MATCO TOOLS Franchise Complaints

4,850 thoughts on “MATCO TOOLS Franchise Complaints”

• @tommy just emailed amy@marksklein.com all my old records,shes awsome

• @ Debbie
  Yes, they will charge bacl any PSA written in 90 days, I think it might be 6 months. Also if there are any you co-signed for, they are immediately charged back. Happened to at least two frmer dealers that I know of.

  I think it is because they know they cant replace the dealer right away and they wont be collecting their money.

  Sad :(

• Damn got to get caught up on posts, 2 toolboxes, 2 days man I love this business!
  Sorry about divorce it sucks but 4 out 5 marriages end that way…call Jerry…lol

• “How do I deal with a gap due to PTSD?
  by Brian Fahlgren
  (Terrebonne, OR USA)

  First, thank you for this forum. February, 2004 our child was brutally murdered while attending college. At the time I owned the number one Matco Tools franchise in Oregon. My wife wanted to “start over” and move away from our home town of 40 years.

  I sold my business and house to accept the District Manager position for Matco Tools. In part from not taking time to deal with the murder, moving from friends and starting a new stressful job, I was diagnosed with PTSD in April, 2006.

  I was jobless until May, 2008 when I was hired back by Matco Tools, again as District Manager of Oregon. December 2008, due to layoffs in other departments, all District Managers were given the added responsibility of calling on every college with automotive programs in their districts on a monthly basis.

  I hadn’t been on a college campus since I delivered my son’s eulogy at Eastern Oregon University. I found it too difficult to do the college presentations over and over again every month. I was terminated November 2009 because Matco was not able to accommodate when I asked to be excused from the college responsibility.

  It’s obvious now that no one will hire anyone with a mental “disability”. I have been very successful in business since 1980. Any help with trying to put together a resume covering these issues would be very much appreciated.

  Sincerely,
  Brian Fahlgren”

  Posted at http://www.powerful-sample-resume-formats.com/how-do-i-deal-with-a-gap-due-to-ptsd.html

  They’d fire him rather than allow him to let his dbrs to call on the colleges in his area?

• @ Guest3 smoke and mirrors
  guess you figure if you blow enough smoke – You won’t have to look in the mirror!

  Nobody cares that you sold a toolbox.

  I’VE SOLD PLENTY – IN FACT, JODY BAKER FROM STOW RODE WITH ME AND EMAILED MY DM – THAT I COULD REALLY SELL TOOLBOXES AND PLENTY OF DBRS COULDN’T (I’d be happy to post HER exact email if you doubt me)

  so what?

  Matco will still kick me to the curb – I wouldn’t be doing a victory dance if I were you. Haven’t you read ALL the post? You COULD be next, NOBODY IS SAFE

  I loved my business too. But, sadly, hard work, dedication, time, effort, and on an on……………… don’t mean squat if you don’t BUY THE GOLDEN DOLLAR AMOUNT,
  ie If you DON’T PAY YOUR FRANCHISE FEE
  …………requiring DBRs to purchase a certain amount is the SAME AS A FRANCHISE FEE

  The success of a business SHOULD NOT be judged on HOW much they buy – but maybe on the fact they are paying their bills and selling their merchandise

• @guest3
  i know that jerry wont do it for free, will you. without jerry i dont have a chance. at least with him i will get something back and my credit will be clean. do you think that his education and overhead are free. he deserves to be paid and matco deserves what they get for screwing all these people.
  i used to be a mechanic before this and i was in the military for 20 years before this. i have quit jobs because of underhanded schemes and cheating people for doing unnecessary work. right is right and wrong is wrong.

• regarding “How do I deal with a gap due to PTSD?
  by Brian Fahlgren
  (Terrebonne, OR USA)

  Oh my gosh, I am SO sorry for your losses – your son, obviously – how very tragic, my sincere sympathies…..

  Your business – how completely and totally UNFAIR, wrong, amoral, totally devoid of any ethics

  Matco “family” a “team” – honestly – give me a break.

  It astounds and saddens me that the stories only get more tragic………….. something simply has to be done to make it stop.

• Debbie:

  Just to be clear, Brian Fahlgren didn’t post that here. I copied it from that link on a human resources site where he was obviously struggling to get back in the workforce. Hopefully, he’s forgotten all about his experience with Matco (doubtful).

  The story of his 20 year old son’s murder is heartwrenching. A 25 year old named Michael Botting beat him with a pipe then set him on fire because the son had dated Botting’s ex-girlfriend.

