- Report: #314402
Complaint Review: Friendly Computers - North Las Vegas Nevada
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Author Confirmed
Why?
Friendly Computers
3440 W. Cheyenne Ave, Suite 100 North Las Vegas, 89032 Nevada, U.S.A.
Phone:
702-458-2780
Web:
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Friendly Computers, Computer Renaissance, Bryan Ward, Steve Ward, Don Ziegler Misleading UFOC, High Turnover Rate, No Plan North Las Vegas Nevada
This franchise opportunity makes a lot of promises but fails in many categories.
1) It does not have a proven sales and marketing plan besides using yellow pages.
2) Most of the franchisees are not making money.
3) There is no Franchise Advisory Board.
4) Discussions between the franchisor and franchisees often descends into arguments, threats, and swearing. There is no 'open communication'.
5) Churning is hidden by hiding failed franchises under the names of other individuals.
6) Corporate often makes decisions and takes money from the franchisees with little notice.
7) There is no purchasing power within the franchise system. You are told to purchase parts from Tiger Direct and Newegg.
8) Technical support is very spotty. You are essentially on your own.
9) This is a family-owned company. Oftentimes, a family member is given a job even if he isn't the most qualified.
10) Any franchisees who dare question the franchisor openly are subjected to an audit of their personal and business finances.
11) Contracts are often switched on the franchisees. Franchisees are mailed one contract but on arrival at headquarters are given a revised contract to sign prior to training. Lawyers explain that the franchisee is forced to sign under duress, which although not illegal it is suspicious.
12) Flagship stores recently went bust after being sold and suddenly were reopened under ownership of the Ward brothers.
13) Company has recently purchased Computer Renaissance and is attempting to hide under this new name.
14) Brandy Fortney, a long-time employee, mentioned that the Ward brothers are hiding money in various other companies in an elaborate shell game.
Anonymous
Southeast, North Carolina
U.S.A.
1) It does not have a proven sales and marketing plan besides using yellow pages.
2) Most of the franchisees are not making money.
3) There is no Franchise Advisory Board.
4) Discussions between the franchisor and franchisees often descends into arguments, threats, and swearing. There is no 'open communication'.
5) Churning is hidden by hiding failed franchises under the names of other individuals.
6) Corporate often makes decisions and takes money from the franchisees with little notice.
7) There is no purchasing power within the franchise system. You are told to purchase parts from Tiger Direct and Newegg.
8) Technical support is very spotty. You are essentially on your own.
9) This is a family-owned company. Oftentimes, a family member is given a job even if he isn't the most qualified.
10) Any franchisees who dare question the franchisor openly are subjected to an audit of their personal and business finances.
11) Contracts are often switched on the franchisees. Franchisees are mailed one contract but on arrival at headquarters are given a revised contract to sign prior to training. Lawyers explain that the franchisee is forced to sign under duress, which although not illegal it is suspicious.
12) Flagship stores recently went bust after being sold and suddenly were reopened under ownership of the Ward brothers.
13) Company has recently purchased Computer Renaissance and is attempting to hide under this new name.
14) Brandy Fortney, a long-time employee, mentioned that the Ward brothers are hiding money in various other companies in an elaborate shell game.
Anonymous
Southeast, North Carolina
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Former Franchisee
Henderson,Nevada,
U.S.A.
Deceptive Business Practices
#2UPDATE Employee
Wed, July 15, 2009
L. Steven Ward and his brother Bryan Ward make lots of promises until they have your money, then things change. This company is a con job from the word go. Extremely high turnover of both employees and franchises which are not fully disclosed in the franchise agreement paperwork. Multiple sex offenders are/were employed because they are family members. The head of tech support and the man in charge of the servers Michael Ward was recently arrested for the second time as part of a kiddie porn network. Michael, by the way would also read franchisee email that came across the server. That practice is still in effect. Many franchises are really just people acting as a manager for the Wards but are represented as actual owners. This makes the system look much better than it actually is and provides a list of friendly owners for potential owners to call. These puppet owners will tell you that it's a great franchise and then report back to home base. Once someone would attempt to leave the system the Wards would start to call them and harass them at all hours. Threats against the franchisee and their family are common. There is at least one restraining order against them as a result of this thug wannabe behavior. Beware of Friendly Computers and the Ward brothers who also market other franchise opportunities as well.
Anonymous
Las Vegas,Nevada,
U.S.A.
Responder has not dealt with this company in a while
#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, February 15, 2009
The responder talking about the machines he bought has not used Friendly Computers in A very long time, or he would know that the Sahara store closed over a year and a half ago. Also as an ex-employee I can def say these are not stand up people, one of the founders of the company has been brought up on Child Pornography charges, he was arrested on charges(reported on national news and by FBI reports) that he was once convicted in 2000 and now again in 2008 while with an underage girl, he was video taping. These owners kept it from the employees that he was a convicted sex offender. I would think that kind of background should help people understand how this company operates.
Bill Couture
Las Vegas,Nevada,
U.S.A.
Have Received Great Service
#4Consumer Comment
Fri, January 30, 2009
Since 2000 I've bought 5 computers from the Las Vegas Shara store. They've backed them up with first rate service. Two are still front line computers for me and one lasted almost 7 years before it wore out. They've done repairs for me. Great, fast job. Couldn't be happier. Bill C
