How Many DEFECTS are you seeing on Brake Shoes ??

this is probably more a Cdn CARQUEST issue ( as different supplier than USA CARQUEST )

try this -- see image -- go to Lisa - see image --do what is shown --how many brake shoes ( oh - almost forgot -- check the PN codes ( sub lines ) for shoes -- #6 & #17

We have 48 -- Bob from Walker Rd has 44 -- his list is like this -- 445 473 514 538 553 696 723 774 795 815 & 855 --- ours seem to bunch on 514R 553R 582 665 & a BUNCH of 723's

Is it a Mistake --or is it a RIP-OFF ???

Bob Miller spots these kinds of mistakes -- for that he is my hero of the year in Exploris. He has mentioned this over the past year a couple of times -- so tell me -- is this a simple BUG in Exploris -- or is this a RIP OFF there GPI is pocketing extra profits at our expense ---

ISSUE --if you sell ANY non-active part that has a rebate on that line -- you do NOT get the rebate ... this is a known problem for some time ... always promised to be fixed ... but what Bob tells me --the problem is still here,

How can you tell -- he suggests going to LISA ( see image ) and pick - say ECC and set some criteria
-how long --do back a month -or go back a year -- you pick
-select B/O buy outs -- for things not from stock
-select gross margin less than ...in our test we used 30%

How many parts --these are probably parts you did NOT have in your ACTIVE system -- and as such are parts you DID NOT get rebated .... if you sold a 2nd time -since the part has become an active part - your rebate will happen as it should --but you are OUT $$ from the non-active parts

Options - 1) send a bill for missing rebates ..run the list report - and claim your rebate

2) bitch - and why not suggest they DROP the rebates .... give us a NET price ....

3) call the help desk --and request they add every part in ECC -- they can do this ... once you add every part - you will NOT miss a rebate .... well..that is until next week when they add some more new parts to the warehouse data file .... FYI -- Bob has approx 3000 parts ( you can see how many you have - go to REPORTS>>> INVENTORY >> Inventory Cost Report ...preview ... our stores have over 4600 parts --- so our extra coverage resulted in us having fewer examples of missed rebates - but we still have them and will claim the missing rebate....

Good catch Bob

ONLINE HELP -- Better -- well .... not really

Talking with a good guy on the help desk - I like his knowledge and attitude -- he mentioned that the ON LINE HELP for Exploris has gotten better .... really ... gee ...he says it ...I trust his opinion .... REALLY ????

So I go and have a look ..... well ...the new version 50 Multi Store Editor stuff is here --- sort of ....

So --what do I expect of HELP ...

Existing - the data is OK -- juts NOT complete -- the example in Multi-store --explain just what in the hell is the sales history columns marked P HIST 1 ...thru P HIST 8 ???

Example - are field selections set -- effect just this terminal or all terminals for THIS store -- or ALL TERMINALS for ALL STORES?

Example -- you can Save settings -- can you name them ? Load Settings -- Load what ? From where ?

====================================================================

But --really the HUGE glaring HOLE in HELP DATA --is that we do NOT have HELP SPECIFIC data --- one would expect to click on the P HIST 1 and hit the help key ( F1) and get JUST the INFO for that button - where is the thinking -- you could REALLY cut down on the amount of phone calls to the help desk .... gee ... this is a complex system -- and the lack of specific help on a specific button doesn't help ...

IMHO -- Greg H

Menu Security - just like a visit to the Dentist

Yep - talking about the security levels ranks right up there with enjoyable things list - like the visit to the Dentist ... If you are a mutli-store -- it is hoped that certain 'problems' solved at one store can be SHARED with other stores ... economies of scale ... but we are fighting two battles - the I am too busy ... and the I don't know how .... issues ....

