MATCO TOOLS Franchise Complaints

4,850 thoughts on “MATCO TOOLS Franchise Complaints”

• I TRUELY and GENUINELY believe that Junior and and MATCO#1 both mean well in their defenses of Matco but might be Alarmed by the claims that are being made on this website.

  I also believe that many are not cut out to be distributors and at the opportunity to become a victim will reap a reward for what Matco has done to some distributors.

  To those wishing to become a franchise distributor I can only give you this advice:

  1) Attorney, READ, Listen

  DON”T BECOME ANOTHER VICTIM!

• MATCO#1

  Man I believe you 100% percent but these guys will not believe till they see proof . Much like you will not believe us till you see proof . Junior has had proof and though I am not asking either one of you to prove because I believe you both, they are demanding the same that you are demanding from us PROOF! Show us your loyalty to US.

• Tom wrote – “Junior- I don’t think it was Bill Ramey….”

  Junior – Tom, I have no idea who Bill Ramey is. I know a Mike Ramey. I was talking about someone else, never mind.

  Tom wrote – “I just find it funny that my “documented facts” are all lies, according to you.”

  Junior – You haven’t documented anything and I never called you a liar, I said I find it hard to believe. Its opinion based. Jeez Tom, you’re really struggling with this dialogue, we might want to leave it right here man.

  Tom wrote – “…your “opinions” should be held in the highest regard?”

  Junior – I’m not asking for it, but ok.

• Tommy wrote – “Sam U, YOU WERENT HERE, SO YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TOOK PLACE, YOU DONT KNOW EVERYONES PROBLEMS WITH MATCO OR THEIR D.M’s or R.M’s,so STFU, YOU MUST UP BEEN UP MY D.M’s AZZ, LIKE THE REST OF THEM”

  Junior – WOW, I’m curious how this got by the Admin. Not that you attacked anyone here…jeeez.

  TOMMY – Sam is ten times the DBR you’ll ever be. He now knows your story because he called me. You were speaking to a DBR that paid off his business in three years, collects from 71% of his cust each week, was in the top 15 three times, and you’ll love this holds the highest VPTT in his Region EVERY year.

  Tommy you have proven who you really are.

• Former Distr wrote – “Jay, I don’t know who you are? a DM or Distributor … THis piece of crap DM now would do NOTHING! …You know Jay, maybe your right, …. Training is NON-existent, Sales meeting were worthless. They stole from me every chance they had ….MATCO IS NOT A WORTHY FRANCHISOR – STAY AWAY!”

  Junior – Jay is the last guy I’d ever speak to like this, and I’m a second degree black-belt. Unbelievable.

• Former Distr wrote – “Now I understand why Junior, MAtco#1 and others were so good, they did NOTHING!”

  Junior – And you’re the one that was requesting FACTS. Are you related to Tom by chance or is it just a coincidence the two of you like making general accusation?

• it is amazing how only some peoples opinions count and are the truth while those same people say that other peoples opinions dont count. i dont have to prove anything to anyone here. if you dont like my opinion then just leave it alone as i do some of yours. this is a public website not to be controlled by a few. nit picking everyones comments is not necessary .
  matco 1 i never said that i quit selling tool boxes, check your notes, you are on everyone else about wrong postings.

• Junior, your comment:

  Junior – Jay is the last guy I’d ever speak to like this, and I’m a second degree black-belt. Unbelievable.

  – has absolutely no value to the subject at hand, In fact, I don’t have a clue what the hell you are talking about. I’m supposed to be threatened by your words or your black belt?

  I commented about MY ex DM and you comment about Jay WTF?

  I comment about ALL the things Matco’s DM’s don’t do, at least for me and you comment about your black belt. I’ve got a black belt too, but it holds a 1911.

  Now back on the subject… Matco#1 commented on what he did for his Distr’s, spending $20k and bought them lunch and gifts, now that is sweet. My DM bought me lunch once too in about a 8 year span.

  I just don’t know how I’m supposed to feel about spending $20k / year. I guess its all relative to income isn’t it? I could only imagine that if your earning 50K a year you wouldn’t expense that much out.

