Fair Contract Is No Guarantee of Fair Play
I have read with increasing interest the issues regarding Cuppy’s, Elite, and the individuals who seem clearly entitled to refunds. I have also read with great interest the responses from Doug Hibbing and Bob Purvin. I would like to take this opportunity to make a few points.
The AAFD is about to mark 16 years of existence. It is a committed organization filled with dedicated volunteers who have made incredible strides toward increasing the level of fairness in franchising.
The process by which contracts get accredited is extensive. The process by which standards are adopted and modified is painstaking to say the least. The contracts that have made the grade are undoubtedly among the fairest in the franchising world.
A fair contract is NO GUARANTEE, however. A contract is but a piece of paper which sets the framework for the relationship. Both sides can abuse, ignore, or otherwise attempt to exploit loopholes in any agreement. This is precisely why having a strong and independent franchise association is so critical to help mitigate disputes before they become unmanageable. Active communication between the franchisor and the franchisee association can go a long way to promoting harmony within a franchise system and settling disputes before they spin out of control.
The upcoming AAFD conference in May is going to be both interesting and important as it relates to the ever-increasing Cuppy’s controversy. I would recommend that anyone who can make a point of attending.
It would be inappropriate to pass judgment on this situation without access to all of the facts. I will be following this controversy with great interest and sincerely hope that all of the people who are owed monies are fully refunded as quickly as possible, but I am reminded of something I read recently---
“In a war, while one side may ultimately be able to claim victory, both sides lose”
Hopefully, both sides in this dispute will keep this in mind as they work towards a resolution.
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