What rights does Bumper Man have regarding inspecting a potential supplier's facilities for Bumper Man franchisees?
Bumper_Man Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If we require that an item be purchased from an approved supplier and you wish to purchase it from a supplier we have not approved, you must submit to us a written request for approval, and must include pertinent information about the supplier as required in the Manual. You may not purchase or lease the item from the supplier until and unless we have approved the supplier in writing. We have the right to require you to submit information, specifications, and samples to us to enable us to determine whether the item complies with our standards and specifications and that the supplier meets our criteria. We also have the right to inspect the supplier's facilities and to have samples from the supplier delivered to us or to any independent laboratory we designate for testing. We may condition our approval of a supplier on requirements relating to product quality, prices, consistency, reliability, financial compatibility, labor relations, client relations, frequency of delivery, concentration of purchases, standards of service (including prompt attention to complaints) or other criteria. We may re-inspect the facilities and products of any approved supplier, and we may revoke our approval upon the suppliers' failure to continue to meet any of our then-current criteria. You must reimburse us for the costs that we incur in the supplier approval process. We are not required to approve any particular supplier. We will notify you of our approval or disapproval within 30 days. Our specifications for products and services and criteria for supplier approval are generally issues through written communications and are available to franchisees and approved suppliers.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 18–20)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bumper Man's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee wants to use a supplier that Bumper Man hasn't already approved, the franchisee must get written approval from Bumper Man first. To evaluate the supplier, Bumper Man has the right to ask the franchisee to provide information, specifications, and samples. This allows Bumper Man to check if the supplier's items meet Bumper Man's standards.
Specifically, Bumper Man has the right to inspect the supplier's facilities and request samples to be delivered either to Bumper Man or an independent lab for testing. Bumper Man can base its approval on factors like product quality, prices, consistency, financial compatibility, labor relations, client relations, delivery frequency, purchase concentration, and service standards. Bumper Man also has the right to re-inspect approved suppliers and can revoke approval if they no longer meet Bumper Man's criteria.
The franchisee is responsible for reimbursing Bumper Man for any costs related to the supplier approval process. Bumper Man is not obligated to approve any specific supplier and will notify the franchisee of their decision within 30 days. Bumper Man communicates its product and service specifications and supplier approval criteria through written communications to franchisees and approved suppliers. This ensures Bumper Man maintains control over its brand standards and the quality of products and services used by its franchisees.