Purchasing from an authorized local dealer guarantees access to warranty services and ongoing customer support, making it a smarter choice for long-term tool care.
You need to politely educate your customers that some online stores are not authorized dealers. Proof of purchase becomes an issue for older tools and batteries. If the tool wasn't purchased from an authorized dealer, the warranty most likely will be denied. Along those lines, do your best to help with warranties for the tools and batteries that were purchased before your relationship with your customer.
It adds one more reason for your customer to purchase from you, the dealer who's at the shop at the same time every week. Not only are you there to sell tools, but equally as important, to handle warranties.
There's not a single online retailer that can compete with the in-person service provided by a quality tool dealer.
Brian Fahlgren started in the tool business in 1998. Fahlgren has been an employee dealer, franchised dealer, and district manager for two different flags. In 2018, he returned to the driver's seat of his own tool truck. Providing premium service and his continuous "close to perfect" attitude, he achieved his goal of being a Top 10 dealer for Cornwell Quality Tools. He and his wife of over 44 years recently retired, moving from Oregon to the endless summers of Beverly Hills, Florida.
