What is necessary to become a SO dealer?
- Thread starter Hawk321
- Start date
jerk_chicken
Banned
Do you have a bad attitude?
You know what it's like to be a customer receiving no customer service out here, so just pretend you're T-Mobile Kundenservice and you'll have the perfect SO dealer temperament.
Hell, if you make it, you might have one customer here. The issue I could see is pricing structure, but I would also suggest trying to market to motorcycle shops (a somewhat more traditionally international/American affair) and some bike shops, especially around bases, like in Bielefeld, for instance. They are open to American stuff, and some of my friends are in the business and spent many years in the US.
Thinking outside the box is not welcome in De because it will allow you to succeed.
You know what it's like to be a customer receiving no customer service out here, so just pretend you're T-Mobile Kundenservice and you'll have the perfect SO dealer temperament.
Hell, if you make it, you might have one customer here. The issue I could see is pricing structure, but I would also suggest trying to market to motorcycle shops (a somewhat more traditionally international/American affair) and some bike shops, especially around bases, like in Bielefeld, for instance. They are open to American stuff, and some of my friends are in the business and spent many years in the US.
Thinking outside the box is not welcome in De because it will allow you to succeed.
Junkman
Well-known member
My curiosity is peaked. How do you know that he is contemplating becoming a dealer in Germany, not the US, or for that matter, any one of the almost 200 countries of the world???
Success is measured in how happy you are in what your life choices are. The man with a Docterate Degree from the best University in the World, picking up garbage, is a success if he is happy with his life as he lives it.
Success is measured in how happy you are in what your life choices are. The man with a Docterate Degree from the best University in the World, picking up garbage, is a success if he is happy with his life as he lives it.
Kurn
Well-known member
A.Become a CEO of a Wall St. firm.
B.Get a zillion dollar bonus.
C.Get a SO franchise.
OR
A.Work in a Hallmark store to learn about "collectibles".
B.Get a SO franchise.
B.Get a zillion dollar bonus.
C.Get a SO franchise.
OR
A.Work in a Hallmark store to learn about "collectibles".
B.Get a SO franchise.
tatra
Well-known member
T-Mobile Kundenservice...?not welcome in De..?.............i take it these are regional ?.........and is hawk 321 from germany too?...................hawk, it seems that you have to be able to extend credit to your clients and be able to reposess. as required to make it.................seems like the best way to go is treat it as a serious paying hobby, and hope the wife doesn't lose her job with her benefits and all..............hats off to those that do it but seems like a pretty hard way to make a living...........
jerk_chicken
Banned
You mean "my curiosity is piqued".
I don't know. How do you know he's planning on being a Snap On dealer at all, instead of just wondering?
As far as a Doctorate degree, that might make him happier than a Docterate degree in the best university in the world. Perhaps that could be an explanation why a man (or woman) might not be happy in the best university in the world.
billymade
Well-known member
I don't know all the particulars but this would probably get you started: http://www.snapon.de/franchise_01.php
Merkava_4
Banned
You'll need 60K for a basic starter inventory and if you can pick up a used S/O truck off eBay for about 5K you'll be way ahead of the game. A lot of dealers are always struggling to make that lease payment for the truck that can be $900/month or more.
jerk_chicken
Banned
Do those SO guys really make money? I have met a few over the years outside of their profession and they always seemed a bit burnt and didn't have the best lifestyles.
jerk_chicken
Banned
And can one buy their own truck, or does it all have to go through SO?
Chris Adams
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2007
- Messages
- 2,117
One a few blocks from me seems to do OK. He has a nice house, several nice garages, a bunch of collectable cars and a few other things indicate he's doin alright.
Funny thing is, his truck is there almost all the time. I see it in the AM the PM, weekends and weekdays. About one in ten trips when I pass it is out of the yard. How you make money without driving the truck puzzles me.
Merkava_4
Banned
They have a list of specifications the truck must meet, but yeah, you can buy your own truck.
Usually the truck cant be more then 5 years old, so a 5,000 dollar truck most likely is out of the question. I dont know about SO but Matco wants a newer truck for a couple reasons, 1: they dont want you having an older, unreliable truck. You make no $$ sitting in your driveway with the ****** out of it and 2: its a nice truck thats not all beat up. I have seen the older, all clapped out trucks and they just dont look very professional, I like a newer, clean, always mopped and dusted truck. Its just like owning a store, the more ****** it looks, the less people will want to do business with you.
