oh yes, but it is not about good marketing that makes a product.......it is the product itself that makes it a good brand. Look around you, it is not just a name but it is the company supporting you. If you do it right the first time, maintain your forklift very well, follow the do's and don'ts I think everything will work just fine. With regards to the spare parts support and the aftermarket I think it might cost a little higher but the returns are high and the benefits are also high that is lesser downtime more cycle time and A PEACE OF MIND

Andy must have Toyota stock. What a bogus comment. Toyota definitely makes a good product but it is not the best or least expensive to maintain. They do an excellent job marketing their product.

Hey Andy h, I dissagree about your comment that any other import will have service costs sky rocket.Obviously you can't be working on any new imports as I know for a fact Toyota has some huge service cost issues ( series 7 overheating and the poorly designed SAS steering system to name a few ). Now without using another manufacturers name the J and L series are as solid as they come with one of the best warranties in the industry and proven track record. I on the other hand do work on them all and toyota not only have issues but there parts are priced like they are dipped in gold.

Wow! What a discussion. I think this is reflective of the "big business" mentality that is predominant in the Southeast today.
Someone forgot the reason Bassman bought forklifts was to move product to serve his customers so he could survive and grow and provide jobs for at least 30+ people who rely on him to make good decisions.
Once again the manufacturer and the dealership forgot what the deal was and have started playing games.
FOCUS!
Bassman, I am not in Florida but I can direct you to high ground, if you are tired of the games.

Toyota sales and support were at or above industry standards in Florida pre-FLS power grabbing, ego building, self serving tactics. As a old school forklift vet of 29 years in Florida, this business has become a Chess Match for all except the peolpe who get it done every day in the trenches!

"People deal with people".....to have your hands tied by corporate yes men is the death nail for any Parts or Service Department.

When the dealers get finished running amuck of the previously "good name" of Toyota Industrial Equipment in Florida, I doubt the results will be worth their efforts, unless the plan was to hand over the hard fought for customer base to all-so-ran products.

Interesting discussion. As a former field service tech/foreman for first a Crown dealer, then a Toyota dealer, I don't think you have a dealer issue.
Crown has the absolute best parts system I have ever dealt with, and I have dealt with them all. You can get everything right from the parts book.
Toyota however, has the worst parts system I have ever dealt with in my 20 years as a technician. There are parts that I took off the lift truck myself, looked through both the parts book and the computer with our partsman and could find nothing on it whatsoever. These are simple items such as switches, brackets, etc. Then, even if you could find a part, it seemed like some little Chinaman put it in his rowboat and commenced to row across the Pacific. Yes, it would take that long.
I only had to wait more than a day for a Crown part once, and that was a main wire harness that burned on a TSP, turret truck.
Toyota's parts literature is in dire need of an overhaul.
I'll bet that if you ordered almost any Crown part from Florida Lift, they could have it next day. Even with the legal troubles.
One thing to think about, you may be having some parts troubles now, but one thing I can tell you from experience is that if you switch brands, those troubles will only transfer to the service end. I never liked any imports until I worked for a Toyota lift truck dealer. Your service costs will skyrocket with any other brand. In my experience, Toyota's don't break, people break them.

Hate to hi-jack a post, but would love to hear from Toyota parts on this one.

Dear Bassfisherman,
I have been hearing some of the problems with getting Toyota parts also.
I work for Rapidparts Inc and we supply all brands of forklift parts. All though I can not sell direct to you I can put you in touch with one of our dealers who would be more than willing to work with you.
Just to give you a little bit of History of who we are. We are owned by Mitsubishi Caterpilar Forklift America out of Houston Texas. We supply all brands of parts to help our dealers service or supply parts to end users such as your self.
Phone: 800-832-1275 and my extension is 3123 or my direct number is 616-647-3123.
Hope to hear from you soon

Regards,
Scot Schilstra
Rapidparts Inc.
2950 Walkent Ct NW
Grand Rapids, Mi 49544

