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Disillusion Sets In For Quiznos Franchisees »

Posted by: Jordan 2 years, 9 months ago

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"On Nov. 27, Bhupinder Baber walked into a Quiznos restaurant on the outskirts of Los Angeles. He spoke briefly with the manager before stepping into the restroom and shooting himself three times in the chest. Mr. Baber died that evening. In a note he left behind, Mr. Baber, ... blamed the sandwich chain for destroying his life."

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Jordan

Hi, I'm Jordan Running. By day I write about software for Tucows.com. By night I blog at swirlee.org (sometimes), do some programming ...

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Comments: 53

Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)
evelyna
Feb. 27, 2007, 10:01 a.m.
I see too many of these stores and too many subways too. A lot of times there is just one or 2 customers in the store. I know they could not be making money.
Why don't people just use their common sense?
People think just because they buy a known business they will be succesful and rich.
Another corporate lie!
DanmLiberalsComment has been removed: User banned.
Avg rating: (+2/-0 2)
bugluver
Feb. 27, 2007, 11:22 a.m.
"his goals, which so far include reducing food costs enough so that profits for an average Quiznos should climb by at least $10,000 a year."
What a dream getting paid $10,000 a year for the glamorous life of a restaurant owner.
As an owner your profit is your pay check
52 weeks /year x 7days /week - Christmas Easter and Thanksgiving x Min. of 12hr days = $2.30/ hr
Avg rating: (+1/-3 -2)
coolicula
Feb. 27, 2007, 11:37 a.m.
Could I get two Quiznos to go, please?
Avg rating: (+2/-0 2)
edromar2
Feb. 27, 2007, 11:47 a.m.
Sounds like time to boycott Quiznos in spite of their ads--or maybe indirectly because of all they spend on their ads.
I'll not have a thing from Quiznos until mext year, and only then if I have heard that they started treating their franchisees right!
Better yet, lets have some legislation breaking up such corporations, paying off the fanchisees and using our government Small Business Administration to offer no interest loans to the workers of each restrauant to buy out their owners and set up capitalist cooperatives, the only fair form of capitalist business!
Avg rating: (+2/-0 2)
bugluver
Feb. 27, 2007, 12:12 p.m.
Large franchise or mom and pop restaurant every one looks at the owner as an unlimited cash supply. Every 3 months the landlord comes up with a new fee. The food supplier will give you a better price if you double your order then when the products arrives the dew date is the day after you get it. Customers always trying to get something for free, bad checks, shoplifters and $1 credit card purchases. Paying a premium for bad help that rob you blind. Ah the good life. The days of Ray Kroc are long gone. If you have a boat load of money to throwaway you can send it directly to me instead of a restaurant it's a lot more efficient.
Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)
BLKEDU
Feb. 27, 2007, 12:36 p.m.
this is not good for quiznos. from what i see subways is doing much better. people are loosing their houses. a quiznos by my university had at most 5 customers in it at a time. i couldnt see how they were making money. it was like a front. i went there every week. last year i went and i was shocked to see a notice on the window that the police kicked them out. its not a joke. i know that someone probably lost there house and everything. the quiznos logo is still there but its still closed. quiznos probably would try to sale that poor location to a franchisee. not buying form their restaurants in protest is not gonna help the franchisee..and its not gonna heart the people up high. i dont see how they are in business all the stores i see are always empty. im usually the only one eating in. it is a scam you can not buy success! you have to work hard. there $8 sandwiches are competing against a full boston market meal $5 subways etc. and i know their spending a load of cash on each store.
Avg rating: (+6/-0 6)
saneman
Feb. 27, 2007, 12:40 p.m.
Caveat Emptor! Maybe, they should read and understand the licensing agreements before jumping head long into something. If it sounds too good to be true, then its not true. It doesn't take too much common sense to figure out how many sandwiches they need to sell each day just to break even.
Avg rating: (+1/-4 -3)
BrianJJohnson
Feb. 27, 2007, 12:49 p.m.
"40 percent of Quiznos units are not breaking even" that's probably the most disturbing thing possible. I regularly eat at Quizno's...i think it's pretty good, but I could never see owning one of their franchises because of how expensive their sandwhiches are. For a complete meal it can run upwards of $10...that's a lot for fast food.