• again, please Tell us what you do as a DM. I don’t care that you buy lunch and gifts, what do you do as a Matco Tools District Manager? Maybe give us an idea of a ‘typical’ day for you.

  I would really like to know what I should have expect from my DM. I have my ideas, but they seem to be unrealistic.

• Former….playing xbox and eating bon bons, collecting fat bonus, wow that was the life. Now that I think of it I should have never became a dbr again…oh no wait I went back on the truck because I like the 17k sales week and 14065 in completed the week of Christmas. Man this economy sucks… I can’t wIt until it gets better.

  Yeah former I am being a smart ass.

• Sorry Richard you are right it was former that stopped selling boxes.my apologies to you.

  Wow former 3-4% I wish, I would still be doing it if that was the case, I would careless what kind of a workload they put on me. 5,000 bonus isn’t entirely accurate as well. First start was zero, you had to have a lot of new starts in a year to ever get 5000.

• Former wrote – “- has absolutely no value to the subject at hand, In fact, I don’t have a clue what the hell you are talking about. I’m supposed to be threatened by your words or your black belt?”

  Junior – No sir, it was recomendation that you watch how you speak to Jay. Read it again.

  Former I’m pretty much done with you here. I’ve classified you with the likes of Tommy.

• Former wrote – “I commented about MY ex DM and you comment about Jay WTF?”

  Junior – Wrong again. You were condescending and sarcastic in your reply. It was recommendation. Get a grip.

• Former wrote – “I would really like to know what I should have expect from my DM. I have my ideas, but they seem to be unrealistic.”

  Junior – You just got done telling off ALL DM’s as if you knew ALL the DM’s and now you want us to answer you question? You really are that bad off aren’t you?

  Here’s what a DM does; He babysits poor distributors, ones that didn’t listen in training, ones that can’t figure out that if they don’t sell tools and collect money they can’t eat, ones that go in late and go home early, ones that attempt to reinvent the system like Tommy, ones that can’t figure out gross from profit, ones that go on payback…constently, and my favorite, ones that forget to call on their LOC unless it’s been modified by a legal adjustment.

  There you are Former you can stop asking because the question has been answered.

• Junior you forgot about the distributor who walks into a shop with 10 guys and says, “you don’t need anything today do you”. Then they are gone in 15 minutes, and by 2 o’clock they are calling you wanting more shops because everybody on their route already has enough tools.
  Then you send them a promotion idea and a few weeks later you ask them how the promo is going, and the distributor tells you they didn’t do that promotion.
  Or you give a suggestion for your distributor to keep an ice chest on the truck full of pop, so it will generate more foot traffic in your store, but the distributor instead asks the guys on the route if he should do it or not. And decides that not doing it will save about 30 a week in pop and ice.

• Hey Tommy I don’t have to know you. I just had to read this thread with the other comments you make on the net. You failed in this biz so move along.

  Hey Former dist, I kinda thought you were being a smartass too. I don’t know jay but I do know Jr and he actually is a blk belt. Not that he would ever do anything bad he’s a great guy.

  I just thought he was pointing out that you were being a smartass.

  Oh well.

• I got a question for previous DM’s.

  How would you handle a situation where you had Distributor’s show up for your DM Meeting and you had one Distributor leave when another one showed up. This particular distributor says in the meeting that if he is here I am leaving. How are you supposed to handle child like behavior like that?

• i guess that i never really had a dm since he never did any of the things that yall say a dm does.
  he always passed the buck to someone else.

• Unhapppy Franchisee! Thank You for this Website and giving us a voice where we can be heard. I hope that everyone has A Merry Christmas tomorrow!

  Merry Christmas to all!

• SAM U ,

  IT WONT BE LONG BEFORE U FAIL, SO WHEN YOU DO KEEP JERRYS NUMBER IN MIND

  MATCO WILL DO U LIKE EVERYONE ELSE AND KICK U TO THE CURB.

  Sam, I will be posting soon in your town about how matco treats people, watchout for the billboards.

  I understand you are a failure at marriage,family and life, but thats ok ,we can help.

• Guys and gals, it sounds like I am upsetting you, don’t be offended, just deal with it, I am not going anywhere and I am going to get louder and louder.

