a group of CARQUEST jobbers writing about good and poor things in Exploris - and how to make it better and more productive tool for the CARQUEST Auto Parts store. This is WHI's Nexpart computer system with a CARQUEST name
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Next-Gen E-Cat learning tips
The next gen e-cat is new for Cdn jobbers ( the USA have had it for some time ) - so this tip is for the newbies --it was posted on the CARQUEST JOBBER blog ( handy to check it out from time to time
Terrible catalog. If you value your time and sanity do NOT go to this catalog. It is slow and gives you error messages. Also, when you switch from the vehicle parts screen back to the invoice screen it doesn't keep the vehicle parts screen data, so you have to select the category again!! What a pain in the a** mainly because of the slow cataloging. That is something even the previous catalog couldn't do correctly. C'mon guys! If this was Microsoft or Google somebody would be canned.
I was just informed that Carquest bought this program from Autozone. These people are dumber than I made them out to be. Obviously you got snowed into thinking this was a good program. IDIOTS. FIRE SOMEBODY FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. Actually, this company has ex-Autozone people in their hierarchy, fire their asses because they just screwed everybody. If you can't deploy a practical system, DON'T.
I think you are wrong ( well - I know you are wrong ) the e-cat did NOT come from Autozone.
When GPI bought WPC - they were very impressed with their e-cat. Mike Helwig was the guru on WPC e-cat - they do a GREAT job ... of course it also helps that WPC is so focused on getting the parts FAST -- they really do live the motto - FIRST to MARKET. GPI --well - from a Cdn perspective --we suck --the uSA are faster than we are ...so you know how bad we are in Canada. I was on a committee in 2005-06 and meet Mike and discussed the Exploris issues and requests. Disclosure - it didn't take me long before I was the first and ONLY member to be fired from this steering committee. I wear that as a badge of courage.
Anyways --something happened - what they thought they could do and what they seem to be doing has changed ... and it seems to be a conflict with Exploris ( Nexpart from WHIsolutions.com ).
We live or die by our e-cat ... so I am as worried as you are. If you are a JV - I feel for you -- for our stores --we will see how we can 'hedge' our issues by getting optional e-cats.
We even find staff who use e-cats like rockauto to fill holes
I admit I have been given false info about the E-Cat unfortunately. But, Exploris is still a waste. It takes me over a minute on average from the time I pick up the phone to finally get to the parts screen (not joking). Imagine looking up the wrong year for a vehicle...now that minute turns into two, three, etc. In California I have customers that will not wait for that. WorldPac, Fast Undercar, Intex auto parts, Kragen, Autozone, Winchester Auto Parts and more are a stones throw away and can put parts in their hands in less than a half an hour on average. My accounts tell me my service is slow. Well, it was slow with the previous Exploris and slower with this new "downgrade". So yes, I am pissed off. I worked for a well known private store with respectable people and I was proud to wear my company logo. Not any more. We were very busy (200K /mo.) before Carquest bought us out. It's been about 2 1/2 years now and my accounts have almost disappeared. Not to mention I have never seen this many misboxed items during the 10 years working for the private company. My prices are high, my Exploris is slow, my DC sends ArmorAll, Gojo, Grease Cartriges, and even expensive gaskets in with brake rotors and rotating electrical so they get destroyed. So yes, again I am pissed. Let's get something clear Carquest bought my store and sunk it to the deepest abyss. But at least I have I have a job right........................
4 comments:
Terrible catalog. If you value your time and sanity do NOT go to this catalog. It is slow and gives you error messages. Also, when you switch from the vehicle parts screen back to the invoice screen it doesn't keep the vehicle parts screen data, so you have to select the category again!! What a pain in the a** mainly because of the slow cataloging. That is something even the previous catalog couldn't do correctly. C'mon guys! If this was Microsoft or Google somebody would be canned.
I was just informed that Carquest bought this program from Autozone. These people are dumber than I made them out to be. Obviously you got snowed into thinking this was a good program. IDIOTS. FIRE SOMEBODY FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. Actually, this company has ex-Autozone people in their hierarchy, fire their asses because they just screwed everybody. If you can't deploy a practical system, DON'T.
Hi 'Still Frustrated'
I think you are wrong ( well - I know you are wrong ) the e-cat did NOT come from Autozone.
When GPI bought WPC - they were very impressed with their e-cat. Mike Helwig was the guru on WPC e-cat - they do a GREAT job ... of course it also helps that WPC is so focused on getting the parts FAST -- they really do live the motto - FIRST to MARKET. GPI --well - from a Cdn perspective --we suck --the uSA are faster than we are ...so you know how bad we are in Canada. I was on a committee in 2005-06 and meet Mike and discussed the Exploris issues and requests. Disclosure - it didn't take me long before I was the first and ONLY member to be fired from this steering committee. I wear that as a badge of courage.
Anyways --something happened - what they thought they could do and what they seem to be doing has changed ... and it seems to be a conflict with Exploris ( Nexpart from WHIsolutions.com ).
We live or die by our e-cat ... so I am as worried as you are. If you are a JV - I feel for you -- for our stores --we will see how we can 'hedge' our issues by getting optional e-cats.
We even find staff who use e-cats like rockauto to fill holes
Greg
I admit I have been given false info about the E-Cat unfortunately. But, Exploris is still a waste. It takes me over a minute on average from the time I pick up the phone to finally get to the parts screen (not joking). Imagine looking up the wrong year for a vehicle...now that minute turns into two, three, etc. In California I have customers that will not wait for that. WorldPac, Fast Undercar, Intex auto parts, Kragen, Autozone, Winchester Auto Parts and more are a stones throw away and can put parts in their hands in less than a half an hour on average. My accounts tell me my service is slow. Well, it was slow with the previous Exploris and slower with this new "downgrade". So yes, I am pissed off. I worked for a well known private store with respectable people and I was proud to wear my company logo. Not any more. We were very busy (200K /mo.) before Carquest bought us out. It's been about 2 1/2 years now and my accounts have almost disappeared. Not to mention I have never seen this many misboxed items during the 10 years working for the private company. My prices are high, my Exploris is slow, my DC sends ArmorAll, Gojo, Grease Cartriges, and even expensive gaskets in with brake rotors and rotating electrical so they get destroyed. So yes, again I am pissed. Let's get something clear Carquest bought my store and sunk it to the deepest abyss. But at least I have I have a job right........................
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