The IFPG International Franchise Professionals Group is a “membership organization” of franchise brokers. Recently, The IFPG announced that it was “proud to announce” that Davidovich NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop is its newest franchise partner. Last week, Davidovich NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop (aka the NY Bagel Scam) was ejected from the International Franchise Expo in New York by the show’s management and two Assistant Attorney Generals. Are IFPG members still promoting the NY Bagel Scam? Has the IFPG taken any steps to share UnhappyFranchisee.com’s & NYBagelScam.com’s extensive reporting on the dangers of this fraudulent franchise offering with its members and their clients?
Davidovich NYC Bagel Ejected From International Franchise Professionals Group (IFPG)
Franchise brokers bill themselves as “consultants” whose expert franchise guidance is free to franchise opportunity seekers and who are compensated by the supposedly legitimate franchisors who pay them commissions ($20K – $30K on average, some claim).
It would seem that diligent, professional advisors who truly care about the welfare of the individuals and families they are advising would regularly follow sites like UnhappyFranchisee.Com and BlueMauMau.org that contain hype-free, uncensored opinions and insights from actual franchise investors and owners. These sites also provide critical insights into franchise closures, lawsuits and turnover rates that could help franchise advisors prevent their advisees from investing in a high-failure franchise or even an outright scam.
This type of ongoing research would seem especially important to a “membership organization” such as the International Franchise Professionals Group (IFPG) who train franchise brokers and provide “franchise partners” one would assume would be screened and vetted.
IFPG recently issued this internal announcement:
IFPG is proud to announce its newest franchise partner: Davidovich NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop
Davidovich NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop is an iconic brand that has been featured on the Jon Stewart Show, Anrew Zimmerns Bizarre Foods America, ABC News and more with additional write-ups in the Wall St. Journal and Forbes Mazazine and this spring was the “official bagel of the Coachella Music festival selling over 1000 dozen bagels in less than 90 minutes.
The brand offers Fresh Baked NY Artisan Bagels that are made in NY and Baked Fresh in your location, in addition to the bagels we have delicious bakery products that include muffins, crumb cakes, cookies, croissants and full line of breakfast sandwiches to wash all that down you have your choice of coffee cappuccino or juices. for Lunch we offer a wide variety of sandwiches, wraps and paninis, including our NY favorites the Reuben on Rye and the Chicken Breast Panini.
Location size is between 1200 to 2000 sq ft. All locations have a fun inviting vibe, like your [stet] stepping into NYC with our full length wall murals of times square, pictures of NYC Landmarks and subway signs. Great Bagel. Great Place. Great Franchise.
Run by Joe Smith, Dennis Mason & new addition Davidovich’s Marc Fintz, Davidovich NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop is, in essence, a Craig’s List-based franchise fee collection scheme. 90% of those who pay a fee never open a bagel shop not get their fee refunded. More than 90% of the few who managed to open failed within a few months to a few years.
Smith & Mason’s deceptive sales tactics and violations of franchise disclosure laws have been documented in state enforcement actions issued by Maryland, Virginia and Washington.
They’re many franchise failures have been documented by Unhappy Franchisee:
When International Franchise Expo (IFE) head Tom Portesy was alerted to exhibitor Davidovich NYC Bagel’s misrepresentations, he determined, with investigative direction from Assistant District Attorneys from New York and Maryland (who were speakers at the show), IFG Partner and Expo neighbor Davidovich NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop was ejected from the show.
Read about it here:
NYC Davidovich Bagel Ejected From International Franchise Expo (IFE)
NYC Bagel Franchise Scam Overview
NY BAGEL CAFÉ Franchise: How Many Have Closed? [UPDATED]
NY BAGEL CAFÉ Franchise Graveyard
NYC Davidovich Bagel Franchise Posts
DAVIDOVICH BAKERY: Part of the NYC Bagel Scam?
INVITATION TO IFPG LEADERSHIP & MEMBERS: It is our opinion that the IFPG partnership with a known and proven scam artist does a disservice to legitimate franchisors (including IFPG franchise partners), your members, and especially to the franchise buyers who rely on IFPG brokers for trustworthy guidance. However, we are open to alternative viewpoints and interpretations. We invite & welcome explanations, clarifications, rebuttals, and opinions both from IFPG leadership, staff, members and franchise partners.
