DFIU - adding X line data to Exploris - update

For a while ( do a search on X lines or similar to see posts that go back to 2008 ) we have been working on X line data in our Exploris.

Here is an interesting problem - thank we have the answer ... in Excel - make sure your prices are always set to TWO DECIMAL PLACES .... the DFIU seems to count digits and ignores any decimal point .... here are example .....

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The above image shows the part with cost filed as 3.9 ... would have thought that was OK ... but WRONG -- see how the price comes into the system as .39 cents .....

Short answer ( after an hours of calling and looking ) ...make sure your price fields are TWO DECIMAL PLACES

Call # 1838963

How to CRASH your EXPLORIS Terminal 101

Shawn at Auto Barn has been outspoken on why he dislikes being stuck with the 'MASTER TERMINAL' on his PC ....

He has this tip -- source an order in your Invoice Screen at the same time a Web-Link order is coming thru --and you CRASH your MASTER Terminal.

Sure hope someone reads this from Raleigh and finally gets this fixed .... and click here for more on MASTER TERMINAL BS

Note - Master terminal is the one hat handles WEB-LINK orders and holds data when internet is off line.

This is call # 1834323

#1833217 - Smart Sourcing by Time of Day

Here is our formal request on call # 1833217 called in today ... we need SMART SOURCING -- based upon the time of day ....

Example - at present our store #8315 will do the following on parts required on a web-link order:

- #1 look at sister store #8316

- #2 then look at Windsor super store #1780

- #3 then look at Toronto DC

This works fine for any order placed PRIOR to noon -- we have a daily shuttle from the super store -- but sucks on any order in the afternoon -- no shuttle - so parts would not be here for first thing in the next day .... as a result of this the store MUST do the following:

- #1 call super store and have them cancel the order ( estimate time for all concerned 10 minutes )

-#2 manually adjust quantity on hand to offset automatic posting for parts ( estimate time 5 minutes )

-#3 Re-Order from Toronto DC ( estimate time 3 minutes

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

TOTAL wasted Time -- 18 minutes of manpower on EVERY order thru Web-link received in the afternoon

SOLUTION -- have an option for ANY sourced location to select the times to be valid ( or in-valid - as the case may be -- and skip to the next option )

If stores don't need - they keep default setting - but for stores with a shuttle - they now have a common sense option ....

Note --IF we didn't cancel the superstore order - the part would not show up until early afternoon the next day - by ordering from the DC we get it for first thing the next day ....

Exploris needs this kind of flexibility to match what Jobber stores actually do ..... we had asked for this - a year ago - but this never got on the blog -- now it is official -- let the clock begin .... lets see how many years it takes to get this request .... any side bets ??

Image from Herman Cartoons

Master Terminal - what a piece of crap .....

MASTER TERMINAL (noun) ... the terminal that handles updates - holds off-line data if Internet goes down and handles Web-Link orders ... also know for EXCESSIVE delays and pauses which if you are the person who uses this terminal - drives you crazy ....

CARQUEST solution -- instead of checking every minute for web-link orders - set to 5 minutes ...( done in PC SETUP>>SET BKGRD PROCESS ) ...oh what a wonderful option ... telling our best customers -- sure - do that order thru the internet - we will wait 5 minutes before we print it ...

OUR Solution -- shot the stupid bastards that wrote this code - then hire programers that can write efficient code that doesn't pause & freeze the master terminal.

Until then -we will have to BUY another terminal for each store and set it up as a MASTER -- ensuring that it is always the FIRST one up and the last one down ... to handle all the items that a master must do ...

That nagging idea that INTERCHANGE is buggered up ?

Ryan had asked me some questions on INTERCHANGE ... and it has made me wonder if we have more or a problem that we understand ....

