Seeking information about Goin' Postal
Hi, I'd appreciate any experience/comments you can share regarding the Goin Postal franchise. They don't seem to be included in the "News" picklist, so I'm not sure if that is good or bad. I like what I've seen so far and one of their nearby stores seems to be doing well. The only real news I found is an old link here: http://www.bluemaumau.org/goin%E2%80%99_postal_expands_its_flat_rate_royalty_program#comment-28933.
Thanks!
p.s. I'm a newbie to Blue Maumau (and am enjoying learning a lot by reading -- you guys are awesome!) so my apologies if this is in the wrong spot.
Simply substitute this new Tradename with the "leading" ones
"Me too" copy cats are not just a little weaker but many, many times weaker than the market leader in terms of ultimate customer pull.
Most times, the brand strength/weakness is moot: your business "goes SIDS" because of cash flow hemorrhage.
And the market "leaders" are The UPS Store and MBE. Check out these two on WikidFranchise.org and make up your own mind.
Don't forget that independent legal advice and waiver of legal obligations for your partner, though!
Les Stewart MBA
FranchiseFool :: WikidFranchise.org
Seeking information about Goin' Postal
Thanks for the general comments.
Let me restate my question because I can see that I should have been clearer. I'm seeking comments from anyone that knows something credible about the Goin Postal (GP) franchise. They don't seem to be included in the "News" picklist, so I'm not sure if that is good or bad.
To be clear ... I am NOT seeking general guidance regarding franchises. I get it: Buyer beware! Get independent legal counsel before you invest! Spend real money on real due diligence! Did I miss anything?
GP isn't a brand new franchisor. They have somewhere around 400 stores right now, and they seem to be holding their own against the UPS stores. They remind me of Mail Boxes, etc. before "Brown" did bad things to them.
GP sounds good on paper so I'm hoping that someone here has real world experience -- good or bad -- that they will share. If so, I will be grateful if you will share your lessons learned (here or via private message).
Thank you VERY much!
Mike
Let's start with the tradename
Clever perhaps to a certain breed of cat. Connotations of rivers of blood, multiple deaths, automatic weapons, indiscriminate violence, bullying...
Wait...hold on...I apologize: My whole fallacy's wrong.
A purrfect fit but perhaps I'm being a little shill.
Les Stewart MBA
FranchiseFool :: WikidFranchise.org
Let's start with the tradename
Yep ... you either love that name or hate it. I suspect there is little indifference. The interesting part of the story is that the US Post Office supposedly owns the trademark for "Go Postal". Either the USPO is so proud of the postal heritage that they intend to use the name in the future, or they are embarrased by the various "going postal" jokes that flood the Internet so they reserved the trademark to keep others from using it.
So, while I don't particularly love the name, removing the emotion from the situation, I will note that they definitely have name that is easy to remember.
low level brand
An also-ran brand. Hopefully their fees are cheaper.
A comparison: around hre, what clearly seems to be the biggest pack'n'ship operator is a local independent. They have a couple of locations. They had an established business name as a mover and extended their brand. They picked good locations.
I use the indepoendent. I would not drive even a mile further to go to a Goin' Postal instead. Yes I have heard of GP but it isn't a big positive with me. I just go to the most convenient location. If my package is already packed, a hardware store a couple of blocks aways functuons as a drop'n'ship (but doesn't pack for you). If I need packing, I go further up the road to the independent shop.
This is but an anecdote but it is a data point for you.
Re: low level brand
Thanks Granville. I go to the most convenient place that is friendly, fast, and acceptably priced. Last time I went to the hardware store it took them 20 minutes for one package :( so now I go anywhere but there. One problem I'm running into is that many of the independents lack UPS. I guess UPS wants their UPS Stores to have all of that action.
Goin Postal
Please, I beg you not to even think about trying Goin Postal, dumped my life savings into this with a lot of promises. If you read there info they say that you WILL ship UPS, DHL, FedEx and US Mail. What they don't tell you is that if a UPS store complains on you, that you loose your account, because you are using a personal account in a retail environment. GP resposnse was "oh well, that happens" When it is 30% of your buisness and there response was "sorry" !!! Now DHL is gone. Etc Etc.
I closed my store after heavy losses and now they want to sue me for liquiddated damages.
They are more interested in taking your money and investing it in there Teenager Loitering Electronic Device, Used Clothing Store, Printing Store etc.
When you go to training it is more about the after hours partying then training. Please KEEP your money !!!! I could go on and on.
Going Postal's FDD
Here is the 2006 FDD , read it and ask questions.
If you want to contact the franchisees, and ex-franchisees, read item 20.
Michael Webster, a franchisee attorney in Toronto, Ontario, publishes a website on business opportunities and franchises called "The BizOp News"
Goin Postal shipping descrimination
The local Goin Postal franchise refused to ship a fiberglass rifle stock for me...they tried to blame the patriot act - but after I grilled them - well...it's a 'memorandum of agreement' they claim to have with their carriers. They flat refused and appologized to no avail. After 25 years of supporting America in national defense, paying all my taxes and fighting real terrorists - to be denied shipping a fiberglass stock (with not even a bolt on it) is a slap in the face. Goin Postal sucks. I will do no more business with them.
goin postal
My understanding is you are agreeing to pay that flat royalty for 15 years, even if your store closes in 3.
Only one person actually had
Only one person actually had an answer to your question.
I'm thinking of opening a GP also and thought I would get some feedback.
Has anyone had or still have a GP that can offer some advice?
I prefer to be an independent
I prefer to be an independent traveler. It's quite good fun to go alone and just meet people on the way. But if you don't prefer going alone you can go with a friend and travel together to major adventures travel destinations. Next month I will <a href="http://albanianjournalism.com/dont-dive-5-ways-you-can-still-enjoy-beli… belize</a> by myself at maximum.
oh no not another one
Another UPS Store or MBE?
Just satisfy yourself that what ever you pay them is worth it to give you a net advantage over just starting up "Mike's Pack 'n' Ship" on your own. (I was going to say "be sure" but you can never be sure, that is too stringent.)
To me the top three reasons to buy into a franchise are: Brand recognition that brings in business, Brand recognition that brings in business, and Brand recognition that brings in business. So-called "concept" is highly over-rated.