Job Discussion Forums

edwinagirl · Joined: 05 Jul 2004 Posts: 68 Location: beijing

I've heard rumors about how EF are going out of business recently on this forum. Since I'm now invovled in a DOS context I can tell you what's going on.

First, EF are indeed having huge problems in China, but I don't think they are in danger of going out of business. Actually, the problem is that they've sold way too many franshises to way too many people without proper regard to whetehr or not those people could or would deliver a decent service. (Generally speaking they do not.) This is damaging the EF brand name and now seems like a dumb strategy - franchise fees are too low and EF have trouble getting the payments.
The whole thing has a risky air to it - franchise laws are unclear and the partners are more than willing to shaft EF whenever they can. The HQ in Shanghai are having an unmitigated nightmare trying to deal with 50 or so franshisees. Now EF are buying back their franchises and closing schools in Shanghai in an effort to straighten things out. However, that is very, very costly and there is a tension at HQ that you could cut with a knife. The managers made the mistake of thinking they could get endless amounts of cash from Sweden, but they will not. Revenues generally tend to be OK throughout the country but as I say that money is not filtering back the EF becuase the franshisees are shafting them. I'm not sure what EF's "core competencies" are supposed to be, but franshising was never one of them. Someone said the Swedes were clever - it doesn't appear so from inside EF.

Just to clear up something: It is Wall Street who are going bankrupt in Spain and Brazil. Their days are numbered. Watch out.

mike w · Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 10:12 am Post subject:

I suspect that if the EF management find out about this posting, that you won't be involved in a DOS context for very much longer.

But thank you for clarifying the situation, and good luck. I think you'll need it!

Ludwig · Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 4:14 pm Post subject: Re: EF rumours

TEAM_PAPUA · Joined: 24 May 2004 Posts: 1679 Location: HOLE

AsiaTraveller · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 6:14 am Post subject:

Herr Ludwig, the great critic of others' online writing style, has a peculiar stylistic quirk of his own.

Witness his obsession with the phrase "too overly".

Writing "too overly" is like writing "small in size" or "few in number" or "blue in color" or "refer back". What would you say to students who use the adverbial phrase "too overly"?

I'd take the opportunity to teach such students the meanings of the words "redundant" and "affectation". Then I'd advise them not to pursue an M.A. in Linguistics.

bgreytak · Joined: 21 Aug 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Hong Kong

I worked for EF Nanchang for 2 months last year and it was a nightmare. Many promises were made but none kept. We even had a visit from Shanghai and told the EF rep, I believe his name was Mark, about the problems, ie: management told us to lie to him about the number of students we teach, management threatened us with jail if we didn't lie to him, etc. The last straw was finding out that in 16 months of operation, 16 teachers had left before their contracts expired because of the same problems we faced. Now, EF headquarters knew about the other teachers leaving but chose not to tell us until three of us left under dark of night for fear of retaliation by management. It was only then that EF Shanghai related to us about all the problems they had been having with EF Nanchang. To be fair, the accomodations were fine and we did get paid on time but, they held our passports for 6 weeks and only gave them back when we said we were going to call our embassies. All this amounts to a very interesting first overseas experience for me. I am sure not all EF franchises in China are run poorly but from what I have heard, many of them are.

Ludwig · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 2:31 pm Post subject:

I am just glad you deem my words worthy of such analysis, 'Asia Traveller'.

AsiaTraveller · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 4:13 pm Post subject:

You're too overly welcome, Herr "Ludwig".

Ludwig · Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 6:32 pm Post subject: Re: Fast Food

edwinagirl · Joined: 05 Jul 2004 Posts: 68 Location: beijing

To bgreytak, or anyone else having problems with EF, I say, go to the source. The HQ is in Shanghai. Let them know what's happening. Generally speaking they want to help. Actually, they must help becuase EF has put so much store into making China work and their reputation rests on it. For EF, finding teachers is as difficult as finding students. If the management knows that teachers are truly p****d off they will have to take action. Let it be known how you will take your case to a public forum like this one and I guarantee they will respond. I can't name names but it is easy enough to find out who the top guys are in Shanghai. Tweak them if the local franchisees are screwing you. Nanchang does not sound like an exception - I'd say 70% of the franchises are having this kind of problem - or indeed worse!

bgreytak · Joined: 21 Aug 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Hong Kong

Thanks Edwinagirl but I am so far past that I just wanted to relate my experience. By the way, I did go straight to Shanghai and they dragged their heels and tried to blame the teachers and once we proved our allegations they cut all contact with the three of us. Doesn't sound like the kind of organization that is willing to help. I do know that EF overall is a good place to work it is just the China franchises I would be worried about.
Again thanks!

TEAM_PAPUA · Joined: 24 May 2004 Posts: 1679 Location: HOLE

Shanghai will not support your case in any way. They remain distanced from the practices of the individual franchises unless they're not getting the money owned. Only then will they take action.

T_P Cool

briansplnr · Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 22

*beep* EF

dazzaa26 · Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 57 Location: Harbin

Too much money involved for it to close.