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How-to: 5 TIPS ON A SUCCESSFUL PRODUCT RETURN

returns5 TIPS ON A SUCCESSFUL RETURN We want you to LOVE your purchase from us. But, we understand things happen and you may need to make a return. As long as it is an unused stock item, still in the original packaging, you have 30 days of purchase to return it to us. There is a 20% restocking fee & you must pay the freight. All returns must be authorized prior to shipping. Contact our customer service department for instructions.

Custom items can not be returned.

To make it as easy as possible, here are 5 tips on a successful return.

STEP ONE: Contact Customer Service

It’s important we know what your returning and why. We need to issue you a return authorization (RA Number) so that our receiving department will sign for it and know what it is when it appears on our docks. No credit will be given on unauthorized returns.

STEP TWO: Make sure your item is properly packaged up to prevent damage on the return shipment.

STEP THREE: Make sure your return is properly labeled.

We will provide a call tag (via email, fax or mail) and assist in scheduling a pick-up for the freight company to pick up the equipment. Once you receive call tag/pick up label, place on the package for return.

*UPS label (Drop off at any local UPS branch)
*Pick up label (wait for pick up by trucking company)

STEP FOUR: Item is returned back to warehouse and the equipment is inspected once received. If we find that the equipment is damaged, or is not being returned for the reason the RA was issued, we will contact you. This could affect your refund. If you item is not used, damaged or otherwise unusable… then …

STEP FIVE: Your return is processed and your credit is issued.

To read our full Term & Conditions on Returns or Exchanges, click here.

ROTARY SCREW COMPRESSOR OR RECIPROCATING COMPRESSOR

ROTARY SCREW COMPRESSOR OR RECIPROCATING COMPRESSOR:  WHICH ONE’S RIGHT FOR YOU?
By: Julie Surprenant, Sales

Rotary Screw Air Compressor

Compressed air supplies power for many different manufacturing operations and is often preferred to electricity because it is safer and more convenient. The basic compressor converts electric, gas or diesel engine power into kinetic energy by pressurizing and compressing air. The air is then released in short bursts.

In the automotive field alone, compressed air is speeding up processes and body shops are relying on it for their daily operations. Auto body shops utilize compressed air for fast tire inflation and finishing services, such as painting. Vehicles are given precision paint jobs in shorter amounts of time with paint spray guns. Additionally, most of the hand tools found in auto body shops run on compressed air. In vehicle repair shops, air compressors are a necessity for plasma cutting and welding operations as well as drills, screwdrivers, nutrunner sockets, fasteners, and sanders.

I have sold a lot of compressors recently and I am always asked why one is better than another. What’s the difference between a rotary screw compressor and a reciprocating air compressor?

Rotary screw compressors, like these from Tools USA, tend to be compact and are the right choice for you if your application requires air all day or has multiple shifts that use air on a consistent basis. It has the ability to run all day, every day.

Rotary screw compressors are perfect where large volumes of high pressure air are needed. For example, large industrial applications or to operate high-power air tools such as jackhammers. Applications above 30 hp and for air up to 150 psig.

According Plant Engineering, a rotary screw compressor, if well-maintained, can provide a decade of dependable service. This type of compressor, that operates above 30 horse power, also has the ability to tell you when the oil is low and indicate oil change intervals based on operating temperatures. This will increase reliability and longevity for your compressor. The rotary screw compressor has lower costs to maintain, and cost less to purchase.

Reciprocating Air Compressor

A reciprocating air compressor, or piston compressor, is a low horsepower compressor for applications where reliability is vital. Reciprocating compressors are best for applications that require air for shorter durations of time and have breaks between uses. The reciprocating compressors cost more, are louder to use, but more energy efficient. Energy costs are reduced by as much as 20%!

If you know you will be relying on your new compressor for daily use, Industrial Gold recommends you consider a form of backup compressor. As compressors are mechanical devices, they will need to be serviced and repaired over time. When installing a new system, look at your air needs and make sure you have a backup that will be able to handle at least 50% of your usage. This will enable you to continue working while the main compressor is being maintained or serviced.