  Botting got life in prison: http://www.eastoregonian.com/news/article_f0ab8a24-db55-5d1b-a17c-c48285272f1a.html

  Seriously, what kind of “family” company fires a man who has been through that just because he refuses to relive the trauma over and over?

  They didn’t have dbrs in Oregon who would be more than eager to call on the colleges in Brian Fahlgren’s district?

• I know Brian. His story is sad. No dbrs would help him cover the colleges.

• Jody bAker? I am glad you sell boxes, but no I don’t need to see an email from Jody baker, on second thought that is a pretty rate occurrence to get her to send am email let’s see it

• Guest why didn’t you include the part about brian that he was off work for almost 2 years….paid, and that other managers were helping out his district and I know for a fact Matco offered him another position within the company, you are pathetic guest!

• So how did guest get permission to post an article about Brian without his permission. Just talked to him on phone and he is not happy. I would watch what you post to avoid litigation. Maybe Brian should call Jerry!!!

• “Guest why didn’t you include the part…”
  I included Brian’s entire post, word for word, and linked to its original source.
  If you think it’s not accurate, take it up with Brian, not me.

• Its accurate what guest3 said, and the murder is accurate, but posting on a site that he does not agree with, without his permission……talk about Matcos morals…what about yours. Brian would like to know your real name so he can contact you.

• Anyone notice that Jason & Kevin – the guys who bragged about their openness – STOPPED posting comments Nov. 26/27 and Nov 28/29 the mysterious new commenters guest2 and guest3 STARTED posting?

  I mean, I’m flattered having all these little guests running around, but you could have been a little less obvious, guys.

  Congrats to everyone for passing 400 comments. 500 is next.

• anyone ever notice that guest only seems to post during business hours????? and knows a lot about law……makes me think its someone at Jerrys law firm

• Amazing that Jason/Kevin (aka Guests2-3) are so concerned about copying and posting (with attribution – more legal talk!) a message clearly posted to the public domain, but they are remarkeably silent about the report that alleges a 49% – that’s right 49% – failure rate, as recorded in Matco’s own legal documents.

  Did you miss this, or are you hiding from it: http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/matco-tools-franchise-distributor-churning/

  Here are some of the key points:

  “MATCO discloses information which suggests a fundamental failure of its franchise system is taking place…”

  “forty nine percent (49%) of the total number of MATCO Tools Distributorships open at any time during the period, left the MATCO system”

  “Statistically speaking, such a low success rate indicates that the MATCO Tools businesses run by distributors who were leaving the MATCO system were so unprofitable as to be unmarketable.”

  “MATCO Tools has, nonetheless, continued to offer and sell Distributorships despite the pattern of early failure.”

  “The information contained in the Disclosure Document paints a picture of failure on large scale, year after year, with MATCO seeking to replace Distributors whose tenure in its system is woefully short…”

  “The actual operating results of a MATCO Tools Distributor may be worse that the picture presented by the FDD… which artificially lowers the number of terminations, closures, or transfers reflected in the FDD and as a result, analyzed.”

  I know you guys are awful busy debating more important matters, like dogs on trucks or Debbie’s whereabouts when her messed up toolboxes arrive or what number to add to “guest” next, , but maybe you want to take a stab at the minor issues too, like half of Matco Tools distributors being churned & burned on an ongoing basis.

• Debbie, seriously what many, many, many promises were even made to you by matco.I dont really remember anyone promising me anything that was not in wrighting and if the was that case that would be a breech of contract. Now Ive been doing this for thirteen years and signing back then was alot more lax than it is now with all you….i mean the sue happy people out there.

  I saw a glimmer of hope in the posts when some of the other distributors were chatting about contest ideas and ways of driving business but then i realized that this toilet of a website is not the forum for positive things. It needs to be left as a giant pitty party for those of you that have gone out of or are currently in the process.

  I think that Matco Should set up a forum on “mymatcotools.com” for distributors that want to share ideas about ways of driving business. Not an open to all site or association especially one hosted by “Debbie”. From your initial email wrapped in negativety to all your posts here you have already made up your mind. Go find another line of work.

  And Tommy Boy youve been out for what 3-4 years, the horse is dead, stop kicking it, move on to your next failure!

  Thanks for your time
  Cary Devitt
  Billings Montana

• as soon as guest reveals his real name and association, i will reveal mine. But at least I have tootltruck experience

• Awesome post Cary! The real truth, get over and move on love it!

