hardlines Digest Thu, 01 Jan 1998 00:01:55 -0500 V01 #27680 Today's topics: 'Re: New color cards' 'TRIAD Hidden Gem' 'Oops -- Hidden Option' 'Re: TRIAD Hidden Gem' 'EDCON 98 in Las Vegas' 'Cotter Insurance' 'Re: Toys For Tots' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27679' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 07:52:56 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Re: New color cards At 09:47 PM 12/30/97 -0500, Fred Logsdon wrote: > >You are absolutely right. There is no identification at all on the back of the >cards. > >Here is what they say: > >Quality Products Manufactured Exclusively for >Independent Hardware Stores, Home Centers and Lumber Yards. > At least they're not blank... the original production run had nothing. However, I think the corporate logos should be on the back. Otherwise, we're just handing out generic color cards. Or, we can stamp every card ourselves... John ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 08:13:03 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: TRIAD Hidden Gem Hi: Found a new function (after yelling, dancing and jumping with TRIAD and Chicagoland) in EFM-RPC Option L = Update list price with suggested retail. Nice!!!! This option tells us updates on retail if there is NO Cost changes on that SKU. EX:This weeks Ali Products have a retail change and not a cost change -- 102902,114058,144292....... Thanks to TRIAD for adding this option. Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 08:33:23 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Oops -- Hidden Option Hi: Forgot to mention -- if you like to use the option of L in EFM/RPC you gotta call TRIAD for a Patch!. Thanks Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 08:55:01 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Re: TRIAD Hidden Gem At 08:13 AM 12/31/97 -0500, Rick Schwartz wrote: >Hi: > >Found a new function (after yelling, dancing and jumping with TRIAD and >Chicagoland) in EFM-RPC Option L = Update list price with suggested retail. >Nice!!!! This option tells us updates on retail if there is NO Cost changes >on that SKU. EX:This weeks Ali Products have a retail change and not a cost >change -- 102902,114058,144292....... >Thanks to TRIAD for adding this option. > > This has probably been around since late Level 17...just not publicized. We use this all the time, so we can check TruServ retail against our's without going into CAT. John ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 09:06:32 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: EDCON 98 in Las Vegas Made my reservations for Las Vegas yesterday, so perhaps I'll see some of you folks at Edcon this February. FYI, I did some web searching for airline fares, using the Microsoft Expedia web site (http://expedia.msn.com). I found a round-trip fare for $286, over $100 less than anything McCord was able to find. They looked up the same flight numbers, but quoted me $405. I booked the trip via the web, and even got to point-and-click on a seating chart for all the flights (two heading west, and two on the return). Not only was this very cool, but it was also very informative. I'd recommend that you check out Expedia before you call a travel agent for your next trip. Even if the fares are comparable, you'll have info on available flights and times. I find that the agents don't always dig real deep into their systems to search for all the options, so doing a little research in advance can save some money and time. There are other sites in addition to Expedia, so if you've got something against M$ you can locate other resources. John ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Dec 97 09:08:18 edt From: "Kip" Subject: Cotter Insurance We have been a Cotter dealer for 25 years and haven't been able to buy our insurance from them once. Most of the time we don't even get a quote. The insurance industry right now is very competitive and it pays to get several quotes. You would be surprised how they will differ comparing apples to apples. I like to work with a local broker, someone I trust and who knows my business. He has been on the premises. For those of you in the east (NJ, PA, MD, DE), the EBMDA or Eastern Building Material Dealers Association has a good insurance program you should look into. You can buy the insurance through your broker or directly from the Association's broker. The Association's phone number is 800-296-3278 and ask for Ray or Harry. They can give you the details about the insurance program. For those of you in other parts of the country, check with your trade organizations. They usually have programs suited to your business. Kip Coleman Middle Atlantic Risk Management Board, EBMDA kip@hamiltonsupply.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 16:40:22 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Re: Toys For Tots In a message dated 97-12-31 14:17:50 EST, you write: << of paper and merchandise that we literally can't give away. Speaking of Toys for Tots...how did you guys do? We had two people who filled our drop off box. No one else bothered. It's very discouraging..... Sandie Fay Lamson & Davis >> Sandie: I was quite amused by this program this year. In the past, our response was 0. This year, however, quite a few donated. One even donated over 10 pieces. We even had several people buy toys for themselves and then buy an extra toy for the "box". Maybe the banner outside helped (we had one destroyed by the wind and TruServe sent us a replacement). Have a Terrific New Year Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 18:46:40 -0500 From: dconroy Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27679 Toys for Tots and the bicycles We've done Toys for Tots for two years..at least this year we didn't have to spend $150 for a big sign.... We delivered about four tote boxes full...down from last year. The coloring contest? one entry, one winner...sold one bike..hmmmm. and we carry toys..........sell skates.......have kids in the store all the time. We do get over a 10% return on the $5 gift certificate though. Proves you can give away money if you do it right Oh...we will do the Field of Dreams this year again... dan conroy G.M. Maskill True Value, Birmingham Mich. ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27680 ********************************** hardlines Digest Fri, 02 Jan 1998 00:03:17 -0500 V01 #27681 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27679' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27680' 'Reading Hardlines' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1998 11:44:51 EST From: GEM404 Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27679 From: Glenn : New market True Value, New market Virginia Re: Member Insurance We have tried to get QUOTES for 5 years. The rep has been by the store more than once, and has WASTED my time. We have yet to GET a quote. I have called headQ. twice to find out what the problem is. We have the health coverage, but we have found an a better one, and soon will be switching. It is sad that a program established to help and give us protection ignores and overcharges us. I feel the Member Insurance Program should be re-named to: Take Advantage of Members Program.... ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 01 Jan 1998 12:48:27 +0000 From: Wayne Youngblood Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27680 INSURANCE: We have used our Member Insurance for 20+ years and we think it to be very competitive. Different structures and different locations yield different rates of course, but we think our fire protection is really a bargain. For instance, we have one building insured for $800,000+ for under $800. The liability insurance has been increasing rapidly for many years and seems expensive - about $5,000+ on $3.8 Mil in sales. We've had very few claims, but did have a air conditioner compressor and phone system replaced for lightning damage once without a hitch. LUMBER MARKET: I'm heading to the Orlando Lumber market between Sun, Jan 4 and Sun, Jan 11, if anyone wants to get together there. I'm at the Peabody for the first 2 nights - then will find an affordable place! TOYS FOR TOTS: We're beginning to see a few late shoppers contribute toys to the box, and one customer emptied his trunk of about 4 sacks of toys from his garage but the others were probably bought in our store. We had a promotion of our own this in which we hung "the world's large Christmas stocking" (through TruServ at about $95) from the 13' ceiling, and we let kids sign up for 3 weeks. We drew one winner for the stockinga and then 10 winnders of $10 gift certificates. Each of the winners were asked to show up at one time to choose a $10 toy for themselves AND a $10 toy to contribute to the Toys for Tots. We contacted our paper, got a photographer and had a nice photo of about 6 of the winners on the ladder in the store (on the front page). We thought it went over reasonably well. We had 8 entries into our coloring contest counting the two the mothers must have done! Our employees voted one mother the winner! EOY Reports. I'd like to hear what ingenious reports you have designed for your end of year planning. I run a negative inventory report, and an extended cost over $500 report (through Request) to spot check. We do a complete phsical inventory by department about once every 3 years (should be every year, but it's a killer if you do it right). Our procedure is to PIP every aisle of a department including it's back-up stock (tought assignment!). Step 2 is to update date the date of Last PI on all the items in that dept with a quantity of zero (gets them out of your hair on step 3). Then the all important Step 3 is to run a MOP-UP report. This report through RQR (Request) lists all the items with a positive inventory with a last date of PI prior to your aisle count. Wow -- allow some time to run down these items. This is where your eyes begin to open to all the false refunds, shoplifting, error rates, and many other forms of shrinkage are killing you both in lost merchandise, but more seriously in lost sales. My guess is that you will not find 75% of what is on this report. Your physical count will never be be complete without this report. The irony in a good inventory you will "correct" 1 item to a wrong number for 4 items you correct to the right number! Wayne Youngblood Youngblood's True Value Mayfield, KY ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 01 Jan 1998 16:43:32 -0800 From: Fred Nichandros Subject: Reading Hardlines Happy New Year to all Hardlines Readers !! John - I get the hardlines summary emailed each day. Can I also view hardlines with a news reader ? If so, how ? P.S. Thanks to everyone who makes Hardlines such interesting reading. -Fred Workbench True Value Castro Valley, CA ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27681 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sat, 03 Jan 1998 00:04:44 -0500 V01 #27682 Today's topics: 'Re: Reading Hardlines' 'PO Solution' 'Commercial Network \ AOL' 'Re: Commercial Network ' 'toys for tots and bikes' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 02 Jan 1998 09:53:17 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Re: Reading Hardlines At 04:43 PM 1/1/98 -0800, Fred Nichandros wrote: > >John - I get the hardlines summary emailed each day. >Can I also view hardlines with a news reader ? >If so, how ? > No... it's only email right now. The archives are on the web page, and I might set it up in a more "readable" fashion at some point (i.e. allow you to read individual digests rather than a month at a time). John ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 12:17:54 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: PO Solution Hi: John, we did use dates as PO but stopped so as to let SEQ take over and generate the PO -- less mental work. However, as I was climbing (via bicycle) Mt Wachuset, I came up with a simple solution --> after the transmittion put in a "dummy" sku that would be rejected by the check digit system in BTC. Once the person transmit, he/she adds to that PO "DONE", now it would be rejected if tried again. Which presents a curious point -->TRIAD puts in stop/check on ERP of PO to prevent receiving a PO twice (forcing us to use the hidden Option A ), therefore, why not do the same for transmittals ----->another PCR!@$Q@#% 2 Shipments per week --- Dane stay on top of the DC -->makes receiving easier, but moreso increases SALES --> higher Turnover -->increase SALES means increase DC sales.......... ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 15:31:17 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Commercial Network \ AOL Hi: Just spoke to Chicagoland and got another rude awakening --> There will be NO Commerical Supply Books for ALL TruServe members, just Commercial Members. Can somebody explain this logic? Are we in different boats with the TruServe Name on them? Oh well. If you agree with my logic, Please call Chicagoland and comment your opinion. Have a Terrific New Year Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 02 Jan 1998 20:01:45 -0500 From: rgbadger@cyberportal.net Subject: Re: Commercial Network About Commercial Supply Books; We invested heavily this spring and did a large remodel to add new products from the line, though not all. The Catalogs are good, but as there is no pricing, it really needs an outside sales person, full or part time. We have started with a part-time (the manager)who contacts our big accounts and will soon go after new ones. Have sold lots of Clarke Commercial Vacs, which are holding up out there and must order belts, bags and other parts from Clarke via Drop ship which also took lots of work to find the source! We hope to go full blast with this department as there is no one around who can match the program. It does take knowledge, though, to explain why this cleaner is better that that, etc. Also, most products are in full packs only so you must either stock it and sell eaches, or know how to sell full packs only and make the customer want it! Nancy Rands True Value Plymouth, NH > Hi: > > Just spoke to Chicagoland and got another rude awakening --> There will be NO > Commerical Supply Books for ALL TruServe members, just Commercial Members. > Can somebody explain this logic? Are we in different boats with the TruServe > Name on them? Oh well. > > If you agree with my logic, Please call Chicagoland and comment your opinion. > > Have a Terrific New Year > > Rick Schwartz > Schwartz True Value > Fall River, MA 02724 > ************************************************************** > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > for hardware and building materials industry members. Back > issues are available at > > http://www.cornells.com/hardlines/ > > To remove your name from the mailing list, send email to > listserv@cornells.com with the following line in your message: > > unsubscribe hardlines firstname lastname > > For any other questions, send email to postmaster@cornells.com > *************************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 02 Jan 1998 20:13:18 -0500 From: rgbadger@cyberportal.net Subject: toys for tots and bikes My opinion on Toys for tots and bike drawing; We are a HARDWARE STORE...gave up the gifts, appliances, small appliances, fishing stuff, and toys years ago to enlarge the departments that MADE MONEY....We sold nothing that could go in that box except the boxed sno-tube my sons bought and put in the box (one of four donations). The bike was another thing...how many members sell bikes? We gave away one boys and one girls between our two stores with about 7 entries between us,and only special ordered two bikes (one I had to do a TEO and pay for it to be shipped from the mid west because Allentown and Manchester sold out early). I know Christmas is for kids, but there must be a better way. I would rather do a RED CROSS money drive to help people whose houses burn up here where we all burn wood, or do something to host the tree lighting in our town common (they are our lights!)or have some way to make our store shine. We did two Open houses with snacks and hot cider and snacks during the Tree Lighting event and everyone loved it. Its tough. Nancy Rands True Value, Plymouth NH ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27682 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sun, 04 Jan 1998 00:01:31 -0500 V01 #27683 Today's topics: 'Re: Oops & AOL' 'stuff' 'Insurance' 'Hidden options' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 3 Jan 1998 04:34:16 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Re: Oops & AOL In a message dated 1/2/98 9:07:19 PM Pacific Standard Time, hardlines- request@cornells.com writes: << Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 12:17:54 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: PO Solution Hi: John, we did use dates as PO but stopped so as to let SEQ take over and generate the PO -- less mental work. >> Sorry --> AOL had that E-Mail stuck in their system--> goes back to June 97. However, AOL telephone rates are great ---> 9 Cents a minute!!!! now why can't all the TruServe Stores get together with a phone carrier and make a deal like that? Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 Jan 1998 08:46:44 EST From: DURFEES Subject: stuff Had to jump in. Our old member insurance guy ( now working for someone else ) came to see me before market offering a better deal. Member insurance met the deal and the price. Happy for that but sad that's what it took for a better deal from my own company. Toys for tots had its best year ever. We don't sell toys. The only problem we had was getting the marines to pick it up without attiude. I'd like to turn my attention now to large unmanagable releases from Tru Trac. To big to digest...to long to install...to many errors to patch. Smaller is better maybe that's why we have tru trac owners who don't install them. Flyers, is it me or are they just a way of shoving things down our collective throats??? Feb gave us a lot of choice... Do Jan coupon book again or put candy in. We went with candy (we can eat it ) but we don't want it and I don't think manchester even supports it in the summer . I don't carry it cause we're not air conditioned ( it melts ). I have a small store. I don't have room like some to try everything Tru Serv offers. Offer more inserts for the nitches. I don't have room. On TSN they were pushing trim a tree great idea but the members they showed devoted more space to it then I have. I need to do flyers to survive. I would just like to see them have "core" mdse then add what we want and need as inserts. Last gripe on flyers is, I use to be able to a map on the back of my flyer. It was great, people knew where to find me. I'd like it back, anyone else?? If anyone out there is not aware big brother is watching. This does mean don't call chicagoland, but Jump In here. It's nice to know we're not alone That's it today Paul Durfee ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 Jan 1998 09:09:12 -0500 From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@compuserve.com> Subject: Insurance Dear Folks, I haven't done much reading on the state of the insurance industry, buy Dear Ol' Dad has paid a bit more attention to it. I discussed with him the fact that we haven't put or insurance out to bid for a long time, and that we might be missing something here. He pointed out that the industry has changed dramatically over the past several years. It has consolidated, the competition has become cut-throat, and the way it has done business has changed dramatically. Gee, that sounds a lot like our business... There are several BIG insurance companies in Japan which are on the brink of insolvency, if they are not over the edge right now. Behind the scenes in this country, lots of life insurance companies have "merged" to prevent chaos in the market and the destruction of consumer confidence in the life products lines. On the property and casualty sides of the business, remember the earthquakes and hurricanes the industry came through. Litigation, fueled by the insurance companies settlement policies which helped create a cottage industry in slip and fall accidents (amoung others), can only grow and strangle profits. They have had great profits over the years. Are these industries doing great now? Are they refusing to write coverage for coastal areas? Will they be pulling out of Southern California after they pay for the rains there? How about flood coverage for the Midwest? We may be getting great quotes here and there for coverage, but will they be worth anything in the near future? Will the great quote company be there to deliver the great defense for the 500lb block of ice which fell off the roof and barely missed killing a customer? The fire? The hurricane? The flood? We depend on state governments of ensure the integrity of insurance companies. The states don't have the technical resources to fully comprehend the industry, never mind an increasingly complex industry which can hide or justify anything behind a raft of financial techniques. It even seems to me that financial brains which can really handle it will migrate to the parts of the industry where the real money is made. Was it 10 or 20 thousand people who received bonuses over a million dollars on wall street? (Should that be legal?) It will be very interesting to see what happens. I would like to think that member insurance has been looking out for my interests. I don't know exactly how to evaluate it. I am always keen to listen to how members made out when disasters occured in their business; I have found that people in general seem to have been treated very fairly, and were able to continue in business. That's what is important. My Father's store was burned out many years ago. Despite having doubled his coverage after a house fire two years before, it was not enough coverage. If he didn't have other resources, he would have had to exit the business. It wasn't a pleasant experience. Is there anybody out there who has had BAD experiences with member insurance coverage and disaster recovery? Health coverage is a nightmare for everybody, of course, so that's not a consideration. That's a function of local conditions (Round's True Value is in an astronomically high-cost medical services market). I'm talking about the basic casualty coverage, building and contents, liabiltity, etc. It would be interesting to hear. Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 Jan 1998 09:38:06 -0500 From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@compuserve.com> Subject: Hidden options Dear Folks, Damn the Triad hidden options! Whenever I need one, perhaps once or twice a year, I forgot about it from the previous emergency. I'll remember the ERP option A. It's a higher, hidden power thing, a revealed wisdom which must be suffered for. We suffer a lot in the hardware business... I set up a few ques the other day with a standing purchase order number. When we when to two orders per week and put the clamps on the binge buying, the mountains of market merchandise, the piles of relay items purchased against the warehouse being out of staple goods in season, etc., it became important that anything which qualified for reorder was ordered to arrive as soon as possible. This meant that our RSO consideration could not be as leisurely as it had been. The overnight purchase order had to be worked as soon as possible and the PO created. Additional RSOs would be run to catch merchandise sales through the day. We would call these "slop" orders. "Slop" orders would not be counted on the floor unless something looked weird. It is a cup of coffee, the report, and a terminal type-thing. My first que fires off at 5pm on Saturday via autopilot. The person assigned to it adds new order quantities to the system which are needed. When done, he runs the "SEESLOP" to check his work and see that the total does not go beyond reason. If satisfied with that, he runs the "MAKESLOP" que, which will create the ADD purhase order which can be BPO'd to the main purchase order or transmitted on its own. I will not stay at the store until 8 o'clock tonight. I will instead get home at a reasonable hour and make another presentation of "Daddy's Bad Action Classic Science Fiction Movie Theater," so long as my wife is not too horrified by this evening's featured title. The kids seem to prefer titles banned by their Mother... Isn't this what automation is supposed to do? Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27683 ********************************** hardlines Digest Mon, 05 Jan 1998 00:03:17 -0500 V01 #27684 Today's topics: 'Triad Concerns' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 18:31:57 -0600 From: "John A. Van Hengel" Subject: Triad Concerns Hi, I have some problems/concerns with Triad level 18. 1. They moved the authorized purchasers from the MCR file into an auxiliary database that allows unlimited names. The same was done with the credit messages. There is no report that will print those names. The names fields name1-name15 are no longer in the Request field list. The auxiliary database has not been added to Request. The credit messages fall under the same problem. 2. If you use Quick lookup from the second page of POS to find charge customers you can hit Display again and get the first 15 authorized purchaser names. Display again goes back to the first screen and next takes you to the next account. If you have more than 15 names they are not displayed. Workaround: Press NEXT then PREVIOUS and you will get the next 15 names. Repeat for the next 15. Not good but it works. 3. Same function: Display the first 15 names of an account (one with a bunch of names). Hit Display to go back to the first screen and enter a different account (one with only a few names) then Display. You will get the old and the new names combined. (The display memory is not being cleared) John Van Hengel Strasser True Value Hardware Kansas City, Kansas ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27684 ********************************** hardlines Digest Thu, 08 Jan 1998 00:04:39 -0500 V01 #27685 Today's topics: 'raid house and yard' 'Re: raid house and yard' 'Re: raid house and yard' 'SHIP LATERS' 'TruServ weekly EFM for Catalog' 'Re: raid house and yard' 'Toys for Tots & Bike' 'Re: SHIP LATERS' 'Kudos to Manchester RDC' 'Raid' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 07 Jan 1998 11:36:47 -0600 From: Chuck Hank Subject: raid house and yard I was wondering if anyone else received the offer from Klatt-Jorwic and Assoc. concerning a new Raid House & Yard products. They want to send about 39 items with quantities of 2-3 of each item. They are selling these at 50% off cost and then if you take a picture of the set they will reinburse you another 50% making your final cost 0%. It looks like all but 3 of the items are in the warehouse. It seems to be a relay. Wondered if anyone has taken advantage of this and wondered what direction Tru*Serv was going with this line. Thanks, Chuck Hank Hank Bros. True Value Hardware ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 07 Jan 1998 12:48:40 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Re: raid house and yard At 11:36 AM 1/7/98 -0600, Chuck Hank wrote: >I was wondering if anyone else received the offer from Klatt-Jorwic and >Assoc. concerning a new Raid House & Yard products. I took a look and decided that there were too many items that we had eliminated from stock long ago. The price was real nice, but I didn't want to waste time loading old dead sku's back into the system. I did add a few of their new commercial line into my system, as the product looked like a potential good seller. John ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jan 1998 11:52:21 -0600 From: "David Casaletto" Subject: Re: raid house and yard I was wondering if anyone else received the offer from Klatt-Jorwic and Assoc. concerning a new Raid House & Yard products. They want to send about 39 items with quantities of 2-3 of each item. They are selling these at 50% off cost and then if you take a picture of the set they will reinburse you another 50% making your final cost 0%. It looks like all but 3 of the items are in the warehouse. It seems to be a relay. Wondered if anyone has taken advantage of this and wondered what direction Tru*Serv was going with this line. Thanks, Chuck Hank Hank Bros. True Value Hardware ************************************* Chuck, We received the offer and ordered it. I have received a confirmation in the mail. Anytime they want to give stuff away I'll at least try it. We did the same with Thunderbolt drill bits a few years back and are still stocking them, the theory does work at least some of the time. On another offer, my regional advertising man out of the Kansas City warehouse offered me a pallet of Greased Lightning at 50% off of warehouse price, nets out at $1.11 a bottle, freight prepaid, no dating. I haven't sold much of it in the past, but haven't pushed it much either. Does anyone have any sucess stories about it? We have signed up for the Nascar visit this summer. See ya, David Casaletto True Value Home Center Pittsburg, KS ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jan 1998 18:10:30 +0000 From: DAVID PILGRIM Subject: SHIP LATERS AM CURIOUS HOW THE SHIP LATERS ARE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY? OUT OF PORTLAND, IT SEEMS THAT THE QUANTITIES OF SHIP LATERS HAS RISEN DRAMATICALLY WITHIN THE PAST FEW WEEKS. ALSO, DID OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY EXPERIENCE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE FILLING OF PROMOTIONAL RELAY ITEMS FOR THE SALES FLYERS IN NOV AND DEC? GETTING ALL THE MERCHANDISE ON TIME SEEMED TO BE MORE OF A PROBLEM THIS SEASON THAN I CAN REMEMBER IN YEARS PAST. NEVER RECEIVING SOME PROMOTIONAL ITEMS AT ALL SEEMED TO BE HIGHER THIS SEASON ALSO. THANKS DAVID D PILGRIM VILLAGE TRUE VALUE MAPLE VALLEY, WA Karrie Pilgrim ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 07 Jan 1998 13:46:18 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: TruServ weekly EFM for Catalog Just as a warning, rumor has it that this week's Catalog update (CIS, MCS, etc.) for the catalog systems for True Value will have 15,000 new SKU's. For those using EFM for the Catalog update, you might want to make sure you run the maintenance ina queue before the store opens or after closing to cut down on system resource drag. Also, if you have EFM set to automatically add new SKU's to inventory, you should probably disable it this week (unless you want 15,000 new items in your inventory file). I don't know how TruTrac handles file maintenance... I know the CIS will be chugging away for quite a while if the rumored update size is correct. John ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 07 Jan 1998 14:23:13 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: raid house and yard the three that 'aren't in warehouse' are just missing CTC-SS numbers. they have TV numbers even though they might not be stocked by all rdc's. seemed like too good a deal to pass up - whatever sells is 100% profit and whatever doesn't can be buried in household garbage... At 11:36 AM EST 1/7/98 -0600, you wrote: >I was wondering if anyone else received the offer from Klatt-Jorwic and >Assoc. concerning a new Raid House & Yard products. They want to send >about 39 items with quantities of 2-3 of each item. They are selling >these at 50% off cost and then if you take a picture of the set they >will reinburse you another 50% making your final cost 0%. It looks like >all but 3 of the items are in the warehouse. It seems to be a relay. >Wondered if anyone has taken advantage of this and wondered what >direction Tru*Serv was going with this line. > >Thanks, >Chuck Hank >Hank Bros. True Value Hardware >*************************************************************** > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > for hardware and building materials industry members. Back > issues are available at > > http://www.cornells.com/hardlines/ > > To remove your name from the mailing list, send email to > listserv@cornells.com with the following line in your message: > > unsubscribe hardlines firstname lastname > > For any other questions, send email to postmaster@cornells.com >*************************************************************** > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jan 1998 17:16:28 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Toys for Tots & Bike Hi: Thanks for all the input on the Toys for Tots and the Bike Contest. Very interesting reponses. Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 07 Jan 1998 18:53:21 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: SHIP LATERS i'd consider perception to be the worst enemy. it always 'seems' that this year is worse than last year.... i 'seem' to recall 'always' complaining about not being able to get christmas-type merchandise after the 'warehouse-price-start-date' and having lots of ship-laters in late-december/early-january (and suspected it was inventory-tax concerns by cotter). after 20 years i'm convinced that it's only perception - 'cause i'm just as bitchy ... At 06:10 PM EST 1/7/98 +0000, you wrote: >AM CURIOUS HOW THE SHIP LATERS ARE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY? OUT OF >PORTLAND, IT SEEMS THAT THE QUANTITIES OF SHIP LATERS HAS RISEN DRAMATICALLY >WITHIN THE PAST FEW WEEKS. >ALSO, DID OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY EXPERIENCE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE >FILLING OF PROMOTIONAL RELAY ITEMS FOR THE SALES FLYERS IN NOV AND DEC? >GETTING ALL THE MERCHANDISE ON TIME SEEMED TO BE MORE OF A PROBLEM THIS >SEASON THAN I CAN REMEMBER IN YEARS PAST. NEVER RECEIVING SOME PROMOTIONAL >ITEMS AT ALL SEEMED TO BE HIGHER THIS SEASON ALSO. > >THANKS > >DAVID D PILGRIM >VILLAGE TRUE VALUE >MAPLE VALLEY, WA >Karrie Pilgrim > >*************************************************************** > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > for hardware and building materials industry members. Back > issues are available at > > http://www.cornells.com/hardlines/ > > To remove your name from the mailing list, send email to > listserv@cornells.com with the following line in your message: > > unsubscribe hardlines firstname lastname > > For any other questions, send email to postmaster@cornells.com >*************************************************************** > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: From: tomhanson@POBoxes.com (Tom Hanson) Subject: Kudos to Manchester RDC Thank you to the Manchester RDC crew for getting a full truck of rock salt on the road to us in less than two hours from our phone call. That included finding a driver willing to undertake 10 hours of driving in less than good conditions. In truth I just like to see some positive posts here. Keep the faith. Tom Hanson Bangor (Maine) True Value ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 07 Jan 1998 19:39:27 -0500 From: Richard Badger Subject: Raid Nancy Badger writes; In reply to Chuck Hank's question about the Raid Endcap 'Deal'...Our manager did order two sets for our two stores. Raid is a good 'name' and taking the photo and getting it in is easy...I did this last year with an endcap program from Magla Gloves. I ordered their 4ft. planogram of about $250 dollars worth of gloves for $145, put it up and took a picture, and got back the entire $145 within 30 days as a credit through Cotter (True Serv) Someone needs to be in charge of these special deals to make sure they are acted on, but it is the manufacturer's chance to get new skus into your store. We added about 12 new glove skus because of the Magla deal, and are still selling them. Nancy Badger, Rands True Value Plymouth NH ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27685 ********************************** hardlines Digest Fri, 09 Jan 1998 00:00:05 -0500 V01 #27686 Today's topics: 'Re: Ship Laters / Raid' 'Re: Hardlines Digest' 'Re: Hardlines Digest' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27685' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 8 Jan 1998 08:16:20 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Re: Ship Laters / Raid In a message dated 1/8/98 12:08:32 AM Eastern Standard Time, hardlines- request@cornells.com writes: << Date: Wed, 7 Jan 1998 18:10:30 +0000 From: DAVID PILGRIM Subject: SHIP LATERS >> There is a proverb that watching boiling water takes longer almost holds true for stuff that customers are demanding, especially when the RDC runs out of the stuff. Manchester RDC has been good and has been bad -- fluctuates. Right now (agreeing to Tom Hanson) the Manchester RDC has been very good. However, a few manufactures have been causing many delays in shipping. I find calling Chicagoland on certain SKU situations prompt better action. The real inventory people are in Chicagoland and need to be prompted regularly on "problem stock" items. In another respect to not getting merchandise on a timely basis, Chicagoland has been demanding manufactures ship Relay stuff directly to us --- massive confusion. RAID -- great idea. Going with the program. However, even though I agreed to this a few weeks ago, I got another inquiry call on this Monday -- confusion?? Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 Jan 1998 09:02:44 -0600 From: "Virgil H. Cox" Subject: Re: Hardlines Digest We just purchased the Triad RF terminal and are in the process of installing it on our network. Has anybody run into problems using an unmanaged hub on the Access Point line? Virgil Cox virgilc@acehardware.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 08 Jan 1998 10:27:37 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Re: Hardlines Digest At 09:02 AM 1/8/98 -0600, Virgil Cox wrote: >We just purchased the Triad RF terminal and are in the process of >installing it on our network. Has anybody run into problems using an >unmanaged hub on the Access Point line? > Virgil, We've been working with Triad trying to get RF to work as well. We have the Eagle connected to an unmanaged hub, and the access point is connected to another unmanaged hub out at our POS location. Although we can ping the access point and telnet (connect) to it, we can't get the RF terminal (in our case a notebook with an RF LAN adapter) to connect yet. What sort of trouble are you having, as it might be a similar issue and maybe we can both get our problem solved? John ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 08 Jan 1998 13:22:53 -0800 From: Corvallis Hardware/True Value Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27685 We received the Raid offer and have ordered it, but have not received it as of yet. Sounds like a heck of a deal to pass up!!! Wendy Dixon At 12:04 AM 1/8/98 -0500, you wrote: >hardlines Digest Thu, 08 Jan 1998 00:04:39 -0500 V01 #27685 > >Today's topics: > 'raid house and yard' > 'Re: raid house and yard' > 'Re: raid house and yard' > 'SHIP LATERS' > 'TruServ weekly EFM for Catalog' > 'Re: raid house and yard' > 'Toys for Tots & Bike' > 'Re: SHIP LATERS' > 'Kudos to Manchester RDC' > 'Raid' > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Date: Wed, 07 Jan 1998 11:36:47 -0600 >From: Chuck Hank >Subject: raid house and yard > > >I was wondering if anyone else received the offer from Klatt-Jorwic and >Assoc. concerning a new Raid House & Yard products. They want to send >about 39 items with quantities of 2-3 of each item. They are selling >these at 50% off cost and then if you take a picture of the set they >will reinburse you another 50% making your final cost 0%. It looks like >all but 3 of the items are in the warehouse. It seems to be a relay. >Wondered if anyone has taken advantage of this and wondered what >direction Tru*Serv was going with this line. > >Thanks, >Chuck Hank >Hank Bros. True Value Hardware > >------------------------------ > >Date: Wed, 07 Jan 1998 12:48:40 -0500 >From: "John Fix 3rd" >Subject: Re: raid house and yard > > >At 11:36 AM 1/7/98 -0600, Chuck Hank wrote: >>I was wondering if anyone else received the offer from Klatt-Jorwic and >>Assoc. concerning a new Raid House & Yard products. > >I took a look and decided that there were too many items that we had >eliminated from stock long ago. The price was real nice, but I didn't want >to waste time loading old dead sku's back into the system. I did add a few >of their new commercial line into my system, as the product looked like a >potential good seller. > >John > > > > >------------------------------ > >Date: Wed, 7 Jan 1998 11:52:21 -0600 >From: "David Casaletto" >Subject: Re: raid house and yard > > > > >I was wondering if anyone else received the offer from Klatt-Jorwic and >Assoc. concerning a new Raid House & Yard products. They want to send >about 39 items with quantities of 2-3 of each item. They are selling >these at 50% off cost and then if you take a picture of the set they >will reinburse you another 50% making your final cost 0%. It looks like >all but 3 of the items are in the warehouse. It seems to be a relay. >Wondered if anyone has taken advantage of this and wondered what >direction Tru*Serv was going with this line. > >Thanks, >Chuck Hank >Hank Bros. True Value Hardware > >************************************* >Chuck, > >We received the offer and ordered it. I have received a confirmation in the >mail. Anytime they want to give stuff away I'll at least try it. We did the >same with Thunderbolt drill bits a few years back and are still stocking >them, the theory does work at least some of the time. > >On another offer, my regional advertising man out of the Kansas City >warehouse offered me a pallet of Greased Lightning at 50% off of warehouse >price, nets out at $1.11 a bottle, freight prepaid, no dating. I haven't >sold much of it in the past, but haven't pushed it much either. Does anyone >have any sucess stories about it? We have signed up for the Nascar visit >this summer. > >See ya, > >David Casaletto >True Value Home Center >Pittsburg, KS > > >------------------------------ > >Date: Wed, 7 Jan 1998 18:10:30 +0000 >From: DAVID PILGRIM >Subject: SHIP LATERS > > >AM CURIOUS HOW THE SHIP LATERS ARE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY? OUT OF >PORTLAND, IT SEEMS THAT THE QUANTITIES OF SHIP LATERS HAS RISEN DRAMATICALLY >WITHIN THE PAST FEW WEEKS. >ALSO, DID OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY EXPERIENCE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE >FILLING OF PROMOTIONAL RELAY ITEMS FOR THE SALES FLYERS IN NOV AND DEC? >GETTING ALL THE MERCHANDISE ON TIME SEEMED TO BE MORE OF A PROBLEM THIS >SEASON THAN I CAN REMEMBER IN YEARS PAST. NEVER RECEIVING SOME PROMOTIONAL >ITEMS AT ALL SEEMED TO BE HIGHER THIS SEASON ALSO. > >THANKS > >DAVID D PILGRIM >VILLAGE TRUE VALUE >MAPLE VALLEY, WA >Karrie Pilgrim > > >------------------------------ > >Date: Wed, 07 Jan 1998 13:46:18 -0500 >From: "John Fix 3rd" >Subject: TruServ weekly EFM for Catalog > > >Just as a warning, rumor has it that this week's Catalog update (CIS, MCS, >etc.) for the catalog systems for True Value will have 15,000 new SKU's. >For those using EFM for the Catalog update, you might want to make sure you >run the maintenance ina queue before the store opens or after closing to >cut down on system resource drag. > >Also, if you have EFM set to automatically add new SKU's to inventory, you >should probably disable it this week (unless you want 15,000 new items in >your inventory file). I don't know how TruTrac handles file maintenance... >I know the CIS will be chugging away for quite a while if the rumored >update size is correct. > >John > > >------------------------------ > >Date: Wed, 07 Jan 1998 14:23:13 -0500 >From: jack swift >Subject: Re: raid house and yard > > > the three that 'aren't in warehouse' are just missing CTC-SS numbers. they >have TV numbers even though they might not be stocked by all rdc's. seemed >like too good a deal to pass up - whatever sells is 100% profit and >whatever doesn't can be buried in household garbage... > > > >At 11:36 AM EST 1/7/98 -0600, you wrote: >>I was wondering if anyone else received the offer from Klatt-Jorwic and >>Assoc. concerning a new Raid House & Yard products. They want to send >>about 39 items with quantities of 2-3 of each item. They are selling >>these at 50% off cost and then if you take a picture of the set they >>will reinburse you another 50% making your final cost 0%. It looks like >>all but 3 of the items are in the warehouse. It seems to be a relay. >>Wondered if anyone has taken advantage of this and wondered what >>direction Tru*Serv was going with this line. >> >>Thanks, >>Chuck Hank >>Hank Bros. True Value Hardware >>*************************************************************** >> Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list >> for hardware and building materials industry members. Back >> issues are available at >> >> http://www.cornells.com/hardlines/ >> >> To remove your name from the mailing list, send email to >> listserv@cornells.com with the following line in your message: >> >> unsubscribe hardlines firstname lastname >> >> For any other questions, send email to postmaster@cornells.com >>*************************************************************** >> >> >------------------------------------------------------------------------- >Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W >Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 >906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor >Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! >^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > > >------------------------------ > >Date: Wed, 7 Jan 1998 17:16:28 EST >From: RICKSS1 >Subject: Toys for Tots & Bike > > >Hi: > >Thanks for all the input on the Toys for Tots and the Bike Contest. > >Very interesting reponses. > >Have fun > >Rick Schwartz >Schwartz True Value >Fall River, MA 02724 > >------------------------------ > >Date: Wed, 07 Jan 1998 18:53:21 -0500 >From: jack swift >Subject: Re: SHIP LATERS > > > i'd consider perception to be the worst enemy. it always 'seems' that this >year is worse than last year.... i 'seem' to recall 'always' complaining >about not being able to get christmas-type merchandise after the >'warehouse-price-start-date' and having lots of ship-laters in >late-december/early-january (and suspected it was inventory-tax concerns by >cotter). after 20 years i'm convinced that it's only perception - 'cause >i'm just as bitchy ... > > >At 06:10 PM EST 1/7/98 +0000, you wrote: >>AM CURIOUS HOW THE SHIP LATERS ARE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY? OUT OF >>PORTLAND, IT SEEMS THAT THE QUANTITIES OF SHIP LATERS HAS RISEN DRAMATICALLY >>WITHIN THE PAST FEW WEEKS. >>ALSO, DID OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY EXPERIENCE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE >>FILLING OF PROMOTIONAL RELAY ITEMS FOR THE SALES FLYERS IN NOV AND DEC? >>GETTING ALL THE MERCHANDISE ON TIME SEEMED TO BE MORE OF A PROBLEM THIS >>SEASON THAN I CAN REMEMBER IN YEARS PAST. NEVER RECEIVING SOME PROMOTIONAL >>ITEMS AT ALL SEEMED TO BE HIGHER THIS SEASON ALSO. >> >>THANKS >> >>DAVID D PILGRIM >>VILLAGE TRUE VALUE >>MAPLE VALLEY, WA >>Karrie Pilgrim >> >>*************************************************************** >> Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list >> for hardware and building materials industry members. Back >> issues are available at >> >> http://www.cornells.com/hardlines/ >> >> To remove your name from the mailing list, send email to >> listserv@cornells.com with the following line in your message: >> >> unsubscribe hardlines firstname lastname >> >> For any other questions, send email to postmaster@cornells.com >>*************************************************************** >> >> >------------------------------------------------------------------------- >Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W >Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 >906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor >Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! >^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > > >------------------------------ > >Date: >From: tomhanson@POBoxes.com (Tom Hanson) >Subject: Kudos to Manchester RDC > > >Thank you to the Manchester RDC crew for getting a full truck of rock salt >on the road to us in less than two hours from our phone call. That included >finding a driver willing to undertake 10 hours of driving in less than good >conditions. > >In truth I just like to see some positive posts here. > >Keep the faith. > >Tom Hanson > >Bangor (Maine) True Value > > > >------------------------------ > >Date: Wed, 07 Jan 1998 19:39:27 -0500 >From: Richard Badger >Subject: Raid > > >Nancy Badger writes; > In reply to Chuck Hank's question about the Raid Endcap >'Deal'...Our manager did order two sets for our two stores. Raid is a >good 'name' and taking the photo and getting it in is easy...I did this >last year with an endcap program from Magla Gloves. I ordered their >4ft. planogram of about $250 dollars worth of gloves for $145, put it up >and took a picture, and got back the entire $145 within 30 days as a >credit through Cotter (True Serv) Someone needs to be in charge of >these special deals to make sure they are acted on, but it is the >manufacturer's chance to get new skus into your store. We added about >12 new glove skus because of the Magla deal, and are still selling them. > Nancy Badger, Rands True Value > Plymouth NH > >------------------------------ > > >End of hardlines Digest V01 #27685 >********************************** > > ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27686 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sat, 10 Jan 1998 00:02:03 -0500 V01 #27687 Today's topics: 'Pepsi' 'Re: TruServ weekly EFM for Catalog' 'Re: TruServ weekly EFM for Catalog' 'Re: RF isues' 'Re: Pepsi' 'Many things, boiling water and pings.' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 09 Jan 1998 12:34:08 -0600 From: Chuck Hank Subject: Pepsi Have another question for the group of True Value users. I signed up for the Pepsi products that are delivered and then billed on the listment quite a LONG time ago, but have yet to see any products and then talked with the guy at the Atlanta show and was told that some legal stuff had delayed the whole deal and still nothing. Anyone gotten them in the store yet? Thanks, Chuck Hank Hank Bros. True Value Hardware Since 1897 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 09 Jan 1998 07:42:21 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: TruServ weekly EFM for Catalog i got another slant on the rumor: 1. only about 14,000 new sku's (whoopee, 7% decrease ) 2. these sku's are already in the true value systems 3. these are only 'updates' to the ctc and ss systems 3. cis shouldn't have any problems but triad and tru trac might. At 01:46 PM EST 1/7/98 -0500, you wrote: >Just as a warning, rumor has it that this week's Catalog update (CIS, MCS, >etc.) for the catalog systems for True Value will have 15,000 new SKU's. >For those using EFM for the Catalog update, you might want to make sure you >run the maintenance ina queue before the store opens or after closing to >cut down on system resource drag. > >Also, if you have EFM set to automatically add new SKU's to inventory, you >should probably disable it this week (unless you want 15,000 new items in >your inventory file). I don't know how TruTrac handles file maintenance... >I know the CIS will be chugging away for quite a while if the rumored >update size is correct. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 09 Jan 1998 08:21:58 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Re: TruServ weekly EFM for Catalog At 07:42 AM 1/9/98 -0500, Jack Swift wrote: > i got another slant on the rumor: > > 1. only about 14,000 new sku's (whoopee, 7% decrease ) > 2. these sku's are already in the true value systems > 3. these are only 'updates' to the ctc and ss systems > 3. cis shouldn't have any problems but triad and tru trac might. > The final word is that the update will be broken up into 2500 per week rather than one update. I was told that the items were ServiStar and Coast sku's that were being added as part of the catalog unification. We already had a few thousand sku's added at the market (I noticed lots of Lawn and Garden sku's such as bamboo shrub rakes, Lyric bird food, etc.) which were part of the SS/CTC mix, so these must be the rest. John john3@cornells.com Cornell's True Value Hardware - www.cornells.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 09:04:31 -0600 From: "Virgil H. Cox" Subject: Re: RF isues John, The issue with our new RF unit was that first I couldn't get a LAN connect at all, so I swapped the cables that Triad shipped with the unit for two that we made up and Bingo, a LAN connect and packet detection. (We checked today and found they had just shipped twisted cables instead of straight-through 10base-T that a hub requires). Next, although we could Ping the access point, we couldn't telnet into the Symbol Maintenance/Setup point to reassign the TPC/IP address of the RF gun that you specify in EDITHOST. I returned the access point to Triad and they were able to use a direct serial cable to hyperlink to the unit, reset the IP address, reboot it and successfully log on with it. They are returning it with the correct cables, and the unit should arrive this Saturday: I'll let you know how it goes. If you'll call me at 713/923-9458 on Friday or Saturday I'll give you a few more details. Thanks again for operating this board! Virgil ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 09 Jan 1998 17:45:53 -0500 From: Richard Badger Subject: Re: Pepsi Chuck Hank wrote: > > Have another question for the group of True Value users. I signed up > for the Pepsi products that are delivered and then billed on the > listment quite a LONG time ago, but have yet to see any products and > then talked with the guy at the Atlanta show and was told that some > legal stuff had delayed the whole deal and still nothing. Anyone gotten > them in the store yet? > > Thanks, > > Chuck Hank > Hank Bros. True Value Hardware > Since 1897 > *************************************************************** > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > for hardware and building materials industry members. Back > issues are available at > > http://www.cornells.com/hardlines/ > > To remove your name from the mailing list, send email to > listserv@cornells.com with the following line in your message: > > unsubscribe hardlines firstname lastname > > For any other questions, send email to postmaster@cornells.com > ***************************************************************Nancy Badger answers: We finally got Pepsi coolers in our two stores Oct. 1,1997. This was after signing up at two shows. Took the show seminar on Pepsi/Frito-lay, too. Anyway, the contact is your local bottler and I got his number through Cotter Help desk...there was a story on 'Increase your sales' with Pepsi and candy in a member magazine. We have a rep come by every other week ,and we started with 2o cases (10 case of 24 minimum per srop ship) and got the free cooler which was what they had on hand, not the little cute one shown at the shows. Had many calls from the bottler about billing and I explained many times about billing True-Serv. They say they are, but after three refil orders we still have not seen a bill on our listment. Just start calling, as it is worth it. The employees buy it and get a discount, and now we don't have as many people out of the building going to the corner for snacks! The candy display sells well, also. Nancy Badger, Rands True Value Plymouth, NH ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 20:55:11 -0500 (EST) From: Richard Filion Subject: Many things, boiling water and pings. You have not heard much from me lately because visitations during the holidays have kept me busy enough to just read your inputs without comment. First my son returned at long last from his Freshman year at U.C. Berkeley and not having seen him for four months, our last of two to leave the nest made it difficult to not spend every free moment that we were both awake and in the same area with him. Then a former German High School exchange student who is now a lawyer in Dresden Germany came and visited with us from just after Christmas to just after New Years. And, last, two days ago five of my sons dormmates drove over from Los Angeles to pick him up. They thought it gave them a good reason to visit the East Coast. So our house was suddenly taken over by the five of them and one other dorm mate who bussed in from New Jersey. But they have just vanned off on their way back to San Francisco via at least Washington D.C. and wherever their fancies attract them. Oh to be young again. During this time I have begin to appreciate the magical effects of this list which seems to return much of what I wish out of it. I am now in the possession of a Tru-Serv phone list with numbers of it seems to be nearly everyone associated with the company. It even has fax numbers, one of which I have already put to good use. Now I am wishing for E-mail numbers. I also, in one of my last "Advisors", I think merchandise, began to see the glimmerings of a Servistar/Coast to Coast - TruServ dictionary with translations of commonly used terms. And, it looks as if the Bargain of the Month program is going to stay away from .99 or round-up pricing and address the issue of public perception of harware store pricing as being high. What could be next? A suggestion box? As to whether watched water boils more slowly. It depends on what you mean by boiling. In theory water boils at a certain temperature but that is a sea level. Supposedly water boils at a much lower temperature as you go up in altitude. If you keep a cover on a pot it should build pressure up under the lid and keep heat in. If you keep checking to see if it is boiling you release pressure and let heat out. How about it John. Was this covered at MIT? I dropped out of engineering at Tufts before the question came up. I could check with my son, but he will not get back to Berkeley until around the 19th, and I am not that patient. As a hopeful solution to the problem of not receiving items on order for customers. ServiStar has something called "Access", if I remember correctly, which allows us to "access" the main computer and ascertain how many of an item are in stock at any and or all of the warehouses. The computer gives us quantity on hand, cost, price, shipping info and suggested retail, and item description. This has made it possible for us to locate out-of-stock items and then have them shipped from other warehouses. The policy is that they will not charge shipping if the item does not have a due-in at your shipping warehouse oh, RDC, within two weeks. Or you can pay UPS charges. I have never had to pay UPS charges. Perhaps this policy will be retained in the merger and applied to all RDCs. Can someone get me an address or telephone number on that Raid offer, it sounds like a good way to try out new items and see what the public wants. Also what is "ping" and "access point" and an "unmanaged hub". I noticed that I have a "ping" file as part of my net providers toolkit, but thought that it and the other file "hopcheck" were somehow related to the chef "Hopsing" on Bonanza". +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Richard Filion rhfil@nh.ultranet.com Filion Lumber 603-659-3361 Newmarket, N.H. ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27687 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sun, 11 Jan 1998 00:03:06 -0500 V01 #27688 Today's topics: 'Re: Many things, boiling water and pings.' 'hardlines Digest - V01 #27687 -Reply' 'Re: TruServ weekly EFM for Catalog' 'No Pepsi, Coke!' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 08:49:48 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Re: Many things, boiling water and pings. At 08:55 PM 1/9/98 -0500, Richard Filion wrote: > > As to whether watched water boils more slowly. It depends on what >you mean by boiling. In theory water boils at a certain temperature but >that is a sea level. Supposedly water boils at a much lower temperature as >you go up in altitude. If you keep a cover on a pot it should build >pressure up under the lid and keep heat in. If you keep checking to see if >it is boiling you release pressure and let heat out. How about it John. >Was this covered at MIT? I dropped out of engineering at Tufts before the >question came up. We never covered this topic at MIT... we did argue late into the night over various topics, including the fact that hot water freezes faster than cold water. We considered whether ice machines should have electric heating elements to pre-heat the water so it would freeze faster. >Also what is "ping" and "access point" and an "unmanaged >hub". I noticed that I have a "ping" file as part of my net providers >toolkit, but thought that it and the other file "hopcheck" were somehow >related to the chef "Hopsing" on Bonanza". > The Hardlines list started looking like the TCP/IP support list lately (TCP/IP is a communications protocol used to communicate over networks, including the Internet). "Ping" is a program used to test a connection to another system via a network. You run "ping" and it sends a signal to the remote PC and waits for a response. The signal itself is usually called a "ping", like the old radar or sonar pings made famous in movies and TV shows ("Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" probably had the most pings per minute of any movie I've seen). The Ping program will provide the round-trip times to the remote machine, and you can ping a machine in your network or a machine across the world via the Internet. A "hub" is a box used to connect a number of computers in a network. They usually have 8 or more ports, and can be managed (configurable or controllable) or unmanaged (just a connecting point with no controls). Think of a hub as a traffic circle...managed has traffic lights, and unmanaged is a free-for-all (i.e. Boston/Cambridge area traffic circles... if you've been there, you know). Finally, "hops" are how many machines a "ping" must travel through to reach it's destination. When a signal is sent on a TCP/IP network, it goes out as packets of info. The packets move from machine to machine (sometimes one packet will take a different route than another packet), and they are collected and reassembled at the destination machine. In Windows 95, you can use a utility called "tracert" to see the path a packet travels. Here's something for folks to try next time they're online and bored... Connect to the Internet via your usual procedure (generally you just open your browser and the PC dials and connects to your Internet provider). Once online, first read all your Hardlines Digest mail (of course). Then, from the Start Menu (button at the lower left of the screen), choose Programs and then MS-DOS Prompt. You'll either get a large window or the program will open full-screen. First, try Ping. Type ping www.cornells.com You'll see four attempts, and the time it takes to reach my web server. Try Ping with a few other sites (www.triad.com, www.truevalue.com, etc). For fun, try to ping www.aol.com. Those outside America Online will not be able to reach this site, as AOL filters ping requests to prevent hacking. Next, type tracert www.cornells.com You'll see a series of addresses of machines your packet travels through to reach my web server. Each address is a hop, and fewer hops generally means you will get faster responses from that machine than from a machine located more "hops" away from you. That's why you'll see that vendors offer several locations to download files off the web. For example, Microsoft has servers in California, Chicago, and Washington DC. Hops don't generally apply to local in-store networks, since each computer in your store network would talk directly to the destination machine and not "hop" through other computers. That's it for a quick overview of "ping" and "hop". Now back to our regularly scheduled discussions.... John john3@cornells.com Cornell's True Value Hardware - www.cornells.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 11:07:17 -0700 From: BOB JOHNSON Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27687 -Reply !O-4 on the SKU changes...BOB ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 16:56:12 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: TruServ weekly EFM for Catalog > >The final word is that the update will be broken up into 2500 per week >rather than one update. CIS just yawned -- there were about 5k records yesterday which has happend before. i couldn't time it because when i got back vrom getting a pop, it was done... ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 20:13:19 -0500 From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@compuserve.com> Subject: No Pepsi, Coke! Folks, Boy, do people suck down that sugar water by the case! We have an older coke cooler up front opposite the checkouts. It's been there for 2 or three years, and we do sell it... we may even make a profit. Candy is at our front desk, too, and that does sell well. I do pause when I consider that stuff. I am concerned about the statement it makes at the front desk. Would it be better to have more impulse hardware, trinkets and do-dads which do sell, but more importantly, which say that we're something different from.... all the other purveyors of soft-drinks and ring-dings? Could people list front desk impulse merchandise which sells at a good gp and doesn't leave the front desk looking like a yard sale? There have been times where I thought I'd get rid of the junk at the front desk and have the place clear to get the main job done: getting people out of the store. Ideas? Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware Stoneham, MA 02180 ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27688 ********************************** hardlines Digest Tue, 13 Jan 1998 00:01:37 -0500 V01 #27689 Today's topics: 'Fwd: [Fwd: Returned mail: Service unavailable]' 'Re: Key Duplicating' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 21:53:14 -0800 (PST) From: Ralph Witkin Subject: Fwd: [Fwd: Returned mail: Service unavailable] ---2138437061-1804928587-884584394=:14581 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline note: forwarded msg attached. _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ---2138437061-1804928587-884584394=:14581 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Return-Path: Received: from sweden-c.it.earthlink.net (HELO sweden.it.earthlink.net) (204.250.46.50) by mta-1d.yahoomail.com with SMTP; 11 Jan 1998 21:47:44 -0800 Received: from LOCALNAME (1Cust132.tnt2.sherman-oaks.ca.da.uu.net [153.37.166.132]) by sweden.it.earthlink.net (8.8.7/8.8.5) with SMTP id VAA18386; Sun, 11 Jan 1998 21:45:56 -0800 (PST) Message-ID: <34B9BDB1.D6D@earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 22:52:33 -0800 From: "Ralph M. Witkin" Reply-To: ralkin@earthlink.net X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0C-NSCP (Win16; U) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: John3@cornells.com CC: sfralph@yahoo.com Subject: [Fwd: Returned mail: Service unavailable] Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Content-Length: 3160 Received: from localhost (localhost) by sweden.it.earthlink.net (8.8.7/8.8.5) with internal id VAA15560; Sun, 11 Jan 1998 21:40:27 -0800 (PST) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 21:40:27 -0800 (PST) From: Mail Delivery Subsystem Message-Id: <199801120540.VAA15560@sweden.it.earthlink.net> To: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/report; report-type=delivery-status; boundary="VAA15560.884583627/sweden.it.earthlink.net" Subject: Returned mail: Service unavailable Auto-Submitted: auto-generated (failure) This is a MIME-encapsulated message --VAA15560.884583627/sweden.it.earthlink.net The original message was received at Sun, 11 Jan 1998 21:40:22 -0800 (PST) from 1Cust132.tnt2.sherman-oaks.ca.da.uu.net [153.37.166.132] ----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors ----- ----- Transcript of session follows ----- ... while talking to www.cornells.com.: >>> MAIL From: SIZE=1017 <<< 550 you are not allowed to send mail on this server 554 ... Service unavailable --VAA15560.884583627/sweden.it.earthlink.net Content-Type: message/delivery-status Reporting-MTA: dns; sweden.it.earthlink.net Received-From-MTA: DNS; 1Cust132.tnt2.sherman-oaks.ca.da.uu.net Arrival-Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 21:40:22 -0800 (PST) Final-Recipient: RFC822; hardlines@cornells.com Action: failed Status: 5.0.0 Remote-MTA: DNS; www.cornells.com Diagnostic-Code: SMTP; 550 you are not allowed to send mail on this server Last-Attempt-Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 21:40:27 -0800 (PST) --VAA15560.884583627/sweden.it.earthlink.net Content-Type: message/rfc822 Received: from LOCALNAME (1Cust132.tnt2.sherman-oaks.ca.da.uu.net [153.37.166.132]) by sweden.it.earthlink.net (8.8.7/8.8.5) with SMTP id VAA15533; Sun, 11 Jan 1998 21:40:22 -0800 (PST) Message-ID: <34B9BC63.6016@earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 22:46:59 -0800 From: "Ralph M. Witkin" Reply-To: ralkin@earthlink.net X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0C-NSCP (Win16; U) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: hardlines@cornells.com Subject: [Fwd: Key Duplicating] Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Received: from LOCALNAME (1Cust202.tnt1.sherman-oaks.ca.da.uu.net [153.37.164.202]) by iceland.it.earthlink.net (8.8.7/8.8.5) with SMTP id XAA08861; Wed, 7 Jan 1998 23:47:38 -0800 (PST) Message-ID: <34B336EA.20A2@earthlink.net> Date: Wed, 07 Jan 1998 00:05:02 -0800 From: "Ralph M. Witkin" Reply-To: ralkin@earthlink.net X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0C-NSCP (Win16; U) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: hardlines@cornells.com Subject: Key Duplicating Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Does anyone have a policy where they WILL make keys that are stamped: Do NOT Duplicate"? What do you do when a customer wants a key copied that has tape wrapped all around the head so that if it were stamped "Do NOT Duplicate" the tape covers that up so it can't be read? Does anyone have any "horror" stories on this subject. RALPH WITKIN Sherman Oaks, CA --VAA15560.884583627/sweden.it.earthlink.net-- ---2138437061-1804928587-884584394=:14581-- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 07:13:55 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: Key Duplicating the only key we won't duplicate is a post office key. we 'avoid' duplicating keys for the local university by not having the blanks ("best"). At 09:53 PM EST 1/11/98 -0800, you wrote: > >Does anyone have a policy where they WILL make keys that are stamped: >Do NOT Duplicate"? What do you do when a customer wants a key copied >that has tape wrapped all around the head so that if it were stamped "Do >NOT Duplicate" the tape covers that up so it can't be read? Does anyone >have any "horror" stories on this subject. >RALPH WITKIN >Sherman Oaks, CA > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27689 ********************************** hardlines Digest Wed, 14 Jan 1998 00:02:58 -0500 V01 #27690 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27689' 'Do Not Duplicate' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27689' 'Beatles and Backups' 'Re: Key Duplication' 'bank statements & boatman's capture system' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 01:34:28 -0800 From: "Jay, Will and Linda Farr" Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27689 We've never had any horrific experiences with 'do not duplicate' keys, but as a policy, we don't copy them except for customers known to have a legitimate need for restricted keys. Jay Farr jwlfarr@mail.coos.or.us KB7UCP ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 06:51:18 -0500 From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@compuserve.com> Subject: Do Not Duplicate Dear Folks, I have had one customer in 18 years call back and complain that my guys duplicated a key marked "do not duplicate" for his appartment complex. The ILCO key facts newsletter which comes occassionally with the TruServ Merchandising Advisor has addressed the issue once or twice. As I recall, the stamp "do not duplicate" has no legal standing. Our policy in the store is to avoid making such keys unless we know the holder or the key is accompanied by a letter. This policy has resulted in numerous pissed-off customers. It makes me feel like I'm the "Key Kommander," keeping a watchful eye on local citizens the key duplication habits. I think it's a waste of time. If a person wants a key cut, I think we should make it. If a person or company thinks so highly of a security situation that keys must be controlled closely, they have MEDCO systems (which we don't stock), odd blanks such as BEST, and several other ways to do it properly. I think it's all presentation, like the phrase "Bonded Locksmith." One magazine in the trade will send door and truck decals declaring "Bonded Locksmith." So long as you subscribe to the magazine, they will send them to you. It sounds impressive... Regards, Bill Round ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 07:33:41 EST From: JCcop828 Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27689 a local locksmith would be able to give some insight into this. Just a thought.. Frank ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 07:57:09 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Beatles and Backups A bit of humor for your workday... > > YESTERDAY > > Yesterday, > All those backups seemed a waste of pay. > Now my inventory's gone away. > Oh I believe in yesterday. > > Suddenly, > There's not half the sku's there used to be, > And there's a milestone > hanging over me > The system crashed so suddenly. > > I pushed something wrong > What it was I could not say. > > Now all my data's gone > and I long for yesterday-ay-ay-ay. > > Yesterday, > The need for back-ups seemed so far away. > I knew my data was all here to stay, > Now I believe in yesterday. > John john3@cornells.com Cornell's True Value Hardware - www.cornells.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 10:06:01 -0600 From: hardware Subject: Re: Key Duplication In reference to the question, "Should you duplicate keys that are stamped 'do not duplicate'?" Our policy has always been, if you have the blank, make it. True high security locks are made with special blanks that are not available to the standard hardware store owner. By duplicating the keys, we won a lot of great customers who appreciated our dedication to their needs. Then one day our bubble was popped. A landlord stormed into the store ranting about the money he had spent at the locksmith to have his locks rekeyed and "do not duplicate" keys made. He had sent employees out to test the security. Out of the 15 stores in town who duplicate keys, we were the only ones who had made a copy. Whoops.... Our policy has since changed. If it is a regular customer, we duplicate the key. If it is someone we have never seen before, we simply tell them we do not have a blank to match that key. If the top of the key is covered with duct tape or anything, we do not look... ignorance is a valid defense! Linda Cottin Cottin's Hardware Lawrence, KS ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 19:19:48 -0500 From: truevalue@chamber.worcester.ma.us Subject: bank statements & boatman's capture system Hi A question for the group: How many are pleased with all of the extra DETAIL that is reported on the monthly bank statement? Perhaps it's just that we have to get used to something new! Or perhaps just our bank. Paul Poirier Park Ave. True Value Hardware Inc. Worcester MA truevalue@chamber.worcester.ma.us http://chamber.worcester.ma.us/truevalue ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27690 ********************************** hardlines Digest Thu, 15 Jan 1998 00:00:27 -0500 V01 #27691 Today's topics: 'Re: Boatman & Keys' 'Re: Boatman & Keys' 'Re: (Boatman) my fax #' 'Electrical Packs' 'shipping charges and keys' 'News from the disaster zone' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 08:21:11 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Re: Boatman & Keys In a message dated 1/14/98 12:04:41 AM Eastern Standard Time, hardlines- request@cornells.com writes: << Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 19:19:48 -0500 From: truevalue@chamber.worcester.ma.us Subject: bank statements & boatman's capture system Hi A question for the group: How many are pleased with all of the extra DETAIL that is reported on the monthly bank statement? P >> Paul: The extra detail has created "new" handling methods for our bookkeeper. I do like the extra data -->very detail, but do not like all the entries. She lumps them together for better reporting. I'll FAX over a form she made to handle this if you send me your FAX number. I strongly suggest to use a seperate Bank Account to handle the transactions -- we are using a Savings Account to bucket all this data since the account is hardly used -- keeps the Checking Account easier to maintain. (**(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*((*((((*(*(*(*((* Re : Key Blanks Horror Story - I refused to make a "Do Not Duplicate" Key for a Police Officer --> he was NOT happy! Locksmith -- I have spoken to several in the past. Their solution is to have the customer sign a waver form saying that they acknowledge the key blank and authorize the "key smith" to duplicate. Just more fun for us to deal with. Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 08:38:40 -0600 From: "David Casaletto" Subject: Re: Boatman & Keys I'll FAX over a form she made to handle this if you send me your FAX number. I strongly suggest to use a seperate Bank Account to handle the transactions -- we are using a Savings Account to bucket all this data since the account is hardly used -- keeps the Checking Account easier to maintain. Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 Rick, I'd appreciate a form. My fax number is 316-231-1011, Attn: David. (When are you going to get that scanner! :) David Casaletto True Value Home Center Pittsburg, KS ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 10:26:34 -0500 From: truevalue@chamber.worcester.ma.us Subject: Re: (Boatman) my fax # >>> I'll FAX over a form she made to >>>handle this if you send me your FAX number. I would be happy to look at it. Thank You Paul fax # 1-508-754-1935 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 09:44:55 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Electrical Packs although 'they' fixed some of the bad force-packs, it looks like there are still a few where you might want to drop the items from stock -- for us the packs represent several years' stock and they aren't cheap! it looks like commonization of inventory has some drawbacks....... F-PACK SKU DESCRIPTION F PK RETAIL S/R ------ ----------------------- - -- ------ ------ 172635 IVY GRND Quiet Switch F 10 4.19 41.90 245712 Surface PWR Receptacle F 10 6.29 62.90 245720 Flush PWR Receptacle F 25 4.59 114.75 245746 Surface PWR Receptacle F 10 6.29 62.90 245753 Flush PWR Receptacle F 25 4.59 114.75 245779 1G Outlet Wallplate F 10 2.29 22.90 369876 WHT SWT/Receptacle F 5 8.99 44.95 431882 Surface PWR Receptacle F 10 16.99 169.90 431890 Surface PWR Receptacle F 10 16.99 169.90 473561 WHT 2 Rocker Wallplate F 10 12.90 129.00 837735 RED Mason Stain/Protect F 4 24.99 99.96 898836 3/4x25' Poly Pipe F 5 22.49 112.45 these are the result of the latest update this morning -- yes, an off-schedule update of another 5,000 records.... ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 17:41:58 -0500 (EST) From: Richard Filion Subject: shipping charges and keys Help!! I just received my first TruServ order with a shipping charge, and just realized that I have not anticipated what I would do about it. We receive a priced out delivery sheet which I use to confirm receiving. I keep working at it until the total cost on my MPO matches the total on the delivery sheet. If I add the shipping charge to the cost to get a real delivered cost of goods then I will have to change my prices every order. The old way, I had only to change cost prices on items whose prices had changed since my last purchase of them. That also warned me to check the retail price. If I do not add the shipping charges into my cost of goods then I am not really dealing with a landed cost. I guess that is what I will have to do. Just figure shipping as an overhead expense. Any other ideas? As for "Do Not Duplicate" keys, I always figured that instruction was to the key user and not the hardware store. If the key holder chose to ignore it, then why should I not also. But I do appreciate that some customers must resent our ignoring their request. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Richard Filion rhfil@nh.ultranet.com Filion Lumber 603-659-3361 Newmarket, N.H. ------------------------------ Date: From: tomhanson@POBoxes.com (Tom Hanson) Subject: News from the disaster zone Hi gang: Just got my power back after a week without it at home. Try to imagine my excitement as the Con Edison cherry picker cut away the tree limbs with its flashing amber light getting nearer and nearer! Crews are here in Maine from as far away as the Carolinas clearing the debris from the week long ice storm. I just downloaded the first 50 of my emails and I haven't caught up with you all in the Hardlines universe. The ice storm was really impressive. One major transmission line was lost when a line broke and started a domino type chain reaction that cleaned out eight miles of large towers! The reaction would have continued but the geometry of some hill stopped the momentum somehow. Half the population of the state was without power for a few days and it will be weeks before everyone gets their electric service back. Business at the store has been exciting to say the least. Downtown Bangor's electricity is fed under ground and did not loose power for any period of time longer than my UPS could handle without shutting down my Eagle. At one time I don't think there was any other electric serviced areas within forty miles of our store in any direction. We have set 4 sales records in the last 8 days with all of the days being great. We did not sell any large items (generators or kerosene heaters) knowing how dumb some people get at times like this. Two people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning and the hospitals are reporting an epidemic of other cases. I don't know how many houses have burned down. We would like to thank the Manchester distribution center for getting us four extra orders in 7 days. Two have been full trailers for our store and one was a special run for us and three other stores. For the forth extra order, Manchester went out and rented a big U-Haul truck for us and loaded it. Jerry and Paul Paradis from Paradis' True Value in Bar Harbor are sport pilots with their own plane. They picked up my brother and flew to Manchester in icing conditions. Paul and my brother drove the U-Haul back to our stores. That got some news coverage and a lot of good will for our stores. Got to go revel in my brightly lit house. Tom Hanson ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27691 ********************************** hardlines Digest Fri, 16 Jan 1998 00:00:51 -0500 V01 #27692 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27691' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27691' 'DO NOT DUPLICATE ' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27691' 'the customer is always right??????????' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 00:36:03 EST From: LoggyF Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27691 For our TruServ readers... I would like to take a straw poll. After going thru the Christmas season, how many feel that the Central Ship program is a timely, cost effective and dealer friendly method of distribution? For us, the Hub and the Central Ship both come out of Harvard, IL. We get the hub with our regular order on Thurs. evening. Central Ship might show up on Fri. or it might show up on Mon. or in a couple of cases, not at all. It makes it real interesting when you have special orders for customers that don't show up. LoggyF@aol.com Fred Logsdon Nevada True Value Nevada, IA ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 01:28:18 EST From: JCcop828 Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27691 I have a question that does not apply to what we have been talking about ,,,, ie. bookkeeping and keys,,, Does anyone have an application,,, interchange, and data sheet(s) on circuit breakers,, also the formulas for usage,, wire,,, size ect,,, frank ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 23:30:21 -0800 (PST) From: Ralph Witkin Subject: DO NOT DUPLICATE ---2138437117-33463914-884849421=:15768 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline note: forwarded msg attached. _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ---2138437117-33463914-884849421=:15768 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Return-Path: Received: from denmark-c.it.earthlink.net (HELO denmark.it.earthlink.net) (204.119.177.22) by mta-1c.yahoomail.com with SMTP; 13 Jan 1998 21:32:17 -0800 Received: from LOCALNAME (1Cust234.tnt2.sherman-oaks.ca.da.uu.net [153.37.166.234]) by denmark.it.earthlink.net (8.8.7/8.8.5) with SMTP id VAA28024; Tue, 13 Jan 1998 21:35:30 -0800 (PST) Message-ID: <34BC5E33.7CB5@earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 22:41:55 -0800 From: "Ralph M. Witkin" Reply-To: ralkin@earthlink.net X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0C-NSCP (Win16; U) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Jswift@up.net, jwlfarr@mail.coos.or.us, 102753.622@compuserve.com, JCcop828@aol.com, hardware@lawrence.ks.us CC: SFRalph@yahoo.com Subject: Hardlines Digest Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Length: 972 Thanks to all of you for your responses concerning my DO NOT DUPLICATE question. In over 35 years of cutting keys, I've only once made one stamped that way; and like most of you, it was a customer I knew personally who was well respected in the community, etc. That was in the store my father owned, since then, as an employee for others I've never assumed the authority to do so. Perhaps, one difference is that I'm in the Los Angeles/Beverly Hills areas -- "Land of Liability Lawyers". When I was working at a very high volume True Value store just 2 blocks from Beverly Hills, the owner's attitude was he didn't want to have to defend a multimillion dollar business in a lawsuit for a 99 cent sale. In that store, we had over 20 video cameras mostly as a defense against Personal Injury lawsuits (shoplifting was a secondary purpose of the cameras). Well thanks again for sharing your Experience, Strength & Hope with each other. RALPH WITKIN Sherman Oaks, CA ---2138437117-33463914-884849421=:15768-- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 07:18:31 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27691 the problem wiht hub orders is that the hub has to pick them and then truck them to your rim rdc. for us that means that we order on thursday, harvard picks thursday afternoon and we lose 8 hours for the truck to get to mankato where it's loaded with the rim stuff that isn't picked till friday morning. if the mainframe wasn't so slow (batch processing can introduce inefficiencies) and we didn't have the hub stuff, we could order friday morning which would cut our lead time by 50%. and the cs stuff has no more or less errors than the hub of rim rdcs - they're all goofy! i favor the move from rim/hub to rim/cs. At 12:36 AM EST 1/15/98 EST, you wrote: >For our TruServ readers... I would like to take a straw poll. > >After going thru the Christmas season, how many feel that the Central Ship >program is a timely, cost effective and dealer friendly method of >distribution? > >For us, the Hub and the Central Ship both come out of Harvard, IL. We get the >hub with our regular order on Thurs. evening. Central Ship might show up on >Fri. or it might show up on Mon. or in a couple of cases, not at all. It makes >it real interesting when you have special orders for customers that don't show >up. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 14:37:02 -0600 From: "David Casaletto" Subject: the customer is always right?????????? This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0006_01BD21C3.0B598F40 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi group, I got two stories about customer service. I'd like to know how you would = handle them. Story #1 An older lady buys a microwave oven on November 20th. She brought in a = discounter's ad and we matched the price at $78.88 (True Value SKU# = 356334). After the first of the year, she brings it back and says that = when she wants to enter one minute, the display reads ten minutes. She = wants a new oven or her money back. We ask her to demonstrate and = discover she is holding her finger on the zero too long. When we tried = to tell her this, she got mad and said that was not the problem. Finally = we say we will take it to the service center. She calls back and said = she wants a new microwave or her money back and she is turning us in to = the Better Business Bureau (she did, I just got the letter from them). Of course the service man says there is nothing wrong with the microwave = (he wrote that he tightened the touch pad on the work order). The = woman's daughter told her to try the microwave again, so we are = delivering it out to her, but she said if it still doesn't work we've = not heard the end of it. So I'm sure I've not heard the end of it. Oh = yea, the oven was dirty inside and smelled bad, so I can't resell it. = She said her friends warned her not to buy from True Value as they don't = stand behind their products. So, what would you do?=20 Give her a new oven? Give her money back? Stand by the policy? Story #2 A small handyman contractor bought a window airconditioner three years = ago for his rentals, but did not use it until the summer of 1997. It = worked for awhile, but the compessor went out. We told him who the local = warranty service center was, but he wanted us to take it there. We told = him the compressor was covered, but not labor or other parts. He said to = fix it. It took 6 months to fix because the parts were back ordered, but = it finally was fixed in December. The bill came to about $200 as they = also put in a new motor for over $100. The customer said the motor was = not bad and doesn't want to pay for it. We said that he told us to have = the air conditioner fixed and the company only fixed what was needed to = get it working. We even attached the repair bill we received to his = ticket to show him we only charged what we were charged. He said the = repairman was screwing him and us and was using the motor in someone = else's airconditioner and that he thought my manager was in with the = repairman to screw him. He also had cut the cord off the airconditioner = to direct wire the unit, which voids the warranty, but the service = center overlooked that problem. This contractor purchased $6,000 from us = last year with gross profit being around $1,600. What would you do? Give him a new air conditioner? Give him credit for the motor? Stick to policy? And the bigger question? If you do give money back on these, is it right = to only do this for the people who complain, yell, acuse, and expect = more than the normal customer? ????????? See ya, David Casaletto True Value Home Center Pittsburg, KS ------=_NextPart_000_0006_01BD21C3.0B598F40 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hi group,
 
