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DISCUSSION FORUMS : Forkliftaction.communicate
Forum: Industry News & Whispers
Discussion:  Komatsu forklift line - should I take it on ?
Number of messages: 21
Page: [1] 2
START MESSAGE:
lynn_w
Colorado, United States

 		Hello , I own  a forklift dealership  in Denver Colorado , I am not the big guy in town , nor the smallest , I am currentley a Terex / Genie dealer and also a dealer for Tailift . My question is about Komatsu , in Denver our dealer has sold about 10 a year so the market is not flooded with komatsu equipment . We have worked on several thru the years , and also  bought some @ the wholesaler , reconditioned them , and sold them . However we dont know a lot about the current models , and were looking for opinions - good , bad , anything helps , so should I be a Komatsu dealer ?

Posted 12 Mar 2009 09:15 AM Reply  Report this message
REPLIES: Sort replies by
edward_t
North Carolina, United States

 		If I were in your shoes, I would sure consider it in avery positive light.
To me, he real question is how much cost does Komatsu expect from you (stocking parts and new truck floor plan etc...)

Posted 12 Mar 2009 08:45 PM Reply  Report this message
johnr_j
Georgia, United States
If you want a good opinion on Komatsu - call Bill Rowan at Sundbelt Industrial Trucks, Dallas, Texas.  214 819.5140 (tele number from memory- if it ain't right try dialing 411) They have been a long time Komatsu dealer and were a Tailift distributor at a point in time.  They also have a branch in Houston, TX.  
It appears Komatsu is going thru some changes now like many manufactures, like personnel  ( I understand field sales upport staff has been reduced or something like that) & will be moving production facilities to South Carolina by years end.

-------------------------
Have An Exceptional Day!

Posted 12 Mar 2009 09:59 PM Reply  Report this message
duodeluxe
New Hampshire, United States 		I don't know much about the Tailift line but I think that the Komatsu line would bring a higher level of credibility and a more sophisticated customer to your dealership. Although Komatsu is probably not considered amoung the elite forklift truck manufacturers it does have a broad product line, a strong reputation and excellent name recognition. I would strongly advise taking on the franchise.

-------------------------
gitrucks@adelphia.net

Posted 12 Mar 2009 10:04 PM Reply  Report this message
Drlifttruck


Lynn,

How are your parents doing?

Just rmrember 911 and furniture Row to place me.

Komatsu is a good line that has fair support.

Give me a call sometimes.

Regards,

Doc

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Lift Trucks all the same, just painted different colors Regards, Doc My Email is: Ulsh1@aol.com

Posted 16 Mar 2009 11:42 AM Reply  Report this message
Drlifttruck


Lynn,

Send me an email to ulsh1 at AOL dot com

OK?

Regards,

K

-------------------------
Lift Trucks all the same, just painted different colors Regards, Doc My Email is: Ulsh1@aol.com

Posted 17 Mar 2009 09:08 AM Reply  Report this message
Drlifttruck


Lynn,

Send me an email to ulsh1 at AOL dot com

OK?

Regards,

K

-------------------------
Lift Trucks all the same, just painted different colors Regards, Doc My Email is: Ulsh1@aol.com

Posted 17 Mar 2009 09:08 AM Reply  Report this message
billywizz
East Yorkshire, United Kingdom 		yes we have been dealers for 30 yrs.the ic trucks are better than most of the other players.

Posted 19 Mar 2009 11:24 PM Reply  Report this message
lynn_w
Colorado, United States

 		Any one know good or bad about the electric units , I know they are A.C. , but have not seen any .

Posted 20 Mar 2009 03:25 AM Reply  Report this message
johnr_j
Georgia, United States 		Lynn w
While they are not strong in electrics (they had many Crown dealers in major markets - including where you are), their electrics had a strong reputation with the users they had - they kept coming back for more.  Reasons - high quality, low cost of operation and maintenance.

There units used to be "butt ugly" but they have made strides in bring the design styling up to teh 21st century.

Their thee wheeler had the best reputation.

Had a customer that bought a fleet of 15 when they were first introduced w/AC controllers.  I was selling Yale then and they loved them after 4 years.

What can I say.  Suggest you call the guy in Dallas I mention in an earlier thread - they sold a lot of Komatsu electrics.
Posted 20 Mar 2009 07:46 AM Reply  Report this message
thepoliceman
Nottingham, United Kingdom 		Komatsu Who?

