MATCO TOOLS Franchise Complaints
MATCO TOOLS Franchise Complaints: Have you had any dealings with MATCO Tools or the MATCO Tools franchise? Please share a comment about your experience – good or bad – below, as well as advice for those considering investing in a MATCO Tools franchise.
Also read: FRANCHISE LAWSUIT Alleges Matco Tools Scam, TD Bank Fraud
We received the following franchise warning about the MATCO TOOLS franchise opportunity. According to commenter “TOMMY CHEUNG” :
“STAY AWAY FROM MATCO TOOLS. THEY WILL SELL YOU A BILL OF GOODS,WHICH IS NO GOOD.
“RUMOR HAS IT ,MATCO MAKES MORE MONEY SIGNING NEW FRANCHISES THAN THEY DO TAKING CARE OF THEIR CURRENT ONES.
“DARYL PRITCHETT AND MIKE RAMEY WORK TOGETHER TO SIGN YOU UP AND THEN KICK YOU TO THE CURB. I AM WORKING ON A LAWSUIT AGAINST MATCO, HOPING TO TURN IT INTO A CLASS ACTION SUIT. YOU MAY CONTACT JERRY MARKS AT MARKS AND KLEIN LAW FIRM AT [redacted], IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.
“I INVESTED ALOT OF MONEY IN MATCO AND AFTER 3.5 YEARS THEY SHUT ME DOWN. WHEN THE ECONOMY SLOWED IN 2008,THEY PUT ME OUT OF BUSINESS.
“I ALSO SPOKE TO A PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE, WHO CALLED ME, AND STATED THATS THE WAY MATCO DOES BUSINESS. STAY AWAY FROM MATCO TOOLS AND RUN LIKE HELL WHEN YOU SEE THEM. I REPEAT DO NOT BUY OR INVEST IN MATCO TOOLS…”
Marks & Klein is a legitimate franchise law firm that often represents franchisees in lawsuits against their franchisors, but we haven’t verified with them whether a lawsuit against Matco Tools is in the works or not.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? IS MATCO TOOLS A GOOD FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY, A FAIR FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY OR A FRANCHISE SCAM?
If you’ve had dealings with Matco Tools, please share a comment below.
Matco Tools Franchise Posts & Discussions
MATCO TOOLS Franchise Complaints June 8, 2011 (1000+
comments)
MATCO TOOLS Franchise Defenders Speak Out December 7,
2011 (Comments defending Matco invited)
MATCO TOOLS Distributor Franchise December 7, 2011 (Overview with
links)
MATCO TOOLS Franchise Report Alleges Distributor Churning November 29,
2011
MATCO TOOLS 2011 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) & Other
Resources November 22, 2011
MATCO TOOLS Class Action Lawsuit, “Secret” Sales Projections November
22, 2011
FRANCHISE LAWSUIT Alleges Matco Tools Scam, TD Bank Fraud November 15,
2011
Failure Rates of the 10 Most Popular Franchises April 26, 2010
Other Mobile Tool Franchise Posts:
MAC TOOLS Guilty of Franchise Fraud? November 7, 2011
CORNWELL TOOLS Franchise Scam or No Scam? November 17, 2011
as For MDAC, it was nice to have face-to-face meetings. 4 times a year is fine in my opinion. Your MDAC rep would dedicate time off of the route and personal time to serve you.
The internet is going to be the demise of us all. MDAC wants to do their business via the net. Do you want to do business with your customer via the net?
In today’s business environment, deception is rampant, you need to meet face to face. I’ve done business around the globe, its not too bad in the US…. YET! but beware of what lies in the future for you.
I think 12 times a year for mdac, 8 webinar conference calls and 4 personal meetings, I am on mdac now, was on it prior to being a dm. As a dm we had 3 or 4 calls a week, no reason we couldn’t have one a month on mdac.
Thought this could apply to Tommy…Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed.
Wayne Dyer
Right on Matco #1!!!!! Carpe Diem tommy boy (sieze the day). Robin Williams
Tommy you’ve definatly siezed the needless insults.
Former Distr: In today’s business environment, deception is rampant, you need to meet face to face. I’ve done business around the globe, its not too bad in the US…. YET! but beware of what lies in the future for you.
OK Yoda, were you talking about MDAC communication or price negotiation with shinn fu???? Really my MDAC rep is a phone call away and he has a note pad, it is his responsibility to weed thru the bs and if convinced address the issues with other dedicated MDAC distributors. I appreciae the fact that they take time away from their businesses and families to help fellow distributors (look debbie…no fees!)
Consult your IDAC for….oops sorry. see you in Orlando!
