MATCO TOOLS Franchise Complaints

4,850 thoughts on “MATCO TOOLS Franchise Complaints”

• We need to post on matco’s facebook page. Jason neil has been on there. I posted some comments on there, lets watch for his response.

• Hal
  thanks for your comments. maybe you should call jerry too.

  alot of these obc guys have a cherry route and were able to pick out the better shops and make their own route. cary claims to be doing really well but doesnt want to provide any proof. he stated that he was a shoe salesman before so for all we know most of his sales could be from redback boots.
  these guys cant look at from anyone elses perspective. they are too busy gloating in their own. besides most big people make them selves that way by trying to make others look small. it all comes around sometime in some way though.
  when i first started i was like you said. i lived on my truck, kept taking money from my savings thinking that it would all get better next month. after 3 1/2 years and no savings it didnt.
  i asked for help on numerous occasions. was poked fun at when we had meetings. never got any help. you could ask the dm a question and would get something that was so far off. i can see why now. it was just to make you not bother them anymore because they didnt want to help. i complained to the rm about the lack of help and was blowed off there too.
  i have over 800.00 in credits that i never got. these credits were from conversations with my dm who gave me the approval to do what i did but never did give me the credits i was owed. he just put me out of business instead. world class help is just a phone call away, my ass.
  matco has some owning up to do. they wont be able to just blow all this off.

  cary, you never answered on your headcount or any other questions. are you using the matco standard answer. ignore, ignore, ignore. just say what you have to say and go on.

• tommy get with debbie and facebook me

• REMEMBER THE TOOL BOX VIDEO DVD 4-5 YEARS BACK WHEN MATCO IN THEIR INFINITE WISDOM THREATENED SOME FRANCHISEE’S WITH THEIR FRANCHISE IF ALL COPIES OF THE “FRAUDULENT VIDEO” DVD, FILMED AND DISTRIBUTED BY MATCO, WERE NOT RETURNED TO CORPORATE.

  REMEMBER THE FRAUDULENT CONTENT OF THAT VIDEO COMPARING THE AWESOME MATCO TOOL BOX TO THE INFERIOR BUILT SNAPON BOX.

  REMEMBER HOW MATCO “BUILT” THEIR OWN VERSION OF A BASE STRUCTURE OF A SNAPON TOOLBOX THEN SUBSEQUENTLY THAT MATCO “BUILT” BASE FAILED (go figure) THE MATCO STRESS AND WEIGHT TEST ALL THE WHILE CLAIMING IT WAS AN ACTUAL SNAPON BASE STRUCTURE.

  MATCO SPENT MONTHS TRYING TO RECOVER THOSE ILLICIT DVD’S ONCE THEY WERE CAUGHT IN THEIR DECEPTION……AGAIN!!

  OH!! BTW MATCO….I STILL HAVE MY COPY

  MAYBE IT’S TIME TO PUT IT BACK UP ON THE “YOUTUBES” LOL!!

  ORGANIZED

• Hal – thank you. Your observations are RIGHT ON, I only wish Matco could see things. I have sold a lot of tools and tool boxes in the past two years. I won’t be around to warranty this stuff. Matco has it’s boot firmly planted and my A** will be history, soon.
  So, I do care about my customers and feel really bad as THEY will be the ones punished. No one in their right mind will ever take MY ROUTE – as well they shouldn’t. The route needs to be re-configured -however; the existing customers deserve to have service.
  Matco IN THEIR GREED put me where there should not have been a distributor. These shops SHOULD have been given the opportunity to be COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS. Matco was TOO greedy to offer that option – more money to be made when some poor sucker (ME) signs up, fails, they have their guaranteed $80K note money, I have bankruptcy, and the customers are dismissed as disposable.

• Debbie,

  Since you are apparently going bankrupt wouldn’t it have been a good idea to of had a business plan prior to jumping in with both feet ? You claim your route was not viable okay I believe you but I must ask did you not do everything you could to investigate this business and route prior to saying yes. This is a great business for the right person my advice do your own research and most important get a business plan have it looked over by a group called SCORE at the SBA. It is wise to learn from others misstakes Debbie had no plan and she failed and she is going bankrupt. THE FIRST STEP TO BUSINESS SUCCESS IS TO HAVE A BUSINESS PLAN.

• tlman, it is honestly getting a little creepy…………… you seem obsessed with me.

• Organized, i have actually heard quite a few of those videos still exist……………..

  I would LOVE to see some fresh You Tube adventures :)

  bring it baby!!

