In the past most chain restaurants at least had edible food, but lately they border on terrible. Not sure if it’s private equity in all cases, but the quality makes it almost inedible. I used to like P.F. Chang’s and the last half dozen times I’ve gone there the food has been absolute crap. I think in their case PE has done quite a number. I’m on the road tonight and I tried P.F. Chang’s once again. Awful. Just awful. I had to lick a dog shit log to get the taste out of my mouth.
As I mentioned, I was in New Orleans last week and the food was amazing at several independent restaurants.
PE is ruining everything. I have three dogs and a cat that I have to take to the vet periodically and my testicles shrink to the size of green peas every time because I know they are going to gouge the shit out of me. Even if your independent vet clinic hasn’t been purchased by PE, they are all raising their prices to be in line with each other.
My mom literally just complained that PFC was crap when she went last week. They go a couple times a year, and we had a big family meal there last month, 12 people. Was fine but not as good as last year.
Did Olive Garden in January. Fine. Meh.
Texas de Brazil in January was very very good…they had better picana than Fogo, but the feijoada at TdB was substandard.
Texas Roadhouse was meh.
4 chains in 2 months is a lot for us. Unless you count Blaze for lunch. That place rocks, Qdoba is also in the rotation and is good. Better than Chipotle.
VETS ARE THE ■■■■■■■ DEVIL. MERCENARY ASSHOLES. HOLY SHIT THEY ARE GOUGING POS!
Our 16-year-old cat is now on thyroid and blood thinner medication. They cut the blood thinner down from half a pill to a quarter of a pill. These things are hard as a rock and very difficult to cut precisely so the dosage is a little guesswork. So she’s already had two blood draws and they want to have me bring her in again to dial the medication in even closer. I told them no, because I can’t control the medication level now. What are they going cut it down to an eighth of a pill? Again this is a 16-year-old cat. ■■■■ those crooks
Hence why I have a guy for almost everything and anything.
Yes sometimes I will go grab some crap off Amazon but 80% of my purchases are of small timers.
All out to eat is mom and pops
All meat is small mom and pop
Produce is a Randazzos a local Detroit chain or this place in Dearborn
Honey yeah I got a guy
You want Bolts “Acme Nut and Bolt” in Melvindale and no I am not kidding. You need strange ass threads for a car don’t pay dealer $15 for a set but Acme has it for buck
Hell I buy whole pigs and lambs from a farmer and butcher myself in his basement
Chain restaurants are run by demons and evil empires
Olivia garden is a cult restaurant. My wife and I were so happy to have one. We loved the 5th or 6th time we visited and then were like its over priced and im fettuccine guy, having left overs and microwaving is a bad guy.
Texas roadhouse wher I live actually really close to Olivia garden is amazing. We get filets. Because we dont want dollar tree sirloin.
Ive actually become more into bdubs. Burgers are great wings used to be better, but still decent. And we usually walk out with free things because of rewards, and no were not fat humans. We using split when we go out
Hedgies/PE own a very very small % of SFH overall. Now, in some markets, they own enough to be a problem, but overall, not really. RE is city by city.
Not saying it’s a bad idea ti keeo them out of SFH in large amounts, just saying it is nowhere near the boogeyman and overall market impact it’s made out to be.
The REALLY interesting thing PE is getting into is funding personal injury lawsuits. They see outsize returns in a business category and go after them…..all the TV lawyers better watch out.
The B-Dubs I sat in in Marquette a couple nights ago reminds me why I don’t eat out that much. I got the chips and queso 10 bone-in wings and a tall mango cart lager and by the time it was tip+ tax it was 40 bucks.
Dig into the private equity acquisitions of HVAC and Plumbing companies. You know the ones that have the names like, Steve’s Family Plumbing Service on the side of the Van. When in actuality, Steve’s was acquired by a private equity company and they also scooped up 90% of the other HVAC and plumbing companies in a 500 mile radius. They then eff you over on prices and repairs or replacements that aren’t needed.
While private equity (PE) firms see the fragmented HVAC industry as a “goldmine” for consolidation and steady returns, many technicians and homeowners report a sharp decline in the quality of service. Critics often describe this shift as moving from a service-based model to a sales-based model.
The most common negative themes associated with private equity in HVAC include:
1. “Sales-Mechanics” Over Skilled Technicians
One of the most frequent complaints from both employees and customers is that technicians are pressured to become salespeople.
Performance Metrics: Techs are often judged by their “average ticket” or their ability to convert service calls into full system replacements.
Incentivized Failure: Some firms reportedly designate systems older than 8–10 years as “missed opportunities” if a technician doesn’t “set a lead” for a new sales quote, even if the unit is in good condition.
Green Technicians: To cut costs, experienced (and expensive) mechanics are sometimes replaced with less-trained rookies who are better at following sales scripts than diagnosing complex repairs.
2. Drastic Price Hikes
When a PE firm acquires a local “mom-and-pop” shop, price increases often follow quickly to service the debt used to buy the company.
Hidden Ownership: Large firms often keep the original local name and branding so customers don’t realize the ownership (and pricing structure) has changed.
3. Culture and Reliability Declines
Short-Term Focus: Most PE investments are designed for a 5–7 year “flip,” prioritizing immediate profit over long-term customer relationships or community reputation.
High Turnover: The high-pressure environment leads to burnout, causing a revolving door of staff. For customers, this means they rarely see the same technician twice, losing the “trusted advisor” dynamic.
Service Contracts: PE-backed firms heavily push monthly or annual subscription plans. While marketed as preventative maintenance, critics argue they are primarily used to keep a foot in the door for constant upselling.
4. Legal and Quality Risks
Improper Installs: The rush to complete jobs can lead to poor workmanship. Some experts have noted a rise in lawsuits against larger firms for improper installations that cause system failure within just a few years.
Warranty Issues: Changes in ownership can sometimes lead to complications with existing warranties or service guarantees that were made under the previous local owner.
How to Spot a Private Equity-Backed Company
If you want to avoid these issues, look for these “red flags”:
Aggressive Marketing: Dominance in TV/radio ads and paid search results.
Uniform Branding: A sudden change to shiny new trucks and high-tech uniforms that seem “corporate.”
Google Review Patterns: A suspicious mix of many 5-star reviews (often for the “sales experience”) and 1-star reviews (for pricing or repair quality).
The “Second Opinion” Test: If a technician tells you a relatively young system (under 10 years) needs a total replacement, always get a second opinion from a smaller, independent contractor.
