MATCO TOOLS Franchise Complaints

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• Gary still not sure why you insist on calling me part of a good ol boys club. Started as a franchise, always have been one. Never met Kevin, he could walk up to me today at a store and I would not know who he is. I do recognize the name because of his sussess. I guess that's how you get into the good ol boys club, YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL! So I guess I appreciate yours, Debbies, and Tommys jealousy of our success.

• So Debbie, not going to be on here for a while, heading out to pick up a trade in toolbox, then going to do my warrany returns, just thought I would let you know, I am not scared, just have some work to do today. Yeah I know it's Saturday, when I started my DM didn't tell me I had to work Saturdays. I think I will call Jerry/Guest

• "So Debbie, not going to be on here for a while, heading out to pick up a trade in toolbox, then going to do my warrany returns..."

  Thanks for keeping us posted, Jason. It would be great if you could post your to-do list a couple times per day just cuz you're such a super-interesting guy!

  Debbie, I've got to duck out for a little bit, too. I'm having some of my security people move the gold bars from my "Snap-on Winnings" vault to my general treasury and relabel it "Matco/Danaher Winnings." They are redecorating the exterior to look like a Matco Toolbox. My idea!

  Then I've got a meeting with my yacht-builder to finalize teak stain and porthole fittings for the lower deck for my new baby. I've also got to pick out the font for the wording: "Old Boy's Club" and under it "Red Bank, NJ."

  See you in a bit,

  Guest, Esq.

• Oh guys, everybody take a step back and breath, You ALL have gotten so far of the point with the name calling, the STFU's ad etc!

  I guess since I've been "out" for a couple years I've learned to accept, NOT LIKE, what happend to a degree.

  BOTH sides have valid points. Again, knowing Kevin, I am sure he feels he is 100% right. As do those who got "lett down". Even Kevin Admits that Matco "has some problems". Point being, he has DIFFERENT problems some of did/do.

  It's all about your point of view. My point is this, rather than spend time bitching at EACH OTHER and name calling, work togther!

  Kevin, I consideer you a good friend. BUT why is it that you have such a hard time even acknowledging the our experience and complaints are REAL. They DID happen. And to those of us that experienced "the bad", can you not see Kevins side?

  Just because Kevin and others, did NOT expeience what we DID, it doesn't mean it didn't or doesn't happen. And just because "we" had "probems" with Matco doesn't mean Kevin and other didn't.

  We would ALL benfit MORE by acknowledging each others issues. Jesus are we all 8 years old?

  It IS possible for 2, or 2,000, people to have 2, or 2,000 DIFFERNT experinces with THE SAME COMPANY!

  Maybe my pending divorce has made me see that there are TWO sides, sometimes many more, to each story.

  I think what Debbie, Tommy and others are saying is VERY similar to what MY arugue meant was and that is this. Yes, maybe I could have done things different, hind sight is ALWAYS 20/20. BUT NONE OF USE GOT WHAT ME PAID FOR!

  And before you all jump on me that I "didn't BUY a franchise" becasue Matco doesn't charge for that, I agree to that. BUT I did "buy into" a business plan, the figures I was given, the support I'd be given, the idea that my DM WOULD be there for me, that I would be helped as needed, etc.

  NO I did NOT "buy" a franchise, persay. I did buy into a LOT of "promises" about how "Matco would be there for me". Matco WAS, as long as I was writing them check, buying tools and making them money. But as soon I I need help and wasn't making them money- GONE!

  I don't give a shit if you're Matco, Wal-Mart or Subway! Part of being a team/FAMILY, and that's the sales picth , that "Matco is a family that will be there for you", means staying thru good and BAD!

  Matco is more of a "fair weather friend". AS long as it's "good", like Kevin and others have expereinced, Matco IS there. BUT once you start to struggle, Matco bails on you quicker than you can say "terminate".

  Business IS business! But, like with my expereince I got pumped so full of "one big happy family" that I didn't see what was right in front of me.

  One more "example" of my DM's "Matco first" attitude. I kept saying I "reaaly wanted to talk to an accountant AND a lawyer BEFORE I signed anything. My DM about flipped out! Instead of "you Tom that is a wise idea for anyone going into buisiness for themselves", I got the "don't do that! Thats; just "wasted money". Money you could be using to buy tools and expand your business".