• Debbie
  ya, i realize there are still a few out there, my point goes to the depth of deception by Matco and the fact they were actually threatening franchisee’s to get the dvd’s back…

  I see your friend tlman (stalker) just does not grasp what a FRANCHISE really is, so I will post just for him the short definition of a FRANCHISE…

  FRANCHISE; Proven concept with a predefined “business plan” and a plan of action…

  But dont worry Debbie, Matco and the OBC will twist, manipulate and distort the FACTS to make it:

  “YOUR FAULT”

  ORGANIZED

• okay tlman,
  come and get you some of this for awhile and give the lady a break. everybody wants a piece of her ass but shes not giving it up. matco got most of it so she is holding on to the rest that she has left.
  jerry and the gang are working on getting her some money for reconstructive surgery. then she might be more giving. notttttttttttt.
  i would like to know how long you have been in business and what kind of a route you started with. im sure that you didnt make any mistakes, if so then maybe you should be setting up the routes for matco so that dbrs dont fail at such an alarming pace.
  the one thing that all you obcers dont want to see is all the lies and deceit than have been pushed on the people here. if i knew then what i knew now i wouldnt have touched this mess. education is expensive no matter how you get it. part of the business plan is that you have to deceive the public to stay ahead of the game. increas you profit margin at the customers expense. you get the deal they get the shaft. i know its about making money but i have seen too many times where customers just flat got screwed. there have been numerous time where matco has screwed thew customer and the dbr just to make that dollar. matco is going to get theirs no matter what. make a fuss and you are next. is that part of your business plan.
  there are those here that dont want anyone to rock the boat because they arent the ones getting wet. well get your rain gear out mr obc because the storm is coming and there are going to be quite a few that are going to get very wet.
  i have the utmost total confidence that we will win our fight and when its over guys like you wont have the balls to admit what is right. you will still say that we are failures. i just hope that your business plan has a hurricane clause in it because you just might need it.
  please address all negative comments directly back to me as i would love to hear them. oh and have a wonderful evening, i am and there is nothing that you can say or do to change it.

• cary
  where did you go. you never answered my questions. talk about other peoples manners when your own need a little attention.
  besides i think tlman is going to need some help.

• Richard ,

  Surgery ? reconstuctive Surgery ? I thought we were talking about the tool business apparently you sold a different product .

  My business started with a you guessed it a business plan that I wrote and was reviewed by SCORE (check with the SBA). 6 yrs in zero debt 2nd truck purchased was a repo for only 41k 22ft Int 4300 w only 30k miles. Route mostly lower income no gold mines no oil fields. Not runing for President so Tax records are not an option but I do better than I deserve.

• tlman
  you obviously didnt read my post correctly or you have tunnel vision or both.take a deep breath and back up and re read it. open both eyes this time. you will see it differently.
  as i stated before then maybe you should be surveying the new routes so that people are not taken advantage of like they are now.

• Organized ?

  I have a bridge to sell you it is the best bridge in the world you will make tons. Take my word for it don’t do your own research don’t get a business plan just trust me it will work.

  Wow this is what you were thinking ?

  When you make a bank deposit do first add it up or do you let the teller do the work after all most banks are some sort of franchise ?

• tlman
  so you dont trust anything that matco sells or says, true or false, just asking because you are comparing apples to oranges here and implying that the only person that you trust is yourself. all others apply within.

• Richard,

  I trust my business plan need I say more

  The Business plan is a fundamental to business what else do I need to say other than if you start with out one you will most likely fail.

• TLMAN
  great job on the “no dept” part of your plan, that is the only way to survive nowadays…HOWEVER, these days that just is not feasible for the average franchisee just starting out…Matco prefers them loaded with dept (fact)

  just to give you an idea how my “business plan” has worked out so far…I have been through 4 trucks, 13 DM’s, 3 RM’s, and 27 distributors from various companies have come and gone in my territory (not bragging, just fact)

  Now just by coincidence I happen to be in the market for a “bridge”…can you describe it and what is the asking price??

• tlman
  you will also fail when people promise you something and do not deliver as promised and promise to do again and dont. you cant say that your world is not built on trust because this whole business is based on trust. it starts at the beginning with matco.
  what you have learned to do was bypass matco and not rely on them therefore reducing your losses and having a back up plan when in fact that you do have to depend on them, because they will let you down.
  does your business plan cover sales that go on back order for 6 months or longer or is that just too bad for your customers.
  you cant buy outside the web so how do you deliver the goods as promised. i would like to see your self written business plan to see how it can cover all the unforseen circumstances that seem to apply to this business.
  its all about customer service , thats what they preach to you at school but they dont deliver afterwards. when did you go to school at stow last, 1960 what., ther are some things that you dont have a clue about but you think that you do. i dont criticize your choices so why do you do so to mine. i have never been where you are and you have never been where i am. two different worlds with two different paths. i would love to be where you are , why dont you come to mine and see it from a different angle.
  im waiting

• cary
  tlman needs some help, just saying. he cant sell a bridge so how in the hell can he sell a pair of shoes. give him a hand here.