You roll in looking like a million bucks, it shows the business is strong and you are serious about it.
My truck payment not counting ins. is $1200.00 a month, you will need about 50k in starter inventory and enough $$ to pay all your bills until the business starts to make you money, usually about 3 months worth of cash in the bank.
If you buy an existing route with dollars already owed on the street, that time frame for money in the bank can be lower but you will invest more on the front end due to you having to buy all the already existing accounts out there. You might be able to slide into a route with a guy that has the newer truck/inventory and money owed already. That could put you out, depending on how strong his business is, anywhere in the $250,000.00 to $500,000.00 range and up.
You roll in looking like a million bucks, it shows the business is strong and you are serious about it.
My truck payment not counting ins. is $1200.00 a month, you will need about 50k in starter inventory and enough $$ to pay all your bills until the business starts to make you money, usually about 3 months worth of cash in the bank.
If you buy an existing route with dollars already owed on the street, that time frame for money in the bank can be lower but you will invest more on the front end due to you having to buy all the already existing accounts out there. You might be able to slide into a route with a guy that has the newer truck/inventory and money owed already. That could put you out, depending on how strong his business is, anywhere in the $250,000.00 to $500,000.00 range and up.
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Vinko
Well-known member
I've heard that there are guy's who've been doing it so long that they don't really have "contracts" with S-O. That is, they aren't bound by certain terms that I've heard discussed here. Or maybe some of the terms I've heard discussed here weren't necessarily accurate?
jerk_chicken
Banned
Hell, I'd be afraid to have one of those trucks parked at my house due to potential for break ins.
Merkava_4
Banned
That's why I'm glad for my sake there's no S/O dealer living in the neighborhood. 
Merkava_4
Banned
Most of those tool dealers live in upper middle class neighborhoods where the people living around there don't know what a screwdriver is used for....
wantedabiggergarage
Member Emeritus
You buy an existing route, you buy their problems (skippers). Trucks do get broken into, and you should check into your towns restrictions on commercial vehicles in residential area's. Here we have a couple of tool dealers, who were having to move, and in a joining city, they are going after everyone who has a work truck/school bus/tow truck/etc. in their driveway.
Merkava_4
Banned
Most of the dealers park their trucks in the back yard; you gotta have enough room on the side of the house to get into the back yard though.
wantedabiggergarage
Member Emeritus
Merk, here that wouldn't matter, it is still a commercial vehicle. Like I said, check your area BEFORE spending the dough, restrictions do differ.
Merkava_4
Banned
You mean they won't even let you park a commercial vehicle in your own back yard?
Hi guys,
so I'm planning to my own buisness in germany with or without Snap-On. Because you have no trucks with a showroom like in the us!
And you don't get "routes" you get a countys up to a half state!
My old dealers are all out off buisness, because they were all incompetent means:
No tool knowledge
Messies
No real knowlege about the right purpose
Not real mechanics with the experience of "to do the job wtih the right tool to save your nerves"
Anyway, they had mostly old trucks. I could (and I do it with others) polish them until you need a sunglass))
Don't have 50k here, so I would need a credit...everything must be planned well.
Asked some other companies before (Hazet, Genius and Rodcraft) for their sales policies...no response...
I know that the people will love a real shop and only an agent with a fu..ing cataloug.
Some of you guys gave the example of the garbage collecting doctor...
Same with me...I'm a mechanic...I love it to have my tools and my job...but the branch is dead for more mechanics (see other topics).
And before I start to get a credit, a buisness plan and more...I would appreciate to share your experience from people of "the front" and not by a story of a Sanp-On manager.
so I'm planning to my own buisness in germany with or without Snap-On. Because you have no trucks with a showroom like in the us!
And you don't get "routes" you get a countys up to a half state!
My old dealers are all out off buisness, because they were all incompetent means:
No tool knowledge
Messies
No real knowlege about the right purpose
Not real mechanics with the experience of "to do the job wtih the right tool to save your nerves"
Anyway, they had mostly old trucks. I could (and I do it with others) polish them until you need a sunglass
))Don't have 50k here, so I would need a credit...everything must be planned well.
