SO drivers, do yours keep their word?

[Chevy Guy]

well the dealers/franchisees around here have been here for 10-34 years. the dealer beside me has been in the same area for 34 years. I gave some of my route to him and his son a few years ago. a dealer retired and we bought the route. it was not enough for one person so that made my route full and took part in another city ( 1 days worth of stops ) and gave it the other guy to make them both full. so it works out good for everyone involved. the other two dealers started doing better after that. we also put a big hurt on the matco man by having dealers that were ready to do their job.

My info came from my SO man here in New Jersey. He was miffed because they trimmed part of his route, and the neighboring route to make a 3rd route to sell to someone else. He said it is happening more and more.

As far as financing, I always held a balance with my SO guy, why not, he charges no interest. I'm surprised more tool guys aren't trying to push people to the snap on financing program.

 

[chadster1]

If a guy has a balance on the truck and he is coming on the truck every week to make his payment. Its a lot easier to sell him something. Especially if he can just make his regular payment and walk off the truck with the new tool that he wanted. Its all about psychology. If a guy is used to making that $50-$100 weekly payment, its a lot easier to keep him buying and paying than a guy who does not owe anything. Any dealer can tell you, once a guy pays off his truck account, its a lot harder to get him back on the books.

 

[mrshaun]

you said it chad. luckily snap on has come out with some new tools lately that have bought a few guys back to the truck

 

[crewchief888]

If a guy has a balance on the truck and he is coming on the truck every week to make his payment. Its a lot easier to sell him something. Especially if he can just make his regular payment and walk off the truck with the new tool that he wanted. Its all about psychology. If a guy is used to making that $50-$100 weekly payment, its a lot easier to keep him buying and paying than a guy who does not owe anything. Any dealer can tell you, once a guy pays off his truck account, its a lot harder to get him back on the books.

back in 98 i paid off all my tool bills before i divorced and moved. it took a long tme for me to get back on a truck again, i work on smaller equipment that i had previously, i really didnt needmuch of anything. a few things have changed, but with erratic & inconsistent service from all the tool trucks, a lot of times i got by or made do with what i had.
now that i have a consistent SO dealer stopping by, ive bought a few tools that make life easier.
my SO dealer is pretty understanding with me, i work in the field and i'm usually never around, i try to remember to leave him a check when i know i wont be there, i leave warranty stuff for him, and if he's out of stock, i usally get a call from him.