POSTNET Franchise Complaints

12 thoughts on “POSTNET Franchise Complaints”

• Sorry for the Test, I didn’t want to write a magnum opus with no shot at getting it displayed.

  I am a former PostNet Owner and was a controversial one for them at that. Im all for revealing truths and all, so here it goes. Unlike many franchise horror stories, I dont think Postnet suffers from a predatory franchisor who ultimately ruins the success of the franchisee. The real problem that they wont tell you (and how could they?) is that the mail store industry itself is dying.

  I got in at the first of the millennium and out halfway through the decade. In that time I saw the rise of the UPS Store and the rise of FedEx. PostNet did not sugar coat those events, but kept us informed and saw them as “challenges” rather than huge threats. I saw it differently. They wanted to move the franchise toward a printing/copying direction and away from shipping. All well and good, but its like trying to convert a car into an airplane. You can do it, but it will be expensive and more than likely will not be as good as an airplane. Now this shows me that they knew the writing was on the wall, but at least they are trying to move the franchise ahead of the wrecking ball. However I think the ultimate axe is out there and its coming soon.

  As a mail store owner you are the ultimate middleman. You are selling postage for all the carriers and pretty much everything in the store at a markup. The typical line of a diehard is “you dont go into the grocery store and ask what thier markup is”. True enough, but on a shipment or a stamp, it matters more, and the customers WILL ask. With the rise of the internet the effort it takes to check shipping rates has gone to nothing. Back in my days there werrent Iphones, but nowadays the customer can check an app and question your prices instantly. They tell you those cost-conscious customers are not your target customer, but then who is? The 1%? Sure wasnt anyone who threw Benjamins on my table and said keep the change. The packaging can work, but its not every day youll get someone willing to pay top dollar to ship a moose head.

  Ok so shipping is dying, you move into printing. Look up the number of local printers and know that all of them probably have most of the area’s big printing locked up. If youre quite the salesman you might get some business, but youll be doing it with whatever itty bitty copiers your store package got you into and they have presses. What does that mean? More machine purchases. More leases or costs to make up for. And as the people at home gain cheaper technology they will need you less. Its like an arms race.

  If you want to see more of PostNet, the CEO, Steve Greenbaum took his franchise to Undercover Boss and did an episode. While you know all reality TV is scripted, I didnt see anything unrealistic on that show. Ive met Steve a number of times while I had the franchise at conventions and he really is that nice and Friendly. Hes got a ton of experience in the industry, and has hit the big time on the Franchisor councils and whatnot. Hes clearly made a ton of money at this, but I dont really think its all on the backs of the franchisees as much as the other horror stories I hear. Its costly to get in, but nothing a mortgaged house cant get you in. The problems the franchisees faced were real issues, but I dont think there is much he could do to solve it. Nice of him to open his wallet to them, but its not going to save them. It was really just a way to get the postnet brand out there, and not a bad try at all.

  Really, its not the franchise as much as its the industry. You might as well be a blockbuster watching the redboxes spring up everywhere. The successful store owners in my opinion would be successful at anything and really are limiting thier upside potential in the industry. If you can sell ice to eskimos and would enjoy packing boxes and printing and you dont open your store in a non rich neighborhood you might do ok, as in make an average upper middle class paycheck. I get that now and dont have to worry about paying a landlord and the utility bill of where I work.

  Overall I would never buy any franchise at all. Youre paying for a job with NO GUARANTEES OF SUCCESS OR A PAYCHECK AT ALL. Id just like to say that I dont think the franchisor in this case is all that bad, but its a buggy whip maker whos watching the model T’s go by and they think the business will continue. However I do believe they have some good intentions, but after all, they are in the business of selling franchises, are they gonna talk you out of it?

  Lastly, this franchise has some decent overseas penetration, so they can pump up thier store numbers to 500 or 800 or some such number. Pay attention to the USA store numbers.

• I am making this post on behalf of Post Net Round Rock 214. Marietta Smith has owned this franchise for at least 3 years now. However, during that time she has not turned a profit. Marietta is in a good location, has great staff, and goes out of her way to make her customers happy. She offered services that would not ordinarily be available to her customers, graphics design, and notification of mail on hand, drop shipping of packages over the phone, and free training classes on graphics design.

  Marietta is a saint, she has been through a lot, the first year of her business I understand that her son, who was helping her in the shop was sick and needed a kidney transplant. Within the first year, her son died and she was not able to take time off to grieve for him, because she had to run the store. Marietta invested all of her savings into this business.

  Also during that time, Marietta helped several family members, and employed one other family member there while she came to Austin and worked for Marietta for short period of time. Unfortunately, this family member had a stroke and could not longer work. Marietta tried her best to care for her and sitll run the PostNet and take care of her son, but it was too much for her.