Tools USA sells a wide variety of compressors, both vertical and horizontal… rotary screw and reciprocating. We proudly sell a full-line from Industrial Gold and have all the specs and models available on our site. Give us a call with any questions. We would love to help you decide which compressor is best for you!

CALLING ALL CUSTOMERS… WE WANT YOUR … PHOTOS

Retro Paint_SD1000_4 I have heard the phrase imitation is the sincerest form of flattery many times throughout my life thus far. Today, I spoke with a new customer, who had reached out to us for pricing on a new spray booth for his growing business. He mentioned in our conversation that he had a buddy down the road who bought one from us years ago and was thrilled with it. Based on this word-of-mouth testimony from one buddy to another, this guy did not even bother to look anywhere else … he just picked up the phone and called us. Word-of-mouth is a pretty sincere form of flattery too…. and we want more of it. Read on to see how you can help.

DSC_0509Testimonials are the best form of advertising to us at Standard Tools. What better way to decide on what product to buy than to read how much others love it? Now, I understand that price plays a big role in a person’s decision when it comes to buying equipment…  but if your buddy has one and he is thrilled with it… is price alone really the deciding factor? Something to think about anyway.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and testimonials are the best form of promotion, then a product photo of the equipment in use in a shop are the best way for us to show off our products. Who doesn’t love to see some equipment being used? (Most of the time, the photos also have some pretty cool cars to show off as well).

If you have a piece of our equipment in your shop and you want to share a photo with us, along with a brief testimonial, we would love for you to send it our way so we can share on our social media sites!

If your photo is used, we will send you a great big thank you and a little surprise for giving us your time, testimonial and photo. So, if you have a paint booth, automotive lift, frame machine or tire equipment … send it to us.Paint Booths

Here are the details to include in your email to Katm@standardtool.com

Subject Line: Customer Testimonial

Your Name and Business Name
Your City and State
Product You Have?
What do you use it for?
Why Do You Like It?
Would You Recommend it? Why or Why Not?

Please make sure that any junk or trash is removed prior to taking the photo, it helps make a better photo.  That’s it!

What does our Customer Care Team have in Common?

At Tools USA we have an awesome Customer Care Team (CC Team). On hand to help you with your purchase, before, during and after the sale. They are there to answer your questions, find solutions for your shop and make sure you know what you need to know to make a smart and informed choice.  We know that you can buy from several places: eBay stores, amazon or Craig’s list. We offer a higher level of service and a happier customer.

What all of our customer service members have in common:

PATIENCE- What an important tool when a customer may be confused or frustrated. The extra time that is taken to help the customer figure out what they want or need makes the difference in whether or not that customer will order from us again. From our CC Team Member Gina, “I always focus on the person, not the issue, to make them feel important and that they have my undivided attention for whatever they may need.”

KNOWLEDGE- Knowledge is important. Each member of our team know the in’s and out’s of how our products work in the same manner that our customer uses our products every day. With many of our members working here for over 10 years, our CC Team has decades of combined experience in our products, the customers we serve and the industry we love. From our CC Team, “We have the most knowledgeable staff in the industry. I feel like our customers have such an advantage in the market because they have a team behind them to help them select the right equipment to succeed.”  Let us share our experiences with you and help you find the perfect product for you needs.

SOLUTION-ORIENTED- A unique personality trait of everyone on our CC Team is their ability to stay focused on solutions. Weather it’s an issue that needs a solution, or a shop who doesn’t have the room for a paint booth, or the auto repair shop that needs a lift. We keep our focus on our customer’s satisfaction and try everything in our power to find solutions and answers for them. We want our customers to feel that we are right beside them, to help and guide them through quality products, knowledgeable sales team and the desire to grow both our business and theirs.

Our Mission Statement: Delivering Excellence to the Automotive and Painting Industries. Every Product. Every Customer. Every Day.

