MATCO TOOLS Franchise Complaints

4,850 thoughts on “MATCO TOOLS Franchise Complaints”

• Junior,

  You sound like a smart guy who got out of a bad deal at a good time. Sounds to me like you were smart to start your own business outside of Matco. Can you tell us Distributors what your start up costs were when you went from DM to Distributor? Since you were a DM can you tell us how many distributors came and went during your time as a DM? Can you tell us how good the communication was with your RM? Can you tell us out of your graduation class in Stow, OH how many are still successful distributors at Matco? If there is only 1 out of 10 would that mean that you graduated with 8 other lazy and worthless distributors? Or would that mean that ‘Maybe’ Matco does like to turn over their Distributors.

  I don’t mind that you are on here and defending Matco but do you really know what you are defending?

  Proof: On this site there are two UFOC’s. This would be the basis of my proof. I called up a name I recognized and he confirmed what I am alleging. Also, not only is he listed as a terminated distributor but a distributor who did not acquire any tools within a six month period. Yes this same management personel you worked directly with when you were a DM in AZ. hired this Distributor to start a route in Joplin, MO. without a proper survey being done. Had a survey been properly done they would have found most of the shops on his ‘LOC’ were already getting service by Matco for over 2 years.

• Instead of six month period should have been six week period.

• Good job,Relentless. Way to go.Tell it like it is.

• sorry admin, I am trying to be a good boy.

• By the way, there are over 465 Distributor franchises available through Matco at this time. Do you think that number is high?

  Start Up costs for 465 franchises equals: $33,480,000 ($72,000 start-up) Inventory, $8,370,000 ($18,000) TP Reserve

  Combined total: $41,850,000 Who knows how much profit is made here? But these routes used to be filled by distributors that is why they are available now.

• …. Junior wrote “Debbie – “So, just HOW MUCH would a distributor have to spend at Expo to actually realize the “great deals” or “savings”?”
  Junior – Another example why DBR’s fail. They think they are smarter than year’s worth of best practices. You reinvented the wheel Debbie. You came up with a reason why your idea was better and when you failed you now want to blame Matco. Unbelievable.”

  Not really sure what WHEEL i reinvented???? My husband and I attended Expo, yes the new stuff was cool – but I didn’t think the “deals” were that great

  Sounds like SHOPPING to me – and who better to shop? than a woman??
  I KNOW DEALS, didn’t really find them at Expo. Yes the “vacation’ was nice, learning a little about product was nice – but still not thinking the COST justified the savings.

  Not saying “They think they are smarter than year’s worth of best practices”

  Year’s worth of best practices – what does that even mean??

  EXPO hyped from day one recruiting, heavily hyped at school
  SORRY – no DOOR BUSTERS to be found…………
  I heard from a veteran current dbr that told me He hasn’t been that impressed with the new product or the deals at expo either – yep, NOT just my opinion

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

  NOPE – another example of bad advice, VERY BAD advice

• The reason the Expo hotel prices are so high is that you pay for the top 10 or 20 expenses. Money got to come from somewhere. Truly this is the reason

• Exactly! I would like Matco to be Honest

  Please don’t insult my intelligence by telling me
  “Matco worked the best discounts”
  Just tell it like it is…… If we want EXPO and all that
  entails – We PAY for it
  Be honest

  BTW…. I heard from a very reliable source,
  Matco is trying to make Going to EXPO
  Mandatory!

  Wow, good luck with that one. Although the constant
  pressure to attend is currently a little over the top

• Yeah but that is Matco. Matco wants you to compete at a high level and retain a large purchase average cause they make lots of money, RIGHT? SO why then would they cut anyone who is successful and servicing over 95% of their route?
  You would think that is why I signed up to be a francise distributor to grow my customer base and buy more tools and make Matco more profitable as it says in my franchise agreement. Noone told me before I started that I would work hard to increase my inventory on my truck, buy a bigger truck to display more tools and boxes, then have my DM terminated by a new RM, then have that same RM come to my house and threaten my franchise if I don’t give him shops. Had someone told me this is what they do to SUCCESSFUL DISTRIBUTORS I would have declined this business venture for sure. Instead, I was promised that if I worked hard enough I could be a BIG DOG and have my stay at EXPO paid for and receive specials that other distributors don’t have an opportunity to get. That I could be #1. Personally I don’t know why I would want to be #2. My goal has always been #1 and as my DM told me when I started to be number one in Arkansas I would have to GROW MY ROUTE and service my customers. That is what I did.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  Email or call me sometime.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• i don’t know about REQUIRED Expo attendance for other franchises
  but, IF Matco starts requiring attendance at Expo – well, regardless of whatever perceived benefit they peddle –

  wouldn’t REQUIRING attendance at Expo – something that would be the sole financial responsibility of the distributor
  well, wouldn’t that financial responsibility equate to a FEE ????

