Tool Truck Owner/Operators
- Thread starter KLowD9x
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wreckercologist
Well-known member
I'm not a dealer, just a junkie
but can you say what brand you will be selling? Just curious.........
but can you say what brand you will be selling? Just curious.........vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
It is like any small biz it takes alot of hours to do it right and you have to learn to balance bad days and not take it out on customers. Like any small biz customers are buying you and your support, the brand of tool is secondary. Take the time to really learn your product and know it. You will have to deal with some left over problems from the last dealer. Just remember that if it would have made you mad when you bought it the customer needs it to be fixed and maybe you will have a long life customer. Do not bad mouth other brands as that is a sure way to build up a life time of hate. Let the mean people that have nothing to say good to you just go by the wayside as there are plenty of friendly faces on your route. Try to stay positive and polite and take care of service needs quickly. Stay on top of ordered items and have correct answers when asked when something goes wrong. Just do your best and things usually will work out.
Not a dealer.
Learn your product, be courteous, friendly. This is a talking business, the gift of gab is king.
Learn your product, be courteous, friendly. This is a talking business, the gift of gab is king.
canuckian
Well-known member
I'm not a dealer or a mechanic for that matter but if you pulled wrenches for a living prior to taking on this business, you should be well on your way to knowing your product. If I could offer any advice, it would be to keep a good inventory on your truck, be reasonable with warranty items and take care of them quickly, if there's a special on something, order it and promote it, keep your truck reasonably well organized and clean, don't try and ******** or lie your way out of a screw-up (just be honest and fix it!) and for me, the most important piece of advice I can give is to give walk-on customers a chance. Sure, a lot of them are lookie-loos looking for a free hat but youd be surprised at how many of them are there to buy tools. My dealer treated me good the first time I chased him down and.held up his lunch hour and it paid off for him.
There's also the common sense stuff like be friendy, well groomed, don't have bad breath (tool trucks are pretty close quarters) and don't take what the deadbeats and assholes say too personally.
Oh...and good Luck!!
There's also the common sense stuff like be friendy, well groomed, don't have bad breath (tool trucks are pretty close quarters) and don't take what the deadbeats and assholes say too personally.
Oh...and good Luck!!
redwrench60
Well-known member
And always stick a monthly flier in the *******. I've bought a lot of tools because of this!
mudflap
Well-known member
And always stick a monthly flier in the *******. I've bought a lot of tools because of this!
LOL... That is the one place we have time to think things through, and usually make our best decisions.
mudflap
Well-known member
I was on the crapper at an arbys 26 years ago , when i decided to marry my wife, that turned out good - so far
Dolsontools
Well-known member
I love being a tool dealer. that being said I put in way more hours per week then I ever did while turning wrenches, probably double.
the best advice I can give is don't act like a mechanic. look and act professionally, talk about tools and not about fixing cars.
Also don't sweat the small **** and look at the big picture
the best advice I can give is don't act like a mechanic. look and act professionally, talk about tools and not about fixing cars.
Also don't sweat the small **** and look at the big picture
You may put in more hours but are the returns greater from those hours?
I am being told a resounding "YES!" from all parties involved in getting me set up to be a tool dealer. I am putting in over 50 hours a week at a dealership right now and my last check was 43 hours.
back2class
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2009
- Messages
- 2,723
Cornwell is gona be a tough one. It does not have the fan base of Snap-On or even the other big two. Most of the tool truck dealers I have spoken with seem to be pretty burned out of being debt collectors. Wish I could help more, but I am not a dealer...just an avid tool guy. You are going to have to be the best truck and best service in the area to make it.
This is the most brilliant piece of marketing advice I've ever heard in my life. This can be used for many businesses, not just tools. Thanks.
And always stick a monthly flier in the *******. I've bought a lot of tools because of this!
And always stick a monthly flier in the *******. I've bought a lot of tools because of this!
Absolutely Correct !! Ive bought several tool's from studying them in the john. We also have Auto/RV's in our rack . Plus Tractor sale magazine's for the farm boy's to study
smoky
Well-known member
LOL, the bad breath comment cracked me up. I can picture in my head a customer saying: "I was going to buy tools from this truck dealer, but his breath set my face on fire."
chadster1
Well-known member
I have been doing it 8 years. Life is good here.
Watch your money. The main reason that I have seen for tool dealers to go out of business is that they were poor money managers.
A good tech. can be a terrible salesman/business manager. And a great salesman can be a terrible tech.
Your challenge will be learning the sales and business management part of the business which is more important then knowing tools.
