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Thanksgiving Day: A Remembrance of Bob Baber
Today marks the second anniversary of Bhupinder "Bob" Baber's tragic death, the day he walked into a Quiznos restaurant in California and shot himself three times. His desperate plea written in his suicide note was meant to be read by his family, the franchise community, the media and others, in hopes that the government would conduct an investigation into what he called "the systematic deceitful business practices of this franchisor."
After talking with his widow Ratti Baber and getting her permission, Blue MauMau made the decision to post the suicide note which clearly expressed Baber's pain and desperation in his situation as a franchisee. Whether we were criticized or praised in comments posted for the months that followed, we know the article stirred emotions and feelings, and left an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of many readers.
In view of Baber's death and the endless controversy that surrounded the company on franchisee issues, Blue MauMau has continued to report on Quiznos developments for the past two years. When the company terminated the franchise agreements of some of the Toasted Subs Franchisee Association’s leaders for publishing the suicide note on their web site, we reported the story.
Quiznos has not made any significant attempt to work with this independent association that Baber was so involved with. As the company put its new management team into place, I interviewed its chief legal counsel regarding the franchisor’s litigation and the direction it was taking. But since then, there have been a number of lawsuits reported, including new class action cases, which further indicates that Quiznos’ relationship with TSFA members and the majority of franchisees has not improved.
Although I made several attempts to interview past-CEO Greg Brenneman this year regarding the financial health of the Quiznos system, I was turned down.
So, today as we celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends, I think all of us would be remiss if we didn’t reflect back on November 27, 2006, if only for a moment. It just might serve as a reminder this holiday season that franchising is not just business, it’s personal. It is about human lives.
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Related reading:
- Quiznos- A Tragic Ending to a Franchisee's Plight
- TSFA Files for Injunction to Quash Quiznos Termination Notices
- Judge Issues Order in Quiznos' Preliminary Injunction
- Quiznos- TSFA Board Members Score Victory
- Bob Baber Suicide Note
- Internet Video Shows Franchise Problems at Quiznos
- Quiznos Memorandum
- Quiznos' Chief Counsel Speaks Out on Issues
Quiznos Corp is still unfazed...
For a company who "says" that franchise profitability is their number one priority, they have a strange way of actually doing anything about it. Our food, paper and chemicals are STILL overpriced with huge profits still going to the Shaddens food distribution company (American Food Distributors). Most if not ALL of the FO's here in Ohio are losing money left and right. They try and cram delivery down all the FO's throats even though their delivery program is way over priced with maybe only 10% of the restaurants having the capability of making money by delivering. They extended our opening hours from 11am to 10 pm to add some "incremental sales" when in reality all it does is add to our expenses. The weekly CEO message (or infomercial) completely ignores the problems Quinzos Franchise Owners are facing and just talks about how great a job Corporate employees are doing. I compare this to someone being at Pearl Harbor on the "fateful" day and saying..."it's a beautiful day...a little smokey but a beautiful day". The upcoming litigation will hopefully expose these people for what they really are.."crooks in suits".
Quiznos UFOC Fraud
Is it illegal for Quiznos to misstate the number of closed stores in it's UFOC? It happened in my state on a previous UFOC circular. If so, what are the ramifications of misrepresenting these numbers? It was a significant number of omissions.
The experts on this would be, Solomon, Webster, Morrill or
Steinberg.
The zors would say they do not have to disclose any stores closing except in the zors fiscal year. If the zor gave you a UFOC in Feb 2006
they would say they didn't have to disclose any stores closing Feb 2006 until Feb. 2007.
According to my state laws it claims that any significant number of units that close before you sign needs to be disclosed to you. I am reading that they are changing laws that zors will have to disclose those stores and the reason they have closed. The FTC Franchise laws you can google. Your state laws can be googled also.
I sincerely hope that franchising will have more rules and regulations. If everyone were honest there wouldn't be a need for laws.
According to contract law anything that would affect your decision to sign or not to sign has to be disclosed. Many zors take the liberty of non-disclosure because if the truth were known no one would buy.