• Matco has screwed alot of people and its coming to an end. We are not going away and we will be heard, by matco and all. We are bringing to lite how matco treats their distributors, they mislead,lie and they are deceitful.

  Snapon just opened a new production plant in Tennessee , did they purchase the building matco had for sale?

  Matco sure called those dvd’s back in a hurry when they produced them, I was threatened with my franchise if I din’t return it, WHY MATCO? WAS IT MISLEADING AND FALSE?

• tommy

  stop it. you are just a disgruntled employee of a so called employer that didnt get what you were told that you would get. life sucks.
  go to walmart. you get a smiley face with every paycheck.
  matco has never told a lie in their life. they were just born maybe.
  i hear that train a coming, its coming aroung that bend. i do believe its headed for stow in the end.

• I was just thinking … I wonder why Matco did not LEARN their lesson the first time around when they fraudulently made a video!

  From the detailed accounts I’ve heard – from several (and yes Organized the depths of Matco’s deception runs DEEP) the Toolbox video was total FRAUD

  They may think they threatened distributors enough and think they actually got the videos back BUT, seriously, they would HAVE to know people were going to BURN COPIES!!

  You can’t UN RING the bell! Matco out right committed FRAUD – and Snap On caught them THAT time.

  Fast forward, and Todd catches them – yet again – in ANOTHER LIE!!!!!!!!

  Sad thing is………………HOW MANY TIMES HAVE THEY GOTTEN AWAY WITH THEIR FRAUDS AND LIES ??????

• ………………..and despite ANY argument about ‘business plans’, or routes, or even the ‘capability of one to own their own business’

  Please, TELL ME, HOW THE HELL DOES THAT LESSEN THE FRAUD?

  You boys are going to have to realize LAWS WERE BROKEN!

  FRAUD WAS COMMITTED, LAWS WERE BROKEN

  Calling me names is like spitting in the ocean, it DON’T MAKE A DAMN BIT OF DIFFERENCE!

  The BIGGER picture is MATCO COMMITTED FRAUD – MATCO IS GUILTY OF ILLEGAL PRACTICES

  Matco WILL BE held ACCOUNTABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  ………and I will not rest until every last damaged distributor is adjudicated

• amen debbie

• Richard,

  Never had a back order for 6 months. Are you sure you are not talking about tool hold ( this is when a distributor didn’t pay his or her tool bill and spent the money else where) ???

  Organized,

  Just take my word for it the bridge comes with a free pair of Red Back boots but only size 14 sold most of my bridges this week and only have 1 pair left

• not tool hold, several times on tool hold for an individual item

• I see how it is……

  When the FACTS are too much to handle, the
  conversation deteriorates and dumbs itself in a hurry

  No mention of that Toolbox video, oh no, because current
  distributors KNOW that would be the END, they would have
  their franchises yanked out right from under their feet

  No mention of Tim Gilmore’s video, don’t want to piss off
  the new Prez

  No, why talk Serious, Actual, Real Facts?
  Why discuss fraud or illegal practices?

  Because it is easier to live in denial, and muddy
  the water with boots, back orders, and bridges.

  Complete nonsense ~ just so some people can hear
  themselves talk……. Sad

• HERES SOME INFO ON MATCO I FOUND:

  Matco Tools, Inc. is a professional tools manufacturer for the automotive and other industries [1] and is based in Stow, Ohio, United States. This includes over 13,000 different tools such as wrenches, screw drivers, gauges, and specialty tools. Matco also produces their own line of high quality toolboxes in the USA at their Jamestown, NY manufacturing plant. They also contract several Chinese factories to manufacture their air tools, electric, and diagnostic tools. They also carry a similar lifetime warranty on all hand tools.[2]. The company was founded in 1946 and began selling direct to professional mechanics in 1979[3]. Matco Tools is a subsidiary of the Danaher Corporation[4]. Matco stands for Mac Allied Tool Company, however they haven’t been associated with Mac since 1979.

• Distribution
  Similar to Snap-On, Cornwell and many Mac Tools dealers, Matco Tools are sold by a local tool distributor who owns a territory by means of a franchise [5][6]. The franchise owner drives to the work locations of potential customers, and typically offers financing to individuals looking to buy their tools. Matco trucks are easily identified by their white color with large blue and red Matco logo on the side.