Fortunately there's tons of resources out there. Maybe start at sba.gov and expand your search from there.
canuckian
Well-known member
Sadly, it is a reality. I doubt it would stop me actually buying what I needed from a dealer as there's only so many for a given area but I'd be less apt to browse around and possibly find more tools to buy.....I can't keep from breathing for more than a minute or 2 so I'd be in and out!!! lol
As a small business owner myself but not a crack dealer, Oh I ment tool dealer sorry i would advise you not to try and beat the tax man. You don't want to be constantly looking over your shoulder. Everyone may think I'm crazy but hey just my 2 lincolns.
SpiderGearsMan
Banned
good luck with your new venture
the few cornwell dealers (2) I know did well
the few cornwell dealers (2) I know did well
RKSpeed
Well-known member
Not a tool dealer but this is what I see wrong with the one tool truck that comes by our shop (MATCO) Maybe you can learn from his mistakes.
-Truck is always a mess, like people have said, its close quarters in there, you cant be tripping over stuff when theres 2-3 guys in there.
-I keep asking him for small things and he never gets them (replacment hog rings for impact)
-Truck is hardly ever re-stocked. As far as Im concerned, any tool truck should be packed to the gills with tools, how does he expect to sell a tool if its not there?
-Late a lot of the time. Get the the phone number to the shop manager at each place you stop. If youre gonna be late, the techs will understand, but CALL.
Another tip - If you have any hobbys, put pictures up of it around your truck. We all like to chat about cars, fishing, motorcycles, etc. Last MAC dealer we had was big into air cooled VWs and so was I, it was nice I guess to have somethin to chat about so you know youre not just a dollar sign to the tool guy.
-Truck is always a mess, like people have said, its close quarters in there, you cant be tripping over stuff when theres 2-3 guys in there.
-I keep asking him for small things and he never gets them (replacment hog rings for impact)
-Truck is hardly ever re-stocked. As far as Im concerned, any tool truck should be packed to the gills with tools, how does he expect to sell a tool if its not there?
-Late a lot of the time. Get the the phone number to the shop manager at each place you stop. If youre gonna be late, the techs will understand, but CALL.
Another tip - If you have any hobbys, put pictures up of it around your truck. We all like to chat about cars, fishing, motorcycles, etc. Last MAC dealer we had was big into air cooled VWs and so was I, it was nice I guess to have somethin to chat about so you know youre not just a dollar sign to the tool guy.
SpiderGearsMan
Banned
I don't go on the truck ..ever
Farmer Joe
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2011
- Messages
- 247
I'd say just make sure you greet everyone when you go to a shop. You don't have to go over the top with the greeting, just let it be known that you are there in a quick appropriate manner. I just say to let everyone know you're there, because a service manager I had just a few months ago didn't know anything about fixing cars, but he did spend over $1000 over the span of 2 months on the SO truck buying knives because he was into fishing and hunting, and knives in general lol.
Also, I say let everyone know you're there just because where I work the only trucks that stop by are SO and Mac. The Mac guy comes in, only one guy owes him money, so he just comes in, talks to that tech, and leaves. I don't know if he has a problem with the other techs, but relatively new (about 5 months there) and he has never come talk to me. I guess my advice would be to keep an eye out for new mechanics at your regular stops, talk to them and see if you can establish a good business relationship. I know I would have probably spent a few hundred by now on the MAC truck, but he's never talked to me, besides the one time he threw a flyer on all our toolboxes. So I decide to take any money I spend on the truck to the SO guy, just because he actually comes in, let's everyone know he's there, and will have a decent conversation with us if we're not busy that day. Plus he actually keeps his truck parked in our lot for more than 3 minutes.
So in short, just be polite and let the guys know you're there. Also, keep your truck AC'd on those hot *** summer days lol, my SO guy does, but I could just imagine how much less willingly I'd be to get on a truck if I knew if was just as hot in there as outside on a 98 degree day!
Good luck to you though! Hope you do well on your business venture
Also, I say let everyone know you're there just because where I work the only trucks that stop by are SO and Mac. The Mac guy comes in, only one guy owes him money, so he just comes in, talks to that tech, and leaves. I don't know if he has a problem with the other techs, but relatively new (about 5 months there) and he has never come talk to me. I guess my advice would be to keep an eye out for new mechanics at your regular stops, talk to them and see if you can establish a good business relationship. I know I would have probably spent a few hundred by now on the MAC truck, but he's never talked to me, besides the one time he threw a flyer on all our toolboxes. So I decide to take any money I spend on the truck to the SO guy, just because he actually comes in, let's everyone know he's there, and will have a decent conversation with us if we're not busy that day. Plus he actually keeps his truck parked in our lot for more than 3 minutes.
So in short, just be polite and let the guys know you're there. Also, keep your truck AC'd on those hot *** summer days lol, my SO guy does, but I could just imagine how much less willingly I'd be to get on a truck if I knew if was just as hot in there as outside on a 98 degree day!