Posted 21 Mar 2009 02:06 AM Reply  Report this message
powerlifter
united kingdom, United Kingdom 		KOMATSU? isnt that the one thats still here when other have fallen? seriously tho doesnt matter what name its got if its serviced correctly unless its one of the none deplume truck dealers.The only thing i could say wrong about komatsu is some of there parts are dearer than other suppliers and if your a dealer and your trying to keep cost down and komatsu are pushing you to sell there parts they should give there dealers a good discount .


-------------------------
A good engineer is a helpful engineer

Posted 21 Mar 2009 03:39 AM Reply  Report this message
johnr_j
Georgia, United States 		Guess Komatsu likes the former British Colony better than the Queens/Kings Land.  Parts pricing in the US are reasonable - no extra discount needed.

-------------------------
Have An Exceptional Day!

Posted 21 Mar 2009 04:47 AM Reply  Report this message
powerlifter
united kingdom, United Kingdom 		Yes i agree its a pity the former british colony screws up the rest of the economy lol.

Posted 21 Mar 2009 05:33 AM Reply  Report this message
Drlifttruck


Would that be a good call since I understand that Sunbelt is Purchasing   TCM?

Regards,

Doc

-------------------------
Lift Trucks all the same, just painted different colors Regards, Doc My Email is: Ulsh1@aol.com

Posted 26 Mar 2009 12:32 AM Reply  Report this message
billywizz
East Yorkshire, United Kingdom 		good job you dont need that many parts because the availability in uk is pretty poor.are the parts readily available for service re call issues or do you have to wait weeks in the states?

Posted 26 Mar 2009 06:42 PM Reply  Report this message
lou_b
New York, United States 		Lynn,

Try to get Hyster or Toyota. After 30 years of reparing and buying, the two are your best bet for reliability, profitability, customer satisfaction and maintenance ease. Good luck.

Posted 26 Mar 2009 10:45 PM Reply  Report this message
scoot
Wisconsin, United States 		If I were in your position, I would strongly consider taking on the line.  Through out the last several years Komatsu is and has been manufactured and then Marketed under several different brand names, including AC, Kalhmar, Tusk, just to name a few.  There may be more "Population" in your APR than you realize depending on how strong those other brands had been in you market.

While Komatsu has not been a major player in the forklift industry, their reputation on the heavy equipment side is excellent, and "Komatsu" is a recogonizable brand Name.

  Who hasnt been driving to work, sitting in a construction traffic jam and not seen a Komatsu Excavator holding up the traffic.  On the other hand who the heck even heard of Tialift other than us forklift geeks in the business.

Komatsu has always chosen good vendors to support their liftruck manufacturing, NO ONE can argue the quality of Nissan Engines or Hitachi Electrical Controllers, not even Toyota Dealers.  Being a Nissan dealer, it alway bugged the heck out of us if Komatsu was in on the deal and they were selling our greatest feature and benifit.

Given the choice between Tialift, a realitive "New Comer" to the industry and Komatsu a Recognizable Brand Name Across Global Markets and Industries, with a solid reputation in Dealer support and a long history of supporting Construction Dealers and Liftruck Dealers, I would keep Tialift for as long as I needed to to support my current customers, at least long enough to convert them over to KOMATSU.

I think that Komatsu is a top notch truck, that unfortunatly has just not done a great job in their marketing, be it because of weaker, smaller dealers having the line, or Larger dealers only having it as a second or even third product line.

I think that you could make alot of $$$ with Komatsu if you push hard, particularly more than with Tialift.
Posted 26 Mar 2009 11:40 PM Reply  Report this message
cory_h
Illinois, United States

 		I think it is important to decide what kind of dealer you want to be.  If you want to compete with the big boys and play the major brands game with market share & IT number's then Komatsu is a respected and known name like the others have stated.  I have heard from dealers that Komatsu is on the high end of the retail market for pricing though and the previous comment about the same truck being on the market with different colors is true.  If your goal is to be a second tier dealer with more affordable pricing and flexibility in how you operate I would think that Tailift is a good option.  Personally, I think it would be nice to have both options for your customers but I do not know the dealer restrictions when it comes to carrying two brands.
Posted 27 Mar 2009 00:47 AM Reply  Report this message
scoot
Wisconsin, United States 		I agree with Cory, if you can get away with it, and swing it financially, a second line is nice to have as an alternative, not only for pricing but also product availability, and product range.

The tough part is the #'s game that you need to play keeping 2 MFG's happy, on Unit and Parts goals.
Posted 27 Mar 2009 01:56 AM Reply  Report this message
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