MATCO TOOLS Franchise Complaints

4,850 thoughts on “MATCO TOOLS Franchise Complaints”

• Matco has their way of cheating all distributors out of money, whether thru tools,mdbs,or lying.

• Matco’s 10 most popular ways to destroy your Franchise:

  1) Sign Here!
  2) Sign Here!
  3) Sign Here!
  4) Sign Here!
  5) Sign Here!
  6) Sign Here!
  7) Sign Here!
  8 ) Sign Here!
  9) Sign Here!
  10) You Guessed it. SIGN HERE!!!

• guest17,

  She will not be alone. I promise you I will be there as well. I hope you will shake my hand with an open mind because what I will show you will blow you away. An initial head count below the minimum. A Route List I signed vanished into thin air. A diminished head count from 350 to less than 250. A route list that was completely fabricated to show corporate a Distributor who was not performing which was completely false. A purchase average that was well over 80% of the National Average since given increased customer base. Then the letter from yours truly Ernie Lauber stating Matco will give you credit for all your merchandise which we deem returnable with no restocking fee BUT you have to sign this Document saying you will not sue us or talk about your franchise experience without written Matco approval. YEAH, I will be there wouldn’t miss it for the world. I think an ASSOCIATION is a great idea! Lord knows MDAC is just a glorified Matco Corporate meeting where we have no voice and they control the agenda!

• tlman wrote: “Debbie, New career I see, telemarketer are you sure you can handel it ? and when are you moving to India ?”

  Debbie doesn’t need to outsource overseas. Who do you think she is? Matco?

  matcoman wrote: “debbie you mwant matco to answer your questions, why not answer mine?!!!!!!!!!!!LIES!!!!!!!!! ALL LIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

  Lies, all lies? Maybe she DID learn something at Matco training. I believe Tim Gilmore ran the “LIES!!!!!!!!! ALL LIES!!!” workshop.

  guest17 wrote: “Quite humorous though, that you think Matco actually gives a shit about what we post on this cesspool.”

  Hmmm. The day Debbie posted her “Gilmore Lies” video and exposed Gilmore’s fraudulent claims Matco scrambled to pull its video and edit out the content the UNHAPPY FRANCHISEES objected to.

  You really don’t think they’re reading every word? Debbie speaks and Matco jumps.

  Think you could make the legal dept of a Fortune 250 company pee its pants, guest17, or publicly expose the President of a large corporation as a LIAR his first month on the job?

  I believe that makes Lady Matco officially a badass.

  The big lesson here is that if Matco put half the effort into fulfilling their sales promises as they are going to be putting into damage control and legal defenses, everyone would be too busy selling Matco Tools to have time making videos and posting blog comments.

  Nobody joined Matco with the goal of being disgruntled. Read the honest accounts of what happened to hardworking dbrs who put their trust in Matco. Look around. Matco has themselves to thank for all this.

• 20. Matco rolls out hundreds of new and exclusive products annually, educates the franchisee on these new product introductions, and markets these products through a national promo flyer program. Franchise owners receive new products as soon as they are released and have the opportunity to introduce these to their customers first.

  the products might nhave been new to matco but not to the techs. most would already have them or they went on backorder for 4 months

• i totally agree with guest. matco could step up to the plate and alot of this could be resolved, but they wont. the bad news is that facts are facts and you cant hide them.

• Dang guys! Give me some props I found the Gilmore VIDEO.LOL
  Good JOB though Mamma Matco!
  I do not have the gift for gab when it comes to video’s though. For some reason I feel very uncomfortable on camera. I think too fast.

• Guest – THANK YOU!
  hugs, Lady Matco (aka BAD ASS)

  it all seems so clear and obvious to ME however; there are those that STILL want to
  criticize, chastise, and belittle my objections

  Despite SEVERAL detailed and painful accounts of distributor loss

  It is SAD to me that there are STILL those cannot accept that THEY have succeeded and that they are actually the exception and NOT the rule !!

  SO SO sad that they remain arrogant and without empathy and remain totally apathetic to the obvious plight of so many others!