  Marietta announced almost 6 months ago that she was going to have to sell the franchise. It was not until recently that she found a buyer. The buyer was very difficult and made all types of demands on Marietta to make changes to the shop that they wanted. They also refused to pay her employees or the box rental that was due. In addition, PostNet itself would not allow the franchise to be sold until it was put in the state it was requred by the franchise contract. That cost Marietta approximately $5,000 to come up to standard required to sell.

  On the date the sale was supposed to take place, the buyers were still making outlandis demands on Marietta and were inconsistently approaching her about different matters one at a time. Then she got a call from the buyer’s lawyers, who stated that the sale was off. the buyers did not give her the courtesy of letting her know before she spent all that money.

  I was just recently made aware that Marietta has only got until 6/30/14 to sell the property. She is still subject to $1,000s more for box rentals due and equipment leases if she does not sell the property on time. If anyone is willing to help her or knows of any recourse she can reference to get relief in this situation please contact me at or contact the Round Rock TX Post Net #214. And may God bless you for anything you can do.

• This is not a business or a franchise for the weak of heart. If you have little or no sales or business background and expect that on day one the people will be waiting for you to open up and the cash starts flowing then you’re in for a very sorry surprise. Looking at the door waiting for people to come in will never get you anywhere. Thats not how it works with any small business and most certainly will not see you to quick prosperity with Postnet. Exceptions? Perhaps. Postnet locations are posted on their website. Call the owners and talk. Most will talk freely about their experiences.

  We bought our franchise and kept it going on its wobbly two legs for ten years, finally selling it in 2014 to another Postnet franchisee in the area. If you expect to buy this franchise and later sell it at some preconceived profit, you’re likely doing it all wrong. You lay out a giant wad of cash up front of course but your chances of recouping that are not likely to appear soon. You will continue to lay out more money after opening day. Positive cash flow is on the horizon but it takes a good long while to get there. Thats just the way it is to start a business and keep it right side up until it starts paying its own bills full time without your help. As with any franchise you pay a royalty and advertising percentage each month, paid off the top gross dollar. You can have 20 thousand in sales at a negative profit margin but you still gotta pay..Its just like another tax. Speaking of which, if you live in a high biz tax state, think long and hard about what it will cost you each month just to pay those bills along with the franchise obligations. Do your homework. Postnet actually requires you do that before you have a second sit-down with their sales department.

  Postnet is one of those company’s that keeps trying to grow up and be a big shot but simply gets in its own way. Corporate personnel turnover in the franchise support and marketing areas as an example are frequent. Job titles are like nuts under a cup. Always shifting. Promotional ideas are brought to the table by committee involvement with several franchise locations then suddenly disappear. A new person comes aboard and you start over. Employees there seem to leave out of frustration.
  The company has tried over the years to disconnect itself from the shipping industry and at the same time, emerge as a prominent printing source for business and walk ups alike. Its tried.
  The competition in the print and graphics sector has become loaded with low ball pricing and services and features that Postnet simply was late to the marketplace with or may not have at all. The internet boom in the printing industry has hurt, and hurt badly small operations like Postnet. It all comes down to who’s cheapest. Free this and that gets you nowhere but to bankruptcy when you’re this small. The shipping industry as a retail outlet continues to shrink each year and the margins in that are slim at best.

  One may ask how we survived 10 years under these conditions. Easy. We serviced the hell out of our customers, hit the streets talking with business customers, securing commercial accounts and working the walkups for anything beyond buying a stamp or running a copy.. Sell Sell Sell. Face to face, not with flyers or an ad in the local newsopaper. We did that too but it wasnt where the sales came from.. A Its not easy to do. Social ques and personality were a requirement of anyone we hired. No drones or pissed off surly teenagers allowed. We paid them as much as we could and then some. No cheapo employees. You’ll get what you pay for otherwise. You have to make a Postnet an addiction to your customers, not just a place with cool machines that’s conveniently next to a grocery store.
  Sales cannot be taught. Its an acquired taste.

  The President/CEO Steve Greenbaum is much like you may have seen him on TV on Undercover Boss.
  He is an on-site, committed person to his company and its goals. He actually works there. Everyday from what I could tell. Very nice, mostly down to earth type. I had spoken with him at length on more than one occasion and found his resolve to never waiver. He’s in it to win it.
  His second in command and right arm if you will, Brian Spindell is equally dedicated but has a somewhat short attention span and has a “push it on through” mentality when confronting issues and problems. He’s a front man for selling the company and if you’re an experienced salesperson you’ll pick up right away that you have to separate the bullshit from the reality. Does he lie? No. Just embellishes the truth a bit.

