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 ?

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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 .....