  UNBELIEVABLE that they CANNOT SEE , actually REFUSE TO SEE the possibility the system that they luckily succeeded in – IS ACTUALLY DESIGNED TO HAVE DISTRIBUTORS FAIL.

  it is indecent
  it is immoral

  and above all IT IS ILLEGAL

  i am happy “some” succeed – but, really, even a blind dog WILL find a bone

  THEY GOT LUCKY
  THEY HAD THE FEW (THE VERY FEW) CHERRY ROUTES

  soo many others, TOO MANY OTHERS…………………. FAILED

  it is criminal and Matco NEEDS to be held accountable

  and so they shall……………

• Todd, THANK YOU – without your finding the Gilmore video I wouldn’t be enjoying my official “bad ass” status :)

  love,
  mama matco hehehehe

• Let me get this straight since you can’t make it as a toolman (in debbie’s case tool person) you are going to sue are you related to my brother inlaw??? he keeps saying he is going to hit it big some day. I told him just get a job and goto work he said no way they are going to pay for what they did to me. I told him dude you were a lazy ass before you skined your knee you will always be a lazy ass and NO you can’t borrow any money!!! Is Matco perfect hell no if they were I would have been rich after 6 weeks. Mabey I should sue

• Todd, seriously – that video is the SMOKING GUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  way to go dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  according to Guest,
  I made the legal dept of a Fortune 250 company pee its pants, and I publicly exposed the President of a large corporation as a LIAR on his first month on the job?

  ALL THANKS TO **YOU** FINDING THE VIDEO

  i owe you a hug too man!!!!

• tlman
  give him jerrys number. debbie has it if you need it

• Props to Todd A. Peterson:for finding the Gilmore video. A true treasure. Not to mention Todd duking it out on Facebook.
  Props to Tommy for inspiring this article in the first place and to everyone for sharing their stories.
  Obviously this is a group effort, though I like to highlight Lady Matco because I think it probably pisses the Old Boys Club off royally to be getting constantly schooled by a GURL.
  Thanks to RoboZee for tireless phone work..
  Thanks to tlman, guest17 and matcoman for being the representing the voice of the OBC feeble as that voice may be.

  And congratulations to Tim Gilmore. Hope he is enjoying his presidency.

• Richard,

  My brother in law has no case. Jerry at marks in Klein might make some $$$$ AND THE REST OF YOU WILL GET SOME LEFTOVER SCRAPS. I just hope the Tech that works on your car using Matco tools sticks it in your wallet. Karma ” what comes around comes back and bites you in the ass.

• tlman

  i am very qualified to fix my own stuff and have more than enough tools to do that . i own and know how to use more tools than most shops own.
  the only person that has stuck me in my wallet has been matco and one day they will get to yours. it will just take time. so keep looking over your shoulder, its coming. corporate greed will get you.

• Amen brothers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  GO TEAM,, :)

• ………….can’t make it
  …………………..lazy ass.
  ………………………..nobody gives a shit
  ……………………………………waste your meaningless lives
  ……………………………………………..laughing stock
  …………………………………………………………mistreated

  just a few examples of the Industry leading, World class support YOU will receive
  if YOU become a Matco Tool distributor!

• thank you debbie….. never judge someone till you have walked a mile in their shoes and experienced their situation.
  karma is spelled karma, kma is spelled kma, do you know the difference.

• http://www.matcotools.com/franchise/available/availablefranchises.jsp?state=MI

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: California
  45 Territories Available Career Builder SHOWS 72

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Florida
  22 Territories Available Career Builder SHOWS 48

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Texas
  29 Territories Available Career Builder SHOWS 45

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: New York
  39 Territories Available Career Builder SHOWS 36

  vailable Matco Franchise Locations in: Ohio
  23 Territories Available Career Builder SHOWS 31

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Pennsylvania
  37 Territories Available Career Builder SHOWS 30

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Wisconsin
  11 Territories Available Career Builder SHOWS 27

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Louisiana
  9 Territories Available Career Builder SHOWS24

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Georgia
  4 Territories Available Career Builder SHOWS 24

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Iowa
  7 Territories Available Career Builder SHOWS 21

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Nebraska
  0 Territories Available Career Builder SHOWS 21
  ************CAREER BUILDER SHOWS 21 ACTIVE JOBS IN
  NEBRASKA****************

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Colorado
  6 Territories Available Career Builder SHOWS 18

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Illinois
  6 Territories Available Career Builder SHOWS 18

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Michigan
  10 Territories Available Career Builder SHOWS 18

  Isn’t that illegal to ADVERTISE for JOB POSITIONS THAT DO NOT EXIST????

