Complaint Review: ATL International INC - Millersville Maryland

This franchise seems on the surface to be a great deal. Good income potential, Good support from the franchise, "comperhensive site analysis", Dynamic Multimedia advertising,.

Well let me start by saying these are all LIES.

First the support from the franchise consists of this, if you are struggling, it must be your manager and he just can't sell. I went through three managers, the first one actually was not a great sales man, but the second managers' resume was given to me by ATL and his previous employer (a sucessful shop which had been in business for 20 yrs) verified that he could sell and would give anything to have him back. After about 3 months of being turned down, and having ATL come in and make suggestions that the lack of store preformance was his fault he finally gave up and quit. I then hired a manager that had sales training and a good record of sucess from a nationally reconized shop. Well he could not sell either. I even asked the ATL rep who visited my shop periodaclly to show us by example what we were doing wrong. He flat refused twice saying " I may not use the exact words your manager will." He would only say that the mechnics were not making enough recommendations. If my customers didn't have $100.00 to replace their front brakes when they had less than 2% left he would have us try to sell them a $59.00 fuel injection service????

Second the comprehensive site analysis is a JOKE! The site they recommended was in a lower middle class area. I voiced my concern about this to the real estate department at ATL. Their comment was the demographics fit into their model, and that people in the higher income level take their cars to the dealership. I figured that since they have done this before they knew what they were talking about. What I did not know is that they had not done any research on this property (Rember on their web site it states " Comprehensive Site analysis") After being in business about 3 months I found out from some of the other business in the area that there had been anywhere from 2 to 4 shops in this location that had gone out of business, and that within the last year the building I was leasing was raided for being an ilegall chop shop! I begged ATL to assist me with moving my location to no avail. I even became a NAPA auto Care center to get some name recognition ,the income level of the customers and the history of the building could not be overcome. I believe this was the down fall of my business.

Third their web site states that they have a dynamic multi media advertising program. Well when you go into training (of course you have already paid your franchise fee) you will find this program consists of mailing coupons to people in your surrounding zip codes. That is it, no radio, TV, no nothing .They dont even get all the other All Tune and Lube shops to be under the same add in the phone book.

This is a very bad investment. I have held positions at the middle management, and the executive level of some very large companies ($100,000,000+ in revune per year). I know how to and what it takes to run a sucessful business. When the "partners" you are dealing with have consistently lied and mislead you, it is very hard if not impossible to turn a profit. This investment cost me just about everythig. I am now in the position of starting over. Take my advice and do not put you hard earned money into this franchise.

Jim

Phoenix, Arizona

U.S.A.