FreeScroll.com/Historical Research Center Response
Here's a response from Mike Dell, general manager of The Historical Research Center, to our blog post about MyFreeScroll.com, selling genealogical for $7.
"Concerns: Your article on Myfreescroll has some inconsistencies. I am the General Manager of The Historical Research Center. We are not a franchise business. We are a business opportunity business. Not sure where you got the 5,000 pounds as a start up figure. We have a start up package for $995.00. Unlike a franchise, all of this money is for inventory. There are no franchise fees. If you want to evaluate whether or not we are at Ellis Island, try giving the gift shop a call. They will tell you if we are there or not. By the way we have been there for about 10 years. When we filmed our ad there we obtained permission from the National Park Service. By the way, the free search on the Ellis Island web site is terrific. We use some of that information ourselves, however we also go way beyond just the immigration records at Ellis Island. Our researchers look for the meaning, origin and historical references from as far back as 1,000 years ago. Give me a call at (xxx) xxx-xxxx or send me an email if you have any questions."
Click on the link below for our response.
First, Mike, we thank you for writing.
We got the information about the Historical Research Center being a franchise business from several sources, most notably, this site, called the U.K. Franchise Directory. It notes: "Overseas Opportunities Exist: USA Italy Spain Malta Germany [sic]." That site is where the 5,000 U.K. pounds figure comes from as well (technically, 4,995 pounds). The Better Business Bureau database lists Historical Research Center branches in Elmhurst, New York; Hemet, Calif.; Louisville, Ky.; Boston; Houston; Lethbridge, Alberta; Las Vegas; Myrtle Beach; and Santa Monica, Calif. In addition, your Web site lists your organization's address as 2019 Corporate Drive, Boynton Beach, Florida. The Historical Research Center Web site is registered there as well. We're not sure what a "business opportunity business" is, but we don't mean anything derogatory -- heck, Taco Bell is a franchise business!
We did call the gift shop on Ellis Island, and they do indeed sell Historical Research Center products via a computer in the store, in much the same way T-shirts are sold there.
Haven't got our scroll yet, but when we do, we'll give you a call and post more.
Comments
I ordered from myfreescroll.com and its a bunch of bull. They mailed me a cheep looking piece of large cardboard paper with print that was just typed from a computer. I also got the second name for "free" but noticed that both of them had the same information written on them...hmmm... what a coincidence, two different names that have the same 3 lines of history and the rest of the paragraphs just tell you about why names have history!?! They also forgot to send me the extra free bonuses which was suppose to include the family names and coat of arms report which is advertised on their website. If I knew this I would have never ever wasted my 7 dollars on this crap. I could have just googled my history and made up my own scroll. Dont waste your money!!!
Posted by: decru1 | May 21, 2009 08:57 AM
This company is the worst for customer service. You can call that number and you will never get a response back. When you get your order it will have items missing. I wish I never ordered from these clowns.
Posted by: Donovan Hanson | May 16, 2009 08:53 AM