Total Lubricants for auto shop??

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Bobbyv8

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Hey everyone!
first post...

Just wondering what people think of Total oil? Im opening up a new automotive full service garage and looking into Total for my bulk oil. The rep is looking to to use my facility for the company's Rapid oil change program which consists of signage on the building and street signs as well. From the research I have done the Rapid oil program is big overseas but just staring to take off in Canada. I guess im wondering how many of you guys/gals would not hesitate using Total products in your vehicles?

from the research Ive done, Total seems to be a real upcoming competitor in the garage supply oil business.

ps- Ill also carry the Mobil/Castrol synthetics and the Total Rapid program will not be plastered all over my brand new shop, just tasteful 3-4 foot x 1 foot tall illuminated wall and street sign.

Any help or info regarding Total Lubricants would be helpful.
 
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Hi.

The problem with ELF products is that they are expensive when comparing price-to-performance to domestic suppliers. Not to push business in one direction but seriously think about it. Does an oil really change, chemistry wise? If you answered no, you're correct. It's the same stuff, North America or Europe or Asia. Oil is an oil. Same thing with additive packages; there are only a few compounds out there that can do that, and they are divided into their molecular structures. Again, it's not like one company is going to change the game significantly.

So, as a shop, you can cut the costs on you and transfer the savings to consumers, or you can do it however you like obviously. But in my experience, ELF products are expensive in North America.

But! If they are offering oil to you at a low price or comparable, I don't see why not. Great products from a great company.
 
ELF makes a good product but it is not known in NA. People are brand loyal. Unless you can come in below others in price point and have better service stick with a major player in the NA market (VAL, PEN, QS,CASTROL OR MOBIL). GOOD LUCK..
 
Originally Posted By: Bobbyv8
Hey everyone!
first post...

I guess I'm wondering how many of you guys/gals would not hesitate using Total products in your vehicles?


First: Welcome!

Second: You don't care what the BITOGers think - we aren't your market. For a place that does oil changes for folks in general, all people really care about is whether the oil is new, and you put enough of it in to turn that pesky red light off.

Third: I probably would stick with what I know (M1EP, PU, etc.) but then, I'm a BITOGer.
 
I grew up in a very small town and mostly farming country. My entire young life people used lubricants based on what Grandpa had or used because he knew best. Most of them actually know anything at all about lubricants ect. My point is if cost is the same I would most likely try to keep my bulk oil as something someone recognizes and has a long history. Then again maybe there are more people out there that could care less about what you put in as long as it was new. In my experience, people that are ignorant on a subject, tend to stay with specific brands that they feel they can trust. Maybe someone that runs a small garage could give you more of an idea about what the general public cares about. I believe there are a few member here that run garages and repair shops that may chime in. I agree with the statement above that BITOG members are not your common customer. Good luck.
 
Elf makes one line of conventional, API/ILSAC oils. Everything else, from what I've seen, are 'Euro-spec' oils.

So, the truth is, their products don't have a lot of applicability for Na vehicles, unl;ess you're JUSTY going to do conventional changes.
 
How you treat your customers will matter
much more than the name on the sign.
You will be selling "service" more than lubricants.
Do a quality job at a fair price and you will
build a loyal and growing clientele.

jringo
 
Thanks to everyone for the reply's,

The bulk they are supplying is Total, not Elf. I will most likely go with Total because there price is around 30 cents lower per liter then the competitors, and the fact they are supplying all necessary oil equipment ie. bulk oil bench, two oil waste drains etc. The other major players would supply the equipment for an additional charge per liter until the equipment is payed for. From the research im doing on Total it seems there product is excellent and on par with the big players here. With the price per liter savings I could offer my oil changes at a lower price then the competition, while providing excellent oil. I know there are customers who will want the Mobil 1 and castrol syntec and ill have those products available, but the majority dont really care when it comes to bulk.
 
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Originally Posted By: addyguy
Elf makes one line of conventional, API/ILSAC oils. Everything else, from what I've seen, are 'Euro-spec' oils.

So, the truth is, their products don't have a lot of applicability for Na vehicles, unl;ess you're JUSTY going to do conventional changes.


I will be using Total 5w20 and 5w30 for the bulk, and not using the Elf brand as its not available in North America as of yet.
 
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You will be switching in no time. They use Group II base stock for their classic series line, which will be used in your bulk tanks, and their technical help is absolutely horrible. Lots of approvals for European OEM's but nothing for North American. They can't compare to the other lubricant companies already established in Canada.
You want a supplier that dominates lubricant sales in Canada above Shell and Imperial oil? Petro-Canada has the best base stock in the world. They were first to use the HT process in North America. Total is a small time player and you will get what you pay for.
 
Bobby, I run an oil & tire shop down here in Wyoming. I can tell you, if you are gonna do it, do it right the first time. I started out with CAM2 as my bulk product and from there moved to Formula Shell. As it is now, the distributor I am using is gong through personnel issues, which has left me a little unsettled regarding their customer service.

I am currently looking at switching over to Mobil for all of my oil products. However, that distributor also distributes Petro Canada, which I have been tempted to try out. But I'm afraid that it would be perceived "Unpatriotic" considering the current economic and political climate here in rural Wyoming.

That being said, I have tried hard to get my hands on Conoco, of which almost all their product comes from here in WYO, but my closest distributor for that product does not service my rural area.

My advice? Find one good strong one and run with it.
 
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I also run a full service shop. And when we first started we had the castrol sponsorship, thinking "hey ppl will come here because it says castrol" WRONG. Total is a great oil but most ppl won't care. They just want the oil changed. But if you can get the bulk(total) in a lower price go for it. Your providing a quality oil at a reasonable price which shows you care even if the customer doesn't see it. As most garages find the cheapest oil and don't give a flip.
 
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