hardlines Digest Thu, 01 May 1997 00:04:02 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27492 Today's topics: 'COTEFM' 'IST Stuff' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 30 Apr 1997 08:14:33 -0400 (EDT) From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: COTEFM Hi: Had a couple of phone calls from other users resently regarding screwups in their ordering procedures. Upon reviewing their setup of EFM I found that they were using Options J M --> highly destructive with the TRIAD / Cotter Logic. These 2 options do not work with the TRIAD/Cotter Logic and will cause MPO --qty ordering errors,. Have fun Rick ------------------------------ Date: 30 Apr 97 19:06:25 EDT From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@CompuServe.COM> Subject: IST Stuff Fellow IST Users, Thanks to Chuck Hank, who sent his IST procedure for bin label maintenance to Hardlines. It's a good procedure. I use a similar one. If I want to do odd bin tags, codings, etc., I do the following: 1. Clear the PIP files of physical inventory records. The file must be clean. 2. Delete any unposted physical inventory records from the IST. 3. Set the IST for physical inventory. 3. Scan the first item. Set a location for PICK, CODE, NOQ, or whatever the task I wish to accomplish. 4. Go around the store scanning whatever I need to scan. 5. Upload the IST to the Triad via EPIP. 6. Drag the skus off the Triad with RQ and PCaccess. 7. Use Fredware to add a header with the target fields. 8. Post those fields to the Triad using Fredware. Mr. Hank's procedure and mine are both work arounds to accomplish business missions for which the software was not designed. This makes it more difficult to train for and delegate. The business missions I use my IST for are: 1. Bin Label printing by department, location, and price change date. 2. Physical inventory 3. Pick Lists (from warehouse inventory). 4. Zero Quantitiy floor walks (shoot every bin tag in the store with zero merchandise and find out why. 5. Order entry. (Give the IST to Dad so he can shoot every sku he thinks we need to order. Copy over the new order quantities. Show him why the stuff isn't needed on an RSO. Delete "his" purchase order.) 6. Warehouse merchandise coding. Shoot the warehouse merchandise and its location and express them as a user code. It's amazing how much stuff isn't on the floor. I hate my warehouse... 6. Warehouse duck shooting: Load the shelf manager (a laborious and time-consuming project) with an entire department. Shoot every sku in that department in the warehouse. Send down anything where QOH equals QIW (quantity in Warehouse). 7. General sku coding. Shoot the dusty or piled-high stuff for overstock review. 8. Price changing using Shelf Manager. I wish Triad would give more consideration to the business missions these devices are to be used for to make it easier for us to operate at the store level. The work-arounds are nice, but they take time which we don't have to spare. The "exploratory eighties", when we were all new to this game, are long gone. We should be way beyond exploration, work arounds, and make-do's. I'm really anxious to see that break point where all the investment in time and money making these systems work at the store level yield BIG savings, BIG returns, and strategic advantange. Corporate america spent billions and waited decades, but they eventually were able to compress their corporate structures and slash their work forces to create and manage the Walmarts and Home Depots we dance between every day. I know my system pays for itself and then some, but it is not yet at the "enterprise" level where the procedures and policies are on-line along with the databases to accumulate and distribute the best business practices to make my store the leader in my market.... Maybe I'll get more time off.... Time to go off to sell foam brushes..... By the way, why not mark those up today? Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27492 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sat, 03 May 1997 00:03:48 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27493 Today's topics: 'Chuck Kremers resigns' 'Re: Chuck Kremers resigns' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 02 May 1997 16:59:40 -0400 From: John Fix 3rd Subject: Chuck Kremers resigns Just in case folks haven't heard, Chuck Kremers has resigned from his post as Vice President at Cotter & Company. Chuck was the person most responsible for both the agressive pricing in the promotional flyers as well as the extensive (expensive?) professional sports sponsorships and television tie-ins (CBS Story of Santa Claus special for example). According to a story on the National Home Center News web site (www.homecenternews.com), he resigned due to member criticisms of the sports sponsorship costs as well as the low promotional pricing strategy. These member complaints were evidently voiced at the recent Atlanta market. Was anyone at meetings where this topic was discussed? I have mixed feelings about Chuck's departure. On one hand, I think that the sports sponsorships haven't generated the additional sales or traffic that was anticipated. We didn't receive any winning tickets or coupons at our store related to either baseball or football. Nobody has bought any NASCAR phone cards. The only feedback we've had has been complaints from folks who didn't get free baseballs at Yankee opening day, and that was the Yankee's fault, not True Value's. On the other hand, the sports tie-ins have generated a lot of consumer impressions, both through gimmicks like the card flip during the World Series and through little things like True Value showing up behind the batter on television. And, True Value television ads are top-notch... I think the overall True Value - Help is Around the Corner campaign has been successful. Any other comments? John ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 May 1997 16:43:48 -0500 From: "True Value" Subject: Re: Chuck Kremers resigns ---------- > > Just in case folks haven't heard, Chuck Kremers has resigned from his post > as Vice President at Cotter & Company. Chuck was the person most > responsible for both the agressive pricing in the promotional flyers as > well as the extensive (expensive?) professional sports sponsorships and > television tie-ins (CBS Story of Santa Claus special for example). > > > Any other comments? > > John > I know that there were good points and bad points to the advertising program, my problem with Chuck was Chuck himself. In the discussions and meetings I had with him, he refused to see your side of anything and would not change his mind at all. He was right and you were wrong and as you know, us independent hardware owners don't take too kindly to that sort of attitude. One of my biggest complaints, is NO ad slicks. We've only had slicks for direct mail items and now they are only on CD-ROM. There were some good "Merger Mania" buys but how are we going to advertise them with no ad slicks? I have got absolutely no help with this until I called Paul Pence last Monday and he said he would get this problem taken care of ASAP. I think our national ads need to be more geared to "selling of merchandise". It's going to be interesting to see what shakes out! Good selling! David Casaletto True Value Home Center Pittsburg, KS ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27493 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sun, 04 May 1997 00:04:16 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27494 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27493' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27493' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27493' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27493' 'sports tie-ins' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 02 May 1997 22:02:23 +0000 From: BERNARD RIELLEY Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27493 Hardliners, It is always a loss when a key player leaves. I would