  IS IT TERRITORY OR A LIST OF CALLS MATCO?

• HAS ANYONE OF THE OBCers EVER NOTICED THAT MATCO BLINDLY FOLLOWS SNAPON POLICIES IN LOCK STEP OVER THE YEARS, WHAT EVER SNAPPY DOES-MATCO DOES THE SAME A COUPLE YEARS LATER..

  IT’S A “MONKEY SEE-MONKEY DO” MENTALITY

  NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF MONKEYS RUNNING THE SHOW

  AT ALL THE MEETINGS IF ANY DISTRIBUTOR BROUGHT UP ANY ISSUE THE DM’s AUTOMATIC RESPONSE ALWAYS STARTS OFF “WELL SNAPON ……”

• Organized: Thanks for your comments and contributions to the discussion. One request: Can you please type without the “Caps Lock” button on? Thanks. ADMIN

• You got it

• so why is it when you go out of business they take you out of skips. is that so the new guy can sell more tools and not worry about your money. it seems like it just sets a precedence for the customer to not pay the next guy because he will be going out of business soon too since he cant collect his money because all his customers have already been trained that if they dont pay their bill the guy will be gone and another will come in and they will have free tools. it also stops some of them freom coming out to the truck because they know that they owe the last guy. doesnt make for a good success story for the new guy. does matco care, i dont think so. they already have the dbr on the hook for $70,000.00. play this one out and get another one….NEXT

• Organized………. I sincerely hope Matco continues their “follow the leader” mentality as they have done so far with Snap On

  Meaning………… they follow suit and pay their distributors MILLIONS in law suits

  …………………….. just as Snap On did :)

• MY understanding is that Matco’s infractions are BY FAR WORSE than Snap On

  The wrongdoings in MY personal experience are criminal………..

  *Knowingly sold a non viable route
  *Repeatedly given INFLATED customer numbers
  *Contrary to FDD the customers were “NOT” qualified
  *Made to perform warranty repairs for which I was un trained and not compensated for the labor or shipping charges
  *Promised World Class Service – received NONE
  *Pressured to buy at Sales Meetings, Illegal requirement to meet NPA

  *********Part ONE***********

• Richard,,,,,,,,,,,,, add it to the LIST OF LIES Matco tells

  In training, BIG DEAL to get mechanic’s info, they TELL YOU – so if customer moves – you move, whatever………… the NEXT DBR can collect for YOU ….. not

  I also heard,,,,,,,,, If you are terminated and still owe Matco money
  for note, or tool bill…………

  Matco sends letters to YOUR MECHANICS THAT OWE YOU MONEY on the truck
  The letter from Matco tells the mechanic, “HE” doesn’t owe You, instead, the letter instructs mechanics to PAY MATCO directly…………… sounds like stealing

• Jason Neil…..talking smack AGAIN,,, now his vile posts appear on Matco’s FB page

  Jason Neil
  Hey Matco…when are you going to block Tommy Cheung…everyone knows he failed as a dbr in 2008 yet still cant get matco out of his mind. That’s all he ever talks about is MATCO… 4 years later and still talking MATCO, that’s a dedicated distributor. Too bad he didn’t put that much dedication into his business.
  Like · · 2 hours ago ·

  Debbie Konop Solko
  Jason, this is a customer page – as you are well aware! Why? would you give Tommy air time? Unless of course, you see that he is not alone. There are literally HUNDREDS of failed distributors out of business. ALL of these guys WERE DEDICATED – explain that.
  2 seconds ago · Like

• I have a question…

  On Matco’s FB page SEVERAL customers ask for service, ask for a distributor to come to their shop

  WHY can’t those shops be Commercial Accounts?

  Vail, Colorado Ski resort, about 45 miles past my furthest shop IS a Commercial Account……………. they were told because they were not close to any distributor’s territory

• ………………112 more posts and we will be at 4000

  Seriously, how can ANYONE argue that 4000 mean nothing???

  Wake up Matco, 4000 posts – SINCE November,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

  You guys GOT PROBLEMS – question is,,,,,,,, what are you going to do about them?

• Debbie
  Your route went way the hell up THAT mountain toward Vail??