No amount of damage control will suffice when
all the information, testimonies, and facts are revealed.
It will be a sad day when Internet sales replace distributors.
Techs are pretty savvy – of course they like personal
Attention but the almighty dollar reigns supreme!
Could certainly prove to be the ice age for the
tool distributor dinosaur – and maybe it should.
Mechanics have smart phones, can price check a
tool as you speak to them – and in some cases have
it delivered to the shop next day – and the total IS
cheaper than waiting for the OTC tool with the
Matco sticker – that is probably on back order anyway!
(cheaper including expedited shipping – true story!)
i agree with you. alot of what matco sells now can be bought elsewhere for half the cost and in some cases a better warranty.
matco sells a jump box for approx 200.00. with a 90 day warranty.i can buy the same one elsewhere and get a 1 year warranty with better response on the warranty.
tell me thats not true.
in my area harbor freight is a big competitor . its not about the quality or the service its all about the dollar.
Richard, absolutely right!! Of Course every mechanic would like to own the best quality tools – but IF they can’t make their mortgage payment this month they simply buy whatever they can afford. And they ONLY buy what they absolutely need
No amount of salesmanship can change that!
All comes down to $$. No money no buying-period!
What makes the mechanic who is already strapped for cash really pissed off – is when Matco is selling them a Streamlight ( for example) for $207 and they can buy it on Amazon for $129 *** worse? They can purchase and have delivered for less than my Cost! How do you compete with that??
– Best order fill-rate in the industry
*** I’d like proof of that- I’ve had customers cancel orders because items were eternally back ordered
– Industry’s best customer support team
*** best at saying “I don’t know”
Best at saying, “sorry can’t help”
– Personalized, no nonsense, business counseling
***** NOT “no nonsense”. Just NO business counseling
i.e. SIX months of NO answers when continually asked about budget!
– Computerized business system with proprietary software
**** on an overpriced computer with insufficient memory
– Daily order entry
****As long as you order a minimum of $400
– 10 year renewable Distributor Agreements
***** wonder how many 10 yr renewals actually get renewed?
– Family oriented corporate culture
**** right….. Expo in Vegas, Sin City- perfect “family” vacation, oh but wait the kids can’t go anyway- not held on their school break
– Outstanding promotional programs and national advertising
****only if you have guessed right and Pre ordered, because that sale item is on back order
Debbie Solko on December 27th, 2011 1:58 am :
It will be a sad day when Internet sales replace distributors.
Techs are pretty savvy – of course they like personal
Attention but the almighty dollar reigns supreme!
Really, “O Mr Internet i broke my 15mm socket, I need it to finish my ticket, can you run one by and replace it. Not going to trash MRS 4 Days a week on this one but what really is the difference in your service level. tell you what…let me post a craigslist note in your area from a sucessful distributor that really has his customers BEST interests in priority…and who has a genuine passion for the brand and will be a phone call away to take care of any problems that may pop up. out side of your 4 day work week. Cornwell needs you…..run forest run
Re post from http://www.ladymatco.com
Jim Lager said: 12/26/2011 6:37:16 PM (GMT)ApproveDelete
Matco Dealers you are not alone. I own 5 Snap-on tools multi franchises in Dallas area. I have extensive experience with Snap-on as both a dealer and a Field manager. I am tired of seeing Snap-on taking advantage of people and stacking the deck against naive people starting their own business for the first time. I am going to start a dealer association that will warn and protect dealers from Snap-on. Snap-on is like Hotel california. Once you check in you can never check out. At least not with any money even if you are successful. I purchased almost 2.5 million this year in tools and still I can not sell. Snap-on blocks the sale of any value in your business. Its criminal. Many details to come
Wow tommy I was board….. You were played like a puppet. Jump tommy jump.
Geez, we are starting to get the defenders upset, wow, what are you gonna do?Nothing as I said before.
Don’t worry mate, I am contacting everyone in the 2009-2010 terminated list, I am spreading the great news about how matco treats their distributors.
So, has anyone contacted the numbers I provided to verify, what I have posted, or are you to scared too.Call the state of Florida, call pritchett, matco has his number, man-up and call the numbers boys.Call the guy in Arkansas, listen to what he has to say or is he a liar, did he make his story up.
I am going to be posting everywhere, I am going to be loud and be heard, what is the obc club,have to say about that. You can not shut me up.
I am sitting at my desk this morning with coffee,enjoying reading how the defenders are trying to disrupt this blog, not gonna happen. I don’t have to put together foreign made carts and ship back, defective foreign tools and fight for my money. Making real good money and 3 weeks off every year, health insurance, and living the good life, wife is able to stay at home and be a mom, unlike some of your wives, your kids are probably latch-key kids, your wives work,because you are so over-loaded in debt from matco.