have felt better if Chuck would have reacted to the critical comments by taking action to change direction, or at least seek suggestions from the membership, rather than reacting to the heat by jumping ship. I have been unhappy with the emphasis on sports and racing, as compared to focusing on our strong theme of "Help is Just Around the Corner" by promoting products and services offered by the members. We also missed the newspaper ads supporting the direct mail events. With few exceptions, we sold products from the newspaper ads. In our Puget Sound area, a competitor, Eagle, ownes the rights to the sign behind home plate. We never see a True Value name in the KingDome. Eagle's ads feature the home town sports heros, so we really cannot claim to be the Hardware store of Major League baseball in our area. With our climate, and clientele, lawn and garden is big. We never see a True Value commercial in any of the local garden shows, or national ones. Nor do we see any Easy Kare commercials. Easy Kare is our strongest product, not Easy Color. I would much prefer seeing Easy Kare promoted, and if necessary to make a sale, pull out the Easy Color line. We sell the Value line to the apartment people, but homeowners in our area will buy the Easy Kare line if the benefits are explained. Well, onward and upward. Bernie Rielley Oakbrook True Value Tacoma, WA ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 May 1997 07:48:48 +0000 From: DAVID PILGRIM Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27493 >Today's topics: > 'Chuck Kremers resigns' > 'Re: Chuck Kremers resigns' > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- If Chuck's reason for leaving is because of member criticism, then it seems to be a pretty shallow reason. If our management can not take some criticism, no matter how it may come to them, as constructive and learn from it to better the organization, then let them leave. The sports sponsorships were expensive. I personally only saw benefit from the Baseball sponsorship. Baseball is a family outing moreso than football or NASCAR. It has a longer season and seems to be more widely followed. It is a good sponsorship! My opinion, take it or leave it. David Pilgrim Village True Value Hdw Maple Valley, WA ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 May 1997 08:36:21 -0400 (EDT) From: Magnet1125@aol.com Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27493 I really think the happening at the show was the straw that broke the camels back. Members have been complaining about the arrogance of the department and I guess we are still being listened to. I think the company needed some radical changes a couple of years ago, and the new regime just took it a little to far a little too fast, I agree the money spent on national advertising was not all well spent, but there always will be mistakes made. The real problem was the reluctance to listen and to have this attitude filter down from above. One of my biggest gripes was and is the demand for 8 fliers on the regional program, which went froma committee of members to the advertising department. Let us all hope that his replacement will understand our needs and that the new TruServ management will find a great level of communication with all members in warp speed. Bob Rosenberg North Steet True Value Danbury, Ct ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 May 1997 09:52:52 -0500 From: "Dana Whitton" Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27493 I agree constructive criticism is the way I'm sure most of the comments were made. I'm glad we are airing our opinions here because there are many Tru-Serv people reading this. So maybe someone will save these notes and give them to whoever replaces Chuck. I was always against the sports sponsorships because it didn't benefit all stores equally. The stores in areas that had major league teams or race tracks had better ways to tie in. In my area (and I'm sure I'm not alone) we have no football team, no baseball team, no race track within 200 miles. The national television ads that aired were very good. But I agree we need to stick with our slogan of Help... We need to capitalize on our partnership with the Red Cross, and let customers know what we all keep being told that with the buying power of now 10,000+ stores we can compete with the big boxes. I would like to see the national advertising remain generic and not product oriented because products that sell well at one price in one area may not sell at all in another. If product must be advertised please keep it limited to the Bargain of the Month. One last note on co-op we should be able to receive co-op for advertising the True Value name not just for Tru-Test Paint. I have had many oportunities to place a True Value Banner at local events but could not afford the cost alone! I'm excited about all the changes coming, so let's roll with the punches and hope the new people can handle our CONSTRUCTIVE Criticism! Dana Whitton Gulf Breeze True Value ---------- > From: DAVID PILGRIM > To: Multiple recipients of list hardlines > Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27493 > Date: Saturday, May 03, 1997 2:48 AM > > > >Today's topics: > > 'Chuck Kremers resigns' > > 'Re: Chuck Kremers resigns' > > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- > > If Chuck's reason for leaving is because of member criticism, then it seems > to be a pretty shallow reason. If our management can not take some > criticism, no matter how it may come to them, as constructive and learn from > it to better the organization, then let them leave. The sports sponsorships > were expensive. I personally only saw benefit from the Baseball > sponsorship. Baseball is a family outing moreso than football or NASCAR. > It has a longer season and seems to be more widely followed. It is a good > sponsorship! > My opinion, take it or leave it. > > David Pilgrim > Village True Value Hdw > Maple Valley, WA > > *************************************************************** > 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: Sat, 3 May 1997 20:04:18 -0400 (EDT) From: AlannnnT@aol.com Subject: sports tie-ins Following the discussion of Chucks resigning; perhaps the reason sports tie- ins and the like don't seem to affect sales is that we are a number of independent stores, we are not K-Mart or Pizza Hut, etc. What I mean is this, when one of our customers is on his way to our store he doesn't tell his family that he's on his way to 'True Value'. He says,"I'm on my way to the hardware store, honey, need anything? Or he says,"I'm on my way to Karp's, honey, need anything?". However, when he leaves for Home Depot or K-Mart or Sears , he says,"need anything from Sears, honey? If Cotter people are listening [reading this] please see this point, it is significant. Maybe 10% of our customers are certain that we are a True Value store. Maybe 1% care one way or the other. Maybe not. What is important to him is that we are close to his house, we have adequate parking, we get him rung up fast and if doesn't know our to fix something , it's O.K. , because we will show him how. If my customer doesn't relate my store to TV is not important, as long as he's coming. National sports advertising has value for Dominoes Pizza or Nike or Sears. The value for a small store is very limited, less than ten customers a year ever mention True Value in ANY context whatsoever, and most of those are looking for toy trucks. We are the best [I hope] hardware store around, that's why people shop with us, not because True Value is on the hood of a race car. Thanks for the forum, Alan Talman, Karps Hardware, East Northport, NY PS, before I get blasted-- we have plenty of TV signage on the building, we use all TV brand products and displays, we have tried all the circulars, we do the bargain and tool of the month, etc. Today's hardware store customer is in our store for a variety of reasons, not one of which is related to which wholesaler we use. ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27494 ********************************** hardlines Digest Mon, 05 May 1997 00:00:48 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27495 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27494' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27494' 'Diversity' 'Advertising.' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 4 May 1997 09:08:47 -0400 (EDT) From: ROTENRAND@aol.com Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27494 I have read all the above ideas for Tru-Serv national advertising and agree with everyone to some extent. If I were Chucks replacement here is what I would do. Drop baseball. The attendance is droping the interest is droping and their image stinks. Drop IROC . Everyone that is interested knows the results before the race is shown on TV if it is shown at all. Replace IROC with sponsership of a Winston Cup car. You could have exposure from Feburary to November, much longer than Baseball. Plus NASCAR interest is growing faster than any other sport. For example a track in Bristol TN went from 60,000 seats to 110,000 seats in one year. From what I understand the seats have been sold and they aren't even built yet. I am a small town hardware like most of you out there . I have Wall Mart , Lowes, ect. just 15 minutes away. My customers come to me because they percieve a value in shopping at my store. They come because when they buy paint they get the right paint and tools for the job. They buy plumning because we can hook their thing-a-ma-jig to their whats-it. What we need to stress is than the customer that shops True Value is smarter because he get a better VALUE by shopping Just Around the Corner. Randy Whetstone Nelsons True Value Claysburg, PA 16625 ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 May 1997 09:53:19 -0400 (EDT) From: CASHMAN364@aol.com Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27494 Folks: I'm sure that many of you, like me, were at the member's meeting where Kremers took some criticism sparked by a round of applause. It's obvious he's never worked retail!!! Has ANYONE at the corporate towers done serious time in a hardware store? Handing down edicts, and quitting if you're not worshipped doesn't make it in a co-op that "we own." We all have to learn as we grow our business. Guess no one told Chuck. Steve Cashman Cashman's T.V. East Berlin PA ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 May 1997 13:38:13 -0500 From: "Dana Whitton" Subject: Diversity Alan from Karps Hardware proves once again we are a diverse group and cannot always have the same results. In my town I here True Value mentioned all the time. Many of my customers do say "I'm going to True Value..." I really believe more co-op money with more flexible guidelines and less national ads would be best that way we can afford to advertise the most productive way for our stores! ---------- > From: AlannnnT@aol.com > To: Multiple recipients of list hardlines > Subject: sports tie-ins > Date: Saturday, May 03, 1997 7:04 PM > > Following the discussion of Chucks resigning; perhaps the reason sports tie- > ins and the like don't seem to affect sales is that we are a number of > independent stores, we are not K-Mart or Pizza Hut, etc. > > What I mean is this, when one of our customers is on his way to our store he > doesn't tell his family that he's on his way to 'True Value'. He says,"I'm on > my way to the hardware store, honey, need anything? Or he says,"I'm on my way > to Karp's, honey, need anything?". However, when he leaves for Home Depot or > K-Mart or Sears , he says,"need anything from Sears, honey? > > If Cotter people are listening [reading this] please see this point, it is > significant. > Maybe 10% of our customers are certain that we are a True Value store. Maybe > 1% care one way or the other. Maybe not. What is important to him is that we > are close to his house, we have adequate parking, we get him rung up fast and > if doesn't know our to fix something , it's O.K. , because we will show him > how. If my customer doesn't relate my store to TV is not important, as long > as he's coming. > > National sports advertising has value for Dominoes Pizza or Nike or Sears. > The value for a small store is very limited, less than ten customers a year > ever mention True Value in ANY context whatsoever, and most of those are > looking for toy trucks. We are the best [I hope] hardware store around, > that's why people shop with us, not because True Value is on the hood of a > race car. > > Thanks for the forum, > Alan Talman, Karps Hardware, East Northport, NY > > PS, before I get blasted-- we have plenty of TV signage on the building, we > use all TV brand products and displays, we have tried all the circulars, we > do the bargain and tool of the month, etc. Today's hardware store customer is > in our store for a variety of reasons, not one of which is related to which > wholesaler we use. > *************************************************************** > 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: 04 May 97 20:06:31 EDT From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Advertising. Dear Folks, I was arguing with my Father this evening about Cotter advertising. That's very easy to do. I had lunch with Rick Schwartz where we had churned over the same subject. Dear ol' Dad says that the weather variable was the one with the most influence over the poor results for the first quarter this year. It makes everything else moot. I think that much of the problem in our store has been with our reliance on the regional group ads for the bulk of our advertising "punch." There seems to be more effect when the circular is mailed rather than distributed via shared mail or newspaper, and far more effect when the circular is for one store rather than a group. I thought that the poor group circular results were a function of the weak True Value national identitiy. The theory is that my store, "fully identified" as a True Value store, ought to be the natural destination for shoppers who wish to respond to the "group" circular. The shopper would see the logo on the tab and connect it immediately with the local True value store. I don't think this is happening.... This ties to the comments in yesterday's E-mail messages where other members stated that the business was coming into the store not because of the logo and the identification, but the location and the convenience. On a lighter note, my Father returned from the Pilgrim Basset Hound Club this evening.... Victorious! Jasper, Dad's hardware hound and our store's resident character, won THREE ribbons (First prize, Best Adult of Match, Best in Match). Dad prepared for the event by sleeping late and brushing the dog out for the first time in two months. The grandchildren where shocked (What prize did grampy win? Worst trained dog?). I will make this into a public relations event with tee shirts and balloons and newspaper profiles. I daresay that I can build more consumer awareness for Round's True Value with this than all the money spent on our store's behalf with major league baseball and football. Gotta run. Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27495 ********************************** hardlines Digest Tue, 06 May 1997 00:02:08 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27496 Today's topics: '"Dana Whitton" Comments' 'Fwd: hardlines discussion' 'Re: "Dana Whitton" Comments' 'More ad comments' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 10:12:47 -0400 (EDT) From: AlannnnT@aol.com Subject: "Dana Whitton" Comments .." I really believe more co-op money with more flexible guidelines and less national ads would be best that way we can afford to advertise the most productive way for our stores! Dana, I agree wholeheartedly. But I don't think you [we] can convince Cotter execs. of this for three reasons. 