Ran across something the other day where we encourage staff to set stock levels on parts they think we should have ( you can argue this point both ways ... but ) -- so I suggested they use the MULTI-STORE EDITOR to set levels for all of our 3 stores .... only to find out the multi-store program has an EXTREMELY HI security level .... and the few times that staff member did it --he 'borrowed someones password ... that is an other problem we have to address

Called the help desk -limited help ... in fact we are still awaiting the final call back. So I searched thru the address book --and came across this name - Dan Kelly -- he was a BTM ( you know - the smart guys who did the installs - then GPI fired 99% of them - wasting all that knowledge in an attempt to 'run lean' ...I had written a note that a friend ( Mike Washington ) from Ohio told me about Dan - and we have an Excel spreadsheet on how the menu programs RATE for security ... it is just not to date - we are missing the few multi-store bones thrown us on version 50 .... sent Dan an e-mail .... Hi -- still with GPI ???

Got htis answer back from Mark Atkinson .... Dan Kelly forwarded me your email about security and how it relates to the Multi-store Part Creator Editor. We discussed and agree with you. Dan has edited your database to allow Level 2 security access to the MSPCE. We will update the base security plans and they will be sent out to all independents with the next update.

So --the next question I ask -- how can we give Multi Store editor a level 2 -- BUT -- and a BIG BUT -- how can we keep the Multi-store MASS UPDATE a level 1 security level ... gee ...even I don;t like to use the mass update ( smile )

Stay tuned ... getting Exploris better one step at a time

Case Solved

Checking the SHOW UNAPPILED(located in the A/R and close options, store settings) off is apparently not suppose to affect how the customer statement prints but hmmmm heard that one before. So should know January 3rd as to whether or not this is actually fully solved.

SOLVED --- more details to follow

These posts ---

http://carquest-exploris.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-to-make-ar-collection-one-little.htm


http://carquest-exploris.blogspot.com/2010/12/ar-collection.html

Resulted in a series of e-mails & calls between Raleigh and Rhonda in our office--- Rhonda will be submitting details in a day or so - but bottom line-- a little known option hidden somewhere in the maze of options --solves our problem ... and probably yours -- so if you have un-applied credits and were told there was nothing you could do - stay tuned ....

We have to thank help desk people like Randy M who listened and understood our problem -- and got lucky somehow and found the problem --

Update -- talking with Bob at Walker Rd -- he figured this out ( but didn't tell us (smile)) -- Moe had one store set each way .. hmmm ?

=================== update Dec 22 ==================

Rhonda busy -the bottom line --if you have SHOW UNAPPLIED as checked --then the credits apply in the unapplied bucket --if you uncheck this --then LIFE IS GOOD and the credits fall into the aging buckets where they below -and it makes life so much easier for staff to figure out what the heck is happening with any given customer -- this is ( or was --until we pushed the issue ) a seldom understood or known fact ....

Duplicated Orders

We have been having an issue with X-Line orders getting duplicated. I found that we missed a step when setting up the vendor profiles in the purchase order screen. Make sure that you check off "ORDER PROTECTION". After you create a P.O. and FINALIZE it, it will not reorder if it is on order already.

Does anyone REALLY CARE about e-cat and what our customers see ?

at time sit is very frustrating to deal with CARQUEST staff in Toronto - we keep showing them examples of JUNK in our e-cat and request they WEED OUT the junk --to make the e-cat experience better for our customers... right now we are reviewing e-mails sent in JULY and AUG of this year --and are finding lots of examples of INACTION

When you do not put the customer first -- we are going to get a real shit-kicking some day -- the customer doesn't want to wade thru endless entries to see the part he wants -- flush out the JUNK

Of course -- we FORWARD these e-mails back the same people ( Pete McNally Glenn Schaefer etc ) --wehn you forward e-mail you can clearly see the ORIGINAL SEND DATE.

Someone has to start listening ...don't they ?

The image is an example of the OBSOLETE RED LINE of brake shoes --- long since flushed out of everyones system.

For the eagle eyed person - you will notice an X line (non CARQUEST) part that shows up in e-cat ... you have to do what you have to do ...the customer is the boss.

HST issues on EXPLORIS

HST is the combined federal and provincial sales tax that Ontario and a few other provinces have. While some American's can say - who cares - it is not our problem - it will not belong before USA adds a VALUE ADDED TAX ( VAT ) to help pay for their debts.

