PLAY N TRADE Franchise: Honesty Still Eludes Embattled Franchisor
(UnhappyFranchisee.com) Dear Play N Trade*: How can you be the “fastest growing video game franchise worldwide” if you are not, in fact, growing?
The current Play N Trade press release states that you are the fastest growing video game franchise.
In fact, in most of the 29 press releases you’ve posted on PR.com since January, 2010 you tout the growth of the Play N Trade franchise chain with such statements as:
– Play N Trade Franchise, Inc., the largest and fastest-growing franchised video game retailer in the country… January 17, 2010
– Play N Trade is the largest and fastest-growing video game franchise worldwide. It is also one of the fastest-growing franchises worldwide across all industries… February 17, 2010
– Play N Trade Franchise, INC, the fastest growing franchise worldwide… opened over 5 new stores per month in 2009 and expects to continue to see growth at that pace or even faster throughout 2010. March 13, 2010
– Play N Trade Franchise, Inc., the fastest growing video game franchise worldwide… Play N Trade is the largest and fastest-growing video game franchise worldwide. It is also one of the fastest-growing franchises across all industries. April 01, 2010
– Play N Trade Franchise, Inc, the largest video game franchise worldwide, is excited to announce that 13 new Play N Trade stores have opened for business this year and another 13 are already scheduled to open by September. New Play N Trade stores are opening their doors in more than a dozen different states and provinces throughout the U.S and Canada. Play N Trade is the largest video game franchise worldwide. It is also one of the fastest-growing franchises across all industries. July 13, 2010
– Play N Trade Franchise, Inc., the fastest growing video game franchise worldwide November 03, 2011
PLAY N TRADE: Tens of Millions in Franchise Investments Lost in Past 2 Years?
The problem is, throughout 2010 and 2011, it seems that Play N Trade has experienced only negative growth, with the number of operating U.S. franchises declining from 241 in 2009 to 174 in 2010 to 146 in 2011.**
As you stated that you were to open 30 stores in 2010, it would seem likely that more than 125 PNT franchise locations have gone dark in the past two years, representing 125 franchise investments equalling tens of millions of dollars have been lost.
At the upcoming Franchise and Business Opportunities Expo, will Play N Trade Vice President of Franchise Development, Charles Franklin, really be telling prospective franchisees that Play N Trade is growing?
Do you think that is an honest and ethical representation that meets the guidelines for franchise advertising mandated by the Federal Trade Commission and the State of California?
We eagerly await your response.
* We submitted a link to this open letter to Play N Trade PR representative Rosaline Halversen
** According to Entrepreneur.com
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE PLAY N TRADE VIDEO GAME STORE FRANCHISE? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
For more on Play N Trade franchise, read:
PLAY N TRADE Video Game Franchise Ends in Bankruptcy
PLAY N TRADE Franchise Stores Closed & Closings
PLAY N TRADE Franchise: 30 Stores to Open in 2010
PLAY N TRADE: Recruits Multi-Unit Video Game Franchise Owners
PLAY N TRADE: MI Bankruptcy Auction
I will venture a guess they will “modify” the comments but will still blow smoke.
The model is so flawed and poorly run that at this time a Mom and pop store can make more money than can a franchised store if using the Play N Trade system. Royalties, POS/computer requirements, software for reporting and the POS is overwhelming the franchisee right now.
Most new release games are making $10-$15 profit each provided you buy the quanitity each vendor required to get free or reduced shipping. Same products that franchisees buy from vendors are being sold on Amazon at lower prices including shipping. Poor stock from the vendors push customers out the door and into the arms of internet retailers or competitors that have the angles to hurt PNT franchisees.
If the vendor relations have not improved since I left the company then I could not expect any improvements with the corporate structure.
In the amount of time I was with PNT, I never spoke to Charles Franklin. I beleive a figure head with no real knowledge of whats going on just a robot getting a paycheck on the backs of failing franchisees.
Rosaline Halvorsen has been at PNT for 5 years and I think in general she is a good person but she is not given the latitude with her job to have any opinion or real controll over anything.
Good luck getting anybody at Play N Trade to answer you.
via the PNT Corp website doing a lookup of al 50 states (no Canada)…under 100 stores open in the US alone!
Chicago is suppose to be the #1 market in the country for PNT. If it is the #1 market in the country for PNT then why:
1. Then why did 10 of the original 16 stores close their doors
2. Then why is the 4 newest stores just purchased from the shuttered stores for 20 cents on the dollar
3. Then why are 9 of the 10 remaining stores in Chicagoland owned by 2-3 families that have very shaddy reputations and adds services like disc protection to customer bill without even asking the customer. The other owner is very unhappy with his decision to sign on with PNT.
4. Then why are ALL franchisees are VERY dis-satisfied with the corporate support. It is totally inadaquate or unexistent.
5. Then why is ALL franchisees in the area just waiting for PNT to go under so that they can rebrand all stores and keep all profit for themselves. IT’S only a matter of time and they know it!!!