  a REQUIRED monetary exchange of funds – smells like a FEE to me :)

  Matco loves to advertise their franchise has NO FEEs ——- hmmm,

• weakness is unacceptable,come on big mouths all is quiet tonight.going to sleep good night no names

• Required attendance to Expo… Yea thats a fee, They require attendance to your sales meetings too. 80%. Lets see, every 6 weeks, (I may be wrong) Thats 8.6 per year, 80% = 6.9, so you can only miss one. God forbid you get sick, your kids get sick, grandma is in the hospital, your wife had an accident…. You miss more than one, your OUT!

  THIS IS A SCAM! They built everything into the contract to make sure you fail-IF THEY WANT YOU TO!

  How far do you have to drive to get to your Meetings? I know some that had to drive more than 60 miles one way.

  If they require you to attend EXPO, Just write a check for $2000 and ask to be excused.

  But it is a vacation for you and the family! Vegas is NOT a family desitination people. How many times have they been to Vegas in the last 10 years?

• **********MATCO TOOLS FRANCHISE *****FEES*****
  AKA – other hidden costs…………

  REQUIRED purchase amounts = FEE
  REQUIRED attendance to sales meetings = FEE
  (I travel 50 miles/one way – over an hour each way – a WHOLE day of my time) FEE

  REQUIRED to pay shipping on Warranties
  REQUIRED to perform repairs, and assemble carts without compensation
  (Labor laws in EVERY state REQUIRE compensation for labor)

  SCAM
  FRAUD
  WRONG

• **************MATCO LIES*****************

  part one –

  “Oh, the tools sell themselves! You don’t need to know anything about tools – the mechanics will happily tell YOU what they want”

  EXCEPT – You BETTER go to EXPO so you can LEARN about the tools that sell themselves and the mechanics already know everything about

  EXCEPT – When you Tote n Promote – you better be explaining all the features and benefits – because THAT is what sells tools (Yeah, right, THAT is what sells the tools you didn’t need to know anything about) but wait, why do I have to tote and promote at all? remember – THE TOOLS SELL THEMSELVES……………

• REQUIRED purchase amounts = FEE
  REQUIRED attendance to sales meetings = FEE
  REQUIRED to pay shipping on Warranties
  REQUIRED to perform repairs, and assemble carts without compensation

  God forbid you have some responsibility in YOUR business.

  Purchase something online, it breaks. Who pays to ship it back? Buy something at a store and it breaks. Who drives to take it back? My lord stores are scamming me!

  Repair a ratchet, or a air tool, change a slide or 4 in a toolbox. Oh no the horrors of taking care of your customer!

• “”THIS IS A SCAM! They built everything into the contract to make sure you fail-IF THEY WANT YOU TO! “”

  So either you didn’t read it or you didn’t comprehend it. Which is it? And don’t give me this ‘they tricked me BS’ I’m very interested in your honest answer to the question.

• Junior, As I’ve clearly stated before, I entered the agreement in ‘Good Faith’.
  Matco apparently did not. I held up my end of the deal, they did not. My DM did not like a MDAC rep coming back to the meeting and sharing the truth about Matco.

  In my letter to Tom Willis I highlighted the details where THEY Failed and I failed. They hid behind the contract, I went to the lawyer. They bowed in submission.
  End of Story.

• “God forbid you take responsibility for your business”

  SO< it is OK for MATCO to advertise NO FEES
  ………………. and then charge FEES

  guess Matco is above responsibility,
  yep, Matco is only responsible for TAKING a distributor's $80,000

  Just be honest – there ARE FEES
  Just be honest – EXPO is not a discounted benefit – it is a trip for which you PAY

  Just be honest –

• “God forbid you take responsibility for your business”

  SO< it is OK for MATCO to advertise NO FEES
  ………………. and then charge FEES

  guess Matco is above responsibility,
  yep, Matco is only responsible for TAKING a distributor's $80,000

  Just be honest – there ARE FEES
  Just be honest – EXPO is not a discounted benefit – it is a trip for which you PAY

  Just be honest –

• Please remind me where it says anywhere that you will not incure any buisness related charges?