Problem -- when an account has some cash sales - say a mechanic that works there -- and wants it on their account but pays cash - the accumulated HST shows up on the statement. You can argue this problem BOTH WAYS - so what Exploris users need is a control option - to include or exclude cash sales HST tax from the statement tax total.

No one said making a computer system was easy ....

Test you speed

There are a great many TEST YOUR SPPED sites on the internet - here are some


http://reviews.cnet.com/internet-speed-test/

http://myspeed.visualware.com/index.php may require a free account

http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

http://speedtest.cogeco.net/ tests anyone's connection - connected to DSL Reports - a great site

http://www.dslreports.com/speedtest a wealth of info on this site

At our #1 store we are supposed to have 6meg down and 800k up --we found when we ran the above tests on 12-14-2010 at noon time we could get in the range of 3.3 meg down and 420k up .. So what do you do with htis in--well-- on really slow times on your internet -- pop a test and see ... tarck your results --and call your provider and ...well ...see if bitching helps

A/R Collection

Further to the post that Greg did, the aging for the accounts shows correctly when you are in the ROA payment screen. The pending credits are applied to the correct aging period and don't show as a separate bucket. The original post regarding this back on June 14th shows a screen shot of a customer account aging from the customer file, I have reproduced that screen shot here and also the screen shot that shows the correct aging for the account from the ROA screen. If we could have the information from the ROA screen to print on the reports it would make life much easier for everyone. In this particular example the unapplied credit should be applied to the over 90 aging bucket as it was created in that age period. On the aging report this customer would show up as being overdue when in reality he is in a credit position.

How to make A/R collection one little bit easier ?

In 2005 ( or there about ) I wrote a memo to others on the Exploris Committee reminding them that the JV stores strip the A/R data out of Exploris and use Oracle. So --if we wanted updated and IMPROVED FEATURES -- the associate jobber could not ride on the JV side's coat tails - we had to ask for what we need ... well ... 5 years latter -- we have very little to show to improvements in ways to COLLECT overdue A/R any easier.

I wrote this .... click here in the summer on unapplied credits ..... well --this issue still exists .... look at the image -- the problem really exists for OPEN ITEM accounts -- if we could ONLY get the CREDITS PENDING bucket to be properly applied to the right aged bucket -- boy would life as we know it be better.

QUESTION - why does Exploris ( Whi NexPart ) bother to use this CHEAP CATCH ALL bucket when the applying to the correct aged bucket would be SSSOOOO MMMUUUCCCHHH BETTER !!

Change the SORT option -- maybe not quite ready for PRIME TIME

Wonder about the options for sorting - this is set in the VENDOR>>LINE>>LINE ENTRY - see images ....

So wondering about the options --for we like most jobbers have not really 'played' with options ... but one line comes to mind - FRICTION -- where the base of the number really tells a story

We sure got confused --as we EXPECT that once you change the option-- one could go to a report and SEE the difference - guess again. The only spot we can see the difference is on the pull down list of parts in F-8 Main Part Entry screen ....

BUT -- WAIT -- had the wild card ( % sign ) be set up this could have been a handy feature --want to see how many flavors of 673 pads you keep ? .... go %673 --and .... well --in theory anyways .... too bad in practice you have hit the scroll button --- again -and again - and again( report for 35 more times - you get the idea )

Once the key staff understand the limitations of this experiment - we will probably go back to the normal -- and wait 5 more years for something

Missing Enviro Tax codes -- is no longer CUTE

Ryan is seeing RED these days after repeatedly contacting CARQUEST Toronto to get the missing Enviro Tax codes to be added to things like Oil Filters and Oil

What can take CARQUEST so long to figure out how to add the data to the required parts .... so without this data - we have to PAY the tax -- but can NOT collect the tax from our customer .... really smart - eh?

Looking at a LONG e-mail where at one date is April of 2010 .... holly cow ... and we are in Dec --and it is still broken ....

LACK of WILD CARD searches - hinders staff

Just one more log on the fire - LACK of WILD CARD searches in various screens .... sur e- it is on the point of sale screen -=- WHI can't be that dumb ... but they are lacking a wild card search on the inventory look up screen .... the F-8 screen .... WTF ?