Defenders, when you fail, and you will, because you are working for matco, call Jerry Marks, we can help, don’t be scared, we will keep your info confidential.
MATCO’S, REGIONAL MANAGERS, DISTRICT MANAGERS ARE MATCO’S PROBLEM, GET RID OF THEM AND MATCO WILL BE A BETTER COMPANY, THEY LIE,MISLEAD AND COMMITT DECEITFULL TRADE PRACTICES.
REPO’S ARE AGAINST THE LAW,LAW,LAW,LAW,LAW,LAW , WITHOUT A REPO LICENSE, CHECK YOUR STATE LAWS, MATCO DIDN’T.
MATCO SCREWED OVER -TALLY-2213, Geez thats alot of people matco has screwed with.
MATCO EMPLOYEES-TALLY-129- THEY DO OWN YOU, LIKE IT OR NOT.
Yes, we actively support the inclusion and development
of minority-owned franchises in the Matco Tools system.
Matco Tools
4403 Allen Rd.
Stow, OH 44224-1033
I found this info in a business magazine and copied it right out of the magazine.
Earnings Claims Provided?: Yes
On-Going Support:
Central Data Processing: Included in Fees
Central Purchasing: Included in Fees
Field Operation Evaluation: Included in Fees
Field Training: Included in Fees
Initial Store Opening: Included in Fees
Inventory Control: Included in Fees
Franchisee Newsletter: Included in Fees
Regional or National Meetings: Included in Fees
800 Telephone Hotline: Included in Fees
Listed in the SBA Registry? No
Psychological Profile:-Why in the hell , would they want this profile done?
Tommy you making up your own numbers now?
Earnings claims are provided Tommy boy, it’s in the fdd, shows the completed business for the top, middle, and lower 1/3, see this is what got you in trouble before you didnt read the fdd.
Quick question for Debbie, you say your customers can’t afford to pay you $20 a week on a tool yet, they can afford to go online and buy the tool all at once and not make payments…..hmmm denial?
IGNORE, THE MATCO WAY.
Matco now does a psychological profile on potential distributors, why, to see if they are stupid enough to sign on, since when?
RGHT OUT OF A FRANCHISE MAGAZINE.
Your always going to have a certain amount of customers buy off the internet. My experience shows it tends to be the ones that are more experienced and better off financially. They’re smarter shoppers. I don’t dissuade them, just remind them about how warranty must be handled, and depending on what the product is, they respond to that. Again, the key is ‘fair’ pricing. Intelligent customers will pay a fair price for service.
The ones that can’t afford the internet purchase ‘use’ the local tool dealer. And I mean ‘USE’. The one service you offer is time payment, they are willing to pay for that.
I’ve asked the question before… how fast are you to take tools back when a customer fails to meet his commitment? One of the reasons I’m successful is that my customers know me and they know my policy. It’s consistent for everyone and doesn’t change midstream.
Matco’s policy is NOT Consistent and changes from DM to DM. They will continue to loose distributors until they fix that.
Yeah Tommy you are right Matco does own you….4 years after you failed and they are still in your head day in day out….
MATCO#1 wrote: “I just had a quiznos fail by my house and then a new owner open up, boy, churning u should warn him he is going to fail because the previous guy did…”
Keep using Quiznos as your success story MATCO#1.
Quiznos (25%) SBA loan default rate was almost as bad as Matco’s (37%).
http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/failure-rates-of-the-10-most-popular-franchises/
Quiznos has been called the worst collapse in restaurant history. (http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/category/franchisor/quiznos/)
They’ve lost a ton of lawsuits to franchisees including a big class action lawsuit (I think it was the biggest settlement ever for franchisees) And as bad as they are, sounds like the Quiznos owner near MATCO#1 was still able to sell his franchise.
According to the Marks & Klein: “.If a MATCO Tools distributor desired to exit the system during this three year period, and hoped to sell its business through a MATCO approved transfer, that franchisee had less than a seven percent (7%) chance of success. Statistically speaking, such a low success rate indicates that the MATCO Tools businesses run by distributors who were leaving the MATCO system were so unprofitable as to be unmarketable.
MATCO Tools has, nonetheless, continued to offer and sell Distributorships despite the pattern of early failure.”
http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/matco-tools-franchise-distributor-churning/
Oh guest back to work this morning how was your christmas?
