Quick tip for sorting FRI to save $

Spent some time on this and it is well worth it. Save alot of inventory $, alot easier in exploris then J-CON. First thing change sort code to BODY-PREFIX-SUFFIX. Then just forcast as per your profile you have set, once in the forcasting data select to view ALL PARTS. This will give you everything, but you will find alot of parts you don't need to stock that are movement codes one EG BMD52 is a 1.2 sold only 6, BCD52 sold 24. Very easy to do and all the data is right there on one page. Hope this is useful???

Forcasting

I have done alot of testing on forcasting. I find this works best for me, I set the days of inventory like this :

1.1-1.9 30 days

2.1-2.9 40 days

3.1-3.9 50 days

4.1-4.9 60 days
5.1-5.9 70 days

6.1-6.9 80 days

7.1-7.9 90 days

8.1-8.8 100 days

I set my store template like that, see images above. Also don't forget to set your days of inventory to ZERO of any movement code outside your stock depth, only way for it to pull sales outside your stock depth. EG if stock depth is 5.9, leave 6.1 and up blank or ZERO and set SALES OVERRIDE field to how many sales you need before you trigger order point outside your stock depth EG set it to 3 and anything you sell 3 or more over movement code 6 it will trigger an order point.

Forcasting

Samsung ML3051n Printer cartridges.

We have a place to buy these cartridges for $90. versus $180. from Staples
The Cartridge Centre. 1 905 970 9351. This is the place Carquest HO uses to get theirs.
They are reman units and seem to be lasting longer than the Samsung Units new.

XLine Importing

We now import Xlines with not too much difficulty. I import the data; part number, line code, cost information and core cost if needed into the template and forward to Normand for input. We then input the upcharges in the pricing menu. This sets the pricing for the customers. I use the GROUP setup for the accounts and modify any individual accounts where necessary. The process is painless after you have done a couple. The template is intimitating but if you enter only the fields I discussed it becomes much more manageable.

XLine Importing

Capture images - anything better than this

So - you have a customer who wants to see an image of a part that you have up on your screen ( actually happened just now with Ken at D&T Auto Parts using Speedial ) and he wanted to know how to capture the image and e-mail

On the Mac's it is built in and is an EXTREMELY handy feature -- but as far as I know on Windows there is nothing that allows you to select a specific part of the screen you wnat to GET ...a part from this ...... gadwin print screen - free utility

If any EXPLORIS users get a chance to see if they can add this ( or are you blocked from adding small utility programs ?? ) and let us know as a comment ....thanks

Update ---don't forget to set your preference to rectangle ( and not full screen ) -so you can select the size of the image you will grab and ignore the rest .... you draw this rectangle by clicking and dragging your mouse - see the size of the file you get ... you can also down size with a zoom option when saving --it takes some time to play and understand the option.

when is a problem NOT a problem ??

One of the BIGGEST ISSUES we have is -- in Exploris -- some things are problems to some but not others. If all you need from a computer is the ability to be a type writer and an adding machine - you requirements are a whole lot less than the few who want detailed info on to how to maximize their profits.

A saying that was coined early on -- 'is is a CHEVETTE or a BMW" was aimed at how feature rich is the system. It is a well known fact that the majority of users os ANY computer system are NOT what is classed as POWER USERS. Do you make a system that is a base system ( CHEVETTE) or do you make a full feature system with power windows and am-fm-xm radio ?? ( a BMW).

With my new part time passion - wine --- will we have a 2 BUCK CHUCK or a Chateauneuf de Pape.

Well--with the announcement of additional reports as an optional cost - we seem to have a Chevette with an add-on for power windows -- but maybe still not heated seats or air conditioning.

A recent conversation with a member of this group whp CAN post but is too disappointed to write --shows just a sampling of issues that effect him but may not trouble a less sophisticated user:
-only 3 part invoices - which jam more often -- no 2 part option ?
-the laser print option is almost here - after 4 years -and it took an extra 1000 man hours to do -1000?? really
-the inability to have a 2-20 (universal report generator) without going with 'store services' to make sure someone doesn't JAM the system with a request that is a CPU hog ( what --no limits ?? )

most of these a( and there are 72 more ) do not impact the low level user --too bad the system limits the power user...

The ONE option that could have worked is an absolute forbidden --to have a 2nd system for the power user. This is much like the unwritten 2nd system offered to power users in NAPA only after the reject the base system. Too bad - it would have been a workable option -- if only CARQUEST had more multi-store owners ... oh well ...

Fail Safe Phone jacks

This is NOT part of Exploris - but worthwhile never the less. Talking with another CARQUEST jobber and I mention I called him and no one answered ... it turns out the store was without power and as such the phone system doesn't work ... hmm ... so I told him about what we did our our three stores --

Our lines come in to the building to the phone equipment area --at this point you should have a FAIL SAFE PHONE JACK for EACH LINE ... you can plug a cheap analogue phone into this jack ( $12 at wal-mart ) - this allows you to know if any problem is between your store and the street - in which case the phone company is responsible - any problem after this point is usually your responsibility.

SO -- have someone extend these fail safe jacks DOWN TO THE COUNTER AREA and buy a cheapy phone - plug in on the first power outage.

NOTE -- these jacks bypass all the features of the in-house system. BUT --they let you keep answering your phone when the power is out .... drop by to see it in action for the past 20 years ...a tip that should be shared.