We are especially interested in hearing which brokers and groups are willing to commit to spreading the word about the risks associated with the Davidovich NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop and its variations.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE NY BAGEL, NYC BAGEL OR DAVIDIVICH BAGEL SCAM? HAVE YOU DEALT WITH DENNIS MASON, JOE SMITH OR MARC FINTZ (OR MARC ZIROGIANNIS)? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
TAGS: IFPG, International Franchise Professionals Group, Don Daszkowski, Red Boswell, Davidovich NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop, Davidovich bakery, Davidovich Bagels, Davidovich franchise, NY Bagel Cafe, NYC Bagel franchise, Joe Smith, Dennis Mason, Marc Fintz, Marc Zirogiannis
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I'm looking forward to hearing answers to all of these questions.
A simple online search would have disclosed an enormous amount of issues with this franchise. It isn't even about "due diligence" it is about doing a very simple online search or reading industry sites like this one.
Imagine suggesting to someone that they buy a franchise with no concern about what Google has to say about them? Dangerous.
This story doesn’t surprise me one bit. Lots of chest puffing and slight of hand moves. Watch them spin and blame everyone else for IFPG partnering with NY Bagel.
They’ll be the victims even though Blue Mau Mau and UnhappyFranchisees have been reporting about NY Bagel for years. Years. Don’t they read important sites like these about these issues?
A franchise that I work with attended the IFPG “getaway”.
They found out they they paid about 30% more than other franchisors and a 50% less than the neighboring franchisor at the event.
Pricing was so negotiable that it really was bad.
The “brokers” that they produced had to given free access and some got their hotel rooms paid for. They were just there for a vacation and for after hours “fun”. That behavior was rampant and I felt gross for going.
Not surprised by this and I can’t wait until they respond about their membership requirements.
Where are the IFPG answers to all of these questions? Do they need a lawyer to respond? What are they hiding?
How many of these failed and failing franchises does the international franchise professional group- franserve-and franchise broker association represent? Why are these questions not being answered?
IFPG should be looked into. They appear to be trading off of the IFA logo, look, feel and there are many people who have given them money thinking that they were part of the IFA, which they are not. But they sure want people with credit cards to think so.
They will say anything, spin anything, and use smoke and mirrors to get you on board. And once you are, they deliberately out you and use you to start recruiting their next paying "member". IFA are you going to allow this? You used to mean something, now Dan Prechtel disciples are trading on your logo.
Maybe their lawyer will scare the IFA is shutting up too?
Both the Griffs and 18-8 brands are heavily promoted by the IFPG group. Obviously not vetted. Why hasnt the IFPG group responded to the question about vetting and what research if any have the done on griffs or 18-8 hair cutter shops?
Yes, where is the response to these very pressing questions? 18-8 and NY Bagel? 2 great brands for them to earn off of.
They had their in-house lawyer respond to try to show that they were the victims (as predicted) and yet they are silent about all of these very important questions?
Also, I too thought that the IFPG was an extension of the IFA. Who wouldn't based on how they are presenting themselves?
Red, don't play the Jesus card anymore, because you're clearly not in his camp! Don't praise Jesus and be part of all of this.
Pretty obvious that they believe it ends by not saying another word. That isnt the case as others find out how this money making scheme is without concern for possible franchisees as they lose their investments to some scrupulous franchises that are never verified or vetted in any way.
Yes, when are we going to get answers about the stringent vetting methods used by the IFPG?
They answered so quickly when they had something to loose, but yet complete silence now. 18-8, Cuppies, Dick's Barbecue--I believe all "Members" of the IFA/IFPG. They were so proud of NY Bagels that they set up shop next to them at the IFA/IFPG show in NYC? Was it for the free bagels or to help their newest member?
Why haven't they answered these very basic questions or the questions posed about how much they've earned off of these brands by helping to promote them. Where are the answers?
They claim to have 800 "members", so a lot of deals must be closing for these stellar brands. How much did they pocket by helping these "brands" grow? With 800 members they must have done some deals, no?
I'm told that someone is compiling a list of all the "Proud to announce..." emails from IFPG to see what scams are in there--should be fun to see.
Likely wont be hearing from IFPG anytime soon. President Bozwell the chief excrement official and franchise life changing oracle is hiding. it looks like his boss Don is hiding as well. you wont see them man up because they have lots to hide. i too will look for that list if its being made.