• Richard – YOU are in Georgia, right??

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Georgia (according to Matco’s own site)
  4 Territories Available AND Career Builder SHOWS 24

  How many territories ARE there in Georgia????

  OH, NOT Territories, how many List of Calls……………..

• 609- 248 =361

  361 JOBS THAT DO NOT EXIST

  “The FTC Prohibits Franchise Ads Masquerading as Job Ads – YET, CLEARLY, MATCO CONTINUES TO ADVERTISE OPENINGS THAT DO NOT EXIST!!

• good night children………………..

• Guys,

  This is how bad Matco screwed me on my route.

  I started my Franchise with 333 Pre-defined customers.
  Out of 333 only 248 customers were viable.

  Difference: 85 customers who were oil changers, paint preppers, wash boys, painters, phone operaters and a shop that never gave approval for a Matco Tool Distributor be there.

  Forced by Tim Novak and Rick Pena to give up more customers:
  My second route adjustment doesn’t exist according to Matco but I have an unsigned copy of that adjustment. I assure you Rick Pena and I both signed it but I didn’t think to get a copy at the time.

  With Tim rejecting the second route adjustment Rick orchestrated a third route adjustment:
  My third route adjustment shows that some shops that were dropped on the second adjustment are being readded. But why is there a need to readd shops already on my first “LOC”? This route list now would consist of only 230 viable customers of which 21 were customers Bud Cook quit calling on because he was not making any money in them.

  Next after receiving a separation letter from Matco on July 12, 2010 and complaining to anyone who had a pulse I finally received that survey my DM (Anthony Kramer) had been promising me for 1 1/2 years on July 26, 2010. According to Anthony I had majically acquired 328 customers and I was only servicing 67% of them. But after removing inflated head counts, shops that didn’t exist, shops I had picked up but were never added by Anthony and signed by me on my “LOC”, oil changers, wash boys and phone operaters I only had 154 customers I had signed into my route list. 328-154=174 fabricated customers.

  The fourth adjustment came three days later on July 29, 2010 and gave me 405 customers to call on. According to Anthony I lost 25 customers in those three days.

  All you Presidents,
  With your fancy cars and boats,
  Better run, run, run,
  Run from my Attorney.

• Kudo’s to everyone for keeping the conversation going. I am still contacting other former distributors to get them to join in, also doing other research on other possible violations and I will post as they become availible.

  Debbie, aka BAD ASS, good job with all of your work, I hope the info I provided was helpful about the gilmore report.

  I have made some post on matco’s facebook, and just to think , they have not removed my post. One of the post have been on for a week.

• They kicked me off facebook to vocal and too many things I know about their Franchise BULLSHIT!

  I know how to get some Matco talk going on in the shop don’t I Matco?

  It was fine when I was selling your product and promoting your Franchise wasn’t it?

  But now that I use my skills to show on your own web site how bad a problem Matco has servicing the customers they have due to NO Distributors servicing the because of the constant churning of Distributors. Matco gives me the boot.

  Pretty Classy Matco! I didn’t even sign the agreement and your still putting a gag on me.

• tlman wrote: “Jerry at marks in Klein might make some $$$$ AND THE REST OF YOU WILL GET SOME LEFTOVER SCRAPS.”

  tlman: Why do you think there are thousands of Matco complaints on here and hardly ANY Snapon complaints? It’s because the dbrs that Snapon screwed over are too busy spending the money they made on the 40+ lawsuits they WON against Snapon. Matco watched Marks & Klein chalk up win after win against Snapon. Now it’s Matco’s turn.

  A year from now it will hopefully be quiet here as the checks are being cashed and spent. Only tlman, Matco#1, guests3-17, Kevin and the Old Farts Club will be on here complaining because Matco is cutting their LOCs, addding fees, and terminating them because they need to churn up the cash to pay all those settlements.

  tlman, matcoman, matco17, Matco#0 don’t wait too long to call Jerry. You want to be sure to get yours before he retires early.

