How To Find A Distributor That Offers Great Forklift Prices – And More

Great forklift prices are just the beginning. Look for these 4 features to find a distributor who can deliver the whole package. 

A full fleet of road mechanics and in-house technicians. Service beyond a single product line. A fully stocked onsite Parts Department. And, to top it off, competitive forklift prices. It sounds ideal, right?

If you’re looking to make a forklift investment, we bet you’d like a deal that doesn’t sacrifice quality for a competitive price point. Similarly, the appeal of great forklift prices quickly fades if the seller offers lackluster service or sends you scrambling for parts. 

The fact is the best lift truck and forklift distributor should not make you choose between budget-friendly forklift prices and outstanding after-sale service. 

But how can you tell which provider offers a package that meets your budget goals and keeps your operation humming post-purchase? In this post, we’ll outline what we consider to be the key features of a distributor who can do both. 

4 features of a distributor who offers both great forklift prices and outstanding service

1. Record of putting the customer first

Testimonials speak volumes. And so do several decades in business. Those two factors alone are telling indicators of your prospective distributor’s commitment to customer service. A provider that has thrived longer than any other in the competitive environment of forklift distribution could hardly do so without leaving a long trail of happy customers. 

When customers decide to do repeat business, it’s rarely a coincidence. And it’s rarely the result of a single variable, such as great forklift prices. Customers return for more when they enjoy hyper-focused attention on their needs at a price they can afford. 

If your distributor didn’t promptly replace worn-out parts, wouldn’t you go searching for someone who cared enough to prioritize your operation? Would you keep paying more than your competitors or would you seek out a distribution partner who gave you the advantage?

2. Customization over one-size-fits-all

The cookie-cutter or one-size-fits-all approach can work well, but not necessarily for you, the customer. When evaluating forklift distributors for your next purchase, a telltale sign of great service is the level of customization that you can expect to receive. The reason is simple: every warehouse is unique and not all customers need the same equipment. 

In other words, a distributor dedicated to customization deploys technicians trained to service any make and model. Again, your distributor should meet your needs — not the other way around. Despite our Big Joe name, our on-staff technicians can service beyond the Big Joe product line including, for instance, Noblelift, Lift Rite, Hangcha, Tailift, Ekko, Crown, Vimar, Raymond, Hyster, Yale, Toyota, Nissan, and Komatsu.

3. A team of experienced technicians and mechanics

Even the most competitive forklift prices won’t serve you well without the right service to back you up — years from the day of purchase. Two questions, in particular, deserve clear answers:

What’s the level of expertise among the service personnel? 

Most of you have likely experienced a number of scenarios when it comes to equipment service. The frustration of dealing with field technicians (road mechanics) new on the job with little to no support from their home office can easily turn nightmarish. A revolving door of technicians is another recipe for dissatisfaction, especially if training and communication do not keep pace. 

In contrast, picture a service department where everyone works as a team, supports one another, and leverages the group’s collective expertise to expediently address all service requests. After years in the business of serving lift trucks and forklifts, there’s no request they haven’t seen or experienced before. Needless to say, that’s the team you want on your side. 

How versatile is the service team? 

Most big-name forklift dealers focus on servicing their massive rental fleets of 5,000-pound sit-down forklifts. While that may work for some, it’s far from ideal if your needs are more diverse (as they often are). 

That’s why it’s important to inquire about the range of expertise and services: Is the team skilled enough to service everything from the lightest duty electric powered pallet truck to the highest payload forklift? When your equipment demands attention, it helps to know your partner can handle all jobs, large and small. 

4. Comprehensive training programs

Experience, training, and competitive forklift prices go together. Although the former — experience and training — don’t happen overnight, it’s a prerequisite to achieve the latter — great rates. 

To explain: It takes dedication and focus to build a team of experienced field technicians who are able to diagnose and repair customer equipment quickly and efficiently. The pace of service does not only benefit your operation by reducing the money you spend on repairs, it also means the distributor does not waste resources. 

Instead, robust and comprehensive training programs for all service technicians ensure they know what they are doing and avoid spending several hours on a job that should take no more than a few. In the end, such a performance-driven environment impacts forklift prices. 

Final word

You should not need to choose between a good deal on forklifts and top-notch after-sale service. By making sure your distributor meets certain criteria, you can rest assured the transaction will be a success for years to come. Please contact us to learn more.