  Debbie,Richard,Todd, Guest,Mike, and anyone else who got screwed by matco are going to be real loud and we will be heard.

  We will be posting all over the place, I hope it dosen’t make you mad, but if it does, get over it, if it destroys your business, blame matco.

  They lied, mislead, and were deceitful to us, so whatever happens to you ,matco is the one to call, when they let you go call Jerry, we can help.

  THIS SITE IS FOR UNHAPPY FRANCHISEE’S WHO ARE PISSED OFF WITH MATCO, IF YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THEM, GO TO THE OTHER SITE.

  CHANGE IS COMING TO MATCO TOOLS BY WAY OF JERRY MARKS AND GANG, LIKE IT OR NOT HERE WE COME.

  IGNORE,IGNORE, THE MATCO WAY, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO DEFENDERS,LIKE I ASKED BEFORE, NOTHING BUT READ IT AND WEEP.

  THE MATCO WAY IS TO IGNORE THE QUESTION, PRETEND I DIDN’T HEAR IT AND MAYBE THE DISTRIBUTOR WILL GO AWAY, OR ANSWER WITH I WILL GET BACK TO YOU AND NEVER DO.

  Sincerely, some dumb azz d.m.

• From your favorite vocal person , to all of you,

  MERRY CHRISTMAS and screw matco every chance you get.

  Remember to avoid all the factual questions being asked here, pretend you didn’t hear it, ignore it run and hide behind a madeup screen name, like matco and the obc club does so well, and hope we go away, its not gonna happen, we are here till the end.

• Richard,
  My DM doesnt do the things I did ether.

• Tommy,

  Christmas is about giving and forgiving. So someday Christ will forgive your for saying you want to screw someone on Christmas. So hopefully you wont die before he does, it may be hot where you are going.

• So Tommy remember when admin speaks of attacking issues not people, then you say this to Sam U ” understand you are a failure at marriage,family and life, but thats ok ,we can help”

  Jerry must be so proud to have you as his spokesman

  Christ will probably never forgive you.

  Merry Christmas everyone…I will just say a prayer for you Tommy. You are going to need it.

• Todd wrote – “How would you handle a situation where you had Distributor’s show up for your DM Meeting…This particular distributor says in the meeting that if he is here I am leaving. How are you supposed to handle child like behavior like that?”

  Todd – I’ve never had this happen, but a DM really isn’t in control of DBR behavior unless it’s disrupting the meeting. In your situation I would have I would have sent you know who an email and told him that he’s only hurting himself. Besides I’d rather have you at a meeting anyway.

• Tommy wrote – “SAM U…IT WONT BE LONG BEFORE U FAIL,… AND KICK U TO THE CURB.”

  Junior – Well Tommy, again you speak completely out of turn, Sam owns his cars, his house, his entire business including his truck, and he totally man handles the competition. He was my number one DBR every year I was a DM. And a top 15 guy. I don’t think he’ll be going anywhere unless he chooses too.

  Tommy wrote – “I understand you are a failure at marriage,family and life, but thats ok ,we can help.”

  Junior – Huh? What the hell are you talking about Tommy? WTF?

• Matco#1, Sam called me and asked about Tommy’s ridiculous statement. Naturally he was confused because he has a great family. I figured out what Tommy is doing. It’s time to start ignoring him this guy.

  What I see here are some folks that actually did have something’s that contributed to their failure. You and I both know that if you have a strong business Matco will not be going after you. But something brought them to the door. It doesn’t mean the DM or RM’s actions we perfect or by the book it just means something brought the two parties together and here we are discussing the end result.

  Yes I’m saying in a couple of cases I’ve heard here, Todd’s being one, something has gone wrong likely on both sides but could be mostly one or the others fault. Only a court can decide.

  I go back to my original statement which was posting anti Matco statement like Tommy has about scams etc hurts current DBR’s. NOTHING will ever get resolved here. It’s entertaining, it’s interesting, it makes for creative debate but NOTHING will be decided or come of this website or its content. Folks researching a Matco franchise will not read beyond the first couple of posts.