• here is something for the obc boys to do

  BABY BOOMER GAME
  MEMORY TEST!
  (Have a paper and pencil handy to record your answers!)

  This is NOT a pushover test. It’s a Baby Boomer era test!

  There are 20 questions. Average score is 12 .
  This one will be difficult for the younger set. (DUDE!)

  Have fun, but no peeking!

  When you forward this to your friends/family,
  Put your score in the subject line and let them know your score.

  Don’t forget to forward it to me , as well.

  Good luck, youngsters ,
  1. What builds strong bodies 12 ways?
  A. Flintstones vitamins
  B. The Buttmaster
  C. Spaghetti
  D. Wonder Bread
  E. Orange Juice
  F. Milk
  G. Cod Liver Oil

  2. Before he was Muhammad Ali, he was
  A. Sugar Ray Robinson.
  B. Roy Orbison..
  C. Gene Autry.
  D. Rudolph Valentino.
  E. Fabian.
  F. Mickey Mantle.
  G. Cassius Clay.

  3. Pogo, the comic strip character said, ‘We have met the enemy and….
  A. It’s you.
  B. He is us.
  C. It’s the Grinch.
  D. He wasn’t home.
  E. He’s really me and you.
  F. We quit.
  G. He surrendered.

  4. Good night, David
  A.. Good night, Chet
  B. Sleep well.
  C. Good night, Irene.
  D.. Good night, Gracie.
  E. See you later, alligator.
  F. Until tomorrow.
  G. Good night, Steve..

  5. You’ll wonder where the yellow went…
  A. When you use Tide
  B. When you lose your crayons.
  C. When you clean your tub.
  D. If you paint the room blue.
  E. If you buy a soft water tank.
  F. When you use Lady Clairol.
  G. When you brush your teeth with Pepsodent.

  6. Before he was the Skipper’s Little Buddy, Bob Denver was Dobie’s friend…
  A. Stuart Whitman.
  B Randolph Scott.
  C. Steve Reeves..
  D. Maynard G. Krebs.
  E. Corky B. Dork.
  F. Dave the Whale.
  G. Zippy Zoo.

  7. Liar, liar…
  A. You’re a liar.
  B. Your nose is growing.
  C. Pants on fire.
  D. Join the choir
  E. Jump up higher.
  F. On the wire.
  G. I’m telling Mom.

  8. Meanwhile, back in Metropolis, Superman fights a never ending battle for truth, justice and…..
  A. Wheaties.
  B. Lois Lane .
  C. TV ratings.
  D. World peace.
  E. Red tights.
  F. The American way.
  G. News headlines.

  9. Hey kids! What time is it?
  A. It’s time for Yogi Bear.
  B It’s time to do your homework.
  C. It’s Howdy Doody Time.
  D. It’s time for Romper Room.
  E. It’s bedtime.
  F… The Mighty Mouse Hour..
  G. Scoopy Doo Time..

  10. Lions and tigers and bears…
  A. Yikes.
  B. Oh, no..
  C. Gee whiz.
  D. I’m scared…
  E. Oh my.
  F.. Help! Help!
  G. Let’s run.

  11. Bob Dylan advised us never to trust anyone….
  A. Over 40.
  B. Wearing a uniform.
  C.. Carrying a briefcase.
  D. Over 30.
  E. You don’t know.
  F. Who says, ‘Trust me’..
  G. Who eats tofu.

  12. NFL quarterback who appeared in a television commercial wearing
  women’s stockings…
  A. Troy Aikman
  B. Kenny Stabler
  C. Joe Namath
  D. Roger Staubach
  E. Joe Montana
  F. Steve Young
  G. John Elway

  13. Brylcream…
  A. Smear it on.
  B. You’ll smell great.
  C. Tame that cowlick.
  D. Grease ball heaven.
  E. It’s a dream.
  F. We’re your team.
  G. A littl e dab’ll do ya.

