How to sell tools to car repairmen. Facebook Group, YouTube?

17 replies
Hi, friends.
I have a question. I now need to sell professional tools to professional maintenance mechanic, such as key programming tools. How can I promote social channels? where will they be? how can they gain their trust? Because the website is newly established, I need to find the initial user or customer. Any suggestions would be appreciate!
Thank you very much!
#car #facebook #group #repairmen #sell #tools #youtube
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  • Profile picture of the author DURABLEOILCOM
    I recommend using Google Ads, Reddit Ads, Instagram Ads, LinkedIn Ads, Bing Ads. You can also promote for free in Craigslist, Reddit, Quora, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Letgo, OfferUp, and Mercari.
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  • Profile picture of the author johnolivar
    Google display ads and Facebook ads will be a good strategy on other hand try to improve your e comm store
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  • Profile picture of the author agmccall
    In the united states Snapon https://www.snapon.com/EN/Franchise pretty much has that sewed up, as does harbor freight and all the big box stores.

    One thing about selling tools to repair people, when they need it they need it now. They are not going online or social media, they are just going to get it at the most convenient place

    al
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    "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison

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    • Profile picture of the author DWolfe
      Originally Posted by agmccall View Post

      In the united states Snapon https://www.snapon.com/EN/Franchise pretty much has that sewed up, as does harbor freight and all the big box stores.

      One thing about selling tools to repair people, when they need it they need it now. How true and a lot of times if you don't have a tool or if it breaks. The local dealer will go out of the way and show up in a few hours with the needed tool. Instead of the mechanic having to stand there all day doing nothing They are not going online or social media, they are just going to get it at the most convenient place

      al
      Nice thing about Snap on is they have a tool program for entry level techs in the Vocational schools. They offer the student easy financing. Even the local Snap on dealer you can weekly on just about any hand tool you buy.

      You can buy there tools boxes and use them the same day with a small down payment. they issue a genuine Credit Card and you pay the dealer weekly when he shows up. Fast way to get a nice size box paid off fast while building a good credit score.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeffery
    Originally Posted by Rebecca Zhang View Post

    Hi, friends.
    I have a question. I now need to sell professional tools to professional maintenance mechanic, such as key programming tools. How can I promote social channels? where will they be? how can they gain their trust? Because the website is newly established, I need to find the initial user or customer. Any suggestions would be appreciate!
    Thank you very much!
    It is a good idea to do the research for your target market "before" you start any online business vs. researching your target market "after" you start an online business.

    At the minimal you need (not want) to know if the target market is a paying target market. If yes.. go forward with a proven "marketing plan" and if no.. stop.

    Are you selling locally or nation wide or internationally? Are the products your own or are you selling affiliate products? Are you drop shipping from within a local geo or are you drop shipping from nation wide resources or are you dropshipping from international sources?

    Your "marketing plan" is developed on the answers to that basic set of questions because not all "marketing plans" are created equal.

    Your post is also what we call a "Lead In" post, so if you want serious help going forward be aware of that.
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    In the minute it took me to write this post.. someone died of Covid 19. RIP.
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  • Profile picture of the author DWolfe
    Originally Posted by Rebecca Zhang View Post

    Hi, friends.
    I have a question. I now need to sell professional tools to professional maintenance mechanic, such as key programming tools.
    Because the website is newly established, I need to find the initial user or customer. Any suggestions would be appreciate!
    Thank you very much!
    Did you do any actual research before going into this market ? Are the tools high quality and able to solve a problem or help the mechanic get the job done right the first time ?

    First off vehicles built in the last 5 years usually go right to a dealer to have keys reprogrammed. Those fobs are tied into more systems than just starting the car.

    Second Auto Repair facilities have Snap-on, Mac, Matco, or independent tool dealers show up in a truck and sell the scanners right at the door. Snap on as a example has a whole separate truck in most areas to teach the techs how to use the advance software tools. Or a regional rep schedules a visit it to the shop to show demonstrate how the equipment works.

    How do you plan to compete against large companies like OTC that specialize in some of the tools ? Every few months they provide new updates as new car models come out. Try fixing a car that just came in the last few months if the software does not exist yet. Or take it to the dealer. Speaking of Dealers do you know companies like Ford have there own vendors to sell to the dealers. Ford has the Rotundo program, that sells the right tooks to fix their cars.