Guest, the last time you spewed this nonsense you got slapped around so hard you had to leave for a while. Now you’re back with the same regurgitated BS. Do you want another slapping? Do you think people coming here and just read your last post? All they have to do is go up a few inches in this thread to see you get beat up. Makes no difference to you, though. You just keep re-posting. If you had anything to do with Matco, or had ever been a distributor, people might actually pay attention to you. Your words mean nothing here.
Marks and Klein that’s a reliable source for success stats, coming from a company who is currently suing every tool franchise, and many other franchise.
Well according to Matco#1 there is a 100% chance of success. .
Unfortunately, you have the human element. Some people don’t have a good personality, some people have bad breath or body odor, sone people don’t keep a clean store , some people don’t have tools on their truck, some people don’t go to work everyday, some people some people don’t know how to manage money,
You see guest there are many reasons people fail at this business . It’s kind of like driving your car, let’s say tonight when you are driving home you are going thru AB intersection and tommy runs a red light and crashes into you and you get killed. You died in a car wreck but you weren’t necessarilly a bad driver, Tommy was, but the stats will show you terminated behind the wheel of a car, making you another stat.
So stats show one thing but there are always two sides to a story .
The problem matco#1, as always, you CAN NOT back up your statement with evidence.
Unless you mean that there is a 100% chance that Matco will successfully bilk every potential franchisee out of thousands of dollars before they are kicked to the street.
Your mileage will vary depending on your DM and RM…
Matco owns you too! That is why you keep posting on here. It’s been almost a year and they still own me as well. All I can think about is the customers I forged a relationship with that still wanted my service were forced to get it from somewhere else. Remember this, I know my area because like most Distributors who start a route with Matco we don’t move. We grew up where we work. So now I am forced to deal with it every day knowing the competitor who I did it better than is now running my route and adding distributors he knows as well.
All I can think about during the day is how bad I got SCREWED and the lenghts MATCO MANAGERS would go to do it. By the way I wake up to it too. My wife is sick and tired of me waking up in the morning talking about Matco because evidently thats what I am dreaming about.
Today we live in a world of no TEA PARTIES! (Boston)
Today we live in a world where fighting at school means expulsion!
It seems to me by the Franchise Document I signed Matco doesn’t like to fight. THEY LIKE TO BULLY!!!
Well just like High School I am sick of being bullied and picked on. And what happens when you FINALLY stand up to a bully? YOU GET RESPECT! I would rather do it PERSONALLY! But then I would still need a lawyer if I did that wouldn’t I.
Don’t let these guys bully you around get on here get involved be loud and tell the truth.
Guestvi do have to give you credit for helping Debbie though. She has nothing of value to post so she copy and pastes your previous posts but can’t back any of it up.
Then last night we were introduced to a mysterious person not sure where he came from.
Marks & Klein isn’t the only one sueing Matco as you probably well know! I have not seen a Class Action but I think one is in the works.
I am just thankful that there are Attorneys like Marks & Klein who take up for guys like myself because I have been looking for 8 months for an attorney in Arkansas and no one wanted my case with out a retainer I couldn’t pay and most told me I did have a case but they didn’t want to represent. I asked why and they stuck to we just chose not represent you at this time.
Thanks to Snap-on Distributor who is buying his 5th truck I now have the money and then some.
So, Todd- You sold out, and came out fine, but still want to sue Matco. Did you ever wonder why no one wanted to take your case?
It’s odd an attorney wouldn’t want to take a case unless that attorney knew there was no chance of winning.
Todd if you like your customers so much and the tool business shy dont you go independent or go Cornwell?
Came out FINE! Are you a MORON? What, I am supposed to throw away HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS I earned so I can come out FINE!!!
Matco makes money HAND OVER FIST reselling the same start up inventory to new franchisees. Now I have sold my truck and still have, I estimate $50,000 min of inventory Matco would not take and no truck to sell it out of .
I am supposed to just be FINE with FRAUD, FALSE TERMINSATION, LIES.
I am suppposed to just be FINE knowing Matco feels they can screw whoever they want whenever they want and however they want.
Kevin, since you have no last name, I had planned on selling a successful, profitable business which would enable me to retire someday. By the way, that was another selling point before I became a distributor. I asked about retirement before I became a distributor. I was told that my tools were my retirement. Sell your business but you have to dwindle your inventory first. I guess that is why there is an 80% of the National average rule. I have not heard of anyone who got out selling their franchise when they were ready to quit. I didn’t plan on quitting till I retired.
Truth is money is everything in my case. Matco stole it from me. Made up false info and fed it to me. I WILL have my day in court! I Will keep posting and warning others what a bad decision it would be to become a Matco Distributor.
