Tom,

The fact that you're in MI and sounds like you sell Yale or Hyster may mean you work for a friend of mine Darrell W.

"It easy to be negative" this is one of the earliest lessons I learned in the lift truck business.
This will get you a few deals but it will lose more for you in the long run.

As far as price is concerned I have lost many deals to Hyster and Yale on price. I know why because I have their pricing and on about 50% of the trucks Yale and Hyster is less expensive than Toyota especially when the factory gives a couple of extra points of discount to buy some market share.

As far as quality is concerned, Toyota makes a quality product which is why they are #1 on cars worldwide and in the US. Toyota has been #1 in lift trucks in the US since 2002 with about 19% of the market with Toyota alone (more if you include Raymond).

We regularly have trades that return with 20,000-30,000 hours. No smoke and still run well. Not to say that the Mazda or GM engines don't last this long, but in my experience selling these engines they last 20,000 hours tops.

NACCO builds a quality product. The dealer cost is within 1% +/- of Toyota depending on the model.

Toyotas has seemed to follow the philosphy of "KISS". Use one reliable engine for a long time and perfect it. Toyota has used the 4Y engine since 1986. Hyster has used the GM 2.4L for even longer I think. Yale has used the 2.0 and 2.2L Mazda for a long time.

As far as the profits are concerned, you don't have a leg to stand on. Toyota is a publically traded stock just like NACCO. People from every country around the world probably own both stocks. This is where the profits go!

Every truck sold in the US by Toyota is built in North America. NACCO can not say this.

Sell the positives of your own product rather than the throwing mud at the competition.

PS. Exacty what problem with Toyota have you seen that make Toyota "Junk"?