• Junior writes: “NOTHING will ever get resolved here. It’s entertaining, it’s interesting, it makes for creative debate but NOTHING will be decided or come of this website or its content. Folks researching a Matco franchise will not read beyond the first couple of posts.”

  The conversation had a pretty big impact on at least one guy’s life. Changed the entire direction his retirement years would take:

  “Don on November 19th, 2011 8:37 am
  “Thanks to all of you……….I was just about ready to go with a Matco franchise, my contact is supposedly putting together a business plan and calling on Monday. However after discovering this site, I am contacting him to let him know that I am not going to go through with it. I already had some concerns and questions and it would have taken every dime I have plus a loan that I was quickly told “Matco” would handle to just get started. Thanks again. I thought I was fixing to do something great. At 61 it would have been a huge mistake.

  Don”

  I highly doubt anyone considering putting everything on the line with a Matco franchise would not read well beyond a few lines. Even if they decide to go ahead, they’ll have a much better idea of the realities they’re going to face.

• Guest, anyone could have posted this. But let’s assume for a minute it’s real, it did Matco favor. Anyone not ‘ALL IN’ or ready to go 100% shouldn’t get in this business, If there’s one thing I’ve heard here that I agree with its Matco, Mac, Snap-On, & Cornwell are too easy to get into.

  I will tell you about an experience I had while interviewing a family. I went to the home of a potential candidate prepared to answer questions about our franchise. I noticed the wife was asking all the right questions, financial, risks, costs, you name it. The husband, and the one wanting to run the truck, just sat there. He answered my questions with short replies. He seemed on the fence.

  I closed my binder with the Matco step by step intro plan, and turned to the wife and said, “If you ever decide to leave your job and run the truck you please let me know, but putting this deal together just isn’t for you or Matco.” That young man went onto buy a Cornwell truck full of free tools. 5 months he lasted. He emptied the truck of tools and left the empty truck in front of the bank that gave them the loan.

  It was the best decision I made for Matco and myself. My point is I’ve had this happen a couple of times, if the one to run the truck isn’t ALL IN and fired up to get after it won’t work. It takes serious desire and drive. Don made the right decision for him and Matco.

• Well I can say this if any of you has the audacity to say it was my fault I didn’t succeed because I failed Matco then you ought to be able to come to Arkansas and give me one hour which I will show you how a DM can fraud your franchise. Not just my DM either. Just for kicks I will also show you how a RM can make a whole entire route adjustment disappear into thin air.

  Just to think this same management (DM,RM) will falsify route “LOC” again when they hire a New Distributor to take over a route that is already being serviced by a Distributor for over 2 years.

• Junior

  This distributor I am speaking of is always at the top at Expo. He is sitting on a route so fat I could guarantee you I would at least double his purchases from Matco if I were in it. I can also prove that he has dumped more shops than I had before I got sent my Separation letter from Matco. He received an Integrity belt buckle at our Cancun meeting which is the biggest joke I ever heard. Tim Novak hadn’t been our RM for 3 months how in the HELL does this happen?

  Here is the integrity I got shown. I am a brand new Distributor who could use that extra 25% for collecting another distributors money when I first get started. Matco says collect 25%. But my dm and this other distributor whom also did my distributor ride tells me they always collect 100% for each other. So, just getting started and wanting to be a team player I collect thousands of dollars for this distributor and pay him 100%. Then one of my good customers Thomas Chandler had moved to Your Automotive which was this Distributors shop and what does he do over $72.00 account. Collect all of my money then pay me 75%. That is just one example in which I could probably give you a dozen of the type of integrity this Distributor has with other Distributors. I mean I thought we were supposed to work together. I know he called me several times wanting to get something from me knowing I probably had it on the truck when his customer needed it and I always took the time to meet him to give it to him. You see I always maintained more inventory than he did but I have never understood how he could sell his tool boxes and not make any money doing it.

• A little more than disappointed you all couldn’t let it go for the Christmas weekend.
  And some really comments too…

  It did solidify the FACT things are wrong at Matco. Otherwise, the folks feigning interest under the guise they only have “concern ” for friends or distributors – yes They wouldn’t have spent this holiday posting ridiculous insults.