  Pens and paper to keep notes. Fee right?
  Gas. Fee right?
  Lunch on the route. Fee right?
  Contests and give aways run on my truck. Fee right?
  Cell phone. Fee right?
  Internet at home. Fee right?
  Boxes to ship warranty back. Fee right? (damn it why didn’t I save a box they sent me?)
  Box to ship overstocks back. Fee right?
  Someone to do my taxes. Fee right?

  Just because you feel something is unfair, a fee, or illegal does not mean it is.

  And you can say I am picking on you. But you have and can prove you are a Matco distributor. No one else here has, other than the pro Matco people that are so tired of talking to you and the others. So, in simple, why would I question someone that for all I know is making everything up?

• “Junior, As I’ve clearly stated before,….They bowed in submission.
  End of Story.”

  So I’m begining to see a common denominator with you. You don’t read nor do you comprehend. I asked you a straight forward question and you did what Tommy does and pretents something completely different was asked.

  Did you or did you not read and comprehend the agreement between you and Matco Tools?

• Tom on December 14th, 2011 4:50 pm
  Debbie- email me sometime. Got LOTS you will want.

  hey Tom, need your email address –
  we can’t post contact info here so just go to
  http://www.ladymatco.com

  copy your post too! i thought it brought up a LOT of good points, I have some real reservations about TransLease……………
  but you can find MY contact info – email me!!

• one last thought before I go to bed……………..

  stand your ground
  you KNOW you’re right
  you DIDN’T fail

  Matco FAILED you

  don’t be bullied

  don’t let “them” get a rise out of you

  ignore them – state YOUR reasons, repeat your reasons

  good night :)

• Debbie, EXPO is an expense. Matco has never claimed anything other than it costs a DBR money to attend. Another clear statement within the UFOC.

  If time, fuel, or any other expenses to get to meetings or EXPOs bothered you then I’m confused over what you expected. Check into other franchises and you’ll learn that they not only charge a huge franchise fee they require that you be there.

  What I’m getting from you here Debbie is you too didn’t do your homework nor did you read and comprehend what the program is about. Had you actually read and understood everything you would have known about the “fees” and expenses that come with owning a business. It just wasn’t for you.

• Haven’t gone to every EXPO but my best years have come after I went.
  Debbie sorry to break the news to you dear I am not a plant just a smart business owner very honest very good with money and a big pain in the ass. Matco has problems no doubt they do but please if its that bad quit.

• Junior, did you talk to a lawyer before you signed you contract?

  If he/she told you anything other than what mine told me, they mislead you.

  Mine said DO NOT SIGN! Unless you feel that they will in ‘GOOD FAITH’ honor the premise of the contract. Again, depends on what state you live in. Doesn’t matter what you sign, it depends on the ‘Intent’.

• TOMMY BOY, NICE TRY ON CRAIGS LIST, THEY DEAMED YOU AS SPAM RIGHT-A WAY AND SENT U A PACKIN…MAYBE FOR YOUR TRAIN WRECK WITH JERY. Im a simple self employed guy trying to make a living and now you are trying to attack me thru a free classified ad web site…. your focus on stow seemj s to have kinda spread to anyone who opposes tommyboy!!! You dont scare me you failed four-ish years ago as a distributor…..once again move on to your next failure.

  Thanks
  Cary

• Tommy, what a fine piece of work you have posted in my town!! It’s clear you have no respect for any former, current Dbrs, or DMs and their families.. You have now taken this from a corporate fight down to a personal level. You and the rest of Jerry’s kids can “try” and sue the pants off of Danaher but I’ll tell you this. Don’t F with my business nor my customers with this shit propaganda you have tried to post to craigslist.. Its much easier talking tools and trying to make a living than trying to explain why someone let Tommy boy out of his cage to my customers..
  Thanks for your understanding in this!

  TO ALL CURRENT MATCO TOOLS FRANCHISEE’S, FORMER FRANCHISEE’S, FORMER DISTRIBUTORS, FORMER CHARTER DISTRIBUTORS AND FORMER DISTRICT MANAGERS, PLEASE FOLLOW THE LINKS BELOW TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON ONE OF MANY CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS BEING FILED AGAINST MATCO TOOLS & DANAHER CORP ALLEGING SBA LOAN FRAUD, NUMEROUS VIOLATIONS OF GOOD FAITH, FAIR DEALING AND GOOD PRACTICES IN BUSINESS, DISCRIMINATION AND INTIMIDATION, PRICE GOUGING, BREACH OF CONTRACT, ANTI-TRUST VIOLATIONS, WRONGFUL TERMINATIONS AND CHURNING FRANCHISEE’S IN AND OUT OF BUSINESS ON BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS.
  PLEASE GET INVOLVED AND VOICE YOUR OPINION. IF YOU HAVE BEEN WRONGED BY THIS COMPANY AND/OR AS A RESULT SUFFERED ANY SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL LOSS DUE TO MATCO TOOLS ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES-THEN WE HAVE LEGAL TEAMS THAT ARE WAITING TO HELP
  CHECK THESE LINKS BELOW:
  http://www.unhappybitchywhinersthatsuckatlife.com