In the past few days :

-no interchange on a Toyota starter - but our suppliers have the data interchange on their web site ( see post from a few days ago )

- Ryan has been active - pointing out a simple thing like INTERCHANGE from the older long NGK part number to the newer short number is missing .... of course when he reported it - he had to mention that both Amazon and RockAuto.com ( his personal favourite e-cat ) had it right

- National oil seal wasn't tagged as a Primary line ( for just that part # ?? ) - in process to be corrected

How much time do we have to look and form an opinion on the INTERCHANGE ... but a great INTERCHANGE is so important ... please keep reporting INTERCHANGE problems and we will get it right ....

Note --the image shown -- wondering out loud why we have so many plugs that don't PRICE ( showing as NIF = not in file ) ...of course the obvious missing data is the NGK plug(s)

CENSORED ALL LINES will cost YOU $ales ....

All Lines - means ALL Lines -- and so long as the Sales dept at CARQUEST can censor the list of lines we see in ALL LINES --it will cost us sales ....

Here is example reported by Ryan at D&T ( thanks for sharing this Ryan ) ... 2002 Dodge Dakota for rear sway bar bushing ... no listing and remember that Raybestos Chassis is censored from the 'normal' all lines list that 99% of stores see ... since we have the TRUE ALL LINES turned back on -- we can see the Raybestos listing and know it is 545-1108 that we need to give the best customer satisfaction ... read the following from the bottom us - the bottom is copy of the PRS report ( we are one of a few Cdn jobbers with PRS were we GET feedback on problems ) ... the second is a reply to Brian Wiggs saying the problem wasn't corrected .... and of course the top is my reply to several 'big'wig's mainly in the sales dept .... to rub salt into the wound ... it is their dumb move that is causing this problem ....

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

From: Greg Henderson

Date: August 24, 2011 8:02:40 AM EDT

To: Steve Gushie , Mike Allen , David McCartney , Mike Broderick

Cc: Brian Taylor , Glenn Schaefer , Tim Folks

Subject: LOST SALES due to censored ALL LINES -- was Fwd: Product Resolution Update

Hello Guys

Just to remind you -- in this example a customer walks into any CQ store and tries to buy a rear sway bar bushing for 2002 Dodge Dakota .... no listing shown in PCH ... hmm .... you loose the sale .....

BUT --wait -=- had the ALL LINES actually been ALL LINES the staff member could have double checked Raybestos and found the part as 545=1108 and you know what - he could have salvaged that sale ....

REMINDER -- since our stores have gotten the TRUE ALL LINES back ... we can help spot these problems and report them mush better .... all stores need the TRUE ALL LINES back on .... not this censored list of lines currently offered.

It is a shame that the e-cat staff suffer for the political actions of the sales dept in this censorship.

Regards

Greg Henderson

8315 8316 8317

Begin forwarded message:

From: Ryan Sheeler <sales at dtauto.ca>

Date: August 23, 2011 12:47:27 PM EDT

To: brian.wiggs at gpi.com

Cc: Gerry.Leaman@carquest.com, Greg HENDERSON <Greg.Henderson at wrenchead.ca>

Subject: Fwd: Product Resolution Update

Brian;

Please look into this PRS on a catalog omission issue. Either I am not being clear or the PRS staff are way too busy to properly address the high volume of GenII catalog issues. I think that Chris missed the mark on this response. This item IS available in Raybestos it is 545-1108.

Thank you in advance;

Ryan Sheeler
D&T Auto Parts

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	Product Resolution Update
Date:	Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:00:31 -0400
From:	Product Resolution System
To:	sales at dtauto.ca

         Thank you for using the Product Resolution System.          An action has been taken on Production Resolution ID #34930.  Action:  Discrepancy Closed  Discrepancy Type:  "Quality"   Issue Description:  "I can't seem to find a PCH listing on a rear sway bar frame mount bushing 16mm or 5/8 diameter in the GenII catalog.  I did find a RCH-RK3160 listed but it is available in both lines.  Please correct.  Hint: Moog does have a listing in "ALL LINES".Thanks"    Mfg Code  -  Part Number:  "PCH"  -  "%partNumber%" Vehicle Year  -  Make  -  Model:  "2002"  -  "Dodge"  -  "Dakota"    Please click the link below to view the full details of this submission.  http://extranet.carquest.com/Discrepancy/viewDetail.htm?discId=34930  This discrepancy has been closed today 

ALL LINES INTERCHANGE ... how good is it since the PLURGE ?

less than 30 days ago we had a POLITICAL purge of most of the X lines ( non-CARQUEST ) lines --- after a long fight our 3 stores have it back to where it was before the Sales Dept got involved ... so now we are wondering what has happened to INTERCHANGE ....

