Customer Success Story: Tim Doerr Takes Business to the Next Level
Small business owners have to watch every dollar. Obviously your service always needs to be top-notch, but that only gets you so far. HVAC equipment can be expensive. But when you can’t get the same discounts that local supply houses give to the bigger companies, then the competition really gets tough. That’s why good HVAC companies need an edge for protecting their bottom line.
For business owner Tim Doerr Sr., that edge meant finding a way to get his HVAC equipment at reasonable prices. The supply chain in southern Indiana was tightening up, and having to wait for new air conditioners and furnaces was making his jobs take longer than they should. But then Tim heard about Surplus City Liquidators. Since then, business has skyrocketed.
About Tim Doerr Sr. Heating & Cooling
Tim Doerr Sr. is based in Evansville, Indiana and has been working in the heating and air business for over 37 years. Throughout this timeframe, he’s seen a lot of changes with the HVAC industry and quality of equipment—as well as shifts for availability.
His company is Tim Doerr Sr. Heating & Cooling. Currently, the team includes himself, a couple of technicians, and an operations manager who was recently hired. He says that although it’s a relatively small operation, they’re growing every day. Part of that is because of Surplus City. The savings Tim has seen by shopping from them has really helped his company hit its stride.
When he first found the Surplus City website and started browsing around, Tim said the low prices actually came as a bit of a surprise. He says he kept thinking, “Wow, can this be right?” But the numbers didn’t lie. Ordering from the Surplus City inventory has been a major gamechanger for his company, and he’s really enjoyed being able to track his growth—even with the new challenges in the market.
The Goal: Get an Edge on the “Shiny Truck” Guys
Recent strains on the supply chain have made it more and more difficult for smaller companies to get their hands on crucial HVAC parts and equipment. In Tim’s experience, the “big guys” can get semi loads of HVAC equipment at a time, which means they end up controlling the market and ultimately drive the prices up higher and higher.
“Some of them buy up a whole warehouse down here,” said Tim. Even a few of the people and supply companies he’d done business with for over 35 years have started to change their ways and treat him differently than in the past.
Smaller businesses are getting cut off from getting the equipment that they need. Because of that, the bigger companies are able to sell units at outrageous prices. “It’s robbery in my eyes,” said Tim. “We don’t agree with it.”
Before connecting with Surplus City, though, there wasn’t a clear way to solve the problem. But now they’re getting the business edge they needed. Being able to compete pricewise in a larger city has been critical.
“With the prices here at local supply houses, sometimes we’re saving up to 75% on units when we go to Surplus City,” said Tim. “And that isn’t exaggerated. It’s strictly the truth.”
The Surplus City warehouses often have units for $1,200 or $1,300 that are going for $4,000 in his local area. The savings have made a huge difference for Tim’s company to keep up with others in the area. He gets great savings, and then he can pass those savings on to his own customers. It’s working out for everyone involved. Even better: Tim’s been completely happy with every price he’s gotten from Surplus City, as well as with every product. And there continue to be other perks too.
Customer Service in a Changing World
On his first drive up to the Surplus City warehouse, Tim said that no less than five employees came out to greet him and welcomed him “like we were old friends.” Things started off on the right foot, and his company hasn’t looked back since. Tim also says that the Surplus City team has been great for his newest hire too.
“My operations manage has never been involved in HVAC services before,” said Tim. “And the Surplus City team is teaching her the verbiage and everything. It’s wonderful.”
Whenever they call, it seems to only take a few minutes for the sales team to help them find the right part. Because the Surplus City warehouses gets new inventory in all the time, being able to touch base in real time has helped Tim’s company keep up-to-speed on their project load. He says his operations manager is “hitting home runs every day.” It’s all thanks to great customer service, and that’s something Tim knows pretty well.
His company is typically booked about 3-4 weeks out. A lot of that is because of his own approach to business. He keeps his prices reasonable and tries to make the equipment accessible so anyone can have heat and air. Sometimes his company will even give away systems to help people who are experiencing hardships. That care and attention to detail aren’t always easy to find in the industry.
Stocking Up on the HVAC Equipment That Matters Most
Because Tim adheres to the cash and carry process for HVAC equipment, his initial preference with Surplus City was to buy packaged units. The equipment is usually the best solution for his customers, and he says that Surplus City has good prices on those units and other finished products too.
“We’re actually going to lower some of our prices even more to move more equipment,” said Tim. “Business is going that well.”
Tim has also found that having his orders shipped is cheaper for him, which is great because He Surplus City does a great job of packing up their merchandise. Tim’s busy schedule doesn’t make it easy to get out of his service area. Plus, he usually has to lease a truck to pull his trailer. When you add in the price of fuel with that rental— and losing a day of labor—being able to ship his HVAC equipment is both affordable and efficient.
“I’m a small business,” said Tim. “Lose a day, and it’s like you’re a week behind.”
By checking with the Surplus City inventory first and streamlining his company budget with easy shipping, Tim has been able to pass on more savings to all of their customers. Paying less money for the equipment up front lets them quote projects more competitively than ever. His company doesn’t even need to take a hit. The savings are so significant, he’s able to give everyone a better deal, while still building on his own growth.
“We can sell and install for less than what we can buy equipment for around here,” said Tim. “So we pass our savings on. We give it to the consumer. We’re probably the only ones doing that in the area.”
Long-Term Growth Because of Surplus City Savings
Tim has been ordering from Surplus City Liquidators for over one year now, and he’s at the point where he’ll buy certain equipment models in multiples. This helps him save even more because he can combine shipping. The boost in his profit margins has also allowed him to store more inventory on his own property. After years of working from a home office, Tim even went ahead and moved into a commercial office space and got his own warehouse. He’s also been expanding his fleet.
“I finally went for it, and it’s the best move I’ve ever made,” said Tim. “I may not be filling my pockets like the big guys, but I’ve bought two additional trailers and got a jam going on. It’s a good problem to have in business.”
The company’s growth is the result of meaningful savings and an ongoing commitment to provide great quality and pricing for his work. They have a solid return customer base, and the word continues to spread. Tim is serving the three-state area of Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. He’s even getting calls from Chicago for his commercial installs.
Tim would like to continue the transition to industrial and commercial HVAC work, and lately, he’s even advertising nationwide on a few different services. He says his company will keep making bigger purchases as he takes his business to the next level.
“I look forward to a long relationship with Surplus City,” said Tim. “They’ve got their heads on straight for business, and I hope they stay there forever. We’re very pleased with them.”
The team at Surplus City Liquidators is always happy to speak with new customers and small business owners across the country! If you have any inventory questions, please don’t hesitate to call (800) 428-4339.