  snap on, mac, franchise, tool box, sockets, wrenches, business, tool truck

• Great posting team, keep up the good work guys, I spilled the beans and yall keep posting, hit all craigslist in all cities.thanks team.

• Team we need to make up flyers and send out to all shops throughout the U.S and we will be heard. I will work on making some and you all do the same, I can get some help on postage.

• anon , heres fees

  being lied too- fee-yes
  warranty returns-fee- yes 10%
  deceitfull-fee-yes
  fdd time frame for sending docs- yes- tbd
  fraud-yes-feds
  screwing with the feds-yes-big time
  churning-yes-lawsuit
  inflated headcounts-yes-lawsuit
  numerous counts against matco in the court of law-yes-big time
  bait and switch-yes-lawsuit

  and the list goes on and on.

• **************MATCO LIES*****************
  part one –
  “Oh, the tools sell themselves! You don’t need to know anything about tools – the mechanics will happily tell YOU what they want”
  EXCEPT – You BETTER go to EXPO so you can LEARN about the tools that sell themselves and the mechanics already know everything about
  EXCEPT – When you Tote n Promote – you better be explaining all the features and benefits – because THAT is what sells tools (Yeah, right, THAT is what sells the tools you didn’t need to know anything about) but wait, why do I have to tote and promote at all? remember – THE TOOLS SELL THEMSELVES……………

• *****Matco LIES******
  part 2
  ….. Warranties are processed hassle free and we issue credit as soon as we
  receive the shipment. We were told this class.

  Well, ALWAYS a hassle, they send back any tool that was not on the list!
  Why? Not just add it on? Stupid
  Short EVERY return by at least 10%

• We need to send e-mails out to everyone, including ny post, all papers, websites,automotive sites, marina sites, heavy trucks,etc we will not be silenced, we need to get deep into matco’s pocket, just as they did us.

• Spamming craigslist, yeah go team! This will make us look legit and not a bunch of lunatics!! You really didn’t listen did you Tommy?

• Debbie does somebody need to come out to Colorado and hold your hand when doing warrenty returns too?? Wait… What am I thinking, someone obviously needs to hold your hand for your whole business! FEES!! Theres another FEE for you!!

• How is Tommy exercising his constitutionally protected rights of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly an attack on any dbr’s business? He is not saying anything negative about Matco Tools or Matco distributors… he is expressing his unhappiness with how he believes he was treated by a company he purchased a franchise from. I thought this was what America was all about, making sure everyone was free to voice their opinions and that others were free to openly disagree with them.

  I don’t agree with everything the complainers have to say, but I am not surprised that franchisees who fail blame the franchise company (justified or not). I AM surprised by how upset many of the other dbrs are at the people who DARE complain and voice opinions they don’t agree with. So they have opinions about Matco you don’t agree with… What’s the big deal? They are not saying Matco Tools suck or boycott Matco…

  They are pushing for Matco to be more sensitive and supportive of struggling dbrs, and not be so quick to terminate. How can you get outraged at that? They are pushing for policies and practices that are more dbr-friendly. How can other Matco dbrs be against that?

  Even the people on here who defend Matco admit there are problems and things could be improved. Tommy, Debbie and the rest probably have them buzzing in Stow and following this discussion regularly. What’s so wrong about them pushing for change and demanding improvements? You will likely benefit from improvements, won’t you? Or do you want things to stay exactly as they are no matter what, and never change?

• Good Job

• Can creditors repossess property of mine that
  is not collateral for the debt?
  No, your creditors can only repossess the
  collateral from you. But if a creditor sues you and
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  have a sheriff or constable take and sell other
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  Debt?

  More repo laws and more to follow.

• 2. Personal property other than a vehicle. If you
  borrowed the money to buy personal property
  other than a vehicle (for example, furniture or
  personal items), the creditor may not repossess the
  property without first giving you a 21-day notice
  that gives you a chance to make up the back
  payments.

  more to come