  Postnet craves constant, credible leadership. At the time we left, it was a somewhat disjointed affair with many battle plans and haphazard execution within its own corporate walls, much blame going to the turnover problem. Its trying to catch up, but it seems to be doing it on the cheap.

  Will it work for you? It could but do your homework locally first and do it all. The Postnet presentation is just that, a presentation. Take what they tell you and research research research. Like any business venture, especially a franchise don’t get all excited and quick jump into it. Talk to other Postnet locations if there are any nearby. Also have money, and lots of it ready to go. There’s so much more to being a small business owner than “Being Your Own Boss”.

• Hello Rex. Thank you for you clear and insightful review of PostNet. I am/was seriously considering buying an existing PostNet that is not doing too well, as I have very heavy graphic arts background. I figured this would be a good fit for me. I have seen the TV show. I have spoken to Steve. They sell their product with professionalism. But, I am having a very difficult time figuring out if there really is any money to be made at this. I would love to chat with you.

• Michael –

  If a nice guy like Steve Greenbaum sells you a failing PostNet and you lose all your money is Steve still a nice guy?

• Michael, feel free to contact me on email address provided and we can go from there if you like.
  Hancock, as far as your comment is concerned, I did not find Steve to be a crook or scam artist. I’ve encountered those during my lengthy business career and I avoid them, sometimes too late. Postnet’s largest failing is execution at the corporate level. Sorry for the sports metaphor, but its like a coach taking too many time outs on the field and then running out of times outs.

• LIBERTY TAXES took my money for a fast 21 day return and it has been 30 days and I still haven’t gotten them back yet and now I find out it will be another 6-8 weeks because of the identity theft I had last year which they didn’t tell me I would have to wait as when I contacted the irs 2 days ago I was told that that is the time frame I would have to wait for the next 6 years so I feel that Liberty taxes in davenport misreprensented themselves to me and took my money for nothing also if i had known this I would have filed them regular and saved myself the 330 fee for nothing I hope anyone out there reads this and stays away from LIBERTY TAXES in DAVENPORT IOWA

• Hancock…yes is the answer. If you fail and lose all your money, it isn’t Steve’s fault, it’s likely your fault. Just like in life, you get out of this business what you put into it. All of the descriptions here are pretty accurate and consistent in the advice…research, research, research. I know a lot about this system, it does work. The business world is changing on all levels, so being able to change with it is no different in Postnet as in any other franchise. Happy to answer any questions you, or anyone else, might have.

• PLEASE TEACH YOUR FRANCHISE DEALER IN MALMESBURY, WCAPE, CODE OF CONDUCT…HE DOES NOT RESPECT CUSTOMERS RIGHT OF PRIVACY, HE MAKES NEG COMMENTS!

• PLEASE REMIND PIERRE/FRANCHISE DEALER IN MALMESBURY,WCAPE CODE OF CONDUCT.

• Facts of the matter:
  —CEO & cofounder Steve Greenbauem is OUT of Postnet as of approx 5/2017.
  —He SOLD the entire Postnet company to a company called MBE Global in Italy.
  —Apparently, he got so little money from the sale he had to immediately get a job at a medical services company across the country.
  —PostNet cofounder and president Brian Spindell was demoted from president to COO after Postnet sold themselves to MBE.
  —Then MBE Global turned around and bought the entire AlphaGraphics company, a full printing franchise.
  —So now MBE now runs two competing franchises in the USA (postnet & Alpha graphics.)
  —So now they are trying to find independent shipping and independent printing shops they can sell a franchise to and then convert them to either a postnet and alpha graphics franchises.

• On 6/6/19, it was announced at the PostNet annual franchiseee convention in Denver that current President and COO Bryan Spindle is resigning at the end of 2019. Bryan was the founder of Postnet. Bryan’s cofounder Steve Greenbaume resigned 2 years ago when he sold Postnet to MBE global because they apparently ran out of cash according to their financial statements.

  Bryan will join the (apparently new) Postnet board of directors after he resigns. The guy who replaces Bryan is their head franchise Sales Person, named Dale Myska. Dale has 15 years of sales and marketing experience, most recently with UPS (so that might imply he’s a shipping guy with “shipping roots” but not printing experience) and most folks in this industry say that “retail shipping” is dying or practically dead because of Amazon, just like Blockbuster Video Rental Stores and now RedBox DVD rentals is dying.

  The growth is in graphic design, printing, website design, social media management, not in retail shipping. That’s why Postnet’s parent company, MBE global, also bought Alphagraphics, a competing PRINT only franchise that is apparently doing really well. Not sure how long MBE global will have patience for the postnet franchise since they dropped from 450 stores to about 210 stores in less than 5 years.

  Dale Myska’s linkedin profile says that before his 13 years with UPS he was a used car salesman at Colorado Auto Auction. Literally true. #ResearchHARDBeforeBuying