1. Regardless of what they say, they consider us to be small minded individuals who don't have important jobs as they themselves do, so how could we know anything? We are of course quilty of small mindedness because our stores ARE small as compared to Cotter, so we think in smaller terms, but small does not mean unimportant. 2. They love the corporate image they make for themselves by having national ads bought with someone elses [our] money. I am sure they are more likely to look for a TV ad on the tv then we are, because we are too busy working to see tv. When I worked for Ford Motor it was the same thing, anyone connected with Ford took great pride in the money spent on national ads even when the cars really were lousy. 3. The most important reason is simple. In the corporate structure an executive's worth is measured by the number of managers and employees that work directly under him [her], and the size of the budget he controls. If Cotter scaled down advertising on the national level, and co-oped ads for us instead, many execs budgets would be scaled down. Whole departments would be eliminated. Then the execs would be less important, or out of work. If you don't believe it's true just watch how many Cotter people jump down my throat for saying so. Dana, as you know, given your share of the national ad money, you could impact your store sales much more than Cotter ads will, but the Cotter execs don't believe that. Also, Dana, you didn't put your store location on the post and I'm curious to know were you are from. Alan Talman Karps TV East Northport NY ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 16:19:46 -0400 (EDT) From: AlannnnT@aol.com Subject: Fwd: hardlines discussion --------------------- Forwarded message: Subj: hardlines discussion Date: 97-05-05 16:18:43 EDT From: AlannnnT To: rmaed@worldpath.net To clarify my harsh comments earlier about Cotter, I would like to add this, then I'll shut up. The primary problem, IMHO, with Cotter's mentality about promotion was created by the retailers a long time ago. Sometime in the past, retailers turned to the co-ops for help with advertising, so we have to shoulder some of the blame for creating this monster. I personaly don't care if they spend money on national ads or not. I just hope that the members get to decide, not Cotter management. I wouldn't spend the money if it were up to me, but I am willing to go along with the group as a whole. As long as members don't rely on Cotter to make them successful we are all O.K.. I have heard members complain that they are not making any money, and then they blame their wholesaler. Now that's dumb! Alan Talman, Karps TV Last PS, to illustrate why one campaign will never please [or help] us all, in just the last two days members have shown a preference for promoting with the Red Cross, Nascar, baseball,price point products only, EZ Kare over EZ Color, 'Help is'.., and have expressed a dislike for promoting racing, baseball, and football at the same time. -Someone suggested changing IROC for Nascar. Neither myself nor the people I asked today know the difference between the two. Just goes to show how limited "national" promotions can be. Good Selling ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 17:38:15 -0500 From: "Dana Whitton" Subject: Re: "Dana Whitton" Comments Sorry for the oversight Alan, I'm from Gulf Breeze True Value, in Gulf Breeze, Florida. That is a suburb of Pensacola. ---------- > From: AlannnnT@aol.com > To: Multiple recipients of list hardlines > Subject: "Dana Whitton" Comments > Date: Monday, May 05, 1997 9:12 AM > > .." I really believe more co-op money with more flexible guidelines > and less national ads would be best that way we can afford to advertise the > most productive way for our stores! > > Dana, I agree wholeheartedly. But I don't think you [we] can convince Cotter > execs. of this for three reasons. > > 1. Regardless of what they say, they consider us to be small minded > individuals who don't have important jobs as they themselves do, so how could > we know anything? We are of course quilty of small mindedness because our > stores ARE small as compared to Cotter, so we think in smaller terms, but > small does not mean unimportant. > > 2. They love the corporate image they make for themselves by having national > ads bought with someone elses [our] money. I am sure they are more likely to > look for a TV ad on the tv then we are, because we are too busy working to > see tv. When I worked for Ford Motor it was the same thing, anyone connected > with Ford took great pride in the money spent on national ads even when the > cars really were lousy. > > 3. The most important reason is simple. In the corporate structure an > executive's worth is measured by the number of managers and employees that > work directly under him [her], and the size of the budget he controls. If > Cotter scaled down advertising on the national level, and co-oped ads for us > instead, many execs budgets would be scaled down. Whole departments would be > eliminated. Then the execs would be less important, or out of work. > > If you don't believe it's true just watch how many Cotter people jump down my > throat for saying so. > > Dana, as you know, given your share of the national ad money, you could > impact your store sales much more than Cotter ads will, but the Cotter execs > don't believe that. > > Also, Dana, you didn't put your store location on the post and I'm curious > to know were you are from. > > Alan Talman > Karps TV > East Northport NY > *************************************************************** > 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: Mon, 5 May 1997 17:49:51 -0500 From: "True Value" Subject: More ad comments Hi TruServ Members! As we are finding out (and have always known), no national program will satisfy everyone. It seems to me this is the BIG question. "Does TruServ continue to spend big bucks on national programs and sponserships or do they figure out a way to filter that money down to us on a local level? And if they give us access to this money, will we take the time to figure out how to use it wisely?" My vote: I would like to use the money on a local level and get rid of all national sponserships (but not all national ads). If it IS true, that the sponserships do not cost us any money and is completely supported by manufacturers, then show us the numbers. Then let us vote on it. Give us 2 or 3 plans to choose from. Even though it would be tough, I bet we could tax our brains and figure out what was up if they would give us a chance. We do need some national ads, but the aggressive dealer (and I must say all of us on the internet fall into this catagory) needs LOCAL ads and the money to run local ads (and ads SLICKS for ALL products in the warehouse, all closeouts and specials, etc., not just a CD-ROM with only circular products with photos, not line art). Hope big brother is listening. Good selling! David Casaletto True Value Home Center Pittsburg, Ks P.S. Just a note to you non-TruServ dealers that must listen to us ramble. I would just like to say for myself, that while I may gripe about things and try to get them improved, I'm 100% behind Cotter and now TruServ. I am not looking to switch wholesalers and on the whole am very happy where I'm at. It's just that every organization can be improved and without the input of members, it's very hard to do it right. The same goes for Triad, too, at least by me. ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27496 ********************************** hardlines Digest Wed, 07 May 1997 00:00:03 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27497 Today's topics: 'More ad comments' 'ACE to offer franchises' 'Signup' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 09:24:36 -0400 (EDT) From: AlannnnT@aol.com Subject: More ad comments David Casaletto,True Value Home Center wrote: "My vote: I would like to use the money on a local level and get rid of all national sponsorships (but not all national ads)" That's the point of my ramble Dave, we don't get to vote, as we should. Now that we have a way of communicating with each other on the digest,maybe we can assemble enough clout to force these issues to a member wide vote. Any one interested? Alan Talman-Karps TV. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 13:46:17 -0500 From: "David Casaletto" Subject: ACE to offer franchises Hi Group, Just read in the May 5th Home Center News that ACE will offer a franchise along with the normal program to build business??????? They also are going to take Atlanta by storm (us True Value guys know how Atlanta can be stormed!). They are also going to help existing dealers in Atlanta expand by 400,000 sq. ft. I think TruServ will need to grow by helping existing dealers expand with low interest loans, etc. New stores will be hard to come by (and un-needed), it's the existing dealers that will need help to stay in business and to grow. Good selling! David Casaletto True Value Home Center Pittsburg, KS ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 19:58:09 -0700 From: Dave Chapman Subject: Signup Please subscribe:jwesh@aol.com ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27497 ********************************** hardlines Digest Thu, 08 May 1997 00:01:21 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27498 Today's topics: 'Activity' 'Re: Activity' 'Board Members' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27494' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 7 May 1997 09:18:39 -0400 (EDT) From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Activity Hi: Hurrah It is great to hear the controversy about Chicagoland. But, more important, is our Board of Directors hearing this too? And will they respond verbally or react to the comments given? Another comment: in the May Corporate Advisor -- Retail Auto Section --> TRIAD only gets 1 Paragraph!!!! What's happening???? Have Fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 May 1997 17:22:08 -0500 From: "David Casaletto" Subject: Re: Activity ---------- > From: RICKSS1@aol.com > To: Multiple recipients of list hardlines > Subject: Activity > Date: Wednesday, May 07, 1997 8:18 AM > > Hi: > > Hurrah > > It is great to hear the controversy about Chicagoland. But, more important, > is our Board of Directors hearing this too? And will they respond verbally > or react to the comments given? > > Another comment: in the May Corporate Advisor -- Retail Auto Section --> > TRIAD only gets 1 Paragraph!!!! What's happening???? > > Have Fun > > Rick Schwartz > Schwartz True Value Hey John, Are any of the TruServ board members on your subcription list? If not, maybe we should make it a requirement of board membership (or we could mail them a hard copy, boy would that be old fashioned!) See ya! David Casaletto True Value Home Center Pittsburg, KS ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 May 1997 19:18:10 -0500 From: "Dana Whitton" Subject: Board Members David, If there are not any board members on the subscription list maybe one of us should put our name in the pot next time there is a vote. How about our fearless leader, John!? Dana Whitton Gulf Breeze True Value Gulf Breeze, FL ---------- > From: David Casaletto > To: Multiple recipients of list hardlines > Subject: Re: Activity > Date: Wednesday, May 07, 1997 5:22 PM > > > > ---------- > > From: RICKSS1@aol.com > > To: Multiple recipients of list hardlines > > Subject: Activity > > Date: Wednesday, May 07, 1997 8:18 AM > > > > Hi: > > > > Hurrah > > > > It is great to hear the controversy about Chicagoland. But, more > important, > > is our Board of Directors hearing this too? And will they respond > verbally > > or react to the comments given? > > > > Another comment: in the May Corporate Advisor -- Retail Auto Section --> > > TRIAD only gets 1 Paragraph!!!! What's happening???? > > > > Have Fun > > > > Rick Schwartz > > Schwartz True Value > > Hey John, > > Are any of the TruServ board members on your subcription list? If not, > maybe we should make it a requirement of board membership (or we could mail > them a hard copy, boy would that be old fashioned!) > > > See ya! > > David Casaletto > True Value Home Center > Pittsburg, KS > > > *************************************************************** > 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: Wed, 07 May 1997 16:44:17 -0700 From: Jon Hearron Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27494 hardlines-request@cornells.com wrote: > > hardlines Digest Sun, 04 May 1997 00:04:16 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27494 > > Today's topics: > 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27493' > 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27493' > 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27493' > 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27493' > 'sports tie-ins' > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Fri, 02 May 1997 22:02:23 +0000 > From: BERNARD RIELLEY > Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27493 > > Hardliners, > > It is always a loss when a key player leaves. I would have felt better if > Chuck would have reacted to the critical comments by taking action to > change direction, or at least seek suggestions from the membership, rather > than reacting to the heat by jumping ship. > > I have been unhappy with the emphasis on sports and racing, as > compared to focusing on our strong theme of "Help is Just Around the > Corner" by promoting products and services offered by the members. We > also missed the newspaper ads supporting the direct mail events. With few > exceptions, we sold products from the newspaper ads. In our Puget Sound > area, a competitor, Eagle, ownes the rights to the sign behind home plate. > We never see a True Value name in the KingDome. Eagle's ads feature the > home town sports heros, so we really cannot claim to be the Hardware > store of Major League baseball in our area. > > With our climate, and clientele, lawn and garden is big. We never see a > True Value commercial in any of the local garden shows, or national ones. > Nor do we see any Easy Kare commercials. Easy Kare is our strongest > product, not Easy Color. I would much prefer seeing Easy Kare promoted, > and if necessary to make a sale, pull out the Easy Color line. We sell the > Value line to the apartment people, but homeowners in our area will buy > the Easy Kare line if the benefits are explained. > > Well, onward and upward. > > Bernie Rielley > Oakbrook True Value > Tacoma, WA > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sat, 3 May 1997 07:48:48 +0000 > From: DAVID PILGRIM > Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27493 > > >Today's topics: > > 'Chuck Kremers resigns' > > 'Re: Chuck Kremers resigns' > > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- > > If Chuck's reason for leaving is because of member criticism, then it seems > to be a pretty shallow reason. If our management can not take some > criticism, no matter how it may come to them, as constructive and learn from > it to better the organization, then let them leave. The sports sponsorships > were expensive. I personally only saw benefit from the Baseball > sponsorship. Baseball is a family outing moreso than football or NASCAR. > It has a longer season and seems to be more widely followed. It is a good > sponsorship! > My opinion, take it or leave it. > > David Pilgrim > Village True Value Hdw > Maple Valley, WA > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sat, 3 May 1997 08:36:21 -0400 (EDT) > From: Magnet1125@aol.com > Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27493 > > I really think the happening at the show was the straw that broke the camels > back. Members have been complaining about the arrogance of the department and > I guess we are still being listened to. I think the company needed some > radical changes a couple of years ago, and the new regime just took it a > little to far a little too fast, I agree the money spent on national > advertising was not all well spent, but there always will be