  14. I found my thrill…
  A. In Blueberry muffins.
  B. With my man, Bill.
  C. Down at the mill.
  D. Over the windowsill.
  E. With thyme and dill.
  F. Too late to enjoy.
  G. On Blueberry Hill.

  15.. Before Robin Williams, Peter Pan was played by…
  A. Clark Gable.
  B. Mary Martin.
  C. Doris Day.
  D. Errol Flynn.
  E. Sally Fields.
  F. Jim Carrey.
  G. Jay Leno.

  16. Name the Beatles…
  A. John, Steve, George, Ringo
  B. John, Paul, George, Roscoe
  C. John, Paul, Stacey, Ringo
  D. Jay, Paul, George, Ringo
  E. Lewis, Peter, George, Ringo
  F. Jason, Betty, Skipper, Hazel
  G. John, Paul, George, Ringo

  17. I wonder, wonder, who.
  A. Who ate the leftovers?
  B. Who did the laundry?
  C. Was it you?
  D. Who wrote the book of love?
  E. Who I am?
  F. Passed the test?
  G. Knocked on the door?

  18. I’m strong to the finish…
  A. Cause I eats my broccoli.
  B. Cause I eats me spinach.
  C. Cause I lift weights.
  D. Cause I’m the hero.
  E. And don’t you for get it.
  F. Cause Olive Oyl loves me.
  G. To outlast Bruto.

  19. When it’s least expected, you’re elected, you’re the star today.
  A. Smile, you’re on Candid Camera.
  B. Smile, you’re on Star Search.
  C. Smile, you won the lottery.
  D. Smile, we’re watching you.
  E. Smile, the world sees you.
  F. Smile, you’re a hit.
  G. Smile, you’re on TV.

  20. What do M & M’s do?
  A. Make your tummy happy.
  B. Melt in your mouth, not in your pocket.
  C. Make you fat.
  D.. Melt your heart.
  E… Make you popular.
  F. Melt in your mouth, not in your hand.
  G. Come in colors.

  Below are the right answers:
  1. D – Wonder Bread
  2. G – Cassius Clay
  3. B – He Is us
  4. A – Good night, Chet
  5. G – When you brush your teeth with Pepsodent
  6. D – Maynard G. Krebs
  7. C – Pants on fire
  8. F – The American Way
  9. C – It’s Howdy Doody Time
  10. E – Oh my
  11. D – Over 30
  12. C – Joe Namath
  13. G – A little dab’ll do ya
  14. G – On Blueberry Hill
  15. B – Mary Martin
  16. G – John, Paul, George, Ringo
  17. D – Who wrote the book of Love
  18. B – Cause I eats me spinach
  19. A – Smile, you’re on Candid Camera
  20.. F – Melt in your mouth not in your hand

• 609- 248 =361

  609 ACTIVE jobs advertised on Career Builder
  HELLO MATCO, are you listening???

  609 Active, I went through the whole list – all sales positions, all described as
  distributors

  GO ahead and change it now, doesn’t matter, I copied THE WHOLE LIST!

  YET – YOUR OWN WEB PAGE SHOWS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS!!

  Yes, again, go ahead and CHANGE your web page but, I’ve already copied
  the WHOLE LIST

  SO< your own web page shows 248 openings

  Can you please explain the 361 jobs that don't exist???

  361 JOBS THAT DO NOT EXIST

  “The FTC Prohibits Franchise Ads Masquerading as Job Ads – YET, CLEARLY, MATCO CONTINUES TO ADVERTISE OPENINGS THAT DO NOT EXIST!!

• Anybody want to wager on this one??

  Because, I am CERTAIN Matco won’t answer MY question!!

• SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  GOOGLE MATCO

  please, do it :)

  GOOGLE Matco and on the FIRST PAGE of results – in fact
  the SECOND result – right under Matco Tools OWN site

  IS UNHAPPY FRANCHISEE!!!

  The message is out there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Debbie
  I have been reading UF for the past couple months after someone called and left a message at my home, and after reading the posts here-you have done a fantastic job of “trapping” Matco Tools and their clowns who think you are just a “dumb unhappy lazy redhead”.

