I HAVENT EVEN STARTED DIALING YET AND I can already feel the frustration coming on. I must make that dreadful call to a large franchise company (companies name omitted) about a problem that I’m currently having with their product. After the automated lady answers my call, she then instructs me to “Please press 1 or please say repeat these options” (I never knew robots had manners?). After following “orders” from the non human operator, I then find myself screaming into my telephone “CUSTOMER SERVICE” where I am then transferred to ANOTHER automated system only to tell me “their options have been changed…or I’m sorry we didn’t get that “. (Gee there’s a surprise!) At this point I don’t think I can hang up the phone any more aggravated and therefore my problem stays unresolved due to poor customer service and polite robots!
Franchise owners must reach quotas each month and therefore push their employees to sell, sell, SELL! For example, I personally worked in a sales department for a large well known gym years ago, and come towards the end of the month if we didn’t meet our quotas I was told “I don’t care what you have to do, or how you do it, just do it!” I’ll always remember when my boss said that to me because for the first time I was basically told to just LIE my way through, to get the sale. He’d also say “C’mon guys our numbers are low, what are we doing?” Franchise companies want their quotas high not only to look like they are “THE BEST”, but they often given incentives by corporate companies for free cruises, free vacations, you name it! So it a nut shell I was told to SELL so my boss could go on a nice cruise? Maybe if I’m lucky ill get a nice postcard. Most employees that work for these companies often just feel overlooked and under paid leaving them with a “I don’t care about this job because I don’t get paid enough” attitude. If you think about it though WOULD you have a positive outlook when feeling unappreciated? I know I didn’t! Franchise companies are always training and always replacing their workers, or “always hiring and always firing” as some like to say. Have you ever heard someone say “hey did you see that stupid commercial? Or “did you see that funny, catchy commercial?” it can be the stupidest commercial or the funniest commercial you’ve ever seen, but mission accomplished on their part because they made you remember their “stupid” commercial- and when you’re looking for that specific product, guess what “stupid commercial” pops in your head? It’s called mind tricks people and apparently they work! They have endless money to make these silly advertisements, leaving you the consumer to believe that they should be “everyone’s first choice” (or as some like to say “may the best brand win!) For example, if you had an opportunity to have a nice home cooked meal as opposed to go out to a well known restaurant, which would you pick? Of course we all love to go out to eat, but who wouldn’t want a yummy home cooked meal? Get the picture?
So why is choosing a smaller company a GREAT idea as opposed to a larger franchise company? Well, in this state of economy people strive to get every bang for their buck and just want to buy from a trustworthy company knowing that they’ll get better service as well as save more money. Smaller companies are more flexible on their prices and therefore are more negotiable. There’s usually no wiggle room in franchises prices so “sit tight”! “When the economy slows, business executives want to downsize and employees have a fear of being transferred, outsourced or fired,” says William Bruce, President of the American business brokers association.” “As a result, these employees see small-business ownership as an attractive and viable opportunity.” Also, smaller companies are often very passionate about their work and know the importance of developing a very trusting relationship with their customers. When hiring their employees, smaller companies keep in mind that they cannot afford to lose customers and usually hire people who care, respect, and understand the importance of customer satisfaction and are well aware that bad service could immensely cost them.
Now I’m not saying that all bigger companies are bad options and they shouldn’t be considered, I’m writing this to educate product consumers of any type and leave it up to you to make a wise decision. It’s ok to be picky about which company you choose, and make sure you do your research and read customers reviews about the company. Or as my old boss would say “I don’t care what you have to do, or how you do it, just do it!”