MATCO TOOLS Franchise Complaints

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• Debbie wrote............"So, we have newby distributors trying to make a buck – is it really wise for their DM to tell them to go to Expo when they have only been on the street for six months"

  I couldn't agree more ! I was on the road 2-4 months. Oct-Nov-Dec-Jan (great months for the tool biz :-(

  My DM- Darryl Pritchett (Tommy's buddy) tells me to sign up for Cancun Expo. I try to explain to him my business in no where near the point where I should be signing up for expo. His response........."It is a great learning tool, go ahead and sign up"

  This goes on and on. I finally give in and sign up. Pay $300+ for passports for myself and wife. Two weeks before Expo and my wife is ready to have fun in Cancun Darryl calls and tells me "your business isn't where it needs to be to be going to the expo." WELL DUH !

• Relentless - "Can you tell us Distributors what your start up costs were when you went from DM to Distributor?"
  Junior - $83k, I had to go thru the same app and same requires as every other DBR under the UFOC at that time. Zero special treatment. No free tools, no gravy route. By the book.

  Relentless - "Since you were a DM can you tell us how many distributors came and went during your time as a DM?"
  Junior - It's been three years since and even if I could recall it would be inappropriate of me to share such information. It's a small world and I would love to be welcomed at Matco again someday.

  Relentless - "Can you tell us how good the communication was with your RM?"
  Junior - Yes, it was excellent in my experience.

  Relentless - "Can you tell us out of your graduation class in Stow, OH how many are still successful distributors at Matco?"
  Junior - I can't because I have no idea. And how would this number mean anything to our conversation anyhow? A separated DBR doesn't mean Matco screwed someone.

  Relentless - "If there is only 1 out of 10 would that mean that you graduated with 8 other lazy and worthless distributors? Or would that mean that ‘Maybe’ Matco does like to turn over their Distributors."
  Junior - So I personally account for two separations, does that mean a DM lied to me? Does it mean I was unsuccessful? Nothing could be further from the truth. Separations don't indicate a failure, I'm living proof.

  I didn't want just negative spooned out there with mostly unsubstantiated claims like "The reason the Expo hotel prices are so high is that you pay for the top 10 or 20 expenses. Money got to come from somewhere. Truly this is the reason". So I popped in to share my personal experience. This way if there is a family out there and they are considering a Matco Franchise they will at least have heard from someone that's succeeded in the Matco Tools franchise. Each person's experience will be different based on how they approach it.

  One final comment; Tommy, my name doesn't take away from the facts. You don't want to know me, all you want to do is what you have always done and attack others for not buying into your cause. I know your situation, and not thru Matco, you've told your story three different ways over the years so I got it from you. Tommy failed purely because of Tommy [period]

• Debbie- email me sometime. Got LOTS you will want.

  Yeah EXPO< HAHAHHa! I "signed on" a few weeks before Expo. My DM BEGGED me to go to Expo BEFORE training! I refused on grounds how the hell was I to justify spending money before I even sold a tool!

  Wait, gets better! I ended up going anyway! The "only" truck that he would "ok" from Provans was one they took to display at Orlando Expo! I flew down during Expo and picked up my truck and drove back to IL.

  Wait for it- another couple IN MY DISTRICT, who fell for the buy a new truck deal, had one for sale, because they lost their butts, and were less than 2 damn hours from me! OUR DM "could have helped TWO DBR's". Help them get out from under a truck payment AND save me some start up money by buying theirs!

  Let me see if I can find name of guy in IL that works with Translease, whom I was supposed to let repo my truck. I called him after 3 botched sales and he told me "typical Matco".

  Twice I had it sold and TransLease had "misplaced the tittle", therefore I couldnt sell it! Matco told me that I "should just sell the truck without a title if I was that worried"!

  Only companies WORSE than Matco are ProVans and TransLease. They are ALL in bed together!

  Have you or Tommy thought of getting a hold of them? Maybe state that you are willing to take them down with Matco unless they want to roll?

  Email or call me sometime.

• Bruce, he is everyones buddy, until he wants you gone.

• Junior, please sto trying to change the conversation, go out and sell a used car, you and some others try to sway the conversation, it won't happen. I thought you were going away. Checkout out craigslist in your area.

• Why is it there are alot of failed distributors under Darryl Pritchett and Mike Ramey? Can anyone answer that question? There must be a reason.

• Debbie - "BTW…. I heard from a very reliable source,
  Matco is trying to make Going to EXPO
  Mandatory"
  Junior - Just FYI Debbie. It's required in nearly every other franchise offered. ACE hardware, Taco Del Mar, 7 Eleven, Roto Rotor, you name it.

  I'm surprised they didn't do this a long time ago. I think it was you that asked if it's a good idea that new DBRs attend EXPO within 6 months start up. You bet it is. Let's look at the facts. They spread the cost of the trip out over so many weeks, and you're not even billed until after you go. So the idea is that, if you followed the plan, PRE SELL products you know will be on sale then when you get home most of those instock items at at your door step in days, go deliver those tools getting a small down and increased payment...now you've payed for EXPO and to think you have a bunch of NEW tools coming that you should be promoting to get those sold before they show up.

  BTW, the classes taught there at EXPO are the best taught by the best. You'd be a fool to miss those. You chance of failure is increased if you don't go and follow the plan.

• bruce same guy same story with me,knowing nothing about tool sales and sales.I relied on some i thought i trusted,well i handed over 100 grand,had two weeks to learn sales,than was put in my truck and lets go sell tools.several times a week phone call from you know who,o i got a great deal, you should buy this stuff,trusting him, i did,soon the party was over but not for them.thay just moved on to another person with a dream,you fell into the trap as i did sorry man it will get better.

• EXPO sounds like a great time to organize a new franchisee association. Maybe get a conference room nearby and slip away quietly? Maybe Jerry will even pop for the refreshments.

• Junior you are right about expo, where else can you go on vacation after expo or before in which Matco bills you over 12 weeks. Besides s credit card name one place that gives you 12 week terms, you know the answer brother.

  Matco, gives you 12 week terms on tools and your trip.
  They give you a discount on tools....they let you pre order tool boxes a month a head of time, this year junior you get to do an add on a week later too .

  You know as well as I do, the problem with some is, they order one or two of things to stock their truck instead of running a promo, then they don't see an increase in business, so now it's a bad idea to go.