Here is our problem - in Canada we have access to Keystone Speed & Custom - and they use a vendor code and the vendors part number ... for example Mr Gasket is G12 -- so most parts (not al parts) would be KST G12 150 = small block chev header gasket. I say NOT all parts --as for some ungodly reason they have added approx 300 top sellers without the supplier code to make it easier for the warehouse staff to pick -- BUT __ WAIT --that means we have a harder time at the stores ... as we can have BOTH parts ( see images to prove ) -- and that means we have a TERRIBLE TIME trying to get the 'right people' to get us e-cat for lines like Mr Gasket or K-N Filters -- but I digress ---

Here is our problem with the LACK OF WILD CARD search in F-8 Main Part lookup screen -- we order parts and whjen we get the invoice we do NOT have the vendor code -- that to a combination of ??? between Keystone & CQ Toronto .... so we need t know what invoice matches to what physical order .... if we had a wild card -- we could search for the base number in out system to see what line it really is ... too bad -- as EXPLORIS ( NexPart by WHI ) didn't think we needed that option .... yep -- thanks for the incomplete system we have .... we called this in as #1425943 and asked them to write it up as an enhancement request - and now we wait --for 3-5 years ..... not quite sure if we will ever get this common sense tool.

PS --wild card searches in Exploris us a '%' sign .... and are generally limited to the STSRT of the part # --- so in general the whole wild card search is pretty lame -- what happens when a customer prints in a bill his DOG ate - and you can only see the first 4 digits of a part # -- you should be able to IMBED a wild card or use the wild card at the end of the known sequence ... this system has a LONG WAY to go before it is really a jobber friendly system ... for our every day usage.

SO --you got it --what do you do with it ?

Once you have all your data in Excel- we like to look for parts that are REPLACED BY something else- and see what action we need to take or let time & gravity do the job

Each store manager has to know --if he cleans up the OLD PART now - then it stops showing up on future reports -- hint .. each store has approx $5000 in inventory that has something else it has been replaced by ....

Data Dumps in EXPLORIS - not for the faint of heart

We have started to play around with getting the data OUT of EXPLORIS ( NexPart by WHI ) and into Excel. There are many things you can do with the data in excel that you can not do in standard reports ..... for example I just noticed that each of our 3 stores has approx 300 sku's of parts that do NOT have data in the PN Code ( sub line ) .... gee ... that could have been eliminated with better programing - do NOT allow this field to be BLANK when you write up a new part ( as one example )

Anyways - I finally got the ENTIRE dump to come thru without CRASHING EXPLORIS ( see image ) -t takes 13,682 pages of a report ( 3 stores ) and copies to Excel (data only)

Once you start working the data -- you file sizes drop-- we had approx 100mb file with 8 sheets ( as older excel stop at 65,000 rows ) --then copied and pasted into one sheet ...saved as newer version .XLSX and file size drops to 31 mb ...along the way re trashed the JUNK they also put into the report ( like the total of every part for every line ) and dropped the over 500,000 lines in excel to 375,000 lines ( each store has 1/3 of this - we started with 42,000 good parts when we went to EXPLORIS and quickly inherited another approx 80,000 of JUNK ????? WTF .... and these junk lines can not be deleted ... we tried a few in the ABA line as it pops up first ( ABA is Exide ....from 100 years ago ??? since we use BAT by East Penn )

The next time we try this and EXPLORIS CRASHES --- damm -- but at least we got this report out .....

It never rains -- it pours .... more info on INVOICE OPTIONS

Working on exporting data from REPORTS >> FINANCIAL >> LINE CODE SALES/PURCHASES ... it is a fairly easy way to get data into Excel --- what a large report ... looking at what the report if telling us ... talking with Bob from Windsor and he asks GREAT questions -- like 'what is your LOST SALES data look like ...' ... and I sheepishly say --well - we have never been strong at pushing staff to record a lost sale ....

HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS ... guess what he says next .... ' well - you know there is a option to record a lost sale AUTOMATICALLY when you source something then drop the item from the invoice' .... whoo .... I have liked this idea --similar to what Worldpac does --every 4 times you look up a part ( but do not buy ) they count that as a lot sale .... well ..this is a seemly good idea ...so lets figure out where this option is ....

Call Help Desk - ask - they have never heard of it ( real popular ? ) --- Get a call back -- found it .... OMG --yet another item in INVOICE OPTIONS -- the last 5 posts are all about STUFF we find of use that has been ignored in INVOICE OPTIONS .... see the image -- that is what you turn on .... will need all staff to exit and log out for the data to get updated ... no big rush -- will not really get valid data for several months while this new option starts generating data ( we hope good info --Bob from Windsor likes it ...

Yet one more example of good stuff that doesn't get mentioned except in passing from one smart user to one semi-smart user trying hard to get smarter .... sure seems like a waste of talent at the way ( or lack thereof ) the help desk and bosses have no plan to push us a bone of knowledge every once in a while ....

Update - sort of - on Nex Gen descriptions

The Last Post ( just below this one - or click here for link ) was showing how we found the way to put the better description on the invoice from a NexGen e-cat lookup .... the example we used was to better describe a part as 'Distributor Cap' and not "Engine Management" part

BUT WAIT -- you just knew this was coming ... we now have a POOR description for Activant e-cat sales ( for us that is 90% of our look ups as we await the NexGen to get better up here in Canada ) ..... WTF ?

So -- what have we learned ....
1) there is a warning that is on the top of the page = that all of us missed initially .... that is 4 Managers ... ....see the image with this post ....
2) somehow the best setting ( for our 3 stores anyways is the TOP BOX of the two shown in the last post --is CHECKED and the bottom on is not ( so CAT DESC ON SCREEN is checked and CAT DESC ON INVOICE is not checked ....) We have asked Theresa on the help desk to dig deeper and explain why .... but we seem to get the same old adequate descriptions we always had on Activant and we get the better descriptions as shown on the post ( click here and see image )

What complicated this - was once our store #3 got involved and un-clicked - then we asked the store#1 and #2 to confirm if they see the problem -- they are saying - what problem ,.. an interesting situation for a problem solver .... we are 80% thru this point ---we think .. unless some other unknown pops up

Take a break -- what in the heck is really going on ??

There is a fundamental problem with the way that GPI ( aka CARQUEST ) is managing the process of training and troubleshooting the EXPLORIS ( aka NexPart by WHI ).

The example in the TRIVIA post just below is a prime example ..... for Greg Guyitt ( who is an owner of a store! ) to see a problem -- but the only option might be a call to the help desk to ask - in his busy day - well - it didn't happen here .... in stead he mentioned it in passing to the writer. Now I have ownership of this issue -- is the POOR DESCRIPTIONS something we feel if worth some effort to explore and ??? see if there is a fix? Well - you bet.

The flaw is in the system -- most jobbers will ask their AE .... What we also need is a system that has a 2nd option --a message board ... ( click here for previous article on this --- the repeated requests for a message board go TOTALLY IGNORED from the HIGHEST PEOPLE at GPI - hard to get much higher than Joe Z !! )

How in the hell would anyone in their right mind --depend upon constant calls to the help desk to solve EVERY LITTLE THING ???? Where are the cost savings in that ? How do you train yourself ? By calling the help desk on everything you want to know ?? WTF !!

So - let this be a poster child for the need to more options to train & trouble shoot - in addition to the role the help desk can play ....

If you want to DUMP the descriptions that SUCK -- here is how -- courtesy of the help desk ( after they figured it out and called me back .... on with the storey

HOW top FIX AWKWARD descriptions ..... to go CONTROLS>STORE>INVOICE SETUP ( side point - been on system for 12 months and never been in this screen - been here LOTS today - see other issue for stupid default qty's also posted on blog - click here )

The two images - one shows the control panel and the TWO boxes to TURN OFF - the other iamge shows a BEFORE (on left ) and AFTER (on right) for the differences .... and the better description comes thru on the customer invoice --- neat eh ? You bet ... now re-read my rant at the top - how do we better train our stores --had I not heard this quick comment - we would still be in dark on this .... message boards work .... well-- with progressive thinking ( anyways )

Next point -- Hey Dane - how can we TRIM the redundant lines -* duplicated descriptions -- so we can get more parts to show on any one screen of data .... every line has a cost ....why should a distributor cap take 4 lines when 2 lines could work ??? for the description and other details ????????