Good luck to you though! Hope you do well on your business venture
Borrego
Well-known member
Don't turn wrenches for a living, but if it tickles your fancy, may I suggest learning a little bit about the history of Cornwell, especially if they introduced any patents with their wrenches/sockets/ratchets, etc.....? A little bit of knowledge can go a long way.
I'd definitely advise knowing your neighborhood. I'm not a mechanic but I needed a wacky thing and a Mac tools truck in the parking lot of a restaurant had what I needed right then and there. It cost an arm and a leg, but I needed it, he was fine putting off his dinner by five minutes, and it worked out.
But, it was a fairly good neighborhood. There was little risk of the truck being broken into while unattended. Other neighborhoods I definitely would NOT advise leaving it parked unattended for too long.
Good luck!
But, it was a fairly good neighborhood. There was little risk of the truck being broken into while unattended. Other neighborhoods I definitely would NOT advise leaving it parked unattended for too long.
Good luck!
e30bradley
Well-known member
what area are you in?
yjWrangler
Well-known member
Had a Snap-On guy do the same thing to me and I barely bought anything from the guy because of it.
Farmer Joe
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2011
- Messages
- 247
Had a Snap-On guy do the same thing to me and I barely bought anything from the guy because of it.
It really ***** because I would have loved to spend some money on MAC products, but because he conducts himself in this manner, I haven't even step foot on his truck, ever.
Welderguy24
Well-known member
I was on my snappy truck the other day and he had his son riding along with him (maybe 10 or 12) and I asked him just kidding if he was taking over the route. He jokingly said yes and I asked him about any deals i can't live without. Well he picked out a MODIS, a 3/4" torque wrench set and a few other HIGH dollar items. It made me think that even though I do spend some serious coin on tool trucks, I don't have that kinda cash.
Moral of the story is try to read your customers and don't try to sell them anything that they obviously can't afford, but then again don't offend anyone either. But if a lube and tire guy is looking at some $3000 scanner, I'd think twice about letting him run a balance.
On the other hand a lot of the younger guys lower on the food chain might think truck tools are out of there league, but if you point out specialty tools for their position (i.e. valve stem core tool, filter wrenches, 2.2L Ecotec oil filter socket......) you might just get a loyal customer hooked from the very beginning of his/her career.
Just my .02
Moral of the story is try to read your customers and don't try to sell them anything that they obviously can't afford, but then again don't offend anyone either. But if a lube and tire guy is looking at some $3000 scanner, I'd think twice about letting him run a balance.
On the other hand a lot of the younger guys lower on the food chain might think truck tools are out of there league, but if you point out specialty tools for their position (i.e. valve stem core tool, filter wrenches, 2.2L Ecotec oil filter socket......) you might just get a loyal customer hooked from the very beginning of his/her career.
Just my .02
+1 for keeping the truck clean and items on display. We have two tool trucks come by weekly; one is like walking into a well stocked, well lit showroom, the other is like climbing into your grandma's dark, cluttered attic. The showroom generates more impulse buys; also, seeing and handling the item can often get someone off the fence about spending the cash.
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I don't see Cornwell Tools as any problem as a company very good to deal with and they have a full line like everybody, the one huge plus with Cornell tools is your selling area is very big so you can try new places if some don't work for you, go somewhere else. I also did forget to say earlier that you must keep your money turning you are a tool dealer not a housing lender. Big payments equal big balance small or slow payers equal very small balance just a fact of the tool biz.
Charlotte, NC
Also, thank you everyone else for your suggestions and input. I have gone from terrified to excited. I am ready for a change.
Do a search here for "dealers" and "tool truck" and you'll read everyones gripes. Seems if you are a standup cat people will buy from you. I've seen so many tool reviews where people write they would love item X but their Snap-on or mac exc dealer is an *** hole so no dice.
I'm a young guy (22) I was working at a body shop with a snap-on dealer who'd come by. I was there for months before I caught a glimps of him. Not because he didn't show up on the regular but because he never let me know. I spend time on the garage journal, I like me some tools- I would have spent money with him. Be cool with EVERYONE at every shop you hit up. the least likely tech/bodyman/exc may just be your best customer
I'm a young guy (22) I was working at a body shop with a snap-on dealer who'd come by. I was there for months before I caught a glimps of him. Not because he didn't show up on the regular but because he never let me know. I spend time on the garage journal, I like me some tools- I would have spent money with him. Be cool with EVERYONE at every shop you hit up. the least likely tech/bodyman/exc may just be your best customer
SpiderGearsMan
Banned
charlotte ...there is no money there ! LOL
There is a little and that's all I need.
mudflap
Well-known member
Isnt that where all the NASCAR race shops are ? , You could hit it rich just off them. Go over to Jimmy Johnsons shop #48 LOWES/KOBALT team, find out if they are really using KOBALT tools in there like it says on the commercial, and report back to us.