I got two stories about customer = service. I'd=20 like to know how you would handle them.
 
Story #1
 
An older lady buys a microwave oven = on November=20 20th. She brought in a discounter's ad and we matched the price at = $78.88 (True=20 Value SKU# 356334). After the first of the year, she brings it back and = says=20 that when she wants to enter one minute, the display reads ten minutes. = She=20 wants a new oven or her money back. We ask her to demonstrate and = discover she=20 is holding her finger on the zero too long. When we tried to tell her = this, she=20 got mad and said that was not the problem. Finally we say we will take = it to the=20 service center. She calls back and said she wants a new microwave or her = money=20 back and she is turning us in to the Better Business Bureau (she did, I = just got=20 the letter from them).
Of course the service man says there = is nothing=20 wrong with the microwave (he wrote that he tightened the touch pad on = the work=20 order). The woman's daughter told her to try the microwave again, so we = are=20 delivering it out to her, but she said if it still doesn't work we've = not heard=20 the end of it. So I'm sure I've not heard the end of it. Oh yea, the = oven was=20 dirty inside and smelled bad, so I can't resell it. She said her friends = warned=20 her not to buy from True Value as they don't stand behind their=20 products.
So, what would you do?
Give her a new oven?
Give her money back?
Stand by the policy?
 
Story #2
 
A small handyman contractor bought a = window=20 airconditioner three years ago for his rentals, but did not use it until = the=20 summer of 1997. It worked for awhile, but the compessor went out. We = told him=20 who the local warranty service center was, but he wanted us to take it = there. We=20 told him the compressor was covered, but not labor or other parts. He = said to=20 fix it. It took 6 months to fix because the parts were back ordered, but = it=20 finally was fixed in December. The bill came to about $200 as they also = put in a=20 new motor for over $100. The customer said the motor was not bad and = doesn't=20 want to pay for it. We said that he told us to have the air conditioner = fixed=20 and the company only fixed what was needed to get it working. We even = attached=20 the repair bill we received to his ticket to show him we only charged = what we=20 were charged. He said the repairman was screwing him and us and was = using the=20 motor in someone else's airconditioner and that he thought my manager = was in=20 with the repairman to screw him. He also had cut the cord off the = airconditioner=20 to direct wire the unit, which voids the warranty, but the service = center=20 overlooked that problem. This contractor purchased $6,000 from us last = year with=20 gross profit being around $1,600. What would you do?
Give him a new air = conditioner?
Give him credit for the = motor?
Stick to policy?
 
And the bigger question? If you do give money back = on these,=20 is it right to only do this for the people who complain, yell, acuse, = and expect=20 more than the normal customer? ?????????
 