mistakes made. > The real problem was the reluctance to listen and to have this attitude > filter down from above. One of my biggest gripes was and is the demand for 8 > fliers on the regional program, which went froma committee of members to > the advertising department. Let us all hope that his replacement will > understand our needs and that the new TruServ management will find a great > level of communication with all members in warp speed. > Bob Rosenberg > North Steet True Value > Danbury, Ct > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sat, 3 May 1997 09:52:52 -0500 > From: "Dana Whitton" > Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27493 > > I agree constructive criticism is the way I'm sure most of the comments > were made. I'm glad we are airing our opinions here because there are many > Tru-Serv people reading this. So maybe someone will save these notes and > give them to whoever replaces Chuck. > > I was always against the sports sponsorships because it didn't benefit all > stores equally. The stores in areas that had major league teams or race > tracks had better ways to tie in. In my area (and I'm sure I'm not alone) > we have no football team, no baseball team, no race track within 200 miles. > The national television ads that aired were very good. But I agree we > need to stick with our slogan of Help... We need to capitalize on our > partnership with the Red Cross, and let customers know what we all keep > being told that with the buying power of now 10,000+ stores we can compete > with the big boxes. I would like to see the national advertising remain > generic and not product oriented because products that sell well at one > price in one area may not sell at all in another. If product must be > advertised please keep it limited to the Bargain of the Month. One last > note on co-op we should be able to receive co-op for advertising the True > Value name not just for Tru-Test Paint. I have had many oportunities to > place a True Value Banner at local events but could not afford the cost > alone! > > I'm excited about all the changes coming, so let's roll with the punches > and hope the new people can handle our CONSTRUCTIVE Criticism! > > Dana Whitton > Gulf Breeze True Value > > ---------- > > From: DAVID PILGRIM > > To: Multiple recipients of list hardlines > > Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27493 > > Date: Saturday, May 03, 1997 2:48 AM > > > > > > >Today's topics: > > > 'Chuck Kremers resigns' > > > 'Re: Chuck Kremers resigns' > > > > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > If Chuck's reason for leaving is because of member criticism, then it > seems > > to be a pretty shallow reason. If our management can not take some > > criticism, no matter how it may come to them, as constructive and learn > from > > it to better the organization, then let them leave. The sports > sponsorships > > were expensive. I personally only saw benefit from the Baseball > > sponsorship. Baseball is a family outing moreso than football or NASCAR. > > It has a longer season and seems to be more widely followed. It is a > good > > sponsorship! > > My opinion, take it or leave it. > > > > David Pilgrim > > Village True Value Hdw > > Maple Valley, WA > > > > *************************************************************** > > 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: Sat, 3 May 1997 20:04:18 -0400 (EDT) > From: AlannnnT@aol.com > Subject: sports tie-ins > > Following the discussion of Chucks resigning; perhaps the reason sports tie- > ins and the like don't seem to affect sales is that we are a number of > independent stores, we are not K-Mart or Pizza Hut, etc. > > What I mean is this, when one of our customers is on his way to our store he > doesn't tell his family that he's on his way to 'True Value'. He says,"I'm on > my way to the hardware store, honey, need anything? Or he says,"I'm on my way > to Karp's, honey, need anything?". However, when he leaves for Home Depot or > K-Mart or Sears , he says,"need anything from Sears, honey? > > If Cotter people are listening [reading this] please see this point, it is > significant. > Maybe 10% of our customers are certain that we are a True Value store. Maybe > 1% care one way or the other. Maybe not. What is important to him is that we > are close to his house, we have adequate parking, we get him rung up fast and > if doesn't know our to fix something , it's O.K. , because we will show him > how. If my customer doesn't relate my store to TV is not important, as long > as he's coming. > > National sports advertising has value for Dominoes Pizza or Nike or Sears. > The value for a small store is very limited, less than ten customers a year > ever mention True Value in ANY context whatsoever, and most of those are > looking for toy trucks. We are the best [I hope] hardware store around, > that's why people shop with us, not because True Value is on the hood of a > race car. > > Thanks for the forum, > Alan Talman, Karps Hardware, East Northport, NY > > PS, before I get blasted-- we have plenty of TV signage on the building, we > use all TV brand products and displays, we have tried all the circulars, we > do the bargain and tool of the month, etc. Today's hardware store customer is > in our store for a variety of reasons, not one of which is related to which > wholesaler we use. > > ------------------------------ > > End of hardlines Digest V01 #27494 > ********************************** Alan at Karps-- You are right! Customers shop your store because of you and your staff, not because of your affiliation. All the advertising funds spent by TV members are helping all independant HW stores,not just TV. But YOU are footing the bill. Over 10 years your store will spend nearly $100,000 of hard earned margin dollars on national advertising. More than that in freight. food for thought. ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27498 ********************************** hardlines Digest Fri, 09 May 1997 00:00:35 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27499 Today's topics: 'Re: Board Members' 'Staff Scheduling' 'TRIAD only gets 1 Paragraph!!!! What's happening???? IT'S ABOUT TIME' '100% Cotter Compatible' 'Re: 100% Cotter Compatible' 'reply to jon.hearron@doitbest.com' 'Pinpoint prices' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 08 May 1997 08:34:42 -0400 From: John Fix 3rd Subject: Re: Board Members At 07:18 PM 5/7/97 -0500, Dana Whitton wrote: >David, If there are not any board members on the subscription list maybe >one of us should put our name in the pot next time there is a vote. How >about our fearless leader, John!? > I will refuse the nomination.... :-) Seriously, if you know a board member, try and find out their email address. I'm not sure how many have email addresses, but if we could get one or two on the mailing list it would help. John ************************************************************************* John Fix 3rd http://www.cornells.com/john.htm John3@cornells.com (914) 961-2400 Cornell's True Value Hardware Manager/Cashier/Webmaster ************************************************************************* ------------------------------ Date: 08 May 97 10:26:26 EDT From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Staff Scheduling Dear Folks, Yea, verily, though I have sold my soul to that great blue satan of software and support, whose appetite for cash is boundless, and whose technical tallons grip deeply, I struggle yet with a far greater evil... a consumer of cash in biblical proportions... my staff. I confess. Mea Culpa. While we use our Triad system to wring more gross profit dollars out of the inventory and increase GMROI (as much as that can be measured accurately), I throw that sometimes easy cash out the window with a simple "sure, you can work those hours." It is a killer. I am a slave to the whims of my staff. Given the unemployment rate in the People's Republic of Kennedy Sex Scandals (PRKSS) of 3.5%, with a lower