Another good debate would be, do you honestly think their written disclosures (UFOC/FDD) would entice anyone to sign a franchise agreement? That is a no brainer. The truth is the FDD is written to potect the zor and only the zor. If people do not know what to look for they may interpert it wrong. That is why a killer franchise lawyer is a must. I find it interesting that the zor never discloses a franchise lawyer. (Franchise lawyer is not considered a speciality. One day I hope it will be. Even so many lawyers know very little about franchising. Read Solomon's blogs and comments.)
With all the lawsuits
against Quiznos. How can anyone guestion people writing their horror stories?
In the wild wild west if you stole a horse they hung you. Too bad we can't do it today. Quiznos have stolen people's good credit, houses and their ability to survive all because of greed. If all the people involved in Quiznos gathered together in the the wild wild west times there would not be any Scadens or Smiths. They didn't steal our horse they stole everything.
Do writes: In the wild wild
Do writes:
In the wild wild west if you stole a horse they hung you. Too bad we can't do it today.
My reply:
I am sort of a old west aficionado. People were swindled every day, the general sentiment was similar to that displayed by Solomon or myself at times.
On the other hand horse theft was a very serious thing. The reason was simple, in many areas of the country loss of a horse was a death sentence. A man in good shape can walk down a horse, horses really could not carry that much, very far. However what they did carry was important - water. Try walking carrying 2 1/2 gallons of water sometime and let me know how far you get. Add a rifle, a needed bed roll and the import of a pack conveyance becomes apparent. Many water holes were days apart. More importantly the wild breed horses could smell water miles and miles away and were able to steer you to sources of water as you crossed land.
In the 1800s take a man's horse when he is relatively in unfamiliar country and he is pretty much doomed. And the death would not be pleasant.
On the other swindlers were everywhere and the general attitude was a fool deserved to be parted from his money. A hard luck story would find little sympathy. Now defile a woman and the story changes.
FuwaFuwaUsagi
Ms. Sparks, Thanks
Franchisee Bob Baber's suicide would probably quietly have gone underreported in the small back column of a local Whittier, California paper, where Ms. Sparks first drew my attention to the story. As she began investigating, a site run by Quiznos' franchisees, The Toasted Subs Franchisee Association, boldly posted a dedicated page explaining Mr. Baber's situation and suicide note (pdf).
They shortly found themselves in a position where they had to remove the dedicated page.
The termination of some of the association's leaders and franchisees by Quiznos for posting such information about the franchise owner's suicide sparked a trade journal and a local newspaper to take notice. All the time Ms. Sparks was reporting away.
Mr. Baber's story then slowly gathered momentum. Over a year later his cautionary tale was finally published in the mainstream media.
But when almost no other newspaper reporter and no other trade journal correspondent would tell, Ms. Sparks reported first on this story, and then tirelessly pursued the whole story.
Admirable
I have always respected men who handle their business. Mr. Baber died a man in my book; tonight I toast in his memory.
FuwaFuwaUsagi
Another great article Janet.
I too respect Bob Baber. It was brought to my attention from one of my members in our club. I read his suicide note and it opened my eyes. It deeply saddened me beyond belief.
Thank you Janet for your writing so all can read the truth. Best wishes to the Baber family. No one feels it like they do. My heart goes out to them.
Peace and love to the Baber family
Janet, first, thank you once again for writing from your heart; a heart that is both gutsy and kind.
As I shift from concept consulting to monitoring franchise quality levels, this profound social suicide is a portrait that will further fuel my work.
Not until today did I begin to understand the intended meaning of Mr. Baber's act.
May God bless and keep safe the Baber family.
Nick Bibby is an international franchise consultant and a program developer dedicated to excellence in entrepreneurship.
Quiznos corp
They are big bullies, thiefs, assholes, and the lowest scums on earth. I am a franchisee from Ontario, once we win the court case, I will sell my store. That shorty little man greg mcdonald is a liar and scumbag, he deserves to be put in jail. That thomas guy is a patheic funny ass kisser. His mom must be proud of him... Another 2 months down the road he will be fired by his ass boss....so poor but that's his destination. Wish he read my comment too. And best of luck for all the franchisees in Canada and in the state.
Money Grabers
I am also a franchisee from Ontario. Quiznos is nothing more than money grabers. Like this delivery program that is coming out, they have it set up so they can grab more of your money. Greg Mcdonald is a liar and a scumbag. As long as he is making the big bucks he does not care about anyone else. When one person closes their store he will just put someone else in. With the new person in they are filled with regret for getting into this Quiznos system. You end up spending lots of money and get nothing in return. Best of luck to those who are still open.