 
See ya,
 
David Casaletto
True Value Home Center
Pittsburg, KS
------=_NextPart_000_0006_01BD21C3.0B598F40-- ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27692 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sat, 17 Jan 1998 00:00:34 -0500 V01 #27693 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27692' 'Price Tags Advice Needed' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27691 - CENTRAL SHIP' 'Many Happy Returns...' 'Re: the customer is always right??????????' 'Re: Cutler Hammer Electrical Wize Answers' 'Microwave's and Air Conditioners' 'hardlines Digest - V01 #27692' 'TruServ freight and customers from hell' 'Returns' 'Returns & replies' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 16 Jan 1998 01:06:03 EST From: AlannnnT Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27692 In a message dated 98-01-16 00:33:27 EST, you write: << This contractor purchased $6,000 from us = last year with gross profit being around $1,600. What would you do? Give him a new air conditioner? >> My personal motto is 'you have to pick your fights'. Do you want to fight with this guy? Is winning the fight worth losing the customer? I would offer to get him a new A/C for the cost of the repair. That way he pays something and you lose a little. Then, call a church or charity and donate the A/C-get a receipt. Also, fix the cord end first. Then negotiate with the repair center. There is always a little room. Instead of a fight , the customer will think your doing the right thing and keep coming. With the elder lady, you cannot win. Even if you give her a new one, she will bad- mouth your store. Type up a copy of your policy for returns, and a copy of the purchase date etc. and tell her to bring it to the BBB. If you are not afraid of the BBB because you are doing the right thing, she will have to offer you a fall back position and maybe she will compromise. Just remember- It would be a great buisness if it wasn't for all those customers!- Tee Hee. Good Luck Alan Talman Karps Hardware ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 22:52:19 -0800 From: robert@rlarson.com Subject: Price Tags Advice Needed I am working on a project that will enable us to print sheets of price tags for our customers for their orders. Didn't realize I had the software already, and found 1" by 1" labels on 8-1/2" by 11" sheets for laser printers. Almost seems strange to put computer generated labels on traditional hand tools, but this is the computer age. Barcodes on carving tools? What would you, as a hardware retailer, want to see on these tags. I obviously will include our part number. Our suggested retail is likely, but we do not have a system to tailor retails for each customers preferred margins, so suggested retail is our only option for pricing. Description is my biggest stumbling block. We have a forty character field, but that will not fit into a 1" wide label without very small type - perhaps too small. Two lines of twenty characters and let the break fall where it will? Another option is to go to a wider to accomodate the description field. At that point we could include the bar code as well. Somewhat redundant as some of our products already have barcodes on their packaging (and some do not) Also, do you usually pay for price tags. I don't see the service costing very much, but a dollar or two per order perhaps? Perhaps free for a certain size order? Someone suggested to me a monthly subscription fee which would qualify the dealer for price tags for any and all orders. I would welcome a fax of any sample labels if anyone has a chance to do this. Enough rambling, but thanks for any and all input on this. Robert Larson =================================================================================== Robert Larson http://www.rlarson.com Robert Larson Company, Inc. 15 Dorman Avenue San Francisco CA 94124 USA Phone: 1.415.821.1021 or 1.800.356.2195 Fax: 1.415.821.3786 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Jan 1998 00:52:22 -0800 From: "DAVID D. PILGRIM" Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27691 - CENTRAL SHIP IN OUR STORE, I VOTE FOR RIM/HUB. WE CURRENTLY HAVE TO HAVE OUR ORDER IN ON TUESDAY AT 9 AM AND WITH THE RIM/HUB SYSTEM, I CURRENTLY GET OUR ORDER ON WEDNESDAY AT ABOUT 5:30PM. I AM THE FIRST DROP ON THE TRUCK RUN WHICH HELPS ALOT. MOST OF THE OTHER STORES ON THE RUN DON'T GET THEIR ORDER TILL THURSDAY AM. OUR LUCK WITH CENTRAL SHIP HAS BEEN SO/SO. WE USUALLY GET ONLY 1 OR 2 ITEMS FROM CENTRAL SHIP EACH WEEK. THE COST OF SHIPPING TO TRU-SERV HAS TO BE MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE MERCHANDISE THAT WE GET. IT MAY SHOW UP ON FRIDAY OR MONDAY, OR NOT AT ALL. LATELY, THERE HAVE BEEN WEEKS WHERE WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANYTHING AT ALL, BECAUSE CENTRAL SHIP IS OUT OF THE MERCHANDISE EVEN THOUGH THE INVENTORY COUNT SAYS THEY STILL HAVE SOME. THE WORST EXAMPLE OF MERCHANDISE RECEIVED FROM CENTRAL SHIP WAS A CASE OF 4 OIL LAMPS SENT FEDERAL EXPRESS TO US. THREE OF THE FOUR GLASS GLOBES ON THE OIL LAMPS WERE RECEIVED BROKEN. I BELIEVE THAT THE CONCEPT OF CENTRAL SHIP IS GOOD, BUT NOT NECCESSARILY FOR EVERY PART OF THE COUNTRY. ON THE WEST COAST, IT MAY BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO CONTINUE WITH THE HUB/RIM SYSTEM AND/OR PUT IN A SECOND CENTRAL SHIP LOCATION. JUST SOME THOUGHTS. DAVID D. PILGRIM VILLAGE TRUE VALUE MAPLE VALLEY, WA ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Jan 1998 06:50:23 -0500 From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@compuserve.com> Subject: Many Happy Returns... Dear Folks, David Casaletto presented two customer service horror stories which deserve comment(s). 1. I'm surprised David stocks appliances in this day and age. I was under the impression that nobody makes any money on them, even outfits which specialize in that business. The New York discounter "THE WIZ" roared into the Boston market no 18 months ago prepared to show the competition how it was done. They folded their tent in less than a year. 2. I avoid selling Senior Citizens merchandise which plugs into the wall, uses batteries or which runs on gasoline. Often the technology is beyond their comprehension. 3. I always like to comment on cases like this taking the broad sociological view. Senior Citizens have achieved the status of a protected class in this country. They have taken to acting that way. However, the general decline in the character of all American Citizens is routinely expressed in abusive retail return activities. They don't want to take responsibility for anything. My theory is that the New Deal programs set the stage for this behavior in the '30's. Sears capitalized on it by stating to the customer "your satisfaction guaranteed or your money back." They make it part of the American landscape. It became ingrained in the moral progamming for the citizenry. Customers liked it so much that they extended it to every sphere of their lives, from cookie sheets to cars. Ultimately, people would refuse to take responsibility for the children they brought into the world, never mind a microwave oven... or a screwdriver used as a prybar. 4. Choices on the microwave: A. consider your mental health... return the cash throw the over in the dumpster or dontate it to a... shelter for the homeless. Perhaps your customer will see it there one night after a bender. The quicker you dispose of it, the better you will feel. The mind has a way of suppressing unpleasant experiences. B. Tell her there is nothing wrong, then ignore her after that. The people she tells never to shop at True Value probably would do the same thing to you. C. Take the "enlighted" business view and refund her money. This is supposedly how LL Bean, Sears, Home Depot, etc. made billions. Unfortunately, this is retailing today. If customers expect it, give it to them, just charge them more $$ for the thousands of nick naks you have in the store. Keep repeating "it's the bottom line that counts...." 5. The contractor class will continue to abuse until no longer permitted to do so. Don't permit it. He's probably stealing as much as your gross profits, anyway. Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Jan 1998 08:13:41 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: the customer is always right?????????? At 02:37 PM EST 1/15/98 -0600, David Casaletto wrote: >Story #1 >An older lady buys a microwave oven. she is holding her finger on the zero too long. she is turning us in to the Better Business Bureau >The woman's daughter told her to try the microwave again, >So, what would you do? >Give her a new oven? >Give her money back? >Stand by the policy? > first - try to reason with the *daughter*.... we have a bunch of 'dear sweet little old ladies' here for whom we'll do almost anything - most of them were my grade- and high-school teachers . some of them can't figure out anything 'newfangled'. our goal is to not sell them anything they aren't competent to operate. so --- stand by the policy (the wording of which you didn't mention) - you're right, she's wrong, and if the daughter can't work with her you're better off having her go to the marts.... she'll also have a grudge against the BBB form now on... >Story #2 >A small handyman contractor sometimes these guys are the hardest to deal with - try having him do some work for you and see how ethical *he* is.... >He said to fix it. and you didn't give him an estimate, did you... lesson learned? (ouch - it hurts every time i forget to do that!) >The customer said the motor was not bad and doesn't want to pay for it. >He said the repairman was screwing him and us and thought my manager was in with the repairman to screw him. since you didn't give him an estimate to approve, you're screwed - you can't 'prove' him wrong. > This contractor purchased $6,000 from us last year with gross profit being around $1,600. What would you do? how much hassle did you go through for the $1,600? the 'average' labor cost is 20% = $1,200..... >Give him a new air conditioner? >Give him credit for the motor? >Stick to policy? > so --- you eat the motor. it's your fault for not getting approval on the repair cost. but make sure you tell him exactly why you're doing it. and tell him that in the future, he'll have to handle warranty repairs himself and get his own estimates "so you won't screw up again"..... >And the bigger question? If you do give money back on these, is it right to only do this for the people who complain, yell, acuse, and expect more than the normal customer? ????????? > once in a while we get a 'grouch'. i define that as a person who "wants to be unhappy". those people aren't customers, they're grouches and our policy is that only customers are always right. we have found that grouches always complain and everyone that hears them considers the source of the complaint and ignores it. remember that you aren't a 'public' thing, you're a private business. you don't have to allow 'nasty peoaple' in your store. you and your employees don't have to be verbally abused. the real customers will appreciate not having to associate with as__oles .... ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Jan 1998 08:29:21 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Re: Cutler Hammer Electrical Wize Answers In a message dated 1/16/98 12:02:18 AM Eastern Standard Time, hardlines- request@cornells.com writes: << Does anyone have an application,,, interchange, and data sheet(s) on circuit breakers,, also the formulas for usage,, wire,,, size ect,,, frank >> Frank: Call Cutler Hammer 1 800 443 3342 and ask them for the training videos LC-Video, the training manuel (I suggest at least 2), and the Circuit Breaker Reference Cards. Very good and informative -- now only to get everyone to use it! Back Page of the Market DS form (New Orleans). Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Jan 98 09:13:15 edt From: "Kip" Subject: Microwave's and Air Conditioners David in Pittsburg: Microwave problem: For $78, we would have given her a new one with the stipulation that we replace once. Sounds like her daughter is involved and if she is, we would have shown her the operation of the microwave if that were possible. In any case, this lady will tell 10 people perhaps, if you make her happy with the replacement. She will tell hundreds if you piss her off. That ain't worth $78. Air Conditioner: If the contractor pays his bills on time or is a cash contractor, replace the air conditioner or pay the repair bill or work out a deal that makes him happy. Contractors are also a fraternity. Contractors also ask you to do some strange things but they all know each other and they talk. We have also found that small profitable contractors that pay their bills often become medium sized profitable contractors that pay their bills. Contractors also can be your ambassadors to the community. They see a number of people everyday that you don't see. Their customers that ultimately become your customer. It is your call though! We have had contractor customers that are habitual complainers and return a majority of what they buy. When that becomes apparent, we fire the customer, but only if we have done everything possible to satisfy them. If you think this customer will continue to be profitable, I would keep him happy. Kip Coleman Hamilton Supply Co. Hamilton, NJ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Jan 1998 15:39:23 -0500 From: "Richard E. Patullo" Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27692 Message text written by "David Casaletto" >And the bigger question? If you do give money back on these, is it right= =3D to only do this for the people who complain, yell, acuse, and expect =3D more than the normal customer? ?????????< in both cases the right thing to do is probably to take a deep breath and= say we belive we are right but what would you like us to do. and do it. i= f these 2 folks both take advantage of you you are out $300. charge it to advertising expence. it is not fair but it is reality. dick patullo hampden hardware hampden ma. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Jan 1998 20:06:02 -0500 (EST) From: Richard Filion Subject: TruServ freight and customers from hell Having become desperate about receiving my most recent ServiStar orders with the freight factor, I read and reread the RRP price change options and after an experiment with one item, received everything with options C & D, update cost and use landed cost to update average cost. It worked just perfect, using the freight factor to increase only the average cost, and updating the replacement cost, with the new cost. Triad does get some things just right. All of us have had to deal with the customer from hell, and most times you never see them again regardless of what you do. We were replacing Stanley 25' and 30' tapes on a regular basis, some looked as if they had been found at the local dump, and most looked as if they had definitely been abused. I really understand Stanley's new policy and post it prominently right next to the tapes. Since then we have had only one claim and have sold substantially more tapes. One customer wanted to return a Stanley $30.00 plane which he had dropped three stories onto a concrete slab. Couldn't understand why it had not survived the fall. Our policy is to tell anyone whose claim seems extremely farfetched to contact the company direct. We write down the customer service number for them and tell them they will have better luck dealing direct. We have never had a problem that way, but we do not sell appliances. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Richard Filion rhfil@nh.ultranet.com Filion Lumber 603-659-3361 Newmarket, N.H. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Jan 1998 20:00:46 -0600 From: "Cyndi Martini" Subject: Returns >Story #1 > >An older lady buys a microwave oven on November 20th. She brought in a = >discounter's ad and we matched the price at $78.88 (True Value SKU# = >356334). After the first of the year, she brings it back and says that = >She said her friends warned her not to buy from True Value as they don't = >stand behind their products. >So, what would you do? This is a situation encountered by many of us...The best you can do is what you have done (have it checked by a warranty repair center). Return the merchandise to the customer with the address of the manufacturer and a customer service number they can call for any future problems. What most customers do not understand is that a warranty applies to manufacturing defects.....not customer mis-use or abuse. As far as the BBB....write them a response back detailing your side of the story and a copy of the warranty if possible and you should have no further problem from them. > >Story #2 > >A small handyman contractor bought a window airconditioner three years = >ago for his rentals, but did not use it until the summer of 1997. It = >worked for awhile, but the compessor went out. We told him who the local = >warranty service center was, but he wanted us to take it there. We told = >him the compressor was covered, but not labor or other parts. He said to = >fix it. The bill came to about $200 as they = >also put in a new motor for over $100. The customer said the motor was = >not bad and doesn't want to pay for it. We said that he told us to have = >the air conditioner fixed and the company only fixed what was needed to = >get it working. We even attached the repair bill we received to his = >ticket to show him we only charged what we were charged. He said the = >repairman was screwing him and us and was using the motor in someone = >else's airconditioner and that he thought my manager was in with the = >repairman to screw him. Would it be possible to get the original parts back?.....if no credit or discount was given for the old parts then they should be returned. I know when we do repairs on gas heaters we always ask what the customer wants done with the old parts before throwing them out or repairing them for use elsewhere. If the parts can't be returned see if the customer will compromise on a 50/50 split and you can write the difference off as a loss unless you can do with the $6000 a year the customer spends in your store. (I don't know what size store you have, but I know that I would notice that type of loss.) > >And the bigger question? If you do give money back on these, is it right = >to only do this for the people who complain, yell, acuse, and expect = >more than the normal customer? ????????? As for this question, we take it on a customer to customer basis. Loud, abusive customers are asked to leave the store. Most of these that we have encountered are not regular shoppers and the loss of their business will not have much of an impact. It is worse for the business when they are yelling and screaming in front of other customers and most won't go with you to a more private place to discuss the matter because they think you will do more for them if they are causing a scene in front of other customers. Most times the manufacturers are willing to work with the stores and we do what we can, but as I said before....warranties apply to manufacturing defects only, and most customers will understand this if it is explained in layman's terms in a calm manner. Cyndi Martini Martini Hardware Houston, TX 77023 cmartini@hia.net ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Jan 1998 22:20:36 -0600 From: "David Casaletto" Subject: Returns & replies This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0010_01BD22CC.F7E69B00 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi Group, Thanks to everyone for their responses to my problems. I'll keep you = posted how it turns out! See ya! David Casaletto True Value Home Center Pittsburg, KS ------=_NextPart_000_0010_01BD22CC.F7E69B00 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hi Group,
 
Thanks to everyone for their = responses to my=20 problems. I'll keep you posted how it turns out!
 
See ya!
 
