Thanks everyone. It is time to archive this thread.

HAY!
You want to focus on the time......or the problem?
C'mon now......you've GOTTA smile!?
NICE CATCH!!

you all do recognize this thread started on 27 May 2004 10:13 PM 2004, and it is now 2009.
"Clearly some things NEVER change".

EXCELLENT observation......Clearly some things NEVER change!?

Joe,
As a guy who installed MANY HUNDREDS of Toyota's I submit you are not wrong......ACT on your gut feeling......Demo a new TCM......RIGHT BESIDE a new Toyota (or any other brand).

It's great to see the loyalty between Toyota Dealers. It's like watching a bunch of vultures ready to pounce on another dealers customers. Pretty funny you have to look for business outside your APR... Why is that?? Maybe if you spent more time earning business in your own APR and less time stealing customers from your brother dealers, we all would have "some respect" for you...

Pathetic

Joe C

I know Eastern Lift Truck well (since theri A/C days) and what you said about them is right on the money. The late Mr. John Pruitt instilled this attitude and discipline in his organization from day one. And young (he's not young any more but younger than me) Mike P has followed the teaching of his Dad well.

Tell Mike that this message is from the guy who announced ELT as an Top Ten Dealer award receipient while he was taking a nature break (too many beers I'm told) at a Komatsu dealer meeting in Atlanta.

YOU CAN!: Reliability, durability and operational cost reduction concerns........Look into & demo a TCM!

RELIABILITY, DURABILITY AND OPERATIONAL COST REDUCTION CONCERNS?: Look into & demo a TCM!

Joe,

I have heard other comment along these same lines.
We can also assist with most Toyota (and many other) Aftermarket parts a company may need. Please give us a call and we would be glad to assist. 407-678-7610

Bassfisherman
Yale, & it's aftermarket support, are 2nd to none. I've made some serious inroads in sourcing parts locally with the Toyota line. I've picked up some nice Toyota accounts offering consignments to aleviate the poor inventories of the local dealer. Consider the potential, no cash outlay upfront and the dealers on the hook. That's a partnership! Create a equitable agreement and build a relationship, trust is important, be confident in the dealer and he'll jump thru hoops for you.
Good Luck in Your Endeavor,
Joe C.

Bassfisherman
You mentioned Yale and here I am. Raymond has tried it for years, now you have Crown trying to create this territorial border thing. That's OK short term for propriortory electric parts but not gas/lpg trucks like Toyota is trying to force you to do. Believe me, there's a huge aftermarket and group out here that can help you. Don't let Toyota *** up now! Make em work for it! Please contact all the guys willing to help you. Check out our website www.easternlifttruck.com we have 8 branches northeast and well over a hundred, god that's scary, years of parts experience among us. Our company was built on service & parts, sales came with it. Top honors for many years Allis Chalmers/Kalmar, Komatsu, Yale. It's not the brand you carry it's the mindset geared towards customer service that gets you the business.
We don't sell brands, we sell Eastern Lift Truck Service!!!
Thanks,
Joe C.
Eastern Lift Truck Company
Upper Marlboro, MD
office# 301-735-7911
cell# 443-417-3324

Bassfisherman.....noone ever answered your question about Toyota parts pricing. Toyota has a suggested retail price, thats it. The dealer has the option to discount or markup from that price.

Andy...the parts are there. You have to learn the system and learn where to look. Yes there is a learning curve, but once you learn the system it is simple and the Toyota depot has well over 90% of the parts.

I recently came over from a Hyster dealer in New York. Let me tell you what I have found. I think that all of the major lines out there today have a decent lift truck. Toyota, Hyster, Yale, CAT, Nissan, etc. If you have been a loyale Toyota Dealer for 25 years, then obviously you have had a relationship with the local dealer. It sounds to me that you have some problems with your dealer that need to be worked out, and they are not a reflection on the quality of Toyota Lift Trucks as a whole. Look at the vast response you received from other Toyota Dealers that wish to help you out. Trust me, all of the other OEM's have issues too. Toyota prides itself on having happy customers and is one of the core ingredients to becoming a Presidents Award Winner. Why don't you give the local Toyota Dealer a call and see if you can work out your differences. After 25 years of faithful service, don't you think they deserve a chance to make you happy again? Good Luck.

Please contact a Hyster or Yale dealer and have them demo a new unit for you , i think you will like the units for their parts availability as each dealership had to order every common use item before they got the new units shipped to them , + with the assurances of get it the next day or you dont pay freight...we are talking big savings....run dont walk to your nearest Hyster or Yale dealer

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.