  That’s right these fools have unwittingly helped her “cause” and they still do not realize how she did it, brilliant!!

  more to come…

• career builder shows 3 positions in my area when there is only 1. dont see how they figure that

• hey debbie you keep asking matco to answer you,BUT YOU WILL NOT ANSWER ANY WE ASK YOU .what is the difference???????

• silence is golden.right debbie?

• “hey debbie you keep asking matco to answer you,BUT YOU WILL NOT ANSWER ANY WE ASK YOU .what is the difference???????”

  I have just scrolled through dozens of your comments you have left on here and I have yet to find ONE that makes an intelligent, intelligible and legitimate point. I’m not saying a point I agree with, just any intelligent point whatsoever.

  You have added nothing to the discussion whatsoever and I doubt you even understand much of what is actually being discussed.

  No one even remembers what inane questions you are referring to because no one cares. That’s how little respect you’ve earned.

  Make an actual point or continue to be ignored.

  (A mind is a terrible thing to waste)

• Organized = Welcome! I am happy you could sift through the inane nonsense and GET the real issues.

  THERE ARE REAL PROBLEMS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HURT. THE DISTRIBUTORS THAT HAVE BEEN TERMINATED WERE ALL HARD WORKING , DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS THAT DID EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO SUCCEED.

  It still baffles me that there are those that will argue………….
  The numbers are literally staggering……………..

  sincerely,
  Debbie Solko
  Matco Tools Distributor Association President

  Matcoman= just give it up. NOBODY remember ‘what’ question you are talking about, nobody cares, and YOU have lost credibility

  I demand answers from Matco BECAUSE I AND MANY MORE LIKE ME HAVE
  INVESTED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND DESERVE ANSWERS

  The CAUSE is REAL
  the DAMAGE is REAL

  MATCO IS AT FAULT

  This is NOT a game of “blame”

  This IS REAL – the stories ARE REAL,
  The TRUTH is coming OUT, and it cannot be stopped!!!!!

  Inflated call lists
  Uncompensated labor
  Non existent jobs being advertised
  LIES about non existent studies promoting recruitment
  LIES about budgets
  NON EXISTENT support
  Excessive windshield time
  NON VIABLE routes
  CHURNING
  …………..the list IS ENDLESS

  …………………….THE STORIES ARE ENDLESS

  …………………………………THE DECEIT **WILL** STOP –
  …………………………………………………………………………………………..WATCH…..

• Hey Organized, I’m looking very much forward to your
  “more to come”

  Some fresh insight will be much appreciated!

  Thank you!
  Debbie Solko
  Matco Tools Distributor Association President

• Matcoman and guest,

  Explain to us how Matco comes up with the 80% of the National Purchase Average. You know do Distributors who have “Territory” “Charter” or the 5 “Employee” agreements compete with “LOC” agreements?

  Because the state of ARKANSAS has certain LAWS which prevent me from being terminated if my Franchise is being discriminated against. You know if a JUDGE is convinced that this “LOC” agreement is at a disadvantage to those who have “Territory” agreements.

  If Matco compiles all data from tools sold to Distributors, including RESOLD product from terminated Distributors at full list, to get there 80% fo the National Purchase Average wouldn’t that be screwing us out of VPPT as well as Falsely Termination Distributors. I know for a fact Matco I was on the Matco PDI (Previously Displayed Inventory) program. I bet less than 1% of the tools I got were PDI but I bet I called in numerous times, almost every shipment I got had PDI in it, and Matco gave me PDI credit. Most times with no hassle.

  If Matco wasn’t sending out PDI without marking it then why would they let me get credits with little to no hassle?

  If Tim Gilmore, as a Vice President of Matco Tools, would lie in a advertisement to get Franchisee’s to sign up. Why wouldn’t the same management say “Hey”. Let’s quit giving out our CHURNED DISTRIBUTOR’S inventory and use our CONTROL to screw more Distributor’s out of their MONEY buy reselling it as NEW. In fact , let’s do it so often that if someone calls in and complain we’ll just give them a DISCOUNT. You know, with start-up bonuses and us making money on tools we don’t have to buy let’s convince some more schmucks to invest by LYING and GLORIFYING ourselves as something we’re NOT.

  Think about it 37% SBA Failure RATE. 49% churn. Where is all that PDI?