David Casaletto
True Value Home Center
Pittsburg, = KS
------=_NextPart_000_0010_01BD22CC.F7E69B00-- ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27693 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sun, 18 Jan 1998 00:02:18 -0500 V01 #27694 Today's topics: 're:Customer Satisfaction vs Store Satisfactiion' 'more pack problems' 're: Children' 're: Children' 'Christmas market in New Jersey' 'EDCON in Las Vegas' 'Customer horror stories' 'Customer is Always Right?' 'ATM machines in-store' 're: Children' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 08:03:18 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: re:Customer Satisfaction vs Store Satisfactiion =0ADave:=0A=0AEvery story must be weighed for its merits -- as I try to = explain to the=0Ahelp, there is no Black & White answer.=0A=0AStory #1=0A= What policy?? There are no winners --> is it worth the fight?=0A=0AOn th= e microwave unit, I would probably refunded the customer and NOT sell her= =0Aanother one. You kinda lost when you sold it at a matching price (ano= ther=0Asituation). Need a microwave in the "lunchroom"? Also, why is un= it=0Adiscontinued by the warehouse????=0A=0AStory #2=0AIs this a "good" c= ustomer -->not $ but as a customer. This reminds me of one,=0Ahe bought = about 3000 a year --> mostly for a client, but the stuff he bought=0Afor = himself would always be returned and/or disputed. Well, one day he made = a=0Ascene at the register over a price given to him and then stormed out = - almost=0Aeveryone sang "hallelujah". =0AI would have refunded the cos= t of the repair and hoped he would never=0Areturned. This is called "fir= ing the customer".=0A=0AHere are a couple of horror stories:=0A#1 - a key= was made and broke in the customer's car cylinder. The locksmith=0Achar= ge was $75.00!!! We paid for it and never charged the customer for the= =0Akey.=0A#2 - a battery was sold to customer for his cordless phone. The= battery was=0Awrong and shorted out the customer phone. Cost $85.00. We= paid it.=0A#3 - a customer special ordered a stapler. When he took it h= ome, he claimed=0Ait was used. We refunded the customer even though the = unit was new. He then=0Amade a big scene =E0I told him take his money an= d never come back.=0A=0ABut, whatabout the "good" stories. I try to reme= mber those good ones instead=0Aif I am going to survive. I claim my empl= oyees are too strict and do not look=0Ainto the future by not asking "is = it worth the fight?".=0A=0AOh well, gotta send an employee out to replace= a house lock that he just lost=0Athe owner's key to!=0A=0AHave fun=0A=0A= Rick Schwartz=0ASchwartz True Value=0AFall River, MA =0A ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 08:16:38 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: more pack problems remember the guy who screwed-up all the packs in the electrical department? well, it looks like they didn't fire him - they promoted him to the group level... because he's now messing with hardware, plumbing, sporting goods and decorations! i did come up with two other possibilities: 1. it's a sneaky way to increase our purchases during the slow season because we don't find out about the increases until the shipment arrives. 2. the person came from ctc/ss and thinks retailers should always buy in wholesale packs. maybe the ctc/ss dealers would know if this was one of their complaints with their wholesaler? some of these items are just 'new force packs', but others got their retail prices seriously messed with at the same time by changing the retail price from each to box and the wholesale price from box to each. these problems look like the person doing them is making changes without understanding what they are doing and messing up my margins horribly in the process! it's almost enough to make me want to find a new source for the next 4 months until 'they' learn how to do it 'retail-friendly'! 100057 1094A 4PK C9 Asst Color Bulb 135467 S42-100MM SH/RIVET-1/8S 135558 S44-100MM MD/RIVET-1/8S 135731 S48-100MM LG/RIVET-1/8S 135988 S42-25MM 1/8X1/8 Steel Pop Rivet 135996 S44-20MM 1/8x1/4 Steel Pop Rivet 136002 S48-15MM 1/8x1/2 Steel Pop Rivet 137117 SBUP4MM 40PK B/UP PLATE 140038 A42-25MM SH/RIVET-1/8AL 140046 A44-20MM MD/RIVET-1/8AL 140160 ABUP6MM 30PK B/UP PLATE 140517 A44-100MM MD/RIVET-1/8 141796 A64-15MM MD/RIVET-3/16 141978 A68-12MM LG/RIVET-3/16 141986 A610-10MM 3/16" Long Pop Rivet 142034 A64-50MM MD/RIVET 3/16 142133 A68-50MM LG/RIVET3/16 142364 ABUP-4MM 30pk.Alum.Back Up Plate 659857 TRS804TV 1/4" HD Staples 660412 TRS805TV 5/16" HD Staples 660426 TRS806TV 3/8" HD Staples 660453 TRS808TV 1/2" HD Staples 660467 TRS809TV 9/16" HD Staples 525444 TRN-580MM 5/8" Brad Nails 297663 A42W-100MM 100PK RIVETS 146613 ORB112 4151B 5/8,1/2,3/32 O'Ring 146837 ORB113 O RING 3/4 146894 ORB114 O RING 13/16 147942 ORB115 4177B 7/8,11/16,3/32 O'Ri 147959 OR116 4183B 15/16,3/4,3/32 O'Rin 149054 ORC210 O RING 1 149070 ORC211 4210B 1-1/16 13/16 1/8 O' 150581 ORC2124218B 1-1/8,7/8,1/8 O'Ring 152033 ORC2184270B 11/2,11/4,1/8 O'Ring 153593 OR14 O RING 5/8 X 1/2 X 1/16 153627 OR18 4174B 7/8,3/4,1/16 O'Ring 898836 MPQB4PC25X 3/4x25' Poly Pipe 309229 309229 1-1/2x1-1/4 W/CO 479907 479-907 1-1/2 Bevel Poly Washer 450163 450163 Poly Flanged Washers 663047 3740 1/4" OD Tube Bending Spring 663054 3742 5/16" OD Tube Bending Sprin 663062 3742 3/8 Bending Spring 663096 3745 5/8" OD Tube Bending Spring 628362 ORB111 4140B 5/8,7/16,3/32 O'Rin 789153 7145 Waste/Overflow Washers 789076 7526 Rubber Sink Stopper 103382 384-48 Canv.Shotgun Case 48" 103622 385-44 Canv.Shotgun Case 44" ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 08:39:22 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: re: Children Hi: Got a Store Policy question: Would you or do you allow employee's children (including owners) in the store for the day (babysitting while working). In the past, we have. Now I am wondering if this was a "good" move after one of the children had an accident in the store. Thanks Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 10:24:28 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: re: Children At 08:39 AM 1/17/98 -0500, Rick Schwartz wrote: > >Got a Store Policy question: Would you or do you allow employee's children >(including owners) in the store for the day (babysitting while working). > >In the past, we have. Now I am wondering if this was a "good" move after one >of the children had an accident in the store. We apply our "visitor" policy to this question. In other words, you can't bring your kids to work. I've found that we're better off having the employee stay home, as the child usually distracts both the parent and other workers. As far as owners' children, usually this is less of a problem. My daughters sometimes stay for a short time (1/2 hour max) and restrict themselves to the office where they take over one of our PC's. If they get bored and start wandering the floor, then I head home for a while. I think the injury issue is a real important consideration... employees tend to go places that are more dangerous than the sales floor. John john3@cornells.com Cornell's True Value Hardware - www.cornells.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 10:26:29 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Christmas market in New Jersey How many TruServ folks are attending the TruServ Christmas buying market later this month in New Jersey? We'll be out for a few days, probably driving back and forth rather than staying at the hotel (we're about 45 minutes from the market location). John ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 10:29:34 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: EDCON in Las Vegas Announcing the first ever EDCON/Hardlines get together.... Date: Tuesday February 10 Time: 6PM to whenever Location: To be determined (but somewhere in Las Vegas) How many folks are interested... any ideas for a venue? Maybe we'll reserve a Hardlines Blackjack table? It can't be any worse than gambling on winter weather (geesh, here in NY we've have zero snow and ice so far). John ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 10:34:25 -0600 From: mike jones Subject: Customer horror stories Gang, This may be a little different story 'cause it's not about hardware, but....... Some very good friends of ours had their 1988 Olds stolen while visiting their daughter in Chicago. They had their insurance with the agency where my wife works. When they reported the loss, the insurance carrier offered them $4000 which was the "Blue Book" at the time. My friend complained to my wife, who, fortunately, works in commercial, not personal lines and wasn't involved with the claim. She referred him to the owner, claiming ignorance of how personal lines handles claims. My friend harrassed, threatened, cajoled, and basically was one of the most horrendous customers you'd ever seen. He demanded FULL REPLACEMENT VALUE - almost $20,000- because that's what a new car would cost him. However, he did not have that kind of coverage - he had "value at the time of loss" type of coverage.(Everyone stop now and go check your coverage!!) They finally settled for $8000 (twice the value) but he was still not happy and thinks he was screwed. Needless to say we try not to be in the room when he the subject comes up. The ironic part is that he is a very NICE guy and really a great friend who would do anything for you. He just happens to be one HELL of a customer! Be thankful you're not in insurance :-) Mike Jones ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 09:52:44 -0800 (PST) From: Ralph Witkin Subject: Customer is Always Right? Regarding David Casaletto's questions: one more reason why I'm 100% against "price-matching" -- you do business with people who will neveer let you make a profit. Why didn't she just buy the microwave from the discount store? Because they wouldn't give her the level of service (hand holding) you will. I always tell people if we match price -- will they match service and selection and convenience? I'd stick with the policy and send her home with her good microwave, you may lose her business in the future, but do you want it? Don't allow her to intimidate you about True Value not standing behind it's products -- that's a form of blackmail. Legitimate customers will know what True Value really is. The "handyman" is a different story -- he is for the most part a profitable, active "good" customer. For a $1,600 a year profit, you can afford a $200. expense. But, first I'd try to get the Service Center to offer some form of price adjustment, AND ask the customer to pay part of the bill: maybe a 3-way split (only costing you $67). RALPH WITKIN Sherman Oaks, CA _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 16:48:06 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: ATM machines in-store Has anyone installed an ATM in their store? One of my customers proposed putting a machine in our store. He hasn't provided details yet (I was busy, so he's going to mail me stuff next week), but he claims high profits per square foot, and no cost (i.e. free trial until we are convinced it makes money). Perhaps this is something Truserv or the co-ops should be looking at (i.e a national program that would bring the costs down)? John ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 18:38:34 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: re: Children we've never forbidden employees to chat with friends, spouses, children, parents during working hours. all we ask is that they keep 'the distraction' short. we have allowed children to 'wait in the lunchroom' after school until the parent went home, but that's usually only the last 1/2 hour or so (it's boring!). i'd never allow unsupervised 'short people' in the store for a full day. we have too few employees to justify a full-time child care provider in the building, so the employee generally takes the day off to be at home with the child or gets a babysitter...... At 08:39 AM EST 1/17/98 EST, you wrote: >Got a Store Policy question: Would you or do you allow employee's children >(including owners) in the store for the day (babysitting while working). >In the past, we have. Now I am wondering if this was a "good" move after one >of the children had an accident in the store. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27694 ********************************** hardlines Digest Mon, 19 Jan 1998 00:04:14 -0500 V01 #27695 Today's topics: 'Kids, Parents, Shotguns, Distractions, Etc.' 'Re: Kids, Parents, Shotguns, Distractions, Etc.' 'Re: ATM machines in-store' 'Re: ATM machines in-store' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27694' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 09:59:34 -0500 From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@compuserve.com> Subject: Kids, Parents, Shotguns, Distractions, Etc. Dear Folks, 1. Family kids in the store: I occassionally bring my 9 year-old daughter Sarah in to work with Grampy Round in the Hillman fastener aisle. This has worked fairly well as Sarah can keep Grampy focused on putting merchandise away and Grampy provides the illusion of adult supervision. She is a good reader, so the stainless and hot-dipped galvanized products go into their respective bins with part number matches. Grampy also does well, but he does it by look, feel, smell and some sixth sense involving magnetic fields. The 16 year-old kid employee who did the work last Summer used neither approach... with creative results. Sarah has expressed interest in being a cashier. They say she would bring needed maturity to the check-out desk... When Mom drops my kids at the store, I generally keep them in the office. I make them do homework. They read. They'll dispose of all the Triad prepage sheets via artwork. They run Dad's basset hound up and down the office hallway until all three of them (Sarah, Ross, Jasper) are exhausted. When I had lots of merchandise in the warehouse, I would use them to ferry merchandise from the aisles to the conveyor. I don't want to impose my children on my staff. When they ask for candy, etc., I tell them to work or starve. I tell them that they must acquire a good work ethic to prepare themselves for the forthcoming nuclear winter, green house effect, economic collapse, life in the hardware business, or whatever disaster may befall them. On the serious side, I have observed that 6+ year old kids actually want to work. They enjoy contributing. They want to be productive. They want to be part of things. This natural proclivity is somehow suppressed by the culture in a haze of video games, cable TV, structured play time, thousand-dollar birthdays at Bonkers, ill-defined educational programs, poor standards, crass materialism, atonal music, and a failure to hold anybody responsible for anything. 2. Staff members children in the store: Absolutely not. It's not worth the risk under any condition. 3. Having my Father on the salesfloor is much like having a child on the floor. 4. I see that Jack Swift has shotgun shells in his inventory list. Customers, children, stressed-out store management... gosh, is that a volitile mix! 5. What are people using for a PC database nowadays? Dane Sheahan is a firm advocate of FileMaker Pro. I have continued to use my now obsolete Q&A. 6. KEYBOARD MACROS. With Fredware and the obsolete DOS database I use, there are quick keyboard macros which can be programmed quickly when they are needed. With all the sku changes going on, there are just thousands of little alterations which must be performed, often needing a few key-strokes per sku, often repetative, and many easily handled with a keyboard macro. Are there any Windows 95-based keyboard maros to handle text editing? Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 12:04:08 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: Kids, Parents, Shotguns, Distractions, Etc. At 09:59 AM EST 1/18/98 -0500, Bill Round wrote: > >On the serious side, I have observed that 6+ year old kids actually want to >work. They enjoy contributing. They want to be productive. They want to >be part of things. This natural proclivity is somehow suppressed by the >culture in a haze of video games, cable TV, structured play time, >thousand-dollar birthdays at Bonkers, ill-defined educational programs, >poor standards, crass materialism, atonal music, and a failure to hold >anybody responsible for anything. > i got my start in retail working on our shipping room floor at an 'early age' during the summers and later on saturdays. i *didn't* work directly for my dad, but for the manager of that floor (it was a 4-store building with a 2-story detached warehouse and we were 50% industrial distributors). so i don't have a problem with 7-day weeks and 12 hour days (the store is only open 10x6 hours...). >4. I see that Jack Swift has shotgun shells in his inventory list. >Customers, children, stressed-out store management... gosh, is that a >volitile mix! > yeah, but i got rid of the guns .... >5. What are people using for a PC database nowadays? Dane Sheahan is a >firm advocate of FileMaker Pro. I have continued to use my now obsolete >Q&A. > i'm still using alpha 4, a 'simple' database manager with extensive scripting capabilities. now i've got 7 years sales history, and actually i use all of it though only on rare skus. http://www.alphasoftware.com/welcome.htm >6. KEYBOARD MACROS. With Fredware and the obsolete DOS database I use, >there are quick keyboard macros which can be programmed quickly when they >are needed. With all the sku changes going on, there are just thousands >of little alterations which must be performed, often needing a few >key-strokes per sku, often repetative, and many easily handled with a >keyboard macro. > >Are there any Windows 95-based keyboard maros to handle text editing? > i cheat and bring the file into a word processor and do "edit/replace"... alternatively, i can use my database to change things on an "if this - then that" basis. then i dump the file back into fredware... ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 19:25:56 -0500 From: Richard and Nancy Badger Subject: Re: ATM machines in-store Nancy wrote: At this time, it is illegal for anyone except a bank to control ATM machines so was wondering if a bank was behind yours? Noticed while in New Orleans at the last TV market that almost every bar had one! Legislature is working on changing the rule at this time but won't hold our breath as only State Liquor Stores can sell liquor in NH still! P.S. just got back from short holiday in Las Vegas, but airline fares are expensive from East. America West has a Hotel Connection with the Riviera Hotel & Casino (which has convention rooms) and it was pretty cheap. New Jersey Christmas show is too far away, so I am hoping I can get everything I need at the True Serve Show in Dallas....anyone been to Dallas? Wondering what local things we should not miss. Nancy Badger, Rands True Value, Plymouth NH John Fix 3rd wrote: > > Has anyone installed an ATM in their store? One of my customers proposed > putting a machine in our store. He hasn't provided details yet (I was > busy, so he's going to mail me stuff next week), but he claims high profits > per square foot, and no cost (i.e. free trial until we are convinced it > makes money). > > Perhaps this is something Truserv or the co-ops should be looking at (i.e a > national program that would bring the costs down)? > > John > > *************************************************************** > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > for hardware and building materials industry members. Back > issues are available at > > http://www.cornells.com/hardlines/ > > To remove your name from the mailing list, send email to > listserv@cornells.com with the following line in your message: > > unsubscribe hardlines firstname lastname > > For any other questions, send email to postmaster@cornells.com > *************************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 19:34:48 -0500 From: Richard and Nancy Badger Subject: Re: ATM machines in-store Richard and Nancy Badger wrote: P.P.S I meant it is illegal IN NEW HAMPSHIRE for anyone but a bank to own and operate an ATM.> > Nancy wrote: > At this time, it is illegal for anyone except a bank to control ATM > machines so was wondering if a bank was behind yours? Noticed while in > New Orleans at the last TV market that almost every bar had one! > Legislature is working on changing the rule at this time but won't hold > our breath as only State Liquor Stores can sell liquor in NH still! > P.S. just got back from short holiday in Las Vegas, but airline fares > are expensive from East. America West has a Hotel Connection with the > Riviera Hotel & Casino (which has convention rooms) and it was pretty > cheap. New Jersey Christmas show is too far away, so I am hoping I can > get everything I need at the True Serve Show in Dallas....anyone been to > Dallas? Wondering what local things we should not miss. > Nancy Badger, Rands True Value, Plymouth NH > John Fix 3rd wrote: > > > > Has anyone installed an ATM in their store? One of my customers proposed > > putting a machine in our store. He hasn't provided details yet (I was > > busy, so he's going to mail me stuff next week), but he claims high profits > > per square foot, and no cost (i.e. free trial until we are convinced it > > makes money). > > > > Perhaps this is something Truserv or the co-ops should be looking at (i.e a > > national program that would bring the costs down)? > > > > John > > > > *************************************************************** > > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > > for hardware and building materials industry members. Back > > issues are available at > > > > http://www.cornells.com/hardlines/ > > > > To remove your name from the mailing list, send email to > > listserv@cornells.com with the following line in your message: > > > > unsubscribe hardlines firstname lastname > > > > For any other questions, send email to postmaster@cornells.com > > *************************************************************** > *************************************************************** > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > for hardware and building materials industry members. Back > issues are available at > > http://www.cornells.com/hardlines/ > > To remove your name from the mailing list, send email to > listserv@cornells.com with the following line in your message: > > unsubscribe hardlines firstname lastname > > For any other questions, send email to postmaster@cornells.com > *************************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 22:47:53 EST From: JCcop828 Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27694 Here is a good one that I am experiencing and maybe someone has some imput/// I am experiencing heavy thefts in my tool department... I thought I had the problem licked with the training on my sales associates in being with the customer to assist them..and it did slow down for awhile. then wham! I have experienced some of the oldest game in the world,, of stealing from the store and then returning it for a refund,, We have a policy,,, NO SALES RECEIPT.. NO REFUND. At first we had lots of squawking from the customers and the sales associates ,, but training both is starting to pay off. ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27695 ********************************** hardlines Digest Tue, 20 Jan 1998 00:00:46 -0500 V01 #27696 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27694' 'Building Materials Special Order Margins' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27695' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27695' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27695' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 08:02:38 EST From: IMPINE Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27694 REGARDING THE WOMAN WITH THE MICROWAVE, SHE WAS NEVER YOUR CUSTOMER, YOU JUST WERE ANOTHER CONVENIENCE TO HER, AND SHE WANTS A NEW OVEN. SHE PROBABLY CANT GET THE DIRT AND SMELL OUT OF THE OVEN. ITS BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN A CUSTOMER GIVES THE STORE AN ULTAMATUM, YOU CANT WIN, THEIR MINDS ARE MADE UP. AS FOR THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, THEY WILL ONLY TRY TO ACT AS AN ARBITRATOR, DONT EXPECT THEM TO TAKE SIDES, THE BEST YOU CAN HOPE FOR IS AN "UNRESOLVED" ON YOUR FILE, WHICH WILL REMAIN ON YOUR RECORD FOR A FEW YEARS. SHE WILL SEND THEIR FRIENDS TO YOU, AND DO THE SAME THING, AND AFTER 3 OR 4 SUCH MARKS ON YOUR RECORD YOU LOOK BAD. BE FIRM ON YOUR POLICIES, EXPLAIN THEM CLEARLY AND CROSS YOUR FINGERS. YOU ARE BEING TRATED THIS WAY BECAUSE THIS PLOY WORKED SOMEWHERE ELSE BEFORE, AND SHE WANTS ANOTHER FREE RIDE. DONT GIVE IT TO HER. MIKE BOCHNER HENDERSON LUMBER JERSEY CITY ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 09:50:41 -0500 From: Bob Aiken Subject: Building Materials Special Order Margins I need some help in an area I where many of you are experts. The problem: =20 1. How do you set margins on special order items like doors and windows = that you don't sell often? Do you use mfg. suggested price and discount = a certain %, or not discount at all, or how? 2. If a contractor tries to beat you down (not that it would ever = happen!) how do you teach your counter people to handle it, and what = concessions would you make. How do you handle the comment: I can get = it at XYZ Lumber for $50 less? Any discussion, comments and suggestions might be helpful to many = besides me. Thanks, Bob Aiken ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 15:05:52 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27695 In a message dated 1/19/98 12:05:34 AM Eastern Standard Time, hardlines- request@cornells.com writes: << I am experiencing heavy thefts in my tool department... >> Welcome to the world of retailing! Several Solutions: Get glass sliding doors (Patio Doors work best and cheapest vs the store fixture types) and make a display of "high" theft items under glass. Next, get a camera system (more then the 4 station one)(I have used SeCure Controls) and start patrolling that isle. Next notify your police dept about the situation and plan to prosecute as well. Training --> train all your people to greet all customers and not ignore anyone. By greeting everybody tells everybody you are there and not "hiding". Keep the war on pilferage, but do not loose site on makeing sales! Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 16:24:31 -0500 From: Bud Howe Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27695 hardlines-request@cornells.com wrote: > > hardlines Digest Mon, 19 Jan 1998 00:04:14 -0500 V01 #27695 > > Today's topics: > 'Kids, Parents, Shotguns, Distractions, Etc.' > 'Re: Kids, Parents, Shotguns, Distractions, Etc.' > 'Re: ATM machines in-store' > 'Re: ATM machines in-store' > 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27694' > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 09:59:34 -0500 > From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@compuserve.com> > Subject: Kids, Parents, Shotguns, Distractions, Etc. > > Dear Folks, > > 1. Family kids in the store: I occassionally bring my 9 year-old daughter > Sarah in to work with Grampy Round in the Hillman fastener aisle. This has > worked fairly well as Sarah can keep Grampy focused on putting merchandise > away and Grampy provides the illusion of adult supervision. She is a good > reader, so the stainless and hot-dipped galvanized products go into their > respective bins with part number matches. Grampy also does well, but he > does it by look, feel, smell and some sixth sense involving magnetic > fields. The 16 year-old kid employee who did the work last Summer used > neither approach... with creative results. > > Sarah has expressed interest in being a cashier. They say she would bring > needed maturity to the check-out desk... > > When Mom drops my kids at the store, I generally keep them in the office. > I make them do homework. They read. They'll dispose of all the Triad > prepage sheets via artwork. They run Dad's basset hound up and down the > office hallway until all three of them (Sarah, Ross, Jasper) are exhausted. > When I had lots of merchandise in the warehouse, I would use them to ferry > merchandise from the aisles to the conveyor. I don't want to impose my > children on my staff. > > When they ask for candy, etc., I tell them to work or starve. I tell them > that they must acquire a good work ethic to prepare themselves for the > forthcoming nuclear winter, green house effect, economic collapse, life in > the hardware business, or whatever disaster may befall them. > > On the serious side, I have observed that 6+ year old kids actually want to > work. They enjoy contributing. They want to be productive. They want to > be part of things. This natural proclivity is somehow suppressed by the > culture in a haze of video games, cable TV, structured play time, > thousand-dollar birthdays at Bonkers, ill-defined educational programs, > poor standards, crass materialism, atonal music, and a failure to hold > anybody responsible for anything. > > 2. Staff members children in the store: Absolutely not. It's not worth > the risk under any condition. > > 3. Having my Father on the salesfloor is much like having a child on the > floor. > > 4. I see that Jack Swift has shotgun shells in his inventory list. > Customers, children, stressed-out store management... gosh, is that a > volitile mix! > > 5. What are people using for a PC database nowadays? Dane Sheahan is a > firm advocate of FileMaker Pro. I have continued to use my now obsolete > Q&A. > > 6. KEYBOARD MACROS. With Fredware and the obsolete DOS database I use, > there are quick keyboard macros which can be programmed quickly when they > are needed. With all the sku changes going on, there are just thousands > of little alterations which must be performed, often needing a few > key-strokes per sku, often repetative, and many easily handled with a > keyboard macro. > > Are there any Windows 95-based keyboard maros to handle text editing? > > Regards, > Bill Round > Round's True Value Hardware > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 12:04:08 -0500 > From: jack swift > Subject: Re: Kids, Parents, Shotguns, Distractions, Etc. > > At 09:59 AM EST 1/18/98 -0500, Bill Round wrote: > > > >On the serious side, I have observed that 6+ year old kids actually want to > >work. They enjoy contributing. They want to be productive. They want to > >be part of things. This natural proclivity is somehow suppressed by the > >culture in a haze of video games, cable TV, structured play time, > >thousand-dollar birthdays at Bonkers, ill-defined educational programs, > >poor standards, crass materialism, atonal music, and a failure to hold > >anybody responsible for anything. > > > i got my start in retail working on our shipping room floor at an 'early > age' during the summers and later on saturdays. i *didn't* work directly > for my dad, but for the manager of that floor (it was a 4-store building > with a 2-story detached warehouse and we were 50% industrial distributors). > so i don't have a problem with 7-day weeks and 12 hour days (the store is > only open 10x6 hours...). > > >4. I see that Jack Swift has shotgun shells in his inventory list. > >Customers, children, stressed-out store management... gosh, is that a > >volitile mix! > > > yeah, but i got rid of the guns .... > > >5. What are people using for a PC database nowadays? Dane Sheahan is a > >firm advocate of FileMaker Pro. I have continued to use my now obsolete > >Q&A. > > > i'm still using alpha 4, a 'simple' database manager with extensive > scripting capabilities. now i've got 7 years sales history, and actually i > use all of it though only on rare skus. > http://www.alphasoftware.com/welcome.htm > > >6. KEYBOARD MACROS. With Fredware and the obsolete DOS database I use, > >there are quick keyboard macros which can be programmed quickly when they > >are needed. With all the sku changes going on, there are just thousands > >of little alterations which must be performed, often needing a few > >key-strokes per sku, often repetative, and many easily handled with a > >keyboard macro. > > > >Are there any Windows 95-based keyboard maros to handle text editing? > > > i cheat and bring the file into a word processor and do "edit/replace"... > alternatively, i can use my database to change things on an "if this - then > that" basis. then i dump the file back into fredware... > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W > Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 > 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor > Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 19:25:56 -0500 > From: Richard and Nancy Badger > Subject: Re: ATM machines in-store > > Nancy wrote: > At this time, it is illegal for anyone except a bank to control ATM > machines so was wondering if a bank was behind yours? Noticed while in > New Orleans at the last TV market that almost every bar had one! > Legislature is working on changing the rule at this time but won't hold > our breath as only State Liquor Stores can sell liquor in NH still! > P.S. just got back from short holiday in Las Vegas, but airline fares > are expensive from East. America West has a Hotel Connection with the > Riviera Hotel & Casino (which has convention rooms) and it was pretty > cheap. New Jersey Christmas show is too far away, so I am hoping I can > get everything I need at the True Serve Show in Dallas....anyone been to > Dallas? Wondering what local things we should not miss. > Nancy Badger, Rands True Value, Plymouth NH > John Fix 3rd wrote: > > > > Has anyone installed an ATM in their store? One of my customers proposed > > putting a machine in our store. He hasn't provided details yet (I was > > busy, so he's going to mail me stuff next week), but he claims high profits > > per square foot, and no cost (i.e. free trial until we are convinced it > > makes money). > > > > Perhaps this is something Truserv or the co-ops should be looking at (i.e a > > national program that would bring the costs down)? > > > > John > > > > *************************************************************** > > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > > for hardware and building materials industry members. Back > > issues are available at > > > > http://www.cornells.com/hardlines/ > > > > To remove your name from the mailing list, send email to > > listserv@cornells.com with the following line in your message: > > > > unsubscribe hardlines firstname lastname > > > > For any other questions, send email to postmaster@cornells.com > > *************************************************************** > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 19:34:48 -0500 > From: Richard and Nancy Badger > Subject: Re: ATM machines in-store > > Richard and Nancy Badger wrote: > P.P.S I meant it is illegal IN NEW HAMPSHIRE for anyone but a bank to > own and operate an ATM.> > > Nancy wrote: > > At this time, it is illegal for anyone except a bank to control ATM > > machines so was wondering if a bank was behind yours? Noticed while in > > New Orleans at the last TV market that almost every bar had one! > > Legislature is working on changing the rule at this time but won't hold > > our breath as only State Liquor Stores can sell liquor in NH still! > > P.S. just got back from short holiday in Las Vegas, but airline fares > > are expensive from East. America West has a Hotel Connection with the > > Riviera Hotel & Casino (which has convention rooms) and it was pretty > > cheap. New Jersey Christmas show is too far away, so I am hoping I can > > get everything I need at the True Serve Show in Dallas....anyone been to > > Dallas? Wondering what local things we should not miss. > > Nancy Badger, Rands True Value, Plymouth NH > > > John Fix 3rd wrote: > > > > > > Has anyone installed an ATM in their store? One of my customers proposed > > > putting a machine in our store. He hasn't provided details yet (I was > > > busy, so he's going to mail me stuff next week), but he claims high profits > > > per square foot, and no cost (i.e. free trial until we are convinced it > > > makes money). > > > > > > Perhaps this is something Truserv or the co-ops should be looking at (i.e a > > > national program that would bring the costs down)? > > > > > > John > > > > > > *************************************************************** > > > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > > > for hardware and building materials industry members. Back > > > issues are available at > > > > > > http://www.cornells.com/hardlines/ > > > > > > To remove your name from the mailing list, send email to > > > listserv@cornells.com with the following line in your message: > > > > > > unsubscribe hardlines firstname lastname > > > > > > For any other questions, send email to postmaster@cornells.com > > > *************************************************************** > > *************************************************************** > > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > > for hardware and building materials industry members. Back > > issues are available at > > > > http://www.cornells.com/hardlines/ > > > > To remove your name from the mailing list, send email to > > listserv@cornells.com with the following line in your message: > > > > unsubscribe hardlines firstname lastname > > > > For any other questions, send email to postmaster@cornells.com > > *************************************************************** > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 22:47:53 EST > From: JCcop828 > Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27694 > > Here is a good one that I am experiencing and maybe someone has some imput/// > > I am experiencing heavy thefts in my tool department... > > I thought I had the problem licked with the training on my sales associates in > being with the customer to assist them..and it did slow down for awhile. > > then wham! > > I have experienced some of the oldest game in the world,, of stealing from the > store and then returning it for a refund,, We have a policy,,, NO SALES > RECEIPT.. NO REFUND. > > At first we had lots of squawking from the customers and the sales associates > ,, but training both is starting to pay off. > > ------------------------------ > > End of hardlines Digest V01 #27695 > ********************************** Another thought about returned items without a receipt. You stated " no receipt no refund". We have on occassion taken that a step further. If we felt the item was stolen from us we stated to the "customer" "crook" that it is story policy that the item remain in the store until you return with a receipt. It will suprise you how many will say o.k. and never come back. You have to be firm and look them right in the eye and never stop looking at them. Eyeball to eyeball. We press charges against every shoplifter we catch. No slap on the hands. Take them out in handcuffs. The word gets around your not a push-over. Second thought, are there other true value dealers who are waiting and waiting for your rdc to process shorts and return claims. We have claims that are as much as four months old still pending. Any comments on how to speed up the process?????? Thats all from florida. Bud ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 20:37:23 EST From: JDSalk20RR Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27695 In a message dated 98-01-19 00:04:42 EST, you write: << heavy thefts in my tool department... >> Years ago at the suggestion of Dick Dodson we installed patio storm doors in front of our tools. Both door slide on a patio storm door. We use a shelf as the top support and bolt aluminum track to the fixture base. Now when ever we find a new area of theft we install a new sliding security door. We will use 1/4" plexiglass and sliding closet track and hardware to build a security cabinet in-line. We keep a supply of glass case lock with the same key. Have sales gone down on the items under lock? No!! Have purchases gone down? Yes!! ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27696 ********************************** hardlines Digest Wed, 21 Jan 1998 00:01:07 -0500 V01 #27697 Today's topics: 'Re: Building Materials Special Order Margins' 'Re: Triad System' 'tool theft' 'How we handle Mr/Ms I can get it for less' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 07:58:41 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: Building Materials Special Order Margins At 09:50 AM EST 1/19/98 -0500, you wrote: >I need some help in an area I where many of you are experts. > ex: has-been; spurt: drip under pressure. therefore an expert is a has-been drip under pressure... and it's early yet - wait till lunch and ask me again .. >The problem: >1. How do you set margins on special order items like doors and windows that you don't sell often? Do you use mfg. suggested price and discount a certain %, or not discount at all, or how? > although we don't do 'lumber', we deal with larger special orders. a $500-$1,000 order would get a markup of 30%... minimum markup is about 15% up to about a million and then we look seriously at the 'warranty cost' of errors. >2. If a contractor tries to beat you down (not that it would ever happen!) how do you teach your counter people to handle it, and what concessions would you make. How do you handle the comment: I can get it at XYZ Lumber for $50 less? > we don't let the 'counter people' do the bargaining. quotes of any reasonable size are done in the office. the counter people have price lists tailored for certain customers and certain dollar values and they stick to them. but we watch what bids we lose and make sure that our prices are high enough that we lose a few to insure that our 'standard margins' are profitable. >Any discussion, comments and suggestions might be helpful to many besides me. > >Thanks, >Bob Aiken ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 13:45:05 EST From: ROCKET RR Subject: Re: Triad System I realize that this forum is not normally used for selling things, but I recently closed my True Value store and am in the process of trying to sell my Triad System. It is 6 years old- a 386SX . 182MB storage and 250MB back up. List of hardware follows: > 5-- 2563 VDTs > 2-- 3320 Invoice Printers > 1-- 3330 System Printer > 1-- 3040 Receipt Printer > 1-- Cash Drawer > 1-- Customer Display Not updated to Pentium and currently on Level 15 Software. Would like to sell system complete but may consider individual parts. Any help or referrals would be appreciated. Thanks for your time... Respond to ROCKETRR@aol.com or call Randy at (702)852-0157. OH! By the way--regarding tool aisle thefts. We ALWAYS asked when the item being returned was purchased and then checked the last date of sale in the Triad... It was comical to watch the person's face when we informed them that the item they "purchased" 2 days ago hadn't been sold by us for 2 MONTHS!!!! Never got any arguments when we kept the item and asked them to leave the store. If they DID protest a little we simply informed them that we COULD detain them and have them arrested for possesion of stolen property! Always worked for us... Thanks again!! Hope all have a successful 1998. Randy Roget Northwest True Value Reno, NV ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 17:29:59 -0500 From: Richard and Nancy Badger Subject: tool theft Nancy says...Our Makita tools were always disappearing off the display rack but now we tie them to the pegboard rack (free simple racks) with nylon wireties. The customer can see the item, but it does not go unless they cut the tie....the pros would but we never lose them. Unfortunately, now they have started going for the full box (we had them on the lower shelf, behind the empty box for the display to make it tougher) and now moved all backstock to the stock room. Still need to remind clerks everything must be tied down. On Cotter truck day received a recipricating saw, and the clerk put it on the shelf below. A customer watched another customer pick it up and head for the door and he ran after him and got him to drop it!! Needless to say, we appreciate what he did and made sure the newspapers knew about it. We also have the problem with returns and if no one remembers selling it, and the date looks old in the triad, and it is over $25, we say it is store policy to send a check (as we hold the item in our hand) We get their name and address, and don't send the check and no one has come back! Some we research and find a clerk who does remember selling it, and send the check, but the nerve of some of these people! We just remodeled a section and took our telephones out of the sliding glass case as our sales are worse that our second store who did not have them locked up. We have "College Kids" but where they are can be seen from the register, so we will give it a try. Any other ideas out there?nd other ideas? Nancy Badger, Rands TV Plymouth NH ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 22:57:00 -0600 From: "Cyndi Martini" Subject: How we handle Mr/Ms I can get it for less >2. If a contractor tries to beat you down (not that it would ever = >happen!) how do you teach your counter people to handle it, and what = >concessions would you make. How do you handle the comment: I can get = >it at XYZ Lumber for $50 less? We encounter this question almost on a daily basis. Our policy is we will match IDENTICAL items at ADVERTISED prices when the ad is brought into the store. As much as I would like to know the price of every item in every one of my competitor's stores it is not possible or even for feasible. We tell customers that we are doing our best to bring them a product at a reasonable price with better service and more convenience but if they wish to bring in the ad we will see if we have a comparable item for that price. Most understand this and are willing to either bring in their ad or pay for the better service/convenience. Those that don't generally aren't regular customers and are just trying to "make a deal". It is beyond me why a customer would go into a retail outlet and even think that prices are negotiable. Cyndi Martini Martini Hardware Houston, TX 77023 cmartini@hia.net ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27697 ********************************** hardlines Digest Thu, 22 Jan 1998 00:02:48 -0500 V01 #27698 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27697' 'Re: returns without sales slip' 'Re:Price Shopping' 'Building material and special order margins' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 23:17:47 -0800 (PST) From: Ralph Witkin Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27697 > hardlines Digest Wed, 21 Jan 1998 V01 #27697 > Today's topics: > 'How we handle Mr/Ms I can get it for less' > Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 22:57:00 -0600 > From: "Cyndi Martini" I can get it at XYZ Lumber for $50 less? > We encounter this question almost on a daily basis. Our policy is we will match IDENTICAL items at ADVERTISED prices when the ad is brought into the store. We tell customers that we are doing our best to bring them a product at a reasonable price with better service and more convenience but if they wish to bring in the ad we will see if we have a comparable item for that price. It is beyond me why a customer would go into a retail outlet and even think that prices are negotiable. The reason customers believe prices are "negotiable" is because the retailers have trained them to think that way by the act of "matching". If I think someone is "reasonable" I tell them that in the overall, they will get a very fair deal with us, some items will vary of course, but for everything they need, the total will be right. I also take that opportunity to remind them of service (including product knowledge), selection & convenience (time waiting at checkstand, etc) so they realize that the "discount" or "warehouse" store isn't matching us in areas that aren't measured with a calculator. If I don't think they'll be able to understand (or just don't want to), I simply tell them "No, everybody pays the same price here." If they persist, or don't seem satisfied with that explanation, I will sometimes ask them if the other store is doing them such a good deal, why don't they just sell the item at the lowest price they can up-front without having the customer "beg" them for a price reduction from their asking price (usually requirring copies of ads, etc). Sometimes, they wonder if they're not "over-paying" on some items at the "big stores". Of course, large quantities and high dollar volume customers are handled accordingly, the above mostly applies to "routine" transactions. RALPH WITKIN Sherman Oaks, CA _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 07:39:24 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: returns without sales slip we've heard that the 'new' shoplifting gimmick is to take something off the shelf, up to the checkout, and ask to 'return' it for cash. unfortunately we also have customers (like me) who discard their sales slip even before throwing away the packing and operating instructions.... we simplified our return procedures - no slip, go to the office.. in the office we keep 6 years of sales transaction history and can look up the item in 3 minutes (cheap database containing all the triad rdi records). BUT, we also keep a file of everything that was 'discovered missing' during inventory cycle counts. if the item is in the 'thief' file, we don't accept the return without some sort of record or employee remeberance that can 'prove' the sales price and date. we also compare the physical quantity on hand to the computer count. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 09:14:08 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Re:Price Shopping In a message dated 1/21/98 1:07:03 AM Eastern Standard Time, hardlines- request@cornells.com writes: << g to either bring in their ad or pay for the better service/convenience. Those that don't generally aren't regular customers and are just trying to "make a deal". It is beyond me why a customer would go into a retail outlet and even think that prices are negotiable. >> Price shopping and bantering is not common in America vs a lot of other countries. A lot of our customers are from "abroad" and used to bantering the price. Also, the "big boxes" are giving the impression of bantering too with "We will beat any price and give you an additional 10% off!". We try to have a simple policy -- the price on the sticker is the price, except on large quantity and / or when on promotion (we run almost all the flyers). We use fineline pricing and try to stay competive on "sensitive" items. Comment -- the flyers and fineline do keep our margin down, but our sales are up. Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 18:01:35 -0500 (EST) From: Richard Filion Subject: Building material and special order margins For many years margins for building material providers were fairly substantial, just as the ones for hardware stores was. The bust of the late 80's and the advent of boxes brought an end to that. Now margins are very tight, and in some cases eaten up by replacement price increases. Then you get nailed when the market suddenly collapses and you have to get rid of your stock at a loss. It has become a very tough market. I do not match prices with anyone. In many cases the item is not exactly the same, or is a loss leader designed to bring in sales of other items. Grossman's used to do that all the time and now they are essentially defunct. People who buy from you only because you have the lowest price are only loyal to the person with the lowest price. That is the Grossman's lesson. The good customers, succesful contractors, value good service and do not need to constantly nickel and dime you to death. If the contractor is operating on such a tight margin then he will probably end up losing money and bailing out on the bill anyways. As a very small lumber yard, I have to do a tremendous amount of special order quoting. My experience is that you can never use any general rule. You have to decide how much time and handling is involved, how long your money will be tied up which otherwise could have been used on fast turns, how much risk is involved, and how much money you want to make, or can make on the deal. The mark-up can vary from over 100% to less than 10%. It all depends. If I have a good customer and I am not getting his special order quotes, and I want to. I ask him how much I missed getting the order by. Then I figure out, based on my cost, if I want to lower my profit that much. If I do, then the next time I use a smaller mark-up. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Richard Filion rhfil@nh.ultranet.com Filion Lumber 603-659-3361 Newmarket, N.H. ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27698 ********************************** hardlines Digest Fri, 23 Jan 1998 00:00:03 -0500 V01 #27699 Today's topics: 'National Revenue Corperation' 'Y2K and credit cards' 'Re: Y2K and credit cards' 'Another Hidden Item (TRIAD) & ??' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 23:53:11 -0600 From: Chuck Hank Subject: National Revenue Corperation I have been battling with NRC concerning a contract we took out for them to handle some of our collections. Be warned! The sales pitch sounds very good but we have had a very poor collection rate, probably due to the fact that we work our accounts very good and then only turn over the truly dead ones. Of the 46 accounts we have turned over to them in about 18 months I credit them with only 1. So I drafted a letter and wanted my refund as guaranteed. Come to find out the contract we signed had very small print on the back and does not entirely agree with what the salesperson had told us. It seems that there is a yearly computer maintenance fee, also to be eligible you must purchase the complete system, also any account must have a good address or phone to be eligible, also the amount to be collected must be five times the cost of the collection. Wow that is a lot of hoops to jump through that seemed not to be mentioned by the sales rep. Well if anyone is using NRC I hope they are having great results, anyone else interested just make sure you read the fine print. Oh yeah, I am also corresponding with the BBS where NCR is located but am not holding my breath. Take care, Chuck Hank Hank Bros. True Value Hardware Paducah, Kentucky ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 10:48:47 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Y2K and credit cards we don't have a problem with the 'old' verifone zon jr xl, but some retailers have reported problems with cash register software that has built-in card readers. apparently the software can't handle expiration year "00". ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 11:17:19 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Re: Y2K and credit cards At 10:48 AM 1/22/98 -0500, Jack Swift wrote: >we don't have a problem with the 'old' verifone zon jr xl, but some >retailers have reported problems with cash register software that has >built-in card readers. apparently the software can't handle expiration year >"00". > The ICVerify software which is used by many vendors (including Triad and I believe the new TruTrac release) is year 2000 compliant. Triad POS software also handles year 2000 credit cards (we've had a few.... they just started issuing them). John john3@cornells.com Cornell's True Value Hardware - www.cornells.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 13:52:45 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Another Hidden Item (TRIAD) & ?? Hi: TRIAD Users Just found a * next to contact person's name in MCR. That tells the operator of that screen there is data in the D screen. Very interesting. Did anybody question the latest TSN Printout??? A dealer went over the network with a question ---> how can we do this?????????? Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27699 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sat, 24 Jan 1998 00:04:49 -0500 V01 #27700 Today's topics: 'Re: NCR EOY Headaches' 'RE: hardlines Digest - V01 #27696' 'List will be moderated for a while' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 09:44:33 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Re: NCR EOY Headaches In a message dated 1/23/98 12:03:18 AM Eastern Standard Time, hardlines- request@cornells.com writes: << Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 23:53:11 -0600 From: Chuck Hank Subject: National Revenue Corperation >> Yup -- great salespitch. Wait, you will have to pay $50.00 annually to keep them "working" for you. Gotta find another company. Have tried several.......... TRIAD users -- are you tired of purging the year end data --- why???? Just found my RDE reports ran wrong!! Now what?? Why can't TRIAD Eagle (users) have the capability to purge the data at a later date? The data is there! An old program method that needs to be addressed. If you agree, please send in a PCA or call TRIAD. Thanks Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 13:26:04 -0800 From: skipp@triad.com (Skipp Armson) Subject: RE: hardlines Digest - V01 #27696 FYI ---------- From: Hardlines[SMTP:hardlines@cornells.com] Sent: Monday, January 19, 1998 9:03 PM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27696 Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27696 To: "Hardlines" Message-Id: <19980120000047.123c2672.in@www.cornells.com> hardlines Digest Tue, 20 Jan 1998 00:00:46 -0500 V01 #27696 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27694' 'Building Materials Special Order Margins' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27695' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27695' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27695' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 08:02:38 EST From: IMPINE Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27694 REGARDING THE WOMAN WITH THE MICROWAVE, SHE WAS NEVER YOUR CUSTOMER, YOU JUST WERE ANOTHER CONVENIENCE TO HER, AND SHE WANTS A NEW OVEN. SHE PROBABLY CANT GET THE DIRT AND SMELL OUT OF THE OVEN. ITS BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN A CUSTOMER GIVES THE STORE AN ULTAMATUM, YOU CANT WIN, THEIR MINDS ARE MADE UP. AS FOR THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, THEY WILL ONLY TRY TO ACT AS AN ARBITRATOR, DONT EXPECT THEM TO TAKE SIDES, THE BEST YOU CAN HOPE FOR IS AN "UNRESOLVED" ON YOUR FILE, WHICH WILL REMAIN ON YOUR RECORD FOR A FEW YEARS. SHE WILL SEND THEIR FRIENDS TO YOU, AND DO THE SAME THING, AND AFTER 3 OR 4 SUCH MARKS ON YOUR RECORD YOU LOOK BAD. BE FIRM ON YOUR POLICIES, EXPLAIN THEM CLEARLY AND CROSS YOUR FINGERS. YOU ARE BEING TRATED THIS WAY BECAUSE THIS PLOY WORKED SOMEWHERE ELSE BEFORE, AND SHE WANTS ANOTHER FREE RIDE. DONT GIVE IT TO HER. MIKE BOCHNER HENDERSON LUMBER JERSEY CITY ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 09:50:41 -0500 From: Bob Aiken Subject: Building Materials Special Order Margins I need some help in an area I where many of you are experts. The problem: =20 1. How do you set margins on special order items like doors and windows = that you don't sell often? Do you use mfg. suggested price and discount = a certain %, or not discount at all, or how? 2. If a contractor tries to beat you down (not that it would ever = happen!) how do you teach your counter people to handle it, and what = concessions would you make. How do you handle the comment: I can get = it at XYZ Lumber for $50 less? Any discussion, comments and suggestions might be helpful to many = besides me. Thanks, Bob Aiken ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 15:05:52 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27695 In a message dated 1/19/98 12:05:34 AM Eastern Standard Time, hardlines- request@cornells.com writes: << I am experiencing heavy thefts in my tool department... >> Welcome to the world of retailing! Several Solutions: Get glass sliding doors (Patio Doors work best and cheapest vs the store fixture types) and make a display of "high" theft items under glass. Next, get a camera system (more then the 4 station one)(I have used SeCure Controls) and start patrolling that isle. Next notify your police dept about the situation and plan to prosecute as well. Training --> train all your people to greet all customers and not ignore anyone. By greeting everybody tells everybody you are there and not "hiding". Keep the war on pilferage, but do not loose site on makeing sales! Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 16:24:31 -0500 From: Bud Howe Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27695 hardlines-request@cornells.com wrote: > > hardlines Digest Mon, 19 Jan 1998 00:04:14 -0500 V01 #27695 > > Today's topics: > 'Kids, Parents, Shotguns, Distractions, Etc.' > 'Re: Kids, Parents, Shotguns, Distractions, Etc.' > 'Re: ATM machines in-store' > 'Re: ATM machines in-store' > 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27694' > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 09:59:34 -0500 > From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@compuserve.com> > Subject: Kids, Parents, Shotguns, Distractions, Etc. > > Dear Folks, > > 1. Family kids in the store: I occassionally bring my 9 year-old daughter > Sarah in to work with Grampy Round in the Hillman fastener aisle. This has > worked fairly well as Sarah can keep Grampy focused on putting merchandise > away and Grampy provides the illusion of adult supervision. She is a good > reader, so the stainless and hot-dipped galvanized products go into their > respective bins with part number matches. Grampy also does well, but he > does it by look, feel, smell and some sixth sense involving magnetic > fields. The 16 year-old kid employee who did the work last Summer used > neither approach... with creative results. > > Sarah has expressed interest in being a cashier. They say she would bring > needed maturity to the check-out desk... > > When Mom drops my kids at the store, I generally keep them in the office. > I make them do homework. They read. They'll dispose of all the Triad > prepage sheets via artwork. They run Dad's basset hound up and down the > office hallway until all three of them (Sarah, Ross, Jasper) are exhausted. > When I had lots of merchandise in the warehouse, I would use them to ferry > merchandise from the aisles to the conveyor. I don't want to impose my > children on my staff. > > When they ask for candy, etc., I tell them to work or starve. I tell them > that they must acquire a good work ethic to prepare themselves for the > forthcoming nuclear winter, green house effect, economic collapse, life in > the hardware business, or whatever disaster may befall them. > > On the serious side, I have observed that 6+ year old kids actually want to > work. They enjoy contributing. They want to be productive. They want to > be part of things. This natural proclivity is somehow suppressed by the > culture in a haze of video games, cable TV, structured play time, > thousand-dollar birthdays at Bonkers, ill-defined educational programs, > poor standards, crass materialism, atonal music, and a failure to hold > anybody responsible for anything. > > 2. Staff members children in the store: Absolutely not. It's not worth > the risk under any condition. > > 3. Having my Father on the salesfloor is much like having a child on the > floor. > > 4. I see that Jack Swift has shotgun shells in his inventory list. > Customers, children, stressed-out store management... gosh, is that a > volitile mix! > > 5. What are people using for a PC database nowadays? Dane Sheahan is a > firm advocate of FileMaker Pro. I have continued to use my now obsolete > Q&A. > > 6. KEYBOARD MACROS. With Fredware and the obsolete DOS database I use, > there are quick keyboard macros which can be programmed quickly when they > are needed. With all the sku changes going on, there are just thousands > of little alterations which must be performed, often needing a few > key-strokes per sku, often repetative, and many easily handled with a > keyboard macro. > > Are there any Windows 95-based keyboard maros to handle text editing? > > Regards, > Bill Round > Round's True Value Hardware > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 12:04:08 -0500 > From: jack swift > Subject: Re: Kids, Parents, Shotguns, Distractions, Etc. > > At 09:59 AM EST 1/18/98 -0500, Bill Round wrote: > > > >On the serious side, I have observed that 6+ year old kids actually want to > >work. They enjoy contributing. They want to be productive. They want to > >be part of things. This natural proclivity is somehow suppressed by the > >culture in a haze of video games, cable TV, structured play time, > >thousand-dollar birthdays at Bonkers, ill-defined educational programs, > >poor standards, crass materialism, atonal music, and a failure to hold > >anybody responsible for anything. > > > i got my start in retail working on our shipping room floor at an 'early > age' during the summers and later on saturdays. i *didn't* work directly > for my dad, but for the manager of that floor (it was a 4-store building > with a 2-story detached warehouse and we were 50% industrial distributors). > so i don't have a problem with 7-day weeks and 12 hour days (the store is > only open 10x6 hours...). > > >4. I see that Jack Swift has shotgun shells in his inventory list. > >Customers, children, stressed-out store management... gosh, is that a > >volitile mix! > > > yeah, but i got rid of the guns .... > > >5. What are people using for a PC database nowadays? Dane Sheahan is a > >firm advocate of FileMaker Pro. I have continued to use my now obsolete > >Q&A. > > > i'm still using alpha 4, a 'simple' database manager with extensive > scripting capabilities. now i've got 7 years sales history, and actually i > use all of it though only on rare skus. > http://www.alphasoftware.com/welcome.htm > > >6. KEYBOARD MACROS. With Fredware and the obsolete DOS database I use, > >there are quick keyboard macros which can be programmed quickly when they > >are needed. With all the sku changes going on, there are just thousands > >of little alterations which must be performed, often needing a few > >key-strokes per sku, often repetative, and many easily handled with a > >keyboard macro. > > > >Are there any Windows 95-based keyboard maros to handle text editing? > > > i cheat and bring the file into a word processor and do "edit/replace"... > alternatively, i can use my database to change things on an "if this - then > that" basis. then i dump the file back into fredware... > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W > Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 > 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor > Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 19:25:56 -0500 > From: Richard and Nancy Badger > Subject: Re: ATM machines in-store > > Nancy wrote: > At this time, it is illegal for anyone except a bank to control ATM > machines so was wondering if a bank was behind yours? Noticed while in > New Orleans at the last TV market that almost every bar had one! > Legislature is working on changing the rule at this time but won't hold > our breath as only State Liquor Stores can sell liquor in NH still! > P.S. just got back from short holiday in Las Vegas, but airline fares > are expensive from East. America West has a Hotel Connection with the > Riviera Hotel & Casino (which has convention rooms) and it was pretty > cheap. New Jersey Christmas show is too far away, so I am hoping I can > get everything I need at the True Serve Show in Dallas....anyone been to > Dallas? Wondering what local things we should not miss. > Nancy Badger, Rands True Value, Plymouth NH > John Fix 3rd wrote: > > > > Has anyone installed an ATM in their store? One of my customers proposed > > putting a machine in our store. He hasn't provided details yet (I was > > busy, so he's going to mail me stuff next week), but he claims high profits > > per square foot, and no cost (i.e. free trial until we are convinced it > > makes money). > > > > Perhaps this is something Truserv or the co-ops should be looking at (i.e a > > national program that would bring the costs down)? > > > > John > > > > *************************************************************** > > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > > for hardware and building materials industry members. Back > > issues are available at > > > > http://www.cornells.com/hardlines/ > > > > To remove your name from the mailing list, send email to > > listserv@cornells.com with the following line in your message: > > > > unsubscribe hardlines firstname lastname > > > > For any other questions, send email to postmaster@cornells.com > > *************************************************************** > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 19:34:48 -0500 > From: Richard and Nancy Badger > Subject: Re: ATM machines in-store > > Richard and Nancy Badger wrote: > P.P.S I meant it is illegal IN NEW HAMPSHIRE for anyone but a bank to > own and operate an ATM.> > > Nancy wrote: > > At this time, it is illegal for anyone except a bank to control ATM > > machines so was wondering if a bank was behind yours? Noticed while in > > New Orleans at the last TV market that almost every bar had one! > > Legislature is working on changing the rule at this time but won't hold > > our breath as only State Liquor Stores can sell liquor in NH still! > > P.S. just got back from short holiday in Las Vegas, but airline fares > > are expensive from East. America West has a Hotel Connection with the > > Riviera Hotel & Casino (which has convention rooms) and it was pretty > > cheap. New Jersey Christmas show is too far away, so I am hoping I can > > get everything I need at the True Serve Show in Dallas....anyone been to > > Dallas? Wondering what local things we should not miss. > > Nancy Badger, Rands True Value, Plymouth NH > > > John Fix 3rd wrote: > > > > > > Has anyone installed an ATM in their store? One of my customers proposed > > > putting a machine in our store. He hasn't provided details yet (I was > > > busy, so he's going to mail me stuff next week), but he claims high profits > > > per square foot, and no cost (i.e. free trial until we are convinced it > > > makes money). > > > > > > Perhaps this is something Truserv or the co-ops should be looking at (i.e a > > > national program that would bring the costs down)? > > > > > > John > > > > > > *************************************************************** > > > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > > > for hardware and building materials industry members. Back > > > issues are available at > > > > > > http://www.cornells.com/hardlines/ > > > > > > To remove your name from the mailing list, send email to > > > listserv@cornells.com with the following line in your message: > > > > > > unsubscribe hardlines firstname lastname > > > > > > For any other questions, send email to postmaster@cornells.com > > > *************************************************************** > > *************************************************************** > > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > > for hardware and building materials industry members. Back > > issues are available at > > > > http://www.cornells.com/hardlines/ > > > > To remove your name from the mailing list, send email to > > listserv@cornells.com with the following line in your message: > > > > unsubscribe hardlines firstname lastname > > > > For any other questions, send email to postmaster@cornells.com > > *************************************************************** > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 22:47:53 EST > From: JCcop828 > Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27694 > > Here is a good one that I am experiencing and maybe someone has some imput/// > > I am experiencing heavy thefts in my tool department... > > I thought I had the problem licked with the training on my sales associates in > being with the customer to assist them..and it did slow down for awhile. > > then wham! > > I have experienced some of the oldest game in the world,, of stealing from the > store and then returning it for a refund,, We have a policy,,, NO SALES > RECEIPT.. NO REFUND. > > At first we had lots of squawking from the customers and the sales associates > ,, but training both is starting to pay off. > > ------------------------------ > > End of hardlines Digest V01 #27695 > ********************************** Another thought about returned items without a receipt. You stated " no receipt no refund". We have on occassion taken that a step further. If we felt the item was stolen from us we stated to the "customer" "crook" that it is story policy that the item remain in the store until you return with a receipt. It will suprise you how many will say o.k. and never come back. You have to be firm and look them right in the eye and never stop looking at them. Eyeball to eyeball. We press charges against every shoplifter we catch. No slap on the hands. Take them out in handcuffs. The word gets around your not a push-over. Second thought, are there other true value dealers who are waiting and waiting for your rdc to process shorts and return claims. We have claims that are as much as four months old still pending. Any comments on how to speed up the process?????? Thats all from florida. Bud ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 20:37:23 EST From: JDSalk20RR Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27695 In a message dated 98-01-19 00:04:42 EST, you write: << heavy thefts in my tool department... >> Years ago at the suggestion of Dick Dodson we installed patio storm doors in front of our tools. Both door slide on a patio storm door. We use a shelf as the top support and bolt aluminum track to the fixture base. Now when ever we find a new area of theft we install a new sliding security door. We will use 1/4" plexiglass and sliding closet track and hardware to build a security cabinet in-line. We keep a supply of glass case lock with the same key. Have sales gone down on the items under lock? No!! Have purchases gone down? Yes!! ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27696 ********************************** ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 16:35:26 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: List will be moderated for a while Just so everyone knows, I will be changing the list from unmoderated to moderated. I'm doing this primarily to increase the so-called "signal to noise" ratio on the list by editing messages that quote excess material from past messages. I do not intend to remove ANY new material from messages, so I'm definitely not intending on censoring the list in any fashion. You really shouldn't notice the change, except for the fact that messages won't have so much quoted and repeated material in them. Any questions can be addressed directly to me (john3@cornells.com). Thanks! John ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27700 ********************************** hardlines Digest Fri, 30 Jan 1998 00:01:52 -0500 V01 #27701 Today's topics: 'anyone there?' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 28 Jan 1998 20:22:24 -0600 From: "David Casaletto" Subject: anyone there? This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_000F_01BD2C2A.71CF46E0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi Group, I haven't got a message since 1-23-98 so I thought I'd see if anyone is = there. An update on my microwave and contractor airconditioner story: I haven't heard from the lady after we delivered the microwave back to = her. Hopefully she learned to punch the buttons correctly. The contractor who said he would never be back was in the store the next = day buying. See ya! David Casaletto True Value Home Center Pittsburg, KS ------=_NextPart_000_000F_01BD2C2A.71CF46E0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hi Group,
 
I haven't got a message since = 1-23-98 so I=20 thought I'd see if anyone is there.
 
An update on my microwave and = contractor=20 airconditioner story:
 
I haven't heard from the lady after = we delivered=20 the microwave back to her. Hopefully she learned to punch the buttons=20 correctly.
 
The contractor who said he would = never be back=20 was in the store the next day buying.
 
See ya!
 
David Casaletto
True Value Home Center
Pittsburg, = KS
------=_NextPart_000_000F_01BD2C2A.71CF46E0-- ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27701 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sat, 31 Jan 1998 00:02:28 -0500 V01 #27702 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27701' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 02:38:07 EST From: JCcop828@aol.com Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27701 Hi David,, yep ,,, I is here,,, I was wondering the same thing... How is everyone's January,, I was doing pretty good and then kerplunk... Frank ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27702 **********************************