Was INTERCHANGE gutted as well ? Ryan was using interchange for an industrial Toyota starter -- no e-cat here -- and found NO DATA ( see images ) --- I also verified that Wilson ( WIL line in Canada - a sister company to WRE - part of Biggler Bros with much better industrial coverage than WRE )

So -- we have been told to cal this in thru help desk ( call # 1817268 ) and image sent ( despite call desk saying - 'we can't give our our e-mail addresses' ... wtf ... )

ADDITIONAL DATA --- note from Tim Folks -- added 10:57 am Monday

Interchange support in the CARQUEST Catalog has been unchanged for months.

You have the same lines in "All Lines Interchange" today that you had two
months ago. --
Tim Folks
Director, Catalog

So - who knows about SCANNERS ... ??

Received this e-mail from a CARQUEST Jobber on question on scanners .....

From: xxxxxxxxxx@aol.com

Subject: exploris

Date: 18 August, 2011 12:33:50 PM EDT

To: info-at-dtauto.ca

I have been reading the exploris blog for some time and feel it is time for me to comment. I have been in the parts business since 1963 starting at a GM dealer and purchasing and owning my own store since 1973. I have been a Carquest jobber six plus years being independent up to that point. My store is beginning the transition of second generation of total operation with my son who has been in the business most of his thirty plus years of age. XXXXX my son has degrees in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration. He has solved several issues that exploris could not.

My issue with Exploris is scanners. I have been promised scanners for use in checking in parts at receiving and shipping for over two years and and just getting lip service to placate me.

Looking forward to your reply

Name Removed by Greg H

We - scanners is something I have not paid that much attention to for a while... back in 2006 CQ rolled out their new scanner program for the DC's - but Toronto DC got their's late ( ? ) and been on it a year or 2 ...we still find enough problems we randomly check in all stores ...

The write makes a good point -from what I have read the BEST payback for scanners is to use then in the shipping receiving area .... they give more payback than at the check-out area ... but checkout scanners are still a productivity tool as well.

SLOW just seems to be the word for anything being rolled out -and when you wait for something ( like out waiting for the universal report writer option as our pet project ) it is downright painful.

Appreciate any comments on your view or background with scanners .... e-mail to info at dtauto dot ca or use comment section here ( all comments are pre-screened to avoid the goofballs who write in to sell their crap )

What does ALL LINES look like - part #1

Look up 2002 Chev Cavalier and see how many screens of ALL LINE suppliers you get .... for tie rod end application -- who knows when you may need one and this could save a customer ....

ALL LINES means ALL LINES ....

What does ALL LINES look like .... Part #2

If you look up 2002 Chev Cavalier for tie rod ends ... here is what ALL LINES looks like -- 10 screens of mfg data .... checks and Bob at Walker Rd, Windsor has one screen .... it seems I am limited to importing 5 images at one time -- here are bottom 5 ....

Push coming to Shove .... all about missing ALL LINES

From: Greg Henderson

Date: August 17, 2011 8:56:19 AM EDT

To: Glenn Schaefer

Cc: Steve Gushie , Normand Delisle , Greg Thomas , Ryan Sheeler , Pete Heinrichs , Greg Guyitt , Rhonda Niefer , David McCartney , Tim Folks

Subject: URGENT -- please turn ACTIVANT E-Cat back on for 8315 8316 8317

Hello Glenn

I have confirmation that the USA Jobber are quoted $60/month for Activant and we expect the SAME deal .... so PLEASE turn Activant E-Cat back on asap for our 3 stores.

We can consider other options once ALL LINES have been resorted to the Gen-2 E-Cat.

Your most prompt attention to this is appreciated.