  Who knows the truth about how many routes are actually available but lets just go off the Matco web site and say 570. Out of 1550 Franchises 570 are available. over 35%. WHERE’S the PDI?

• I know this is old, but change the dates and it sounds like what is happening today.

  Went and dug up the old box of Matco stuff including the UFOC that they sent me dated March 9, 1999. This document has 17 pages of legal actions brought against Matco since 1993. Actions were representing distributors and in a few cases DM’s. Some were resolved in Matco’s favor and many were not. Many of them had similar issues as discussed here. (Matco a slow learner?)

  Also listed active distributors as of Dec. 31, 1998 total of 1,225 AND
  from 12-31-97 to 12-31-98 “Voluntary and Involuntary Seperations due to resignations, terminations, cancellations, retirements, etc.” this total is 242 by my quick count.

  It would be interesting if of that number one could find out of the 242 how many retired, or had health issues, my bet less than 40. So just to have a number for former Matco Dealers who quit in disgust, went broke, or were terminated pick 200 per year average, from 93 to 2011, 18 years times 200 = 3,600 former angry Matco distributors. That is a lot of folks out there across the country that most lost a lot money, life savings, and ruined credit!

  Also found a list of distributors in my area when I started, and another list when I threw into the towel 3 years later. The turnover was 50%. I do not know why they left, but a 50% turnover rate is really bad.

• Hal,

  Welcome! Isn’t it incredible? The sad story has been the
  same broken record for nearly 20 years!

  What that proves to me is:

  1. Matco is fully aware of their fraudulent practices
  2. Matco has absolutely NO concern for their distributors
  3. Matco only cares about the money ~ THEIR money

  Thank you!
  Debbie Solko
  Matco Tools Distributor Association President

• Directly from the Matco ad on Career Builder:

  What do our people have to say about Matco?

  “I talked to about 30 franchisees, told ‘em I want a 10% growth

  rate every year and they said ‘You can do it with Matco.’”

  WHO?? Said this, no name is given!
  10% yearly GROWTH????

  Really?

  How many distributors LOST customers?
  How many DBRs begged Matco to replace those lost customers?

  Debbie Solko
  Matco Tools Distributors Association President

• directly from Matco’s ad on Career Builder:

  “If someone’s looking to own a tool franchise, definitely

  check out Matco.  We blow the other guys out of the water.”

   “I love being your own boss, no commission caps, unlimited earning potential.

  This field offers both stability and growth.”

  Own boss? NOT
  Unlimited earning potential? NOT possible with lost customers
  Stability? NOT 50% failure rates common in districts across the country
  Growth? NOT don’t you dare try and grow your business!

• Career Builder Matco ad:

  “95% of our District Managers were successful franchise owners. In fact, our last two VP’s of Sales both started as Distributors.”

  Well IF these DMs were SO successful as distributors,
  WHY would they become DMs?

  I’d like PROOF backing THAT statistic!

  Debbie Solko
  Matco Tools Distributors Association President

• Thanks Hal and Organized for joining in on this blog, there are alot of stories here about how matco has damaged many people and they will continue unless stopped.

  THERE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS ARE MISLEADING, DECEITFULL AND THEIR DISTRICT AND REGIONAL MANAGERS ARE LIARS.

• Career Builder Matco ad:

  MY personal favorite….

  “The training is phenomenal – technical and very customer driven.”
  Matco gave me the Tools to Change My Future.

  My mobile store.  My business.  APPLY today!

  Phenomenal? Technical? Customer driven?
  HUH?

  That statement alone is an amazing LIE!

  MY? Business?? NOT even close!

  Buy/Lease This truck
  Sell to These shops
  Don’t sell to anyone without permission
  Pay Matco for a website YOU DON’T control
  Advertise for Matco – without your permission in calendars YOU pay for
  Drive Here
  GO when Matco TELLS you to go
  Use and pay for Matco software
  BUY Matco’s overpriced under-powered spyware loaded computer
  Accept whatever LIES Matco tells you
  DON’T have an independent thought or question
  DON’T dare talk to other distributors
  DONT buy outside Matco

  Debbie Solko
  Matco Tools Distributors Association President

• Battered women are isolated from friends and repeatedly
  told everything is THEIR fault…..