  Guest 2 you nailed it too, Jerry is guest. when jason and posted that last week hit it right on. You try and ask people for promo ideas and they make fun of you, this sight is for failed distributors! They always want to blame everyone else for all their problems, go get em Jerry take more of former Tommie money, former debbie money go get em

• Cary, I will continue to kick them where it counts. The truth hurts, and the way matco does business is deceitful and illegal. I am not going away, I started this claim with Jerry Marks and will continue the fight. Matco has damaged soo many
  people and it will stop. I was in the top 200, for your info, I was not liked by my D.M. he has a reputation for kicking people out. I have recovered from my losses and moved on, but I am not letting up on Matco. We will be heard and Cary, you may want to call Jerry, because it wont be long before you fail and will need someone to help, call us, we will be there for you too. Its called turn-around..GO GET EM JERRY.

• “as soon as guest reveals his real name and association, i will reveal mine.”
  Sure, Jason. Can’t wait to find out! ;)

  In the meantime, Cary wants to dig in to the heart of the matter!

  Yes, Cary is outraged that a site named “UnhappyFranchisee.com” might contain negative comments! Who’da figgered?

  49% leaving the system, and Cary Devitt wants more ideas of giveaways!

  OK, Cary. How about stadium blankets? Credit scores? Retirement or college funds? Hell, why not give away your homes… you’re gonna lose them anyway!

• im not jason

• but nice try, who is guest, quit beating around bush

• @Cary – well you asked for it

  MANY MANY MANY promises – IN WRITING

  1. I’ll start with the biggie – Matco promised 325 potential customers

  NOT delivered – my List of Calls – is supposed to be certified mechanics that must purchase tools to do their jobs

  MY list is HIGHLY inflated and I have IN WRITING the proof to back it

  I DO have a LONG LONG LONG list – but, I won’t clog this message board. Everyone here that has been damaged by Matco has the SAME list.

  Sorry, not taking your bait – fish elsewhere please.
  THIS site is called Unhappy Franchisee – seems you happy so why are You here?

• certified mechanics????? with which certification????? there is no mechanic that is required to have tools.

• still reading through my fdd and trying to see where matco did something illegal to Debbie. Haven’t found one post of hers where jerrys got a case since she SIGNED a legal document. So I guess what Debbie can sue about is that she didn’t read the fdd and signed that she did. So matco can sue Debbie???????

• So what Debbie is saying is that no one read their fdd’s and do not wish to abide by their signed contract, and then blame Matco for everything that was spelled out in their contract when things go bad…….nice

• I remember when I was give my docs to sign, my D.M. only alllowed me two days to review and sign. He rushed it so he could get me into the next class.I believe
  you are supposed to have the docs for 48 hours to review and then sign. He was in a hurry to get me in class, and now I see why.Lied to again.hmmmm.

• wow you didnt read them????????

• Read as much as I could in the time I had, Legally , you are supposed to have 48 hours and I wasnt given that time by my D.M..That is against the law.What was the rush from the D.M? Makes me wonder.

• Guest, or is it unethical Jerry you just happen to run across brians story online you talked to him regarding an ex snap on guy, does the name sandy Jacobs ring a bell? How many more client stories is Jerry going to post online for everyone review. Unethical and pathetic! He’s Tommies hero though

• Tommy, isnt 2 days 48 hours? So basically because you didnt tell him no you want more time it is Matco’s fault that you did not properly review your documents?

• 48 hrs is not enough. wow. I guess guest does not like talking about litigation once people know about it.

• @Guest2 – excuse me sir, WHERE did you get your law degree?

  What is legal or illegal really isn’t for YOU to decide. Stomping around with Debbie this and Debbie that – is not going to do a damn thing.

  The legalities WILL BE settled in court – and would have been settled in court regardless of Debbie making noise.

  But, Thank You – because without SO much protest – my noise would never have been heard.

  I’ve said it before – IF THERE WAS “NOTHING” TO COMPLAIN ABOUT, IF THERE WAS NO ILLEGAL ACTIONS, IF THERE WAS NOTHING FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG – **************NONE************* of the opposition would be posting

• i was pushed along just like tommy was had same dm.after 5 days with my trainer mario told me my budget was so f—-d up id never make it.guess what {no pun intended}.didnt make it.

• Awful quiet from Jerry, maybe the mountains are rumbling in Colorado Debbie are they rumbling? Jerry has been exposed!