Regards

Greg Henderson

ALL LINES -- means ALL LINES ..... update #2

The dust is settling and we are finding out that some sales staff at CARQUEST have taken 'stupid pills' and are making extremely BAD DECISIONS in rapid succession on the -- now political issue of stripping ALL LINES out of the Gen-2 E-Cat!

Calling the IT powers in Raleigh they tell us that the SALES DEPT has control on what lines are 'approvied' for inclusion into ALL LINES .... and that the 90% of the reduction in all lines showing is their efforts to throttle our ability to SEE the data. In fact - they seem more concerned on what lines we will SELL ( by adding X line data into

Exploris ) .... they are forgetting the BIGGEST AID to counter

staff in solving an e-cat look upproblem ... the ability to see how OTHER SUPPLIERS handle the problem ....

Once the SALES DEPT -- clears a line - it quickly shows back up in ALL LINES .... example on this image of an e-mail received yesterday ..... showing us that a couple of lines we support in secondary pages have been re-added to ALL LINES XKF= SKF Hub Bearings ......... XRB= Raybestos Brake ........ XLF=Luberfiner Filters ....XTP =ATP Transmission Filters. They have the gaul top ask us to LIST the lines we want back in -- at which point we just get so mad ... all lines means all lines .... not a pre-selected list!

Examples of why counter staff need ALL LINES to help solve problems :

Here is example from a USA jobber - it was part of a larger e-mail - but the point is well made - without ALL LINES ( not just some lines deemed OK by whomever ) we will lose sales on problem applications .... ( click image to enlarge )

Example #2 -- look up U-Joints .... the Neapco applications have been historically poor and confusing. Our stores staff often refer to Precision paper cat ( diagrams help - just like in exhaust ) and we are surprised to see Precision EXCLUDED from the ALL LINES as of today.... try looking up a 1 ton chev truck for U-Joints .... We can add hundreds of examples - but I think by now you get the idea -- ALL LINES means ALL LINES and any Sales Dept should be more concerned on the damage they are doing to their reputation by having this attitude on what they will ALLOW

US to see .... this is right up there with their political decision to BAN our ability for jobbers to move Worldpac to the Primary Page if WE decide that is the best decision for OUR AREA ... when people decide for us ... get worried about what other freedoms we are in the process of loosing.

CARQUEST builds a reputation by doing things right --and when they make these bonehead decisions they are dropping back steps ... hello ... anyone home ??? ... this will make an excellent Harvard Business School case study some day .... on the wrong way to built relationships!

Comments welcomed.

#1801422 - Chronic problem - fixes are way TOO SLOW in being updated

Here is a good example of a SMALL PROBLEM that should be cleaned up -- April 2010 request for automated deletion of orders MORE than 60 days old --click here--

So we are approaching 18 months since this problem was spotted by us ... and remember we were one of the last jobbers to adopt Exploris ... so this was probably mentioned for years prior ?

Problem - if stores do NOT delete these old orders - then the system will NOT re-order the part .... since the warehouse ADIS computer system deletes their side of the order at 60 days .... make sure you understand this -- holding this order ENSURES you do NOT GET the part ... once the DC ADIS is flushed --it is important to RE-ORDER

Jobbers seems pretty poor at doing repetitive tasks ...and this is something that the computer should be set to automatically -- everyday ....

WHY does EXPLORIS ( Whi NexPart ) take so long to adapt and improve??????

Call # 1801422 --when will this improvement arrive .....

All lines -- means ALL LINES .....

Follow up to the MISSING data pulled from ALL LINES in E-Cat ,,, came across a screen capture for Activant showing the brake lines from F thru M ... you can see on the Gen-2 screen capture there are NO SUPPLIERS in the F thru M names ...

When a button is labeled ALL LINES -- one might expect it be be ALL LINES --not 'some lines'

NEWS FLASH -- been told by main person that SALES DEPT must OK the missing line and it can be turned back on immediately -- this is not a good way to get our support or loyalty ....

Anyone else have an opinion on this .....