Greg Henderson

ps- you can do the changes and close POS - you do NOT need to QUIT Exploris like we seem to have to for so many other changes.

Misc Trivia -

a quick update -- some internet reader was kind enough to remind us how to solve the WRONG PER CAR QTY the info is on the article and click the COmment to read his ( and perhaps leave one of your own - we verify before publishing to avoid spam on guys selling Rolex watches, etc ) This seems to work in POS and in Nex-Gen e-cat ..... and we think is specific for that TERMINAL - not a store setting ... but we are still experimenting and more time and more eye's to try will help ....

the other image we have here -- is CUTE --- did you know we have MULTIPLE descriptions .... you get one description when you see the part from the e-cat and another when you sell using the part number ... in this example ( sorry --came from a PC and not my Mac that runs Exploris - so it is smaller than normal - some setting in that Gadwin maybe ??? )

Point being -- our customers want to know it is a cap or rotor -- they get confused when it is all listed as 'CARQUEST Gold Engine Mgmt' ---what kind of part is that ??????? This point came from Greg Guyitt from Auto Barn who mentioned it in passing when looking at the first point ... and you were going to mention this when .... ( smile )

Now you know you can leave comments -- knock yourself out ....

examples of WRONG per car qty ?

click on the image -- you will see the description says "for 2 joint shaft " ...so Ken Niefer's question to me is -- why do we have the default selling qty set at 4 ?? Ken thinks he would rather have default qty set to 1 -- versus something that is WRONG

other image is brake shpes -- were system defaults to TWO SETS ... that is a handy way to boost sales ...and returns ...smile

How many examples of this can you find ??

why CONTROL your MCL file ?

Talking with Moe from Northern Ontario - a new competitor to Monroe on complete struts has finally arrived ( Raybestos series #717 & 727 complete struts )

For a long while we have complained on the un-competitiveness of KYB - either they don't ( or slow ) to make the sku or the price.

The attached image shows that when you have control of your MCL file ( Activant's name for the control file that sets up what liens display in what order ) - you can turn on the Raybestos data ... and be precise - so like us --we don't want ( or need ) the chassis - just the struts

Thanks Moe -- you changed my work load for today .... appreciate the info ( see CARQUEST Jobbers Message board for more data - requires log-in registration and 24 hr pause to get your account set up )

EXPLORIS as a Multi-store computer system ??

There are so many holes in EXPLORIS when you review it as a multi-store system -- gee ... you really don;t know where to begin.

One example -- want to remind staff that some stores may have a 2nd line for that particular 'widget' ....so you go to Inventory>Part Entry>Part Association ( a 3-1-7 had anyone numbered the menu's )

OK --you have done the job---good work --- but wait -- if you have 5 stores -- you have then manually change stores and do it all over again .... and again for store #3 ...and again for store #4 ...and again for store #5 .... almost makes you NOT want to make any changes ... even though such a change can help your stores staff ....

EXPLORIS is far from being a multi-store user friendly computer system ..... help ???

what makes SOURCING SO SSSLLLOOOOWWWWWWW ?

Ken at D&T reminds me on a regular basis -- why is SOURCING SO SLOW .... if you have 2 or more parts on the request.

Is it sloppy programing ?? The speed of sourcing is a MAJOR roadblock for our counter staff - how can we get this better .... well - one way is to post it here and hope we can shame WHI into doing a better job on their Nexpart Exploris.

Love to have someone on Nexpart ( the non-CARQUEST version ) comment on how quick or not their system is .....

