I ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS POST so that I can forward it to the people that need to hear it, and that can hopefully help promote a much needed change.
As I am sure we are all aware of the situation regarding the material handling industry and each manufacturer having their own software and passwords, and if you are not aware of it you will be affected by it sooner rather than later probably. (Read below for a little more information regarding it, if you are unfamiliar).
I am in the process of puting this together so that I can bring it to MHEDA (Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association) and other associations I feel could help resolve this issue, to see if we can get a much needed change in our industry. Some may agree with this and some may not but the truth of the matter is that we all continue to hurt ourselves and probably the customer the most by the way we are doing things.
Currently, most, if not all manufacturers' have set up their own software programs, cables, handsets, cords, pass codes etc. to work on their machines, now some of them work on another make or model occasionally but for the most part they are specific to that manufacturer's machine. The problem with this way of doing things is that it is making it increasingly difficult for a customer to choose who they would like to work on their equipment. With most of the dealers in my area refusing to sell the handsets, software, give pass codes etc. I understand the need for making money and I understand the benefits of not giving that software/information to your competition/customer that may do their own repairs. But my bottom line is this: The customer should have the choice of who they want to have service/repair their equipment and should not feel like they are not given a choice of who they can use by only being able to use the dealer no matter what they charge, or what customer service experience they offer etc. I have personally spoken with several customers that do not want the dealer of their make/model of equipment on their property at all (even going as far as paying other people to do non software needed work on their machine when it is under warranty even though they could have gotten their machine fixed for free). Then there are others customers that have stated to me that right now they are struggling badly and cannot afford to have the dealer of their machine do the work because they are the most expensive in the state but cannot find anyone else that has the software etc. so they feel they have no choice. Even others that cannot afford the 3 or 4 day (or sometimes longer) wait time to have the dealer of their specific machines come to repair them.
There are a lot of ways/backdoors to get the software, cables, handsets, passwords etc. that you need but it isn't always possible and it wastes time and causes un-needed frustration. I've spoken with several dealers that are torn on this because in some of their locations it benefits them because they have the majority share of the market and in other locations it hurts them.
I am not saying there are not a lot of factors involved in the way things have been done so far: liability, legality etc. But there has to be a way that we can change this for the better (like the automobile industry has) I think the main difference between us and the automobile industry is that there are not 5 material handling dealers for the same machines (ex: Hyster, Toyota etc) within the same territory or just down the street from each other. There is typically only one Material Handling dealer per make per state/territory and if a company's corporate sends a certain make of machine or if you just like the quality of a certain machine better than the others and you do not like the dealer for that machine in your territory you should not feel that you have no choice but to use them.
Bottom line the automobile industry tried to keep the software and password proprietary in the beginning and it worked until people like all of us (small businesses, independents, customers, etc) stood up and said 'enough'. And now I am saying: 'enough.' Will this affect my business in a negative way... yes it will, will it affect my business in a positive way... yes it will, but the bottom line is the customer should have the ability to choose who is right for the repair of their machines. I shouldn't, as a dealer, get to choose and neither should any other dealer or manufacturer.
My entire goal for this, is for it to be a main topic that we can all get together about and find a better solution for all of us and for the customers.
Print and send this (or refer them to this posting) to as many people as you know (customers, mechanics, independents, dealers, etc.) so that everyone is aware and able to hopefully help make a change in our industry.
I appreciate your time and look forward to your responses, There is alot of people effected by this and if we come together we can make a change.
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Tool king most stuff will not require software unless customizing truck to a specific customer. Accurate manuals will get you loads farther than software. Now as far as paying techs to keep them from jumping ship, why in this world would a person pay ant technician unless a known quality anywhere near what he pays his current employees? Knowledge is a powerful thing but will be in short supply five years down the road. What is current today will be old school tomorrow. Take care of the crew you have if they are worth their salt. I can not get customer X you claim without this tech. In five years he will know no more than current staff. It is not worth burning up the people you have today with starting a technician in at more than they are worth.
salesman
I am interested in the software for Hyster, Yale, Cat, Mits, Toyota, cables, plugs etc. please email and let me know or call 201-832-1606.
Joe, tech's are beginning to "bounce". the unfortunate truth is that to get new tech's on board you have to pay them enough to make a change worthwhile. that puts them at or above the established wage of the existing tech's and as soon as word gets out the stampede starts. the stupid thing is that you can keep the good ones for a dollar or watch them walk away for two. then spend three to replace them with a risky new hire that blabs his price and starts the whole avalanche again. i hear from someone every day that is upset that someone makes a dollar more than them or how unfair it is that some one got a new truck before they did. we've been on a wage freeze for a while now so things are about to erupt like vesuvius around here.