Strong words defined
Guest,
You've explained why you think the guy is a scumbag. He sells Quiznos stores that are closing down, which makes him one of them Quiznos "money grabers"[sic]. In your lofty world, you prefer a franchise owner closing down a store without getting corporate help to sell it.
We get it.
Now please explain why you call this guy a liar. Use a specific example.
Regards,
Stiksen Stones
Is Stiksen Stoned?
Stiksen, apparently you don't know how it works. They don't sell the store FOR the current owner. They drive him into bankruptcy, forcing him (or her) to close, THEN they sell it to a new sucker, starting the process all over again and lining their pockets with new fees. It's known as "churning," at which they are the all-time champions.
Re: A Remembrance of Bob Baber
Janet - Thanks for keeping Bob Baber's memory alive.
All Quiznos owners, past, present and future, owe a debt of gratitude for what he did to expose the injustices in this chain.
While the execs at Q can deny requests for interviews with the press, they are unable to deny the same, when invited by judges in several states.
Bob Baber ---Quiznos tragic ending
Hopefully, the practices of Quiznos that are possible under the current status quo of regulation and the law will someday be stopped because there will be more transparency of the unit performance of the franchise systems under truly effective federal regulatory policy.
As Robert Purvin, Susan Kezios, Richard Solomon, Paul Steinberg, Les Stewart, Michael Webster and many others have said one place or another, the FTC Rule is flawed and needs fixing.
Bob Baber tried to fight the "stacked deck" of a government disclosure document and a binding non-negotiable boilerplate agreement that destroys so many franchisees who have invested their lives and fortunes in great good faith in a business opportunity that they WERE BROUGHT TO BELIEVE had very little risk of failure.
Bob Baber couldn't overcome the "contract from hell" but all those who read the franchise chat sites like Blue Mau Mau and Franchise Pick, etc.. have been warned.
May God Bless Bob Baber's family today and may they know that he is not forgotten.
Behind the "Etc."
A guest above has briefly mentioned other Quiznos related "chat" sites. I hope readers do not mind if I shine a light on some.
A few definitions first. A "chat" site is a forum area where the public can "chat", or post and debate in group discussion threads around a specific subject. The predecessor to the modern chat-room was the list server and bulletin board. Remember those?
That's different than a blog. And a blog can be different than an investigated news story.
Ryan Knoll of FranchisePundit has blogged about Quiznos before there ever was a Blue MauMau or FranchisePick web site. Blue MauMau launched November 4, 2005. And FranchisePick, roughly a year later.
In FranchisePundit, attorney Knoll boldly reviews franchise concepts as he sees it. Good investment or bad. Thumbs up or thumbs down.
Here's a blog about Quiznos as early as April 10, 2005.
FranchisePundit also has an active forum area (a chat room), where guests post and contribute information about being a Quiznos franchisee. Kudos to Knoll's contributions.
There is the RipOffReport, a consumer alert site that also has some franchise postings—Quiznos being one of them. There is also New Zealand-based Franchise-chat. That site has an active chat room of posters who have candidly discussed American franchise brands, including Quiznos.
And let's not forget one of the earliest Quiznos chat sites, Quiznossucks.com, which is now defunct.
I am grateful
for all the franchise sites. I accidently discovered BMM after we bought a franchise. My hope is more will discover it before they sign on the dotted line. If I never discovered BMM I would of never known what happened. BMM has been like going to college about business in franchising.
In the middle of November 2007 I started reading here. I know there are many readers out there. (Especially people who have been hurt.) The one's looking to invest in a franchise are fortunate to know about BMM. There is alot of information here. Hopefully they will find a good zor that will work with them and not gouge them but help them reach success. In the long run the zor, zee and consumer wins. That is how it should be. Unfortunatly there are bad people out there that take advantage of the good that would never think of hurting anyone intentionly.
Re: Behind the "Etc."
Ryan is a good man. His site is excellent, and I admire that he gives a very firm opinion (I'd buy it or I would not buy it).
FuwaFuwaUsagi
We remember you Bob. Your story lives on.
All of my best wishes to his family. Fight on franchisees. Never give up. Quizno's wreckoning day will come.