  Matco DBRs are isolated from other DBRs (Tom Willis told you
  not to join the Distributor Association)
  Matco DBRs are told failure is all their fault

  I see a parallel…..

  A little counseling perhaps???

  Matco admitting YOU have a problem is the first step
  to recovery!

  Debbie Solko
  Matco Tools Distributors Association President

• Everything you do when you work for matco is under matco’s control, whether you like it or not.

  They drive your business for you and when you fail, you are the only one to blame.Matco dosent want any part when you go under. They run and hide and are nowhere to be found at that point.

  DISTRICT MANAGER- one who controls the district and runs you. A manager is classified as your boss. When you run your own business, you should be your own boss, your not.

  THE BACK OF THE MATCO TRUCKS STATE’ DRIVE YOUR OWN BUSINESS”,
  ONCE AGAIN, ANOTHER LIE.

  TOMMY CHEUNG
  Matco Distributor Association Member

• Career Builder as of this morning ;

  515 jobs availible, wow they have filled alot of positions.B.S

• Back of Matco Truck should read “Puppets Wanted” come let us control you too!

  Todd A. Peterson
  (Falsely Terminated) Matco Distributor Association Member

• TODAY’S CAREER BUILDER SITE IS SHOWING T0DAY
  515 ACTIVE JOBS
  747 ACTIVE JOBS DOWN 232 FROM 1/17/12
  1072 job postings DOWN 325 FROM 1/11/12

  ***********BY THE ACTIVE JOBS POSTED ON CAREER BUILDER*********
  557 ACTIVE JOBS HAVE BEEN FILLED SINCE 1/11/12

  !!!!! 557 ACTIVE JOBS **FILLED** IN ONLY 8 SHORT DAYS !!!!

  Dear Matco,
  May I please see some documentation of these Active Job Openings?? Because, “The FTC Prohibits Franchise Ads Masquerading as Job Ads ”

  Thank you,
  Debbie Solko
  Matco Tools Distributor Association President

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: California
  45 Territories Available/45 TODAY MATCO PAGE
  Career Builder SHOWS 72
  TODAY 48

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Florida
  22 Territories Available /22 TODAY MATCO PAGE
  Career Builder SHOWS 48
  TODAY 33

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Texas
  29 Territories Available/29 TODAY MATCO PAGE
  Career Builder SHOWS 45
  TODAY 33

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: New York
  39 Territories Available/ 39 TODAY MATCO PAGE
  Career Builder SHOWS 36
  TODAY 26

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Ohio
  23 Territories Available Career Builder SHOWS 31
  TODAY 22

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Pennsylvania
  37 Territories Available/37 TODAY MATCO PAGE
  Career Builder SHOWS 30
  TODAY 21

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Wisconsin
  11 Territories Available/ **10** TODAY MATCO PAGE
  Career Builder SHOWS 27
  TODAY 18

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Louisiana
  9 Territories Available/9 TODAY MATCO PAGE
  Career Builder SHOWS 24
  TODAY 16

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Georgia
  4 Territories Available /4 TODAY MATCO PAGE
  Career Builder SHOWS 24
  TODAY 14

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Iowa
  7 Territories Available /7 TODAY MATCO PAGE
  Career Builder SHOWS 21
  TODAY 14

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Nebraska
  0 Territories Available Career Builder SHOWS 21
  ************CAREER BUILDER SHOWS 21 ACTIVE JOBS IN
  NEBRASKA****************
  **MATCO PAGE TODAY STILL SHOWS 0** CAREER BUILDER TODAY 14

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Colorado
  6 Territories Available /6 TODAY MATCO PAGE
  Career Builder SHOWS 18
  TODAY 12

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Illinois
  6 Territories Available /6 TODAY MATCO PAGE
  Career Builder SHOWS 18
  TODAY 14

  Available Matco Franchise Locations in: Michigan
  10 Territories Available /10 TODAY MATCO PAGE
  Career Builder SHOWS 18
  TODAY 0
  *WOW* MICHIGAN GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEW DISTRIBUTORS?