  Your DM has no shame

• Organized………….. you have no idea,,,,,,,,,, I’m obedient so I just did as I was told
  ………..LOL !!

  well, yeah, so I drove out I70, through the Eisenhower Tunnels, serviced Silverthorne, Frisco, and Breckenridge

  Vail resorts calls my DM and asks for service (it was actually Aspen that needed the service, part of Vail resorts, still 45 miles out)

  MY DM calls me and TELLS ME TO DRIVE PAST BRECK AND OVER VAIL PASS and see what they need

  THEY NEEDED WARRANTY WORK

  THEY WERE A COMMERCIAL ACCOUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  They couldn’t have it both ways, Commercial Accounts get fabulous pricing, they can mail in warranties

  IF they had a distributor service them, they would HAVE TO GIVE UP Commercial Account status, the pricing is too sweet to do that

  MY DM should have found out the details first
  MY DM should NEVER NEVER NEVER asked me to drive Vail Pass

  GEEZ, I already drive Hoosier Pass, Red Hill, and Kenosha Pass once a week

  Matco KNEW my route was NOT viable

  The only THING they DIDN’T know was how LONG it was going to take to break me

• NO SHAME

  LIES LIES LIES

  Bryan Maira and Doug Heersink sat at MY dinning room table and LIED to me in my own house, shameful

  I told Bryan Maira I didn’t want to walk away from a $60K/yr job if I couldn’t make AT LEAST that much being a Matco distributor

  told me QUOTE-
  “Oh, you won’t have any problems! You will come home to MOUNTAINS of cash. The ONLY way you will have a problem? If you spend your cash on toys – boats, motorcycles – because that is how guys get in trouble. As long as you PAY MATCO first, you will be fine” END QUOTE

• Matco promises distributors 325 customers

  I never had more than 122 customers on the books

  I sold OVER a quarter of a million dollars in tools each year

  That comes out to $40/week, every week, for each of those 122 customers……..

  Imagine then just how amazing my business would have been if I actually HAD 325 potential customers!!

  Even if I only had 200 on the books

  but, when your customer pool is SOOOO shallow……………….

• there is a 1 in 5 rule, for every 5 customers you wil get 1. but when matco keeps replacing dbrs then the customer gets wary and doesnt want to do business so it hurts the dbr. does anyone care, no. who pays the ultimate price, you. matco expects you to fix all the unscrupulous things of the past, its your fault anyway. so if you cant fix it then oh well.. you are held accountable for all the past mistakes, my ass. thats the way they figure it

• its always your fault no matter what.

• Geez, I must be getting to Jason Neil, he always talks about me and wants me to hang out at the flamingo with him. Sorry Jason, I am not gay, happily married with three kids and comfortable.

  Jason, I have asked many times before, if you and Queen don;t like what I have to say, what are both of you going to do about it?

  I am going to talk alot of smack, I am not going anywhere and if it hurts your business, sorry about your luck.

  Jason, matco;s boxes are lifetime warranty as long as parts are still availible, when they discontinue slides and they are no longer availible, it becomes a limited warranty.

  Jason Neil, I am getting ready to buy a NITRO Z9 boat, would you like to go fishing with me? I will use you for bait.

  GEEZ JASON, LOOK AT MY PREVIOUS POST WHERE MATCO ADMITS THEY HAVE THEIR TOOLS MADE OVERSEAS. WHY HAVEN;T YOU POSTED HERE ANYMORE? DID MATCO SHUT YOU UP? WHERE ARE THE REST OF THE OBC CLUB? THEY ARE IN SECLUSION LIKE MATCO AND AS TODD QUOTES, BETTER RUN,RUN,RUN FROM OUR ATTORNEY’S.

• JASON, WE MISS YOUR LIES ON HERE, you were a district manager at one time, which means you are full of lies, thats what matco teaches their regional and district managers.

  Jason, how much are your tools marked up over list? Thats what matco teaches distributors to cover expenses. My district manager darryl has the whole gator district computers marked up over list, could he have nisinformed or mislead us to do something against matco’s policies?

• Sorry Jason, matco loves my post on their facebook page, I will continue the postings there,here, and everywhere.

  Geez, I am getting Jason mad people, we better do like they do and run and hide, cause little Jason is coming unglued.

  Jason tell me how you really feel about me, bring it on bud. I see you have laid off of Debbie ( bad ass) Solko aka PRESIDENT OF MATCO DISTRIBUTOR ASSOCIATION. THAT WOMAN IS A BAD ASS AND SHE COULD MAN HANDLE YOU.

• M- MATCO

  D- DISTRIBUTORS

  A- ALWAYS

  C- CHURNED

• WOW! I was just on Matco FB page reading one of Debbie’s posts, I went to another page for a second then went back and her comments were gone !

  Looks like someone is in full damage control. LOL !