  Bottom line is this- Kevin, Jason, etc. I have no hard feeling towards you guys, BUT do NOT tell me/us that what we experienced did NOT and does NOT happen! We LIVED it first hand!

  And I don't question your expereinces. I KNOW that Kevin has a had a good experience, with a few speed bumps, with Matco. I GLAD that he has had such a great and successful experience, I really am. I wish that I had been what I had. That was my dream!

  BOTH sides need to stop telling the other side that their experience "didn't happen". I know what I experienced and it was WELL documented!

  Passion runs strong no matter what side you are on. And there shouldn't be "sides". Kevin and those are passionate about their company, as well they should be. And we are passionate about what Matco did to us!

  I don not know why it is so hard to believe each others experiences? The one thing I do find "funny" is that there are so many more that had "bad experiences" than good. AND most of us have never met or know each other, live on opposite sides of the country, had different DM', RM's, etc, YET our "experiences" are ALL damn near identical? There is NO WAY we could have "got together" ahead of time to "get our stories straight"!

  This is why I am so glad that Matco is in my "rearview mirror".

• Guest/Jerry
  I like your post that says"The idea that an attorney preparing a case would post anonymously either to recruit or influence opinion is ludicrous, as it would come out in discovery and be used against him. It would likely be a bar association violation" Wow certainly sounds like someone has studied law. So i get it, you work for Jerry as a para legal etc. That way it would not be illegal right??

  Debbie,
  You are the one who keeps bringing up the windshield, not I. Oh, and by the way Matco cannot provide the"World Class Service" you expect if you dont pay your bill. No one will ship you tools if you dont pay.

  Kevin,
  Guest/Jerry with his last posts that I showed above sure seems like he knows a lot about what a lawyer can and cannot do?????

  Debbie,
  By the way, I know Jasons mother and he would not treat her that way, but she pays her bills and would not expect answers to questions that were given without her thinking it through.

  Gary,
  It does not matter who you are in this world, you need to look out for yourself. That is no matter what person or corporation you are dealing with. Thats all we expected to see. I do feel for the people who were mislead, but you have to read and know what you have signed. You need to have the competence to research things on your own. You need to have the will to overcome problems and persever. No matter what support you do or dont receive, does not matter if you dont know what you are getting into. Would be like buying a car without research or a test drive. I do feel for all DBRS who were economically impacted(including myself). But I have figuired out how to overcome and am better off more than ever. I am not a "charter" DBR, but a franchisee, just like the rest of everyone here(except guest/jerry the lawyer). I chose to succeed and went all in to make it happen. It is not easy, as no business is easy. I feel for anyone that fails at business but what I dont like is complaints or "whining" about things that the DBR could have controlled themselves and chose not to.

  Jason,
  Have a great morning at work, have to do my brokens some time this weekend also.

  I would like "good ol boys club" changed to "successful winning DBRS club". Thanks

• Well I see the same thing is going on here as when I last visited. I hope this is helping everyone. I just don't see the purpose of this site anymore. It sounds like a bunch of people that just don't like each other not a site to resolve anything. I was wrong in the beginning to call anyone out (for that I apologize). But no matter what is said somebody comes back with some smart a** comment. I cant believe you people have so much time on your hands. I wish I did. I don't know which side is worst but it's clear that there is problems. I think everyone agrees. Maybe everyone doesn't agree but they should be at least looked into and handled just like each of us do daily in our business. I can say I am really looking forward to expo this year. It is going to be so much fun tring to find all of you. I hope GUEST wheres a name tag. If he doesnt I will just to see the response from all of you. Good luck again to all of us.

• ...............my bills were paid, and my tools still were not shipped - VALID ISSUE

  no point in defending anything more - it all falls on deaf ears

  HOWEVER; I would like to THANK TOM WILLIS, without whom - most of you would not be here. Meaning, I sent a FEW emails out to start a distributor association. Word spread, Tom Willis wasn't happy............... HE EMAILED EVERY DISTRIBUTOR AT MATCO AND TOLD THEM SOMEONE WANTED TO START A DISTRIBUTOR ASSOCIATION. Thank you Mr. Willis. I alone, could not get the word out. I received many replies after Mr. Willis sent his email, I also receive MANY more email lists.

