury Demanded By:
28:1332 Diversity-Breach of Contract

Can a company really sue itself?
Can someone explain this to a simple marketing boy blogging from Amish Country?
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Are you …read more

Everybody’s good at something.  Seems that Cuppy’s Coffee has a talent for creating unhappy franchisees.  Yet another dissatisfied and frustrated franchise owner has reached the end of her rope.
UnhappyFranchisee.com has turned into a veritable shrine to the Cuppy’s Coffee’s and Elite Manufacturing’s amazing ability to piss people off who were once happy to give them their life savings, and more.
Read why Christy Shaw’s comment in which she calls the Cuppy’s Coffee franchise a “long expensive ride.”
I guess Christy Shaw did not follow Dale Nabors & Fransynerg’s motto “Believe & Succeed.”  I think she opted for “Get me my friggin’ coffee …read more