What pisses you off the most on doing MOVE UPS ?? #1795015

Yeh - what is your biggest piss off on move ups ... well - lets note that from what I am told the average jobber has yett o learn how to do move ups -- so the 35% of jobbers that do it - what do you think ...

The Image has quite a lot going on-- have a look ... but call # 1795015 is to complain about how we WASTE space on left & right margins .... there is MORE data that there is space to display .... expand from 9 1/4 to nearly 11 1/2" (on my screen anyways) so I get see more and have to compress less

For the eagle eye --- notice the first part ( we have 3 stores that show underneath ) has a BUY QTY set to BLANK .... when we look this up on F-8 screen it is ZERO buy qty ... remember your math 020 and computer 101 -- division by ZERO is UNDEFINED and will crash computers .... so most order programs will take the QTY TO ORDER and divide by QTY IN PAC to see if all is well ...try this and divide by zero .... why does WHI allow a zero in buy qty ????

Other piss off's on the moveup screen
-the task of expanding the part for multi-store in manually checking the + sign to open up EVERY SINGLE PART ... no having a EXPAND ALL button .... WTF ....some goof balls here --try doing this for a large line like FRIction
-where is option to have a description - try doing a moveup on a retail line ....

For bonus points -- tell me why our store#2 shoes warehouse sales of 37 and store#1 &3 show sales of 0? How often does the IT dept UPDATE warehouse sales ???????????? I have asked this question -- awaiting a reply .... see the 37 I mention in upper right ... you would have column names if I didn't have to COMPRESS the columns so much ( point at top of post )

E-Cat tips & tricks - Rotor Spec's .... in Gen-2

at the recent staff meeting one member wished we had the spec's showing for rotors like he 'was used to in Activant' at the bottom of the e-cat page ... a couple of others quickly commented that the IMAGE has the spec's -- see pictures attached to this post .... If you find an image ( or a bunch of images ) required -- e-mail details to ED(dot)ROMANOSKI(at)GPI(dot)COM ( you post an e-mail name like this so spammers don;t harvest the e-mail and sends 100's of junk e-mails

E-Cat tips & Tricks - WALKER EXHAUST ( for Canada )

Recent staff meeting went around the table asking for question-problems-tips -- here is one for Exhaust Diagrams ... at our stores we have had PC's even with J-Con --so our staff are well familiar to going Walkers Web Site -- but there is an EASIER WAY with the Gen-2 E-Cat ... click on the Image button as shown at the TOP of the Exhaust page ...

---

Sure - old habits are hard to kick .... just a reminder .... especially if anyone remembers the images were at one point incorrectly linked to the USA side exhaust s

upplier - but ask and we get things fixed...

someone makes the decision for YOU to TRIM ALL LINES

After Activant was turned off as a e-cat option you will notice that we 'seem' to have fewer ALL LINES options in Gen-2 e-cat .... why?

Example - if staff have a problem looking up a part - good example is U-Joints ...and we can;t figure out the CQ-Neapco listing -- we would go to Precision ... well -- we don;t have Precision in ALL LINES ( see image )

After getting a letter from Steve Gushie listing all the reasons for the price INCREASE on our Exploris fees -- we are told that they can save some $$ by eliminating many of the ALL LINES from e-cat option ..... wtf ...... I for one expect to have EVERY MAJOR line of auto parts listed in ALL LINES .... case in point - Precision for U-Joints

just HOW SLOW is the MASTER TERMINAL - anyways

Have started a file on the problems with the terminal that is our MASTER TERMINAL and the slowdowns associated with this. in 3 stores we have 2 that a specific staff member use and these staff REALLY are annoyed on the pauses and slow down associated with their terminals.

Sometimes it is a web-link order being processed thru the internet - but other times we are just not sure what is causing the delays.

A couple of calls and e-mails and we are still awaiting some idea if there will be any solution in our lifetime. The problem is - the master terminal should NOT be showed in some back corner - it should have a set of eyeballs looking at it to ensure any problem gets handled in a timely manner = it s just that no one wants this as their work station.

Options & Ideas ??