Our Customer Care Team Members are the backbone of our company. Give Gina, Jennifer, Rosie, Kelly, Mark, Zach, Andy, Heather or Ryan a call at 800-451-2425! We love them all and know you will too!

Infrared Curing Lamps -Plug It In & Get To Work

EAG 9MS 7296Infrared curing lamps are a cost effective way to speed up the process of drying or curing most air-dry coatings. Infrared curing technology has been used by auto body repair professionals for a long time. The vast majority of infrared curing lamps are using short-wave infrared lamps to speed up the drying process of putties, fillers, primers, base coats and clear coats.

Why do auto body repair professionals use infrared lights

–          Accelerated drying times of all painting materials
–          No need to use spray booth for smaller jobs
–          Lower energy bills
–          Mobility of infrared lamps allows more efficient exploitation of body shop space

Infrared’s main focuses is exceptional speed, high efficiency, precision control and zero emissions. Infrared heat dries one-quarter to one-tenth the time needed when air-drying finishes. It also requires little to no air-flow reducing the possibility of dust or debris contaminating the finish. The heat is more cost efficient than convection heat since it reduces cycle times, transfers heat directly to your product and doesn’t require an expensive enclosure like an oven to keep and recirculate the heat. These heat lamps generate zero emissions and will not pollute the air.

So…plug in your lamp and speed up your work times!
If you paint and cure full vehicles often, you should consider the benefits of a paint booth.

Collision Repair Technology Degree

Mechanic repairs tire
Mechanic repairs tire

Did you know that you could earn an Associate degree in auto body repair?

With so many skilled trades falling by the wayside in our country, it is truly refreshing to know that some things will always be done by the hand of another competent human being. Competent that is, if they are trained properly.  I was pleased recently when I heard that a local community college in our part of the country was expanding its program for auto body repair training.  It has recently changed from Auto Body to Collision Repair Technology, Associate of Applied Science.  Now I know, that sounds kind of fancy, but it is a great program to help young people learn a skill that pays well and provides an immediate self-satisfaction opportunity.  A quick Google search and I was surprised by how many colleges are offering education in this skilled field.

The Collision Repair & Refinishing Technology curriculum provides training in the use of equipment and materials in the auto body repair trade. As a student, you learn structural repair, non-structural repair, mechanical & electrical repair and painting & refinishing.  At the completion of the program, you should be able to:

  • Perform structural analysis and damage repairs
  • Perform non-structural analysis and damage repairs
  • Refinish vehicles or vehicle components
  • Read repair estimates
  • Write repair estimates
  • Repair plastics and adhesives
  • Replace vehicle components

These skills set you up for a successful career in a variety of areas:

  • Franchised independent garages
  • Dealerships
  • Race teams
  • Truck companies
  • Glass shops
  • Boat shops
  • Start your own business

If this sounds like an opportunity you would like to take advantage of then look to your local community college for similar opportunities.  Please contact us if we can help equip you with the necessary trade tools and equipment to be successful in this field.

Tools USA Customer Service Desk

FROM THE DESK OF GINA GILCHRIST: CUSTOMER SERVICE REP

photo-1For any successful company, their customers make them who they are. When problems arrive, the first point of contact is the customer service department. We are like fire fighters on the front line, fighting fires that range from defective equipment returns to making sure the equipment that a customer needs is correct before we send it out to them.

We get happy customers calling to say thank you and we get irate customers calling because something wasn’t what they thought it was. Whatever the situation, I am here to help them become a client of ours for life. That’s my job.

We don’t want to lose any customers because of poor service. I understand that there are customers out there that just can’t be pleased, but we will try everything we can to solve any issue that they have. I believe in being diligent and giving a lot of TLC to our customers.  As a customer service rep at Standard Tools and Equipment, I know that what I say and how I respond to our customers will go a long way and have a huge impact in our customers experience.