Asked some other companies before (Hazet, Genius and Rodcraft) for their sales policies...no response...
I know that the people will love a real shop and only an agent with a fu..ing cataloug.
Some of you guys gave the example of the garbage collecting doctor...
Same with me...I'm a mechanic...I love it to have my tools and my job...but the branch is dead for more mechanics (see other topics).
And before I start to get a credit, a buisness plan and more...I would appreciate to share your experience from people of "the front" and not by a story of a Sanp-On manager.
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
Honestly, not that much from what I know. I'm not saying it's a BAD gig, but don't expect to get rich.
I know of a few places you can't own anything bigger than a half-ton, and even those have to be hidden in the garage at all times.
It's not so much CITY law (at least the ones I know about), it's the almighty self-righteous HOA'S that have covenants that say no commercial vehicles.
jerk_chicken
Banned
Is it possible to get direct from the EU financing or a grant? I guess you have to word it really well, like how you're trying to bring a new frontier of business to the EU and to Germany in particular, which is severely lacking in sales innovations.Hi guys,
so I'm planning to my own buisness in germany with or without Snap-On. Because you have no trucks with a showroom like in the us!
And you don't get "routes" you get a countys up to a half state!
My old dealers are all out off buisness, because they were all incompetent means:
No tool knowledge
Messies
No real knowlege about the right purpose
Not real mechanics with the experience of "to do the job wtih the right tool to save your nerves"
Anyway, they had mostly old trucks. I could (and I do it with others) polish them until you need a sunglass
Don't have 50k here, so I would need a credit...everything must be planned well.
Asked some other companies before (Hazet, Genius and Rodcraft) for their sales policies...no response...
I know that the people will love a real shop and only an agent with a fu..ing cataloug.
Some of you guys gave the example of the garbage collecting doctor...
Same with me...I'm a mechanic...I love it to have my tools and my job...but the branch is dead for more mechanics (see other topics).
And before I start to get a credit, a buisness plan and more...I would appreciate to share your experience from people of "the front" and not by a story of a Sanp-On manager.
I keep mine at my house in the driveway, we are "county" outside the city limits with no HOA, and no restrictions.
The truck has 2 alarm systems including motion sensors (drop through the roof and you set it off right away) and if one goes off you will either meet me with one of my many high speed lead poisoning devices I have or one of my nutjob AK47 owning neighbors that have been known to patrol my driveway when coyotes have set off the motion lights. It is Nevada after all
Im not saying its impossible, just saying you better hope you get away quietly.
Nealcrenshaw
Well-known member
Thats pretty good!!
econoaddict
Well-known member
I live in a small town and man if I park anything bigger than a riding lawnmower in any part of the yard and a city council member or one of the town "busy bodies" sees it they are at your front door with a copy of the ordinances and a notice to move it or they will do it for you.
When we first moved here I had a rod project I was working on, damn near every time I would push it out of the garage to sweep/cleanup a bit they were there with notices/etc.... can't have anything in the driveways that is not able to start/drive/stop and drive legally on a public roadway ie...tags & insurance.
The guys that live "intown" and drive trucks for a living have had to make arrangements to park outside the city line on a farmers property. Anything bigger than a fullsize van. If you own a motorhome you can park it on your property provided you have an rv slab and pay for an annual permit.
Its crazy because its such a small town, the ONLY business in town is a general store. The only other thing for miles and miles are grass seed farmers fields.
Most towns have these kinds of ordinances in place but are to busy to enforce them, if they get a direct complaint from a nearby resident then they will check it out/enforce it.
We did have a Mac tools dealer living here but the above forced him to move.
One of the flea market vendors that I deal with on a regular basis said a guy in an old beat up mid 70's Ford pickup pulled up and asked if he wanted to buy some tools. The guy had a tarp over the bed and when he pulled it up he had Snap-On tools in the back about 6 to 8 inches deep. He passed on the deal since he knew the guy had 10's of thousands of dollars worth of tools in a $500.00 truck. He found out later that someone had stolen a Snap On tool truck.
old salvage
Well-known member
With a pair of Snap On aviation snips.