    It takes time to build trust with most auto mechanics or techs as most are called today. You better know your stuff because they will smell anyone trying to sell them B.S. a mile away.
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  • Profile picture of the author DABK
    You got some good answers. Mine is not as good. Except that it confirms what they other said based on a relative who's the client you describe (he fixes cars for a living).


    As regards social media, some of them are active on facebook and linkedin.


    As regards to confirmation: my relative buys tools the way DWolf described.


    He did not search on Google.



    He called his guy and got the tool in hours. Getting it in hours, not tomorrow was the most important thing to him. Quality / brand of tool was next. Price? He complained about it to me, after he bought it.



    Originally Posted by Rebecca Zhang View Post

    Hi, friends.
    I have a question. I now need to sell professional tools to professional maintenance mechanic, such as key programming tools. How can I promote social channels? where will they be? how can they gain their trust? Because the website is newly established, I need to find the initial user or customer. Any suggestions would be appreciate!
    Thank you very much!
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  • Profile picture of the author craigsposterpro
    For classified ad marketing platforms, both Craigslist and ClassifiedAds.com have a very relevant For Sale > Tools section. Would advise against including website links in your classified ads since it's a campaign footprint through which they can track and flag all your ads.

    You may also want to get active in relevant Facebook groups for that market.
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  • Profile picture of the author culpetm
    Originally Posted by DURABLEOILCOM View Post

    I recommend using Google Ads, Reddit Ads, Instagram Ads, LinkedIn Ads, Bing Ads. You can also promote for free in Craigslist, Reddit, Quora, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Letgo, OfferUp, and Mercari.
    That pretty much sums it up right there.

    Originally Posted by agmccall View Post

    In the united states Snapon https://www.snapon.com/EN/Franchise pretty much has that sewed up, as does harbor freight and all the big box stores.

    One thing about selling tools to repair people, when they need it they need it now. They are not going online or social media, they are just going to get it at the most convenient place

    al
    Agreed. I don't think I would have chosen this market. That's some pretty intense competition.
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  • Profile picture of the author Medon
    It's hard to answer your question but I think you can get yourself started on TikTok. It may take some time before you make your first sale though.
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  • Profile picture of the author Johnny12345
    Originally Posted by Rebecca Zhang View Post

    I have a question. I now need to sell professional tools to professional maintenance mechanic ... where will they be?

    It's not so much a question of WHERE your prospects are online. That's the easy part. You can target them with paid ads (or even with free methods).

    The CRITICAL part is your sales message (that is, your sales copy). What will you SAY to them? That's what will determine your sales. Your prospects only know what you tell them.

    Therefore, the biggest factor of all is your COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE. You MUST be better or different in some way. Is your product cheaper, faster, higher quality, more reliable, or smaller? Does it have features your competitors do not?

    So, that's the real question: WHY is your product a BETTER CHOICE?

    If you have a really good answer to that question, you might not need to worry about Snap-On. You could, possibly, carve out a niche for yourself.

    As an example, take Elon Musk. He started a car company. Which is pretty much the dumbest thing anyone could possibly do. I mean, how in the world was he going to compete with GM, Ford, and DOZENS of other established companies in the auto industry?

    The answer is, he had a strong COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE. He sells electric cars that are stylish. Plus, he built his branding; Tesla is now a prestige brand.

    So, your task is to answer that question and then craft a clear, compelling sales message.

    John
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    • Profile picture of the author Rebecca Zhang
      Thank you! Finding the advantage of the product is the most important thing at present.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ian Jackson
    Originally Posted by Rebecca Zhang View Post

    Hi, friends.
    I have a question. I now need to sell professional tools to professional maintenance mechanic, such as key programming tools. How can I promote social channels? where will they be? how can they gain their trust? Because the website is newly established, I need to find the initial user or customer. Any suggestions would be appreciate!
    Thank you very much!
    How many of your local garage services have you appoached?

    Most will have a weekly mobile tools supplier if you're talking about physical tools, or from costly licensed software suppliers if you mean digital/diagnostic softwawe "tools".

    Regarding the latter, the mechanic will be obliged to invest in initial, and follow-up periodical training (updates etc)
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  • Profile picture of the author robertscool
    Google Ads did not work for me. Personally I advise you to satay away from it. But if you must use it then run tests before going all in.
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