Good tip -- on MOVEUPS -- for PO's

We have a unique issue in dealing with the Toronto DC --they HOLD moveup orders TOO LONG ...while they get a break to pull them ... because they take so long - we stared CANCELING our moveup PO's and letting the system grab them in the evening and we get them in 2 days.

A great person on the help desk mentioned a tip -- see Image -- we set the Adjust Forecast PO to 'select' and that will NOT generate a PO ...saving us the steps of canceling in 3 stores -- maybe this tip works for you - at least we offer it.

Since our profile for all 3 stores is only used in Moveups - this change effects nothing else. Be careful if you are a single store.

A sample case of COMPOUNDED DUMBNESS

Get a call from Pete at Petes Paint -- we have done the first of a regular series of data dumps - were we grab some the data in Exploris ( very limited on data due to really inadequate reports offered (see request for universal report writer) and dump into Excel and sort ... and sort ... and sort.

He was working on a list of part with ZERO sales in 12 months and came across a part - FP HP10000 ...and asked questions -- we had a look and we were baffled as well .. this is a movement code 4.2 - this should be a good or at least adequate seller ... so we call our favorite guys ( and we mean this ) at Raleigh in the classogram dept who set movement codes ... sure enough USA sells well ,,, but in Canada this part is a DUD ....

Why ? Well --lets have a closer look ..

1) the PN code ( sub line ) is set wrong - in Canada we have it as a 7 - Misc parts ( see image as proof -this will get changed asap I hope ) were as it should be in PN#6 - fuel pumps ...the billing schedule sets PN#7 at a HIGHER PRICE

2) CARQUEST Toronto is OVERCHARGING us compared to other warehouses in Canada -- theyare TOO SLOW to react to the ever changing US-Cdn dollar exchange rate (amoung other factors) -- ADD most pressure -- and a resulting HIGHER PRICE we charge

3) it sure looks like Delphi is RIPPING the Canadian Market off --see the example in the image from Amazon --they are selling this way below any price available in Canada .... add more fuel to the HIGHER PRICE ... Delphi should get a good swift kick in the ass for this ... notice we left ONE DIGIT of our COST showing ... it is a number two ... ouch -- it needs to start with a number like ONE if we are going to sell this part ... come on Delphi - do you want us to single handedly pull your greedy ass out of bankruptcy ???

So -- if you stock a FP HP10000 in Canada -- you may not have sold many -- and the reasons are many -- but if you are in USA you are selling just fine -thank you ...

Everyone loves a good MYSTERY - right ?

A few days ago we ran into this problem for the first time - where the LINE CODE doesn't show ( see image ) on a part we think was manually created.

Well-- here is an example of a part that we think was created from a MOVE-UP ...part PLB K7B1 --and this problem is ONLY in our store #3 --store #1 and store #2 are OK.

Problem is - the help desk doesn't know how to fix it .... stay tuned -- more to come ( we hope )

PS --the 'SLN' column is set to be dropped in an upcoming release -- unsure what it does

Can't TRACK Worldpac sku's in EXPLORIS ?

Ryan & Ken were talking about the problems in finding data in LISA ( Line Item Sales Analysis ) for Worldpac ( WPC ) parts ... ??? Does anyone out there know why ?

We are testing same issues for PATI and Parts Ledger

See Images -- the part shows when you ask for all WPC parts but doesn't show when you ask for just that part ... hey ... that kills the trust in the system just a bit, eh?

Click on images to enlarge them

Late News Flash -- PATI & Parts Ledger also broken in the same test using WPC ......

Scary things happen AFTER Halloween , too !

Yep- just because Halloween is over -- doesn't mean SCARY THINGS stop happening in EXPLORIS ( Nexpart by WHI )

Any one have any idea's how we added a part # and the line code didn't take ?? Click on the image - the part has some OLD identifier -- whatever SLN refers to ( help desk this SLN column will be taken out in some future release )

When we heard that the help desk could not FIX this problem - we asked that it be sent to the programers ...since there was no release date for the update to remove the SLN column ( and at that time any BLANK LINE would copy the data from SLN - we are told )

See -- scary things happen year round in Exploris ... not just at Halloween....