Bob Paulin
Well-known member
I would suggest that one of the FIRST things you must have would be a willingness to communicate with the company.
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
i don't even know where to start................all i'm going to say is IF you need to borrow the start up capital from the bank, the bank is the only one who will make money. if you can make ends meet until the inventory note is payed in full your set.
there have been many threads on the mobile tool industry around here, you may want to search them.
there have been many threads on the mobile tool industry around here, you may want to search them.
global72
Well-known member
Being a good dealer is being a good collector. Anyone can drive a truck around and give tools away until they are broke. Every tech and tool dealer knows the guy in your shop that will get tools and hide from the dealer. Some dealers for some reason let slow payers and people that hide from them run up huge bills. Makes them feel like they are really selling well I guess. But if you are not collecting at a good rate you can just give tools away until your broke.
Also being reliable is important. After my first year on my route I wouldn't have needed a watch. I could guess the time pretty accurately based on what shop I was parked at.
I would not worry about a "bad route" I took over one of the worst routes in the country. My first 3 weeks were spent being yelled at. I would just smile and say "I'll fix it" Then the important part I would fix the problem like I said I would. By my fourth month I was one of the top guys in the region.
Personally I loved being a tool dealer. I liked getting out and shaking hands with 400 customers a week. I had to leave due to health reasons and now with 2 young children I really do not want to go back to the 70 hour weeks.
Also being reliable is important. After my first year on my route I wouldn't have needed a watch. I could guess the time pretty accurately based on what shop I was parked at.
I would not worry about a "bad route" I took over one of the worst routes in the country. My first 3 weeks were spent being yelled at. I would just smile and say "I'll fix it" Then the important part I would fix the problem like I said I would. By my fourth month I was one of the top guys in the region.
Personally I loved being a tool dealer. I liked getting out and shaking hands with 400 customers a week. I had to leave due to health reasons and now with 2 young children I really do not want to go back to the 70 hour weeks.
wantedabiggergarage
Member Emeritus
Correct, city code.
I know of a few places you can't own anything bigger than a half-ton, and even those have to be hidden in the garage at all times.
It's not so much CITY law (at least the ones I know about), it's the almighty self-righteous HOA'S that have covenants that say no commercial vehicles.
Here, the area I live in has no home owners associations. You don't want to get me started on them. A Mac guy (father of former coworker), had to move (neighboring city), and the city went after the Chief of police's ex, about the RV (not commercial, must be in back or behind house), parked at the side, which traveled on a frequent basis (son was bmx'er), and she worked for a lawyer.
Wow, I wouldnt expect that in Oregon, my inlaws live in OR and I have traveled around that part of the country and it seems to be nothing BUT people leaving their **** in the yards for all to see. You can track a family tree from whats in the yards. washing machines, cars, campers, blah blah blah.
No disrespect meant, just must be a nice clean town you live in.
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
One remember it is a small biz. first, not a tool biz. you must work long hours and remember again that you are everything salesman, shipper, driver, credit counseller, repaiman, trouble shooter, complaint department, collector banker etc. YOU MUST have money coming in from another source to make it PERIOD. Even when times are good you must have alot of cash in the bank to put credit on the street and pay your bills and have cash to restock truck and keep truck going, tires, fuel, taxes etc. O by the way Snap on just lowered the price of some hard line tools but also lowered your margine of profit to 32% as well. Don't forget that snap on wants new salesmen to sell a lot of tool boxes at first because you get a kick of money right away but don't forget you are on the hook for those boxes ALONG time and if any deals go bad that kick back the whole amount on YOUR CREDIT BALANCE plus if they have a tool box payment how many tools can they pay for also. I will say again it is fine you want to sell tools but remeber this is a small biz and that means pluses and minuses in the dollar department and you must make money or you will not make it like a new restaraunt or hardware or shoe store period.
jerk_chicken
Banned
What about blending internet sales with street sales?
Next, anyone got stories of bad collections or the lengths to collect? Is this a situation where many mechanics don't pay on time? Where does the debt go if the SO guy goes out of business? Is that what the mechanics bet on?
Next, anyone got stories of bad collections or the lengths to collect? Is this a situation where many mechanics don't pay on time? Where does the debt go if the SO guy goes out of business? Is that what the mechanics bet on?