I live in Georgia now near Atlanta. Moved here from Katy, Tx in '96. Houston traffic is a piece of cake compared to the traffice here. I attribute it to the NASCAR wannabee syndrome (habits like drafting, passing on the right or in the middle turn lane). The fact that the educational system here is rated near the bottom of the 50 states - some say at #50 but the Georgia folks says its really #49. This relates to the interpertation of many that traffice signs like speed lift, read light & yield are merely suggestions.
Understand the construction in Houston area - remember some morning DJs nicked name I35 south "The 401K Freeway" - meaning get a job on teh construction crew & you can work on it until you retire.
Oh, I agree. The people, for the most part, are friendly....atleast til you give them car keys and let em loose on the freeway. That's the other thing I don't miss about being a road tech....not having to drive the freeways of "The City of Perpetual Construction" in a rolling billboard with **** off commuters and road rage enthusiasts.
Hope things pick up for ya'll.
Joe,
We operate primarily in the Baton Rouge area and until about a month ago I thought we had dodged the recession bullet. Since then service calls have gotten sparse and the PM and to do list is pretty short. Carpet distributors, sheetrock suppliers and machine shops are all slow. We are a small company so I am making sales calls to increase the customer base and this should take care of us.
The wife and I LOVE the Houston/ Clear Lake area. We actually leased a small building about 3 years ago and were preparing to relocate to the area before the kids decided they didn't want a change. We have a trawler MY that we have kept at South Shore Harbour a few different times.
You may not see it the same- but we are always impressed with the friendlyness of the people, the cleanliness of the rpads and the amount of industry there. I'm thinkin' you love the area:)
BTW, forklift, how's things in Louisiana? I've been hearing horror stories about the markets in Mississippi and Florida. earlier this year. What part of Louisiana are you in?
I guess it's pretty good. From what I'm hearing most of the forklift companies are looking for techs again. It's not quite what you'd call a "technician's market" again yet but it's getting better. When I start hearing about techs bouncing from one company to the next for better and better wages, I'll know things are back to the way they were in 2008-2009.
Living in Southeast Louisiana has it's own "special moments"! Joe, how's the business climate in the Houson area?
I've got relatives spread all over southern Louisiana, from Rayne, Lafayete. New Iberia, New Orleans, etc. but I was born and raised in Shreveport where my parents had moved so I guess you could call me a Yankee Cajun. I haven't been crawfishing or crabing in years.
The first time my dad took me down south I was about 12 or 13 years old. My dad rented 2 perots, one for us and one for the catch. We left my uncle's weeeell before dawn and were on the bayous before the sun came up. We had about a hundred folding 2' square nets. we'd drop half of em, move down the bayou and drop the other half (all with chicken guts and bologna tied to em), then come back and pick up the first half. My dad got tired of getting out of the perot to untange nets caught on cypress knees so he had me get out start doing it. I'm on my 4th trip out fighting with one badly tangled net when a water moccasin passes right between my arms. I did the first thing that came to mind.....scream like a girl and grab the paddle from the side of the perot (knocking our lunch and drinks into the water) and started beating the crap out of the water. He left the scene. We stayed out for a few more hours and by this time I'm freakin' starving. My dad get's turned around trying to make it back to the perot camp when I smell cooking. A little way up the bayou we ended up in we find another perot camp, this one with a 300lb cajun cooking gumbo by the edge of the dock. We tie off, dad get's directions back to our original bayou and the cajun offers us lunch. My dad and him starts talking in French (which I didn't understand but didn't care because I've now got food). All of a sudden the two of em start laughing.
My dad says, "son, how's the gumbo?"
Where I replied, "excellent!"
My dad then asks me, "What all's in it?"
At this point I dig through what I'm eating and reply, "crawfish, shrimp, crab and I think squirrel".
The two start laughing and the cajun says, "Cher, that ain't no **** squirrel....that's swamp rat!"
My dad had pointed out nutrea going into and out of the water all morning and remembering this I then threw up my socks off the edge of the dock. We had a crab and crawfish boil the next day but for some reason I couln't find my appetite.
JOE D, when was the last time you went blue crabbin? Gigging flounder's in the Chocolate Bayou area was something I enjoyed alot. Lights on the front of the boat and when you see their eyes glowing, WHAM!!
To Toyzilla, Houston has been home for about 16 years now. Much better job market than anywhere else I've lived.
To chublil......thank God it's Fall.....cooler temps and less skeeters!
Thanks FORKLIFTCHICK, just calling it like I see it.
The mosquitos in south Texas dont just bite you, they pick you up and fly off and get you in mid-air!!
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