Bad Miller Dealers

[JWELD]

Myself included, here in Shreveport La., has a real as-h-le for a local Miller dealer. I refuse to buy from him and would switch to red before I did.

I was in the franchise business for 10 years and if I had the complaints as does these dealers, I would had lost the franchise. I am sure this is not the same but it looks as if Miller would have some type of control over their retail reps.
Have heard complaints as same on this forum.

Whats the Deal???

[ASKANDY]

JWELD,

Miller has little control over our distributor's actions. We do not fanchise them and hope any poor dealings you have with them be reported to their upper management. Our district manager would also like to hear any problems you encounter. It would give him extra leverage when dealing with them on other situations or he may bring it to the attention of someone who cares.

I feel your pain and am sorry for any bad feelings you may have toward MILLER because of some butthead that works the counter at a poor distributor.

Anyone can e-mail me for your district manager's e-mail or you can lodge a complaint through the millerwelds.com site to address problems in your area.

Andy-

[GIJOE]

The deal is, there is no such thing as coustomer service any more. Most people could care less about their coustomers after the door closes behind them on their way out. As long as you're spending your money and they are getting it, that's all that matters to them.

I just ordered a Spectrum 625 on the 5th of April. A local company that I have delt with for years gave me an attitude when I asked if they could match the price of another company that had it for $150 less. Needless to say, I bought it from the other company, and have since turned in all my bottles, and closed my account. I would rather deal with someone that sees me as a person instead of a walking wallet.

Joe

[Travis Beste]

I hear ya JWELD!!!!! I just went through this yesterday afternoon. I was calling around locally to compare prices against BR Welder and IOC. I knew full well before I started calling that they probably couldn't touch the prices I had gathered from online, but I was more than willing to give them a shot, especially if they were really helpful to me which would be worth it to pay a little more. I got alot of lip service, but no customer service from this place. When you look at the price of equipment and see this single purchase will be 1/10 of my annual salary I expect to be treated like a person. They don't have to bend over backwards and loose money on a sale just to make me happy, as everyone needs to make a living, but talking down on other retailers, and doing so with false information is pathetic. I got off the phone and was pretty mad. Luckily I made a couple more calls to IOC and BR and they were more than happy to answer all my questions and give advise. Hopefully the nature of business will drive them to either change or close up shop. Competition is great in that sense.

I don't have a problem paying more, as long as I'm getting more. Had the local guy invited me down to take a look at the machines in action, and been a little more polite on the phone I probably would have been willing to spend a couple hundred extra. It's convienent to have someone a few miles away that is knowledgeable, carries a decent amount of stock, and is open when you need them but if all they do is see dollar signs when you walk in the door I think I'll pass. Now, not only has the local guy lost the sale on $3k worth of equipment, but I have also found a few other sources for consumables that I will continue to buy periodically.

Also, just because I had a bad experience with a Miller Distributor doesn't mean I have any hard feeling towards Miller themselves. From the people who post on this forum, to things I've heard about the tech support line I have no doubt they are a class act company.

[Paul Seaman]

Guys there are some great dealers I am lucky to have a fantastic dealer here in evansville, In, Airgas is my dealer of choice although the other 3 dealers in town do a great job but rich and randy treated me like I mattered when I didn't even have a machine they sold. My OAW tanks were from a company they bought so I used them for that but they earned my business with personal service.

Every time I go in they ask how my wife is doing with her cancer treatment. This may not seem like much but service is based on the personal touch and treating people like they matter when they buy $5 or $5000. The most I ever spent with them was $50 until last year and I spent over $2000. There are good dealers I hope you find one that is as close to you as mine is to me. I really feel lucky, Thanks to rich and randy!

Peace

[HAWK]

There are good and bad, but

Holston Gases in Knoxville, TN is a fantastic dealer. They have always gone the extra mile and am sure they always will. The people are friendly, courteous, knowledgable, and the store is full of product on which no dust gathers. They are the best and our area Miller rep is a dynamite guy too. He is definitely one of the best in the business! Thanks Wayne!!! People make the difference and that is what, in addtion to great products, sets Miller above and beyond the competition!

I hate anybody got a bad wrap from a local dealer. Like Andy mentioned they are not franchised. We are fortunate to have one of the very best in our area! Great job Holston!

[aametalmaster]

Salem Welding Supply here in Salem Oh is a super good Miller dealer. My dad bought Miller's from him and I bought mine there. My buddy bought a red one down the street because it was "cheaper" but in the end he payed more. I got a bigger welder with all the extras for about the same price. Some dealers go the extra mile. This is one of them...Bob

[moe1942]

Miller dealers

The Miller dealer (Red Ball) here in Alexandria, La. is people oriented. Although I have only bought consumables and a MIG liner from him he acted like he really appreciated the sales. He just recently took over from the previous owner so he is starting off right.

As I stated in an earlier post I think the support we get from the Miller HQ folks is unequaled.

moe1942

[arcdawg]

i am involved with a school that recomends us to the airass dealer for a good discount, and i got a pair of fancy cutting goggles and the jerk charged me more !!!

his place is off of my nice list, then he was like oh buy a machine and then well talk !!!

forget them, find a good one man supply store... you will do better most of the time !!

brian

[outkastkustoms]

bad dealers

yeah it really sucks when you come across a bad dealer, we spend alot of money on welding equipment but i guess it does not compare to the big contracts they have, so they could care less about the little guy, luckly i have 3 great shops in my area that i love, D&B welding supply in renton washington, just a small shop and they take real good care of me, pacific welding in tacoma is where i got my mm210 and central welding in seattle is a very good shop, all carry MILLER so that is a plus in my book

[Blondie_486]

Guys,

I think we've all been through what you're talking about. It's like buying a car you have to shop for a dealer that you feel comfortable with.

I don't get along with the Miller dealer that's the closest to me anymore. After making a little over 10,000.00 purchase, a month later I went to get welding rod and oxygen, I needed some skull caps and he wanted to charge me for them and they had his name and phone number on them. That and a few other things of a personal nature.

I have found a dealer 60 miles away that I like doing business with and I drive the distance to do business there. He will gladly price match BR and IOC's prices on machines and even throw in a bottle and spool of wire, but on things like the Optrel Satelite which IOC has for 227.00 the best he can do is 275.00, I still don't have a Satelite and I still buy small stuff locally but it's mostly generic stuff like contact tips, cover plates and filter plates and even with those nickel and dime purchases the "red" dealer always gives me skull caps without even having to ask for them.

So if you don't like the dealer shop around and find one you do like. They're out there and what ever you do don't blame Miller or give up on the Miller name. I've welded with a lot of different brand machines and my money is with Miller.

Just my .02 worth

Blondie

[Paul Seaman]

Blondie very well put and I like your ability to make a point and be subtle. Your a diplomat in a less than diplomatic type of business, my hats off to you fine sir.

Thanks,

[scote]

Blondie, what dealer do you use? I am just outside of Columbus and am curious as to who your dealer is.

[Blondie_486]

Scote,

I use:

Linde Gas
23649 Aurora Rd.
Bedford Hts., OH 44148
440.439.3576
(Miller, ESAB, "red stuff")

For my major stuff. The piddly stuff that I don't want to run to Cleveland for is:

Ohio Air Products
2350 13th. St. N.E.
Canton, OH 44705
330.456.7341
(They only sell the "red stuff")

Blondie

[HAWK]

Blondie,

Speaking of Linde, the Linde-Holox which I think is now just Holox in Charlotte, NC is a fantastic dealer. These guys will really bend over backwards to make you happy! A+ for you Dave!