Avg rating: (+8/-1 7)
jlf278
Feb. 27, 2007, 12:50 p.m.
Soon people will get over the whole Atkins diet craze. Quiznos will start selling like hot cakes (which will themselves start selling well once again).
Avg rating: (+11/-1 10)
Twistoflex
Feb. 27, 2007, 1:40 p.m.
From the very beginning I was totally turned off by their product and wondered why anyone would invest in that company. It's a heart attack shop.
Plus, the idea of dipping your sandwiches in a brine is even more grotesque. I guess if you're a slob and like to eat like a pig you'd be attracted to this dining concept.
To be fair, I find all fast food joints repugnant.
Avg rating: (+3/-0 3)
ladyraestewart
Feb. 27, 2007, 1:50 p.m.
I'm very anti big business and always spend locally whenever I can. And I feel for someone who got screwed by a big company. However, there's a process known as "due diligence" where you actually do your homework and make decisions grounded in reality based upon research.
Maybe Quiznos did screw him over but he made the decision to invest. Quiznos didn't kill him just like the Judas Priest song didn't kill that teenager years ago who committed suicide.
And there's a future lawsuit that will arise out of this incident or a similar one. No one is responsible for anything they do -- it's a terrible world we live in today!
Avg rating: (+6/-0 6)
Dsb2k6
Feb. 27, 2007, 2 p.m.
I am the Brood Witch.
Avg rating: (+13/-1 12)
goodgrief
Feb. 27, 2007, 2:27 p.m.
awwww. . . how sad
Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)
normallysilent
Feb. 27, 2007, 2:28 p.m.
I had not eaten at a Quiznos until a couple weeks ago. It was in a very small town so maybe they try harder but I must say the sandwiches we had were very good, the price was not bad and yes, we were the only two people in the store.
Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)
rrrtx
Feb. 27, 2007, 3:02 p.m.
There is no such thing as business without risk. Most franchises like Quiznos do well compared to other business ventures (most of which fail within the first 5 years) but there is no guarantee.
I think there are many factors that affect whether or not a franchise (or any business really) does well but I think we have all eaten at establishments where the quality and service were not good enough to justify a return visit. How well the business/franchise owner manages their business is a big determining factor.
Avg rating: (+6/-1 5)
goodgrief
Feb. 27, 2007, 3:08 p.m.
What kind of an idiot would (1) shoot himself in the chest, and (2) take three tries to get it right? Maybe Quiznos wasn't the problem
Avg rating: (+0/-5 -5)
jms4033
Feb. 27, 2007, 4:10 p.m.
They should have never given up on the spongmonkeys.
Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)
interested101
Feb. 27, 2007, 5:06 p.m.
People who lose money are unpredictable. Many a stock broker has been murdered by their client, and have also taken their own lives.
Being in business in the 21st Century isn't easy.
I've been to Quiznos, it was packed, and it was pretty good.
Don't know what the person talking about dipping in "brine" is talking about.
I don't think a corporation should be held responsible for someone's depression and disillusion that they'll be rich.
We're all looking for that easy money gig.
My sympathies go Mr. Baber's family, but he was wrong to kill himself. It really is the coward's way out to blame someone, or something else on your shortcomings.
Avg rating: (+1/-1 0)
xlegultx
Feb. 27, 2007, 5:16 p.m.
I have never ever tasted anything from quiznos or subway or a hell lot of fast food crapshacks.
Avg rating: (+1/-1 0)
interested101
Feb. 27, 2007, 5:46 p.m.
Good for you virgin x. Whatever.
Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)
latinmedstudent
Feb. 27, 2007, 7:25 p.m.
Hey, It's true I have a friend that worked there... in a Quizno's in south florida. The owner was always complainig about the company... corporate wouldn't let him put up pictures of the little league baseball team that he once catered ... or local celebrities either. Freakin subs r overrated.
Avg rating: (+3/-1 2)
abntv
Feb. 27, 2007, 7:40 p.m.
I have it on good authority that the real reason he shot himself was because his pet rock died
Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)
goodnews1
Feb. 27, 2007, 8:01 p.m.
what type of weapon did he use? how does one shoot ones self 3 times?? Shouldn't you be at least in serious pain after the 1st one?
Avg rating: (+1/-1 0)
david_nwpa
Feb. 27, 2007, 8:23 p.m.
I have eaten at Quiznos, but after reading the article, I am not inclined to do so again. We have a local restaurant where I live that produces far better subs and uses locally grown produce when it is available. To say nothing of the fact, that I prefer to cook at home. Always tastes better when I get to eat food I have prepared myself.