EXPLORIS(n): overly complex yet lacking

My new definition of EXPLORIS --- overly COMPLEX yet lacking so many functions.

Have a look at this - what way do you have set up in our store? These images come from F8 Main Part Entry screen ... and deal with the differences between Price Field 6 Cost and Price Field 8 Cur Cost .... Bob Miller's (Walker Rd Auto - Windsor ON and one of the smartest users of Exploris I know ) system has PF#6 shown -- and this causes him to have to manually ADD the PF#8 data --so his end of day gross margins are calculated ( otherwise you make 100% GM )

Boy -- this PF6 and PF8 is confusing --especially if you want to run a report and LOOK for all parts where you are missing a PF6 &/or PF8. To the best of our knowledge the ONLY report that will show this is a 6 1 2 5 report ( had the menus been numbered like J-Con -- so the rest of us it is a Cust > Acct > Acct Pricing > Customer Pricing Sheet ... here you can add the PF#6 and the PF#8 data ( on bottom right of screen ) .... but ... wait ... too bad that T3 has BANNED us from exporting this data to Excel --- so scratch that idea for a way to 'dump the data' and look for part sku's missing data in PF#6 &/or PF#8 ....

Just want PF#8 --you can dump that data.... it is a scary list full of problems -- wonder what a list of missing PF#6 data would look like should I be able to get it ??

In summary -- if your store shows PF#6 in your Main Part Entry Screen(F8) --you want to call the help desk and get it changed for the CUR COST(pf#8) and you will save yourself a LOT OF TROUBLE .....just as Bob

EXPLORIS - who is it good for ?

There are more signs that Exploris ( Nexpart by WHI ) is not a jobber friendly system - that this example --

HOW do you know if a part in the F-8 Main Part Entry screen is currently on Promo ?? Such a simple question... the old J-Con system would flag the part so we know -- but -- the Exploris system -- gee -- that would be common sense -- something that must be an optional item that we didn't get.

You see the promo on POS Invoice - or in the pricing plan set up ( Customer>Accounts>Acct pricing ( if you know how it was set up ?? otherwise it can be confusing ) ... but something as simple as showing us the NORMAL COST and the SALE PERIOD COST ...that would be far too customer friendly .... for this system.

One can only hope - but somehow I don't hold much chance for this improvement to EVER happen.

Dumping the Whole Inventory Report - part 2

I had written this piece ( Click Here ) about how to dump the inventory file - after being prompted to get off my ass and do it by a fellow CQ Jobber ( and excel geek ) - Bob Miller.

Holly Cow -- for as good as I thought I was - this is taxing my abilities

GROUPING ... had never run across GROUPED sheets in Excel -- hint - you will need to know - google it

FAST WAY to CHANGE TEXT to NUMBERS - since I have an older copy than Bob--the easiest way ( until I Get Office 11/Mac that was just announced) is to copy a cell with a 1 ( digit of one ) and paste special "Multiply Only" --something else I had never done before - but after wasting an hour -I now know to paste just the 125,000 rows - or remember to flush out the excess data from rows 125,000 thru 1,040,000 .... if you have a really old version you may be limited to 125,000 or 62,000 rows --time to upgrade.

Once we have it right - and tweeked the way - well you can sort to the cows come home - and see all sorts of patterns and issues ... like how much do you have in Mvt code 4 that you have NEVER sold .... or how much have you sold in Mvt Code 7 - that maybe you better up the stock level ... etc etc

This exercise is not the newbie in Excel - start with the smaller stuff - but geeks will like this - and will tax their abilities ( well - it does for me anyways )

To DASH or not to DASH -- that is the QUESTION

Ever since we heard that DASHES matter ( most systems treat a dash as a transparent item - more for cosmetics to make thing look pretty -- but oh no --NOT EXPLORIS )

Ever wonder what happens if you added a part without a DASH -- the images show part that was entered by someone at one of the stores .... and the result AFTER we imported the full line of data ... well ..at least it didn't DUPLICATE the part # ( well-for this one test anyways )

Any other CARQUEST Jobbers have any experience with the damm dash ... ?