There is article after article about great customer services. Tips, tricks, software, pop-up windows and such … but what I believe makes great customer service goes all the way back to my  Kindergarten days, “Treat others as you would like to be treated”. It’s simple. We believe in our customers, and we enjoy them. I truly enjoy my interaction with them each day. Please let me know how I can assist you.

Check out some more about our Customer Service policies here.

Order Shipping and Delivery at Tools USA

WHEN IS MY ORDER SHIPPING & WHEN WILL IT DELIVERED?

I bought something online the other day and was shocked to find that it would take almost airliner with a globe and autoloader with boxes in a containertwo weeks to be delivered…. For a pair of shoes! The well-known company I used shipped it UPS to my local USPS center, where it sat for 2 days until it is was delivered to my local carrier and finally to my house. It would have been easier to just go to a local store and get it… but then I wouldn’t have gotten such a great deal, and in my size.

As we all drive up and down the interstate, it’s hard not to see trucks traveling up and down, carrying products to their final destination. To stay competitive and the spontaneous ability to ship anywhere, most companies use an outside carrier to ship their products all over the country and to international destinations.

Shipping and delivery at Tools USA is quick. In shipping our products to you, we use Estes Express, Road Runner, Wilson Trucking or UPS.  We know how anxious you are to receive your order, so we make every effort to get your equipment out our door in a timely manner. If you place your order in the morning, and it’s in stock, we strive to have it out the next day.

Once it’s on the truck, we have no control over when your equipment will arrive to you. We do meet with the trucking companies often and negotiate on our customer’s behalf for fair shipping prices and suitable shipping times.

One of the services our customer service team offers is a phone call to let you know when your order leaves our warehouse and to give you an estimated time to expect it.  We recommend that once you receive a call from our customer service team, you call the trucking company and setup a time for delivery. We’re happy to give you the trucking company’s contact information. That way, you will be informed of any delays on their end as well as be prepared to accept delivery when they arrive and start enjoying your order!

Extra Tip: Be sure to inspect your order for shipping damage before you sign for it!

Have you ‘Visited’ your auto body shop lately?

Interior of Messy Car Repair ShopImproving Your Auto Body Shop & Increasing Your Profits
by: Tracy Beach

One of the things I like most about my job is that I get to see our products in action.  When I am visiting a shop to see specific products, I also get a perspective of processes and the overall professionalism of the shop. Over the past several months I have made several observations that seem obvious to a visitor but went unnoticed by the shop team that was there every day.  The following notes are not intended as ‘Duh’ comments, but as simple things that can make a shop more professional and profitable.

Warning: some of these are going to make you say, “Isn’t that obvious?” Yes, but in our everyday lives, not seeing what is obvious to a visitor can slow productivity, decrease quality and decrease safety.

Continue reading Have you ‘Visited’ your auto body shop lately?

What Does Your Parking Lot Look Like?

car lotWinter is over and the cars damaged due to icy and snowy driving may have your parking lot in overflow mode.  People are ready to have their vehicles repaired and get ready for the nice cruising weather ahead. When there is plenty of work coming your way, you may think you don’t have time for anything else…. but now is the precise time when you should be investing in your shop for even more work down the road.

Ask yourself these checklist questions to make sure your shop is in optimal working mode:

  1. Is your frame straightening equipment working well, or will it hamper the work to be done?
  2. How about the hydraulic equipment and frame machine pulling clamps devices?
  3. Is your spray booth clean and efficient?
  4. Are you painting without a booth?
  5. Do you need another spray booth?
  6. How about smaller items like air compressors, paint mixing rooms, clamps and chains, frame measuring tools and sanding disks?

The best time to invest in your shop is when it you have plenty of work and cash flow coming through the door.  Make plans to improve the productivity and quality of your work NOW, when you don’t need to get a loan or settle for cheaper equipment.

Improving your shop when your competitor down the street doesn’t has a long-lasting impact on the profitability and survivability of your shop. We want to see you busy and in business for a long time to come. Let us help you today.

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