• as Matco distributors we are supposed to RECRUIT more pigeons………
  according to the propaganda poster in my truck………..

  “Because it’s a mobile franchise, I didn’t have to pay for employees, rent, or leasehold improvements”

  So, does that mean I can STOP paying TransWest my $1142.50 LEASE payment for my truck??? So, OK, we are not ‘calling’ it RENT – buy I STILL NEED TO MAKE A LEASE PAYMENT FOR MY MOBILE STORE.

  AND……while I’m at it – leasehold improvements??? Hell, I put tires on my truck, I’ve replaced the water pump, twice, I’ve changed the oil, replaced filters………..
  hmmmmmmmmmmm. sounds an awful lot like “leasehold improvements”

• I dont have a law degree. But I am smart enough to read a contract before I sign it. Smart enough to do my own taxes…..etc. I have only responded to the complaints that you have set forth. Sorry if I have offended you by knowing the answers, but I have done this for a long time. I have seen 2 fdds and read them both. I seek the answers myself and carry on with business. I just do not like the whining that is going on here when it is about things which are in the legal contract all of us(besides guest) have signed. You may like or dislike them but you signed on the dotted line and by that are subject to the rules(90 day psa chargeback, 325 headcount, etc) whether now you like them or not(Hindsight is 20/20) You cannot sue for something you have signed and agreed to, thats just common sense. So if you dont want rebuttles, quit whining about legal rights you have signed off on.

• State how Matco has broken their legal contract with you and you have an argument…

• @MIKE

  Mario is also an idiot……trust me I know.

• I think Guest 2 and 3 are Matco People

• @tom toole
  i would have to disagree with you on mario. he was always up front and honest with me. he did answer all my questions without referring me to someone else.

• Nope am a dbr. Have been for a long time.

• Jerry marks exposed!!! Maybe I need to throw another name out there?

• No, if I was a matco person I would be just sitting back documenting names thrown out and not posting. I think Jerry Marks is exposed by guest3 comments. I just hate the bickering about spilled milk that you legally allowed Matco to spill for you. It was your signatures on the documents that you should have read!!!!!

• guest2 (aka Jason, who has tooltruck experience!) wrote: “State how Matco has broken their legal contract with you and you have an argument…”
  anon writes ” So basically because you didnt tell him no you want more time it is Matco’s fault that you did not properly review your documents?”

  Here’s the LAW according to the FTC Franchise Rule: “disclosures must be furnished 14 days in advance of the franchisee making a payment to, or signing a binding agreement with, “the franchisor or an affiliate in connection with the proposed franchise sale.”

  Feel free to read the FTC franchise compliance guide here: http://business.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/bus70-franchise-rule-compliance-guide.pdf

  So, Tommy, Debbie, etc. the law states that Matco is required to have furnished you with the FDD (previously the UFOC) at least 14 days before you signed the franchise agreement or gave them any money. They are required, by law, to get your signature and the date you received it and to keep it on file to show that they complied with the franchise disclosure laws.

  If they did not give you the FDD at least 14 days prior to your joining, you are going to make Jerry’s job very easy.

  (guest2 writes “I dont have a law degree.” Really? No kidding?)

• Seriously, what does it matter “who” anybody is????

  The point is – Matco IS facing some very serious legal battles. The first has already been filed in Federal Court.

  The NEW YORK POST!! not Debbie
  The NY Post also published an article about Matco, Danaher and TD Commerce Bank: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/td_bank_tool_case_LFdZzYpQKpxieyeMSf6OMP#.TsJ7b0Hh3BM.e

  Sorry boys, THERE ARE REAL PROBLEMS HERE – NO DENYING

  So keep it up, just like little kids……….. “waa waa waa he won’t tell me his name”
  Thank You again – NOW EVERYBODY WILL FIND OUT THE TRUTH

  EVERY potential distributor doing their homework will search Matco – and find the dirt – GOOD JOB EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thank you.

• Sorry guest your guess is wrong. Debbie is the one who said I had law experience in her post. And guest I am not nor ever have been a Jason. Now what I would like to know is your lack of posts after being called out by guest3???? Did someone’s nerve get struck. And as soon as you reveal your identity ill reveal mine. So quit playing that lil game. I still would like an answer to your earlier post about Mr fahlgren.

• Oh Debbie do you believe everything you read in a newspaper??? I personally would have spent more time going over your fdd.