I would like to thank Mr. Roensch, I called and spoke with him. We exchanged pleasantries and he informed me on some good information. Said he would address some of the issue's with his company and an associate from the corporate office would be getting in contact with me in the future. Time will tell. I believe he understands my concerns about deliveries of parts, cost of parts and customers being forced to purchase parts from dealers that they really don't want to do business with. I did correct him in that I had purchased from a for mention company in the past. I'm awaiting a call from corp.
On another note I thought I might pass along a little advice for those of you that purchase not only forklift's and parts but do any kind of purchasing. I find it very usefull to go online and search county public records in which the company you are thinking about using and do some research on them and also their owners. There is alot of information there that will tell you about a company past history. This is all public records so the information is there to use to your benefit. It may help keep your company from unwanted issues down the road. Remember some companies use different names in different counties so it would be a good idea to try and research all counties that they do business in. This is very helpfull information. Some states or counties my not have this information so you may not be able to access it.

bassfisherman: I'll come right out and identify myself as Ron Roensch, General Counsel for Toyota Material Handling U.S.A., Inc. (TMHU). My phone number is 949-223-7783. I will be happy to discuss with you, or anyone else who is interested, the status of any Toyota Dealer and provide you with the actual facts regarding the Tampa area. I believe you are referencing Gulf Coast as the Toyota Dealer you used to do business with. It is a matter of public record that Gulf Coast voluntarily filed bankruptcy, owing its creditors hundreds of thousands of dollars. TMHU has appointed Florida Lift Systems as a Toyota Dealer in the Tampa area to provide Toyota customers with another option for total parts availability and the quickest delivery time. I suggest you contact Florida Lift Systems and let them provide you with parts pricing that you can negotiate directly with them; you state they are "part of the problem" but I don't believe you have ever done business with them; please correct me if I am wrong.

I look forward to your call.

Mr. Tom Lawson, I think that you should give Ed Orlowski of Florida Lift Systems an opportunity to resolve your issue. Florida Lift Systems, Inc., in business since 1952, with offices in Tampa, Orlando, and Winter Haven has recently won Toyota's highest honors based on performance and support of their customer's needs. Our goal is to provide our customers with a competitive advantage in their business through the products and services we provide. I do believe that Florida Lift Systems or Southern States Toyotlift can and will resolve issues that you may now have because of changes that the manufacturer felt that they needed to make changes in the territory. Please alow Ed or myself (Charles D. Painter 904-764-7662 ext. 139)to have a face to face meeting with you. I would appreciate the opportunity. And this is not lip service. I have been with Southern States Toyotalift (f\k\a Handling Systems Engineering, Inc.) for almost 8 years and truely believe that we can only help. Thank you.

Thanks everyone for your response! For those of you that are out of my area, is it correct that Toyota will make you sell your parts to me at list price? Thats what I've been told. I received a nice discount on parts from a past dealership that I use to use until Toyota started playing games with them and now it takes them a while to receive parts from the factory. If you can offer a disount on Toyota parts then we can talk.
Ed O, Thanks but nothing personal, but Florida Lift is part of the problem here in Florida!! And now I hear it's starting in north Florida to! Toyota sure doesn't have any loyality to it's dealer's who made them what they are. I see Clarklift written all over this one. Not trying to get into a ****'en contest here, just not happy with Toyota after being a loyal customer for over 25 years. Sure puts a bind on a customer on the way they are handling things here and the way they are forgeting about their customers. Lip service doesn't cut it, market shares will drop, wait and see. Just wish I could find a loyal vendor.
Uh! Yale, what can you offer?

I am the Corporate Parts Manager for Florida Lift Systems and new Toyota dealer for Central Florida as of December,2003.I would like to hear from you and resolve your problem as soon as possible.You can reach me at 813-621-1000 ext1227.

Toyota parts in asia are not a problem mainly because we have several suppliers which are different form the US market...Also I agree that the profliferation of 2nd brand parts (non-toyota) also called replacement parts, has kept Toyota on their collective toes. if they don't supply, someone else will!

From: The Toyota Territory Parts and Service Manager. If you are having any difficulity ordering or receiving Toyota Parts from the local dealers please contact me at 812-341-8675 leave your number and I will return your call.

i am a Toyota dealer in TX. Toyota had some issues back at the beginning of this year but most issues have been resolved. i can supply with whatever parts you need for those 6 and 7 series trucks you have. please feel free to contact me at 1-800-873-1828 and ask for Ryan Hudson