  Distributors are being churned
  LOC have grave errors
  Federal laws regarding uncompensated labor have been violated
  Warranty credits are always short
  Non viable routes are sold
  Surveys sometimes are not done at all

  I could go on but, re focus and get this train back on track

  Watch very carefully what happens with the SBA Loan Fraud case
  Watch very carefully what happens with the Mac lawsuit – uncompensated
  labor violates a Federal law – regardless of wheather it occured in a “franchise” or other business

• Wow Debbie I was pretty sure I saw comments from you over weekend.

• My list of calls have always been correct.

  I keep track of all my warranty returns if there is an error I get a credit.

  Surveys have to be done , it’s the law and it’s part of your agreement. If you have doubt drive your route prior to signing, I did I would think others would be smart

  Matco is #1 for a reason!

• matco#1, you never lost shops or customers to closings or layoffs?

• Matco-1
  I kept track of my warranties as well, would short me approx 10% everytime. I always double checked my packing list, because MDBS would miss stuff. Nashville would say “wasn’t in box”, call customer service…”sorry, nothing we can do”.

  But, thats ok -don’t respond, you’ll just call me a liar…

• Nope, have the same issue, I spend about 2 hours checking all my warranty, some times it’s right sometimes it isn’t . When it’s not I call c/s if they don’t resolve then I send to my DM. I have had plenty of shortages and over charges but they have all been resolved.

• Yes I have lost shops, but that isn’t
  Matco’s fault. I have numerous layoffs too…
  Again not Matco fault. I have had a few open back up, that’s when I have to step up as a salesman and stop talking about fishing and start selling, you spend a little more time with each guy, spend a little more time at each shop, hang out on the truck for a few extra minutes prior to leaving

• Distributors being churned??? What does this mean?

• Grave errors on list of calls….not mine .

• Surveys are always done!

• Warranty credits are always short?…always pretty strong statement, not always for me, and if it is I ALWAYS GET CREDIT!

• Yeah the sba loan case with TD bank should be interesting since they are out of business.

• In the Matco class action lawsuit document (http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/matco-tools-class-action-lawsuit/) Bergen gives a sworn statement in which he identifies “nine practices that account for the large failure and turnover rate among Matco”

  “In my capacity as Franchise Sales Manager, I became fully aware of the numerous distributor abuses that were developed by upper Matco management and have identified the following nine practices that account for the large failure and turnover rate among Matco distributors:

  1. Inflated List of Calls
  The “List of Calls”, or number of potential tool buying customers surveyed and developed by Matco District and Market Development Managers, sold to the distributor is inflated and inaccurate. It also includes customers that have little or no chance of ever buying tools from the distributor and, more importantly, qualifying for PSA (Purchase Security Agreement) financing which finances “big ticket” and big profit items such as tool boxes and diagnostic equipment.”

• That’s your response a statement from a Matco franchise manager who was fires by Matco. You are funny Matco goes with hour wishes of firing bad people and now you throw it back at them.

  Chuck was the boss of all franchise sales in his region….he told his dm’s to recruit, recruit, recruit, and recruit. He is a bad apple and Matco fired him.

  See Debbie as dm’s we are told there are 4 R’s. Recruit, ride, review, and
  Retain. But chuck told his guys to ignore the other 3 R’s and just recruit, recruit, recruit, and recruit. Now he wants to try and make Matco look bad for his actions….what a joke!

• Market development managers worked for chuck, he hired and fired them, does this mean Chuck their immediate supervisor, the one that hired them, the one that trained them, overlooked what they were doing, or did Chuck tell them to survey this way, how do mdm’s learn their job?…oh yeah from chuck their mentor.

  I think chuck is in some legal trouble.

• Large turnover rate….NO!

• Uncompensated labor….you would have to sue yourself Debbie, you are the business owner remember. You are not an employee of Matco,

• I have been busy today contacting other terminated distributors, have spoken to a bunch today, so there will be a bunch of new people coming soon to visit and tell us about their wonderful experience with matco, ha ha.

  Just doing my job , l am required to contact other prospects and get info , so we can build our case. I didn’t want to be fired by the defenders, just letting everyone know where we are. I have contacted people in about 15 states so far and will continue.