FAQs
How do you order industrial hose?
TASco recommends using the “STAMPED” Method To Order, Specify Or Request A Quote :
S or Size: the inside diameter (or ID) is essential as this determines the volume of material that can be transported through the hose. If the outside diameter (or OD) is critical for space restrictions, this should also be specified.
T or Temperature: What is the maximum and minimum possible temperatures of the material going through the hose? Is the hose being used in hot or cold atmospheres?
A or Application: Where is the hose being used. Is it in a caustic environment?
M or Material: You need to identify the material being moved through the hose. This material is in contact with the inner tube of the hose and the fittings. Are they chemically reactive or compatible? We can help you determine this.
P or Pressure: What is the normal working pressure at which this hose is operating? Does the pressure ever “spike”?
E or Ends: When specifying a hose, it is important to determine what ends will be attached. Do you need adapters or Quick Disconnects?
D or Delivery: Due to the myriad of hose products and ends that can be configured, it is always helpful to know when you will need your hose assembly.
What are the top considerations when hiring a rep?
The reason to outsource your sales force is a cost-effective way to leverage expertise that you could not afford on a full-time basis. Manufacturers’ representatives are not just experts on your product; they also are experts in their local market area.
What are the advantages vs disadvantages of a rep?
Advantages of Manufacturers’ Reps
Hiring representatives instead of a direct sales force avoids all the fixed costs of direct sales employees such as salary, medical insurance, workers compensation, human resources, travel and entertainment, and more.
If you have a relatively narrow product line, your rep can bundle your products with products from other manufacturers on their line card and include your product in a package deal you could not easily put together yourself.
Representatives have intimate knowledge of their territories. Most representatives have years or decades in their territories. That’s more than just market knowledge — your rep often has children who play in the same sports leagues and attend the same schools as your customers — a real advantage over a short-time direct salesperson who is just making a 1-2 year stop in the territory before moving to greener pastures.
Disadvantages of Manufacturers’ Reps?
You can set a high sales bar for reps, and they will achieve it, but you generally can’t tell them how to achieve it. Reps are independent businesspeople, and although they welcome a challenge and stretch goals, most will want to set their own plans on how to achieve those goals rather than allowing a manufacturer to dictate how those goals should be achieved. If you tend to be a micromanager, you probably will not be successful with reps.
You hire the rep because they own customer relationships that you want to participate in, but if you expect that you will come to own the rep’s customer relationships you probably will not be successful with reps. Reps bring their customers’ relationships to their relationship with you, but you will find that those relationships stay with the rep and are not transferable to you.
How do I get more of a rep’s time?
It’s surprisingly easy. It’s really just basic blocking and tackling. Offer a quality product at a market-friendly price, ship the product on time, and pay the rep on time. This seems simple, but so many manufacturers lose track of blocking and tackling that if you do all the fundamentals well, you will be a stand-out on most reps’ line cards, and you will do well. Can you also get more of a rep’s time with a higher commission rate? Absolutely, but even a higher-than-average commission rate won’t get more of the rep’s time for a manufacturer if that manufacturer’s late shipments or quality issues embarrass the rep with his or her customers.
What are TASco’s code ethics?
I. TASco's Responsibility to the Manufacturer/Principal:
To comply with the Principal's terms and conditions of sale.
To conscientiously cover the assigned territory, accounts or industry segment.
To avoid any form of misrepresentation.
To establish relationships only with those Principals which will be well represented by TASco.
To refrain from representing competing lines without written agreement of the Principal.
To constantly strive to add value to the relationship between the Principal and the Customers.
II. The Manufacturer's/Principal's Responsibilities to TASco:
To enter into a fair, clearly worded, written Sales Representative (Independent Contractor) Agreement which addresses the needs, concerns, expectations and objectives of both parties.
To refrain from modifying the terms of this agreement, except by mutual written consent following full discussion of the matter.
To recognize TASco as an important element in the sales goals of the Principal.
To constantly strive to support TASco's efforts by timely responses and open communication.
III. TASco's Responsibilities to the Customer:
To promote only those products or services which are in the Customer's best interest.
To constantly strive to improve the relationship between the Principal and the Customer.
To clearly and fairly communicate the needs of all parties in the business relationship.
To process Customer problems and questions promptly and accurately.
IV. The Responsibilities of TASco to Another Sales Agency:
To share ideas beneficial to the rep profession.
To respect existing Principal relationships of other Sales Agencies.
To refrain from using unfair methods to solicit the Customers of another Sales Agency.
To cooperate to enhance the professional relationship of TASco and its Principals by supporting MANA, which was established for that purpose; subscribing to its aims and objectives and in every practical way working to advance the marketing interests of all Sales Agencies and their Principals.
-Adopted from MANA