  IF IT WERE TRUE THAT I WAS A LONE DISGRUNTLED DISTRIBUTOR, IF IT WERE TRUE I WAS JUST A WHINY WOMAN..............................

  ..................think about it, would there really be a need for the President of a
  multi-million dollar company to spend his time and energy telling his people to ignore me?

  Guest - you've gotten under their skin, and yes, they still will debate you without your secret identity being revealed............ :)

  Gary - you too have gotten under their skin, 'you still haven't answered the question' - they have repeated that so many times, I've forgotten the question LOL

  BOTTOM LINE - all the petty bickering didn't work, THE PROBLEMS REMAIN, attention has not been diverted, the idea a Distributor Association is just collateral damage now.............................. instead of Unhappy Franchisees talking about problems and finding solutions.................... you all basically have driven them to court. I think now, we should form an association called:
  D.A.M.N. Distributors Against Matco Now

• D.A.M.N right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Kevin, a while back you called the PSA Dept the "Arm Pit of Matco" while I don't agree with all of there policys and would question the legality of some. There are some hard working people there and to say that about the whole dept. because they did not tell you what you wanted to hear is in my opinion wrong.

  I have been around for a while and while I consider myself to be succssful, I am also troubled by the storys I am hearing on this site. Both as a distributor and a Danaher stockholder,the claims made in the suit that was filed in federal court are a lot more serious than attacking someone because she wanted to know if any one had a guy they used to get their winshield fixed.

  I am also a charter distributor which means for me I would be coming up on my second renewal. So my truck that is an 06 International and when people see it for the first time tell me that its the nicest tool truck they have ever been on.....Matco would want me to replace because it has 140k on it. I have seen several friends leave because of having difficulty renewing at 10 years. One who went to Cornwell is happier than he ever was and is turning outstanding numbers every week.

  Like Kevin, Jason I neither need or want Matco to hold my hand. But thats me it does appear that in several cases distributors did not recieve even minimal support from there DMs They were promised different there was one I believe it was Tom who had not even recieved a budget before he went to school. Had that been someone who I brought into the business I would have been very dissaponted. And in the case of the distributor who posted several weeks ago who was in the top 50 till they cut his route then was terminated.....no one even commented on that, that If I recall correctly

  Jerry Marks has made Millions in his cases against Snap-On alone do you guys really think he is posting on this board? Try reading the federal complaint I would be willing to bet that "Guest" is mentioned there and its not Mr Marks.

  I also find it strange that most of the distributors are from two regions. And we keep hearing the same DM RM names.

  You want to have a discussion lets talk about warranty, quality, price. But this will not be setteled on a message board it will be settled in a court of law

  So to answer the question if a prospective distributor came on this site and had about two hours to read through everything and was still here. Would I start with Matco today? Probably not the industy has changed two much. While I still do ok, I own everything. And I am also under a different contract that dispite what was said by Kevin in that regard is totally different than what a new distributor would have.

  Funny I like all charters only have that contract because of Jerry Marks, Matco did that because of a Snap-On lawsuit, and while I don't recall the exact amout it was substantial.

  And for the record I have not currently retained either Mr Marks or any other attorney. I just don't like some of what I am reading......

  Timothy A Sharkey

• http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/01/0130_franchise/source/6.htm

  Interesting reading from Business Week

  Snap-on

  Wives Against Snap-on vs. Snap-on Tools Inc.

  In 2005, automotive repair tools franchisor Snap-on was sued by four wives of Snap-on franchisees, who claimed the company falsely advertised income potential and customer bases, and extended precarious lines of credit to franchisees. The wives claimed financial and emotional debilitation to their own lives, and filed the case because of an arbitration provision in their husbands' contracts that prevented them from suing their own franchisor.

  Outcome: The wives won the verdict and opened the door for a California Superior Court ruling that allowed dealers themselves to file a class action against Snap-on. In 2006 they did just that. The franchisor settled their suit for approximately $38 million in damages and attorney's fees, forgave about $61.6 million in debt, and agreed to change some of its business practices, such as reducing the required investment for initial inventory.