# Franchisers, the lowest of the low. (Long) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 20, 2022, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839 "2022-02-20T20:54:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/301 "2025-11-04T02:02:14Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Sorry, didn’t know you had physical difficulties. As I said, not trying to be mean. It’s okay. And it’s not all the time, but by the time I can do it, it’s overwhelming. I do it, but it sucks every time. I’ve been going every week to get my back worked on to fix issues but while it’s better, it’s come-and-go. Seriously, your question is totally understandable but yeah, it’s tough for me, nobody else is willing to do it, and it’s miserable. ETA: I forgot to add, poop sticks to the fake grass and it’s hard to pick up. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/302 "2025-11-04T13:33:48Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > ETA: I forgot to add, poop sticks to the fake grass and it’s hard to pick up. That’s a good point. If some sticks to the real grass, it will soon dry, then get mulched when I mow so it kinda “goes away”. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/303 "2025-12-06T18:48:04Z")
Yeah, I noticed the problems with artificial grass when I walked my dog. The poop took much longer to degrade, so it hung around longer and stunk longer. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/304 "2025-12-11T18:31:29Z")
Hey, everyone, got some good news! Apparently somebody at the University of Texas, San Antonio Small Business Development Center found a copy of my book and asked me to give an online presentation about how to read Franchise Disclosure Documents. Of course I said ‘yes’, and this presentation is open to the public, is online, is FREE TO ATTEND, and you can register at the link below. So, come and support a Doper in his rage against the machine! Details: Wednesday, December 17th, 3pm Central Time. Link: [https://utsa.zoom.us/meeting/register/E8eeV7-bSP-\_rhDyYbOh2Q](https://utsa.zoom.us/meeting/register/E8eeV7-bSP-_rhDyYbOh2Q) ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/305 "2025-12-11T18:51:35Z")
I’ll try to make it and I promise not to ask too many obnoxious questions. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/306 "2025-12-11T18:56:51Z")
Congrats @JohnT! That is truly a public service. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/307 "2025-12-11T19:01:35Z")
Even if you can’t make it, register - it makes me look better. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/308 "2025-12-11T20:58:44Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > it makes me look better than a baby with demonic eyes ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/309 "2025-12-11T22:32:51Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Even if you can’t make it, register - it makes me look better Done. I even set notifications in my Google calendar. With some cognitive functioning magic I may even be able to show up as attending. Will have to leave mid-way through to meet my grand daughter’ school bus. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/310 "2025-12-11T22:56:05Z")
I registered. As it happens, that day is a flex day for me, and so I should actually be available; I won’t be working. So I’ll try to really be there. I will note for anyone who tries to register, you have to have a free Zoom account associated with the email address you register with (or you get an error message about not being authorized). I didn’t yet, so it wouldn’t let me register, but I found a place to create an account elsewhere on the U of T web site, and was able to get it all set up. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/311 "2025-12-11T23:21:49Z")
Hey, I appreciate the info! I had someone say they couldn’t register, so now I know… ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/312 "2025-12-11T23:28:44Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Hey, I appreciate the info! You’re welcome! Here’s some info on how I did it. I clicked the “JOIN A MEETING” link in the top-right corner. That took me to a new page, where suddenly I saw a “SIGN UP, IT’S FREE!” button appear in that same top-right corner. Clicking that let me make a free Zoom account (just make sure you ignore the free trial stuff and choose a basic account to avoid paying at some point). After doing that, I went back to the original registration page, and this time I was able to register without an error. That’s what worked for me at least. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/313 "2025-12-17T13:50:38Z")
Webinar is today, and I will see you then (3pm, Central) and there (at the link)! ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/314 "2025-12-17T18:30:26Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > you can register at the link below. I tried! I got “This seminar is for authorized users only. Please use a different email address.” When I tried again, it said I had captcha problems (even though it was just an “I am not a robot” box to check. I tried… luckily, I don’t need help avoiding scammy franchisers, thank god! eta: I’ll try again using the advice already given, thanks, gang! ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/315 "2025-12-17T20:02:49Z")
Hope to see you there! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/316 "2025-12-17T20:03:32Z")
Just a thought. Is it possible to record the webinar and put it on YouTube for later viewing by folks who missed it for whatever reason? According to my watch, it starts in an hour, so need answer fast (not for me; I’ve never aspired to own a business). ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/317 "2025-12-17T20:09:26Z")
The link to the presentation slides can be found here: > **[How to Read Franchise Disclosure Documents](https://prezi.com/view/LYfoEAmxxX2fGNEqSFsF/?referral_token=X2cyLAlnB3FN)** > > Detailed Breakdown of FDD Items Introduction to Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) Item 2: Business Experience Item 3: Litigation History Item 4: Bankruptcy Information Item 1: The Franchisor Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDD's) Webinar Goals... Note that this is to be an _educational_ presentation, not a Pit-worthy rant-a-thon, so any frothing at the mouth would be caused by rabies, and not anger. However, my presenter notes have examples of plain bullshit that I’ll bring out in the presentation… but are not on the slides. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/318 "2025-12-17T22:04:37Z")
Done! Hope y’all made it! They didn’t record the webinar, but _I_ sure did. If y’all want a copy, just let me know and I’ll upload it to my Google Drive for download. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/319 "2025-12-17T22:05:51Z")
You did a great job @JohnT! I was there from the start all the way to the end. It was definitely not as dry as the title suggested. You gave a lot of practical advice and interesting anecdotes. And I can definitely see how things can be misleading, like how Item 9 is really just an index. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839/320 "2025-12-17T22:40:33Z")
I woke up with a migraine and totally spaced that the webinar was today. There was a small bell ringing in my head that Wednesday was something, but it wasn’t loud enough. I’d be interested in seeing the recording if enough others are. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/franchisers-the-lowest-of-the-low-long/959839.md?page=17)