Because as I posted on here a thousand times I am, or was, a MATCO GUY! I got screwed on a toolbox from a Snap-On guy in Fayetteville,Ar. and was a Matco guy every since. I would root for our NHRA sponsers every Sunday. I have spent ten thousands of on clothing I gave away to promote Matco. Everything I wore said Matco on it. I was already told by Matco they were better than any of their competitor’s. So why in the HELL, given my experience with Matco would I go to anyone else. To lose more money? If that is what this business is about fraud , lieing, stealing and false termination of honest people who work hard and service over 95% their customers then I can understand why Marks & Klein is involved in lawsuits with them all.
Why don’t I go Independent? why don’t you go Independent?
Bottom line is I was Married to a company I loved and whom I thought loved me for 6 1/2 years. Are there times of trouble in a relationship. Yes!
But when your SPOUSE puts Anti-Freeze in your food it becomes something else.!!!
Hey Todd- You were the one bragging about how much money you had. If you lost HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, you must have been very successful to still “have the money and then some”. I guess I am a moron, for being successful for 22 years. And when I choose to leave Matco, I will sell back what I can to them (or my replacement), and sell off the rest however I chose. Since I am a moron, I can’t understand how Matco makes money “HAND OVER FIST” reselling the same start-up inventory. Did you give it back to them? If you bought it, sell it back. If it’s obsolete, sell it elsewhere. It’s worth al least what you paid for it. And why would you have to dwindle your inventory first? I have over 500k in inventory between my two trucks, and when I decide to leave, I will sell it, one way or another, and the money will be mine. Just a moron’s thinking, I guess.
Todd said: “I have spent ten thousands of on clothing I gave away to promote Matco.”
No wonder you failed. If you’re not exagerating, who’s the moron?
Wow, that was an interesting phone call …………….
Apparently, “Matco is for sale” and the Rm’s & DM’s are on a rampage terminating everyone way below national average to prop up and manipulate the NPA so the Matco business model and bottom line looks attractive to a prospective buyer.
Sure makes sense!
No SHIT Kevin! didn’t you go to meetings and learn how to package sell items. Or are you someone who works for Matco that doesn’t know what goes on at meetings?
Todd what do you have? Maybe I can buy some stuff to help you?
Yeah, Todd, I work for Matco. That’s why I have two trucks full of tools. Again, who’s the moron?
Hey Debbie; another one of your conspiracy theories? I don’t think you’ve ever met a conspiracy you did’t like.
Debbie, yeah the white house is for sale too !
What? Is that how you are able to type on here all day? Because Matco approved you to have some other guy run your route and you screw him to make money? Or are you taking advantage of people who didn’t have good credit and equity in property so Matco wouldn’t let them start their own. Maybe the guy just needed a job and you are helping him. Good for you Kevin. But the fact is you are making money off of someone else.
But hey its America the wealthiest of the wealthiest thrive off of the working class. It’s no surprise to me that nothing I was told when I became a distributor would come true now. Had i known then what I know now I would still be turning wrenches and probably have more to show for myself than what I have now. One things for sure I would have a lot better chance finding a job!
Kevin did you go to meetings? Or do you just avoid them like my Questions?
Now why would danaher sell a company that has made them money since 1986….oh yeah they wouldn’t.
Hell no! wall street is about MONEY! Why the hell would they quit lying and screwing people with good credit if they could still profit from it?
Their is still a few people out there who might believe the Bullshit we sell to Franchise Distributors so lets keep them COMING!
Who knows instead of us screwing them lets actually make it profitable and start taking care of them! HA! HA! HA! NAAAA!
Or maybe Kevin is actually a DM who has two guys running trucks?
I got to go rent one of my properties so feel free to bash on me all you want now!
Todd What is the one thing that you want to get rid of the most of your excess inventory?
Todd as a dm you can’t also be a franchise owner.
All of it! I want MATCO to buy it all back as it says in Arkansas Franchise Law that they have to do once I PROVE they falsley terminated me which has been verified by every attorney I have spoke with. I know why wouldn’t they take my case? Why am I frustrated as HELL?
Danny – not much of a ‘mystery’ – just another story, of another distributor that was CHURNED AND BURNED
But, if you missed………….
Danny Beasley on December 26th, 2011 7:33 pm
I was a distrubitor for Matco from November of 2008 to July 2010.
Just want you to know that the twelve reason a Distrubutor Failes are so True.
I lived everyone.
But they took my Distrubutorship back when I sold my truck and was trying to get a trailer.
Later I heard that they resold it to another distrubutor that they would not keep him out of my customer base.
I am glad I am out. I lost about $40,000 with Matco.