PTED Blog

I asked what you thought about adding a fuel surcharge to pricing based on suggestions I had received. A few of you responded that it would not work.

I agree. From what I’ve seen, where more people are tightening their spending, adding a fuel surcharge to a purchase would negate a big part of the service that techs expect from a mobile distributor – delivering tools, chiefly. I think such a surcharge would send many techs to online tool sellers who offer free shipping, even if they knew service later would be a hassle.

So, tell me: What are you doing to help margins when fuel prices are so volatile on a day-to-day basis? Retooling margins? Changing collections strategy? Reducing inventory? Waiting an extra year or two to buy a new truck?

Let me know.

- Brendan

It’s been suggested to me recently that this industry needs to introduce fuel/delivery surcharges onto bills to help combat skyrocketing fuel prices. I have an opinion, but don’t want to influence comments right off the bat. So let’s start with:

What do you think?

- Brendan

 (I’ll post my thoughts on this issue soon.)

I’ve observed that the majority of mobile dealers must do a lot of customer contacts while on the road, and that means a lot of talking while driving. I also recently read that some states, like N.Y. and N.J. (see below) are upping their fines for not using hands-free devices while talking and driving.

I’m not taking any stance on the whole talking and driving issue. But, how much of your day is spent on the phone? And how much of that is while driving between stops? Do you use a hands-free device? What comments do you have about the whole talking-while-driving debate, especially considering your business is dependent on both?

From the news article:

“New Jersey drivers will have to be more careful while driving and using their cell phones this weekend because starting March 1 they could be fined $250 for violating the state’s hands-free law — the most expensive hands-free fine in the nation.”

“The state of New Jersey originally adopted hands-free legislation as a secondary offense in July 2004, making the use of cellular phones while driving punishable by fines ranging from $100-$250, but drivers could only be ticketed in conjunction with another traffic violation.”

For those of you who weren’t able to come to auto aftermarket week this year, let me just say there are plenty of new tools and equipment out here at AAPEX for you.

My feet are killing me (not that you care) — and I can’t believe how much new stuff is here, whether in power tools, specialty tools, fluid exchange equipment and more.

Independents, I know, will like seeing some of the new cordless stuff from one company I tested a few minutes ago, and there is plenty of new consumables, harldines, power tools, storage and more on the way. You can watch for some updates on this site and at www.pten.com. The Dec. issue of Professional Distributor will also have a section on my top picks of tools in the show.

- Brendan

As the holidays approach, I know a lot of you may be gearing up for some sort of annual contest or push. I also know some of you don’t believe in using contests to entice your customers, lest they begin to expect “something for nothing” every time they buy a tool.

My question to you is, what contests have you run in the past that worked well? Or in some cases, didn’t work?

Do you find that the occasional hat or T-shirt help with future sales? Or is the right tool at the right price always your pitch, along with your brand of friendly, smiling customer service?

Just curious, and I know other distributors out there will love to hear your stories, good and bad.

 - Brendan

I was asked recently if tool distributors stock tire repair kits and other such tool/part combo kits, and I was not able to answer. That lead me to wonder what you might carry beyond the usual hardlines and power tools. How much of your stock is devoted to hardlines? 70%? More? How much to power tools and equipment? How much to miscellaneous other, like a repair-type kit, clothing or boots, consumables (rubber gloves, towels/wipes, etc.), die-cast models, snacks/water/drinks?

Welcome to my editor’s blog for Professional Distributor. I’d like to see this become an additional forum you can use to talk with me directly and other distributors about your business and anything else that’s important to you. 

For starters, in this anonymous web-based forum, I’m curious how much of your truck (for the brand-name distributors) you’d estimate is from W/Ds?

If you use a W/D in addtion to your own brand’s product, why? Something your company doesn’t stock? Better price point for your customers? Something else?