CUPPY’S COFFEE: Dale Nabors’ Private Conference Call

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Friday, October 3rd, Dale Nabors held short, invitation-only conference calls with two groups: unhappy Cuppy’s Coffee franchisees who have opened, and unhappy Cuppy’s Coffee franchisees who have not yet opened. There was no conference call for the third group: unhappy franchise depositers whose $35K – $100K+ refundable deposits Cuppy’s Coffee/Elite Manufacturing felt free to spend on other things.

Reportedly, Dale’s bold action plan includes actually talking to the franchisees whose financial futures are teetering on disaster. According to Jim: “The Cuppy’s corp office will be in touch early next week to begin scheduling calls.”

Of course, Dale reportedly blamed the “negative blogging,” in part, for the current situation (perhaps signaling a new Fransynergy motto: Believe, Shut your Pie Hole, and Succeed). Attendees immediately heeded his plea with negative blogging.

Jim writes:

It lasted about 15 mins. He said he felt like he failed particularly in the area of communication. (Really? nah…) He and the corporate team (team?) are going to work at responding to calls and emails on a more timely basis.
I think I heard that Dale said he is working with their banks and the franchisee banks to attempt to restore confidence in the brand. He requested a stoppage of negative blogging to give them some time to move past where we are today.
He hopes to announce that the SBT suit is resolved sometime next week. He intends to meet with each franchisee re: where they are in the process and what they need to get back on track to opening the store.
The Cuppy’s corp office will be in touch early next week to begin scheduling calls.
And then a bunch of stuff about how we need to work together to make this the best specialty coffee brand in the US.
Oh – and have a great weekend.
Good luck to him and the Cuppy’s “family.”
He left out believe and succeed…hmm

guest writes:

We just heard Dale on the conference call & all I have to say is… WHAT BULLSHIT! DALE HAS BEEN MEETING WITH MORG.

jd writes:

As I stated elsewhere, where was this six months ago?

He’s asking people to stop the negative blogging, but people have heard that before when they signed their ‘refund’ agreements, and things quieted down until they stopped getting paid.

Current and prior management has brought this onslaught on themselves. People that haven’t opened their stores yet need to look at the economics of the situations. You could take the $40k loss on your current investment and open independently, and you would probably save $50k on the buildout. Your $10k ahead already.

Quit letting Dale blow smoke up your ***

David writes:

…I will not stop the negative blogging or trying everything within my power to see that they get what they deserve for taking money from people and not feeling like they need to give it back.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW. FEEL FREE TO SHARE THE :) POSITIVE :) ASPECTS OF YOUR CUPPY’S COFFEE FRANCHISE EXPERIENCE!

unhappyzee

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View Comments

ex-employee says:

October 16, 2008 at 3:16 pm

Admin-no I don't have the e-mail they are talking about but I do know Dale made the comment to more than one employee.I also know in the case of Krista Noem Dale told me to make her project "go away".I also know he made this comment to more than one employee.As a matter af fact there were quite a few that he told me to make "go away".As for inflaming criticism of Dale I'm pretty sure the flames are about as high as they can go.
Rick Noem says:

October 16, 2008 at 3:38 pm

I am trying very hard to comprehend this. We pay 125k, and Dale wants you to make our project "go away"? What kind of person would do this?

This makes me so angry. He has to pay for these crimes. Somehow.
Athena says:

October 16, 2008 at 3:39 pm

Where is the money coming from to get any other zees built out? We did not authorize our $175,000 of life savings to be sacrificed.
JavaGal says:

October 16, 2008 at 3:40 pm

Holy BatShit - Batman...... There is no such email, there were no projects which Dale wanted or chose to sacrafice, he never asked anyone to "make a project Go Away". He did state that each project would need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine the best way to proceed (i.e. work with the local whitebox contractor, hire a 3rd party contractor, release them from their Elite P.O., etc...). In a handfull of cases, Elite had agreed to provide inhouse financing (prior to Dale) and Dale understood that the dollars simply were not there to provide the financing on the project, nor was the money there to provide an immediate refund of the down payment, therefore the ONLY way to move the project forward was to pair it up with other projects.
Rick Noem says:

October 16, 2008 at 4:00 pm

You all did say that in our meeting (during Cuppy College), that certain projects would have to be paired, JavaGirl (or Amy as another blogger identified you as). But it appears you two were never serious about ours. There was no communication with us at all. I do not feel you two ever tried to do anything to get us open. Dale even mentioned having someone that would be very interested in becoming a patner, to help with financing.

I remember you, Amy, sitting over there furiously scribbling notes, writing down everything the all-knowing, all-powerful Dale said. I am sure that notepad went straight in the garbage after we left.

I hope you two get everything you deserve. Prison time, disgrace, etc).
ex-employee says:

October 16, 2008 at 5:12 pm

Javagal is incorrect-As I said before there were numerous witnesses as to Dale's "go away" and "sacraficed " comments so if someone can bring this mess to a court of law I for one will testify under oath that Dale made those comments as I am sure the other employees will.There is proof out there to put Dale in jail so if that means lawyers contacting ex employees then lets get this started!!!
Rick Noem says:

October 16, 2008 at 5:13 pm

"The best way to proceed", JavaGirl, would have been to give the deposits back to those franchisees you were no longer interested in getting open. Hell, you never even called us to discuss the situation.

Dale IS trying to make this "go-away", and he is trying to accomplish this by not communicating. He, and you I imagine, are sitting there, silent (except for the occasional anonymous Guest post), waiting for us to all get tired of chasing you and go away.
Guest says:

October 16, 2008 at 5:25 pm

Rick, he couldn't give the deposits back because he had/has no money
screwed franchisee says:

October 16, 2008 at 5:51 pm

If he had no money then why didn't he tell us he had no money to finish the buildout so we could have tried to get our own solution months ago.Instead he scammed us into sending in more money[or scammed the banks into doing it].Don't worry Rick,I have been contacted by a federal agency that is contacting the banks involved.My bank was duped into believing that the subcontractors were paid before they would send the disbursement.Come to find out the subs were not paid.This will be enough to put Dale in jail.Contact your bank to get a criminal investigation started.
Rick Noem says:

October 16, 2008 at 5:55 pm

I know. Just trying to point out to JavaGal (sorry I misspelled your name earlier), what should have happened.

She seems to be pretty clueless on the damage they have done. They take the money, promise a build-out, string you along, then try and make you go-away.

JavaGal is still clinging to the notion that they tried to pair store construction to get everyone open, when we know that to not be the truth. If if were true, they would have communicated their progress, or lack thereof.