Equipment
City is the Ozarks only Automotive Equipment Distributor and manufacturer
representative that focuses on a completely comprehensive investment process, as
well as service after the sale. We can help you through every step of setting up
a new shop, or upgrading your existing equipment. We are the only sales company
serving southwest Missouri performing service to all major brands of equipment,
including Hunter Engineering equipment.
The
major difference between us and a catalog is our level of commitment to make
your purchase and ownership of all your equipment a positive experience. We
continue to work for you after the sale. For example, did you know that the
majority of service calls do not require parts? Without the burden of parts
expense, we can afford to do everything possible to get you up and running over
the phone. We help hundreds of our customers every year repair their own
equipment without service calls or down time. When you buy equipment from us, we
feel obligated to do everything we can to help you in every way possible, and
for as little as possible. If that means we give our hard earned experience away
for free over the phone, then that is exactly what we will do.
We
serve everything in Missouri south of I-70, as well as a 100 mile radius around
Columbia.
We
serve all of Arkansas, with representatives in Springdale, and Little Rock.
Equipment
City began in 1999, under the name, Hunter Service. At that time, we were
Technical and training representatives for Hunter Engineering. As product
representatives, we were able to provide service, training and installations for
over 275 tire and alignment shops in the Ozarks. Our customer satisfaction was
such that when our contract with Hunter Engineering expired in 2005, we retained
about 95% of our customer base for the Hunter line
alone. In the next two years, we increased our customer base to well over 700,
and represent two international manufacturers, as well as distributors for over
60 other brands.
In
2003, we incorporated under the name, Vandelay Industries, Inc. Before you
ask, yes, I am a Seinfeld fan.
In
2004, we hired our first service technician, Charles Bullock, and began
offering same day, next day service to all our customers.
September,
2005 we became an independent representative for Bear Engineering, and
distributors for some of the best brands in the industry such as Corghi tire
changers and balancers, Kwik-Way machining and undercar equipment,
October
2005, Jacob Anderson joined our team as our lead service technician.
Late
2005, we established a network of distributors to supply all regions with a
wider variety of brands and supplies, making the purchasing experience much
more satisfying, and comprehensive.
Between
late 2005, until mid 2007, we changed the way our customers looked at
automotive equipment in their shop. Where before, you were married to your
manufacturers service representative, now you had a choice. We offered an
alternative to the slow response, and high prices of the factory service
rep.
Early
2006, we began offering a lift inspection package, with award winning
results. Our focus on dealerships won our customer's recognition from OSHA
for a "perfect score" during a surprise inspection, a first for
the inspector!
November,
2006 we sold our first of many BEAR alignment machines. Joplin Ford was the
very first shop in southwest Missouri to own the new BEAR ALIGNER. Wireless,
with the six toe package, they wanted the best available and they got it!
See below for a listing of BEAR aligner customers....
September,
2007, Eddie Thurman joined our team as Sales in Columbia, Missouri.
February
2008, We re-incorporated as Equipment City...it is a bit more professional
name, and completely describes our organization. We are a complete equipment
supplier, completely self sustaining.
March,
2008, Gary Scott joined our team as Service Manager. We also began
representing Launch USA, the worlds most advanced automotive computer scan
tool for imports.
July,
2008, John Hood joined our team as an independant Sales representative,
covering the southwest Missouri, and northern Arkansas.
August,
2008, we were asked by Oreilly Automotive to become Rotary Authorized
Installers (RAI). We traveled to Madison Indiana, received factory training
at Rotary World Headquarters, and toured their All American Factory. For
anyone out there still telling stories about Rotary Lifts having factories
in China, forget it. I have been there, I have walked through the plant, and
I have seen the raw materials transform into columns, runways, carriages,
swing arms, cross members, etc.............. All the steel is American. All
the lifts are American. They even make their own power units. It does not
get any more, "ALL AMERICAN" than that!!!
We are
a professional company, working for professional automotive shops, providing
them with professional support, for their professional equipment.
With
our focus on quality equipment, and maintaining the philosophy of "No
Bull" sales process, our customer's can focus on their needs, and let us
help them, instead of having to second guess everything they are told.
Our
reputation is everything. We will not compromise that. We believe that we are
here for our customers, and that everything we do should help them do their job
better, faster, and more efficient.