rate in my market, I have continually blown the budget. I have lost control of sensible and equatible staff scheduling. I have too few and too many people, at the wrong times, and both poor customer service and high payroll result. It is a mess. I need to set up Round's True Value differently. I need more staffing flexibility and better training... and better compensation to keep'em. I am going to reactivate the Round's True Value Video production company and do a cable TV help wanted ad. Given the great reaction to my first appearance on the local channels, I think I must become a meda character. Maybe I'll give up the direct mail... I still hate my warehouse, and maybe we can shoot that again if time permits. Maybe the new management at TruServe will watch an updated version of a member's video tour through chaos, expense, and inefficiency as provided weekly with every exciting warehouse truck delivery... I have always been struck by the amount of time and money I spend managing my inventory while I pay scant attention to the staff. This must change if Round's True Value is to be a factor in the local market. I have been playing with the Personnel Scheduling software offered at the Cotter Show in Atlanta. It was cheap enough, so I bought it. I had a simple DOS package several years ago, but that seemed too limited to be of use. It also seemed to fall apart where skill levels, store departments, functions, and job titles mixed together for a jumbled mess. The package "PeopleScheduler" by Adaptiv Software for Windows 3.* , Windows 95, NT, and Networks appears to address the basic issues so far as I've taken it. I have been waiting for a full time and attendence control system with a time clock attached to a PC, a scheduling program which creates schedules in light of operational and sales demands as expressed by hourly POS data, actual vs. scheduled hours, attendance warning flags, bugeting, tie with the payroll service, personnel policy administration, a dish washing function, CD-player, etc. and etc. The systems I've seen are all very expensive and well beyond my ability and resources. Unless they are complex at the system level, they are very labor intensive. An organized office manager with a three-ring binder and a file cabinet does a better job for less money. PeopleScheduler appears to be a good intermediate step and may help me to be organized and proactive. The time to save the $$$ is up front. I hate to see it on the financial statements at the end of the month... I would be very interested to see some comments on this package, or other personnel packages people are using. Also, this package would be nice to plug figures into... or take figures from... a nice little package my accountant pushes (screams at me to use) called "UP YOUR CASH FLOW!" He does a nice little cash flow seminar for his clients which goes over the methodology behind cash flow statements and their use in business stategy. He did one for Cotter dealers up here in the Boston area. Go fire your dinosaur of an accountant you see once a year and asks, "how much of a tax hit do you want to take?" and hire one who can actually do something for you. I've got to run.... Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Stoneham, MA ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 08 May 1997 09:39:29 -0500 From: RFARRING Subject: TRIAD only gets 1 Paragraph!!!! What's happening???? IT'S ABOUT TIME ITS ABOUT TIME!!!! Another comment: in the May Corporate Advisor -- Retail Auto Section --> TRIAD only gets 1 Paragraph!!!! What's happening???? COTTER IS LISTENING TO THE MEMBERS. 90% OF THE COTTER MEMBERS CANNOT AFFORD THE TRIAD SYSTEM. AS IT WAS STATED IN THE LAST MARKET " THERE SHOULD BE A UNIFORM SYSTEM FOR ALL MEMBERS TO USE, LET THAT SYSTEM BE "CIS". THEN ALL STORES LARGE OR SMALL CAN USE WHATEVER SYSTEM THAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS & STILL BE 100% COMPATIBLE WITH COTTER. THANKS, ROD FARRINGTON RETAIL OPERATING DATA SYSTEMS INC. HELPING TRUE VALUE STORES FOR 10 YEARS ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 08 May 1997 12:45:05 -0400 From: John Fix 3rd Subject: 100% Cotter Compatible At 09:39 AM 5/8/97 -0500, Rod Farrington wrote: >THEN ALL STORES LARGE OR SMALL CAN USE WHATEVER SYSTEM THAT >MEETS THEIR NEEDS & STILL BE 100% COMPATIBLE WITH COTTER. > The goal is not to be "100% compatible"... that is the minimum requirement in order to communicate with Cotter. The goal is for all members to be using the same basic platform to manage their business. CIS is not a management system... it is merely an electronic catalog. When the members of the Retail Systems panel got together (composed of Tru Trac and Triad system owners) to first discuss a "common system", our goal was to steer Cotter, Triad, and Tru Trac (and other vendors who might want to join the bandwagon) towards developing a system which had a common set of management rules. We wanted to get away from discussions relating to specific procedures or reports on each system. The systems have too many differences in nomenclature, screen appearance, POS procedures, etc. The idea behind a common system was to get to a system that helped a member run their business, and provided guidance and benchmarks based on a common True Value (True Advantage?) business practice. Create common reports, so members could compare performance of inventory. Create common POS procedures so members could share training tips and returns procedures. CIS is a stone in the road to this common system. I can pull invoices out of CIS into an Access database, and create a PO in Filemaker Pro to submit to CIS as an order. That makes these procedures "100% Cotter Compatible". That is not progress... it's a way for any vendor with a PC and some time on his hands to create a "100% Cotter Compatible System". It's a workaround, and store owners do not have the time or money to invest in getting these workarounds up and running. I'm not trying to state that Triad, Dimensions, KISS, Tru Trac, or any other vendor is the right or wrong vendor. However, CIS has very little to do with what members should be aiming for, and definitely is not what Cotter/Tru Serve should be aiming for. The goal is really to create a system that no member can afford to be without. A system that can grow from a basic catalog to a multi-store lumber system. A system that presents the same interface to users, whether they are managing a single $500k per year store, or a multi-store multi-million $ volume. A system that allows ALL store owners to get together at Edcon (or other locations) and meet together in one room to discuss inventory management or accounts receivable year-end procedures. Progress has been slow, and the merger may stall things even further. However, with the addition of SS/CTC to the systems mix, it is more important than ever to move forward to a common TruServ system, and not settle for "100% compatible". John ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 08 May 1997 19:50:47 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: 100% Cotter Compatible >At 09:39 AM 5/8/97 -0500, Rod Farrington wrote: > >>THEN ALL STORES LARGE OR SMALL CAN USE WHATEVER SYSTEM THAT >>MEETS THEIR NEEDS & STILL BE 100% COMPATIBLE WITH COTTER. >> At 12:45 PM EST 5/8/97 -0400, John Fix wrote: (and i've taken as much out of context as i can...) >The goal is not to be "100% compatible"... >The goal is for all members to be using the same basic platform to manage >their business. > >Tru Trac and Triad system owners...goal was to steer ...vendors ... >towards ... a common set of management rules. > >Create common reports, so members >could compare performance of inventory. Create common POS procedures so >members could share training tips and returns procedures. > >The goal is really to create a system that no member can afford to be >without. A system that can grow from a basic catalog to a multi-store >lumber system. A system that presents the same interface to users, whether >they are managing a single $500k per year store, or a multi-store >multi-million $ volume. A system that allows ALL store owners to get >together at Edcon (or other locations) and meet together in one room to >discuss inventory management or accounts receivable year-end procedures. > wow -- this sounds like the ideal cotter system: "we designed it, trust us, it'll tell you exactly what you need to know. you're too stupid to be able to determine what information you need to run your own business." just the perfect cookie-cutter approach to POS and ordering. actually, it could be made much easier on all of us (and 'them') - put only POS units in the stores, uplink the data to chicago, and let 'them' decide what'll be on the truck. if i was that capable of being an 'associate', i'd be working for one of the big boxes! but i'm somewhat of an individualist, willing to risk my family's fortune (and bank reference) on my abilities to out-maneuver the central-management mentality. i'd hate to spend the money to attend a meeting in florida (it's a long way - we still have snow here) and end up discussing "which keystrokes to use to clear year-to-date receivable fields" or "here's how i ring up a return". it doesn't matter what POS software you're using when you determine that it takes a 'manager' to approve a return - the people-part of the procedure is the critical one, not the keystrokes! i can almost agree with the need for 'common' reports, but what you're really looking for is a common formula. even so, that is not enough to require a complete system to have the same look-and-feel. i really don't see the sense in developing a system that the vast majority of our stores can't afford so that the few multi-store members can have the special capabilities they need. my store has been about # 2,000 in the 'pecking order' for about 20 years and i believe that the only change in that will be when the SCC stores are fit into the calculation and then i'll stay in that new 'position range' till i croak. this means that 60% of the members are smaller than i am. ever wonder why there are only about 3,000 computerized members? the smaller ones can't waste money on a system that's over-designed and the system vendors have to spread the r&d costs for multi-store to the single-pos units also. the only thing that the smaller stores can afford to spend is time and that's why you see the 'work-arounds' prospering with CIS as a base. they're not managing much more than $200,000 of inventory and generally less than 15,000 sku's - heck, lots of them run with half that and turn a heck of a good ROI (not necessarily GMROI). >CIS is not a management system... it is merely an electronic catalog. > CIS was never intended (or allowed) to compete with triad or tru-trac. but it's much more than 'merely a catalog'. true, it replaces the paper and fiche catalog with a searchable, up-to-date database. but the data it contains is completely (and quickly) exportable (un-like triad) and provides a very inexpensive common system for the 'cotter<->member' interface. this allows cotter (whoops, tru-serv) to upgrade their systems without having to wait a year for triad to re-program it's interface. in addition to the catalog portion, we can view/print/export promotional relays, promotional pricing, edi invoices, and warehouse (and central ship) invoices. i even understand that relay invoices and a procedure for ordering promotions while viewing the relay are in the near future. i don't manage with cis, but i couldn't manage without it! the ability to run the cis files against my files and pull out 'oddities' is called management-by-exception. i'd hate to have to 'meekly accept' whatever file maintenance was 'done for me' and get a listing of everything that changed to have to plow through. we got 12,665 changes last week - i was able to analyze them in 10 minutes (including computer time) and 'adjust' the ones that cotter and i don't agree on (mostly prices and units) and send a 'nice' note to inventory data quality control about their boo-boos. >CIS is a stone in the road to this common system. > the only thing that cis is hurting is triad's profits! that tru-start system of theirs is a poor copy of cis and costs 10 times as much! as i noted above, many members won't pay exhorbitant prices for a 'trust me' computer system. some of them would get a computer if the price was reasonable and it didn't 'take over' the management of their inventory. once they get the cis system, they have a chance to become more computer-literate and become more willing to invest in some pos software and then an inventory database add-on. much more, they don't really need. their accounting needs are minimal as is their knowledge - they've usually got an outside bookkeeper to do the 'monthly stuff' (besides, i've never heard any praises about triad's accounting modules). >However, CIS has very little to >do with what members should be aiming for, and definitely is not what >Cotter/Tru Serve should be aiming for. > i can agree that cis isn't 'everything' that a member should have to manage their inventory, but it is a great first step toward full computerization and a building block on which other systems can expand the member's management capabilities. some of the systems may not directly interface with cis's files and require manual import/export, but that is much better than having to reduce inventory by 25% to pay for a turn-key system that takes 2,000 hours to 'fine tune' so they're finally managing their inventory as good as they were doing manually. many of us have had systems for so long (15 years in my case - many of you had them before me) that we forget the horrors of trying to get the system to order as well as our salespeople did by just walking around the floor and making notes to be keyed into a telxon. those of us on this mailing-list are among the most computer-literate hardware retailers. the internet is not used by the dealers who haven't computerized ("you can't watch HBO without a TV"). much of what we discuss here is 'greek' to the majority of retailers because they're smaller than us and don't want to become multi-store computerized. they just want to be independent, get appreciation for the service they provide to their customer-friends, and put food on the table. if we want to bring them into 'our fold', we have to address their needs and fears. forcing a complex, expensive on them will not make them happy. however, give them an affordable, basic system which can be inexpensively built upon and they will become ardent 'true-advantage' retailers! p.s. i'm not getting paid for this. the cis people even laugh at some of my requests. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 8 May 1997 21:25:48 -0400 (EDT) From: AlannnnT@aol.com Subject: reply to jon.hearron@doitbest.com Another way we pay more to subsidize [sp] national advertising is even more expensive then the ad "tax" on purchases. When Cotter negotiates the price they pay to stock a product in the warehouse we assume that they are trying to get the lowest price. What they actually getting is a price that is padded for rebating money back to Cotter to pay for advertising and policy "A". When Cotter tells us that things like Members magazine or IROC sponsorship is self supporting they are telling the truth, we are the "self" who are "supporting" these programs by paying more out of warehouse than we should, then the manufacturer rebates Cotter a percentage for advertising and promotion. Example, we can buy Wolman deck stains for less than warehouse from our local 'for profit' wholesaler, Pacoa. We complained to Cotter Paint dept. They passed our complaint to Wolman. From Wolman we were told Cotter doesn't get the best price because there are so many strings attached to selling to Cotter; as described above. Maddening isn't it? Alan Talman, Karps Hardware ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 May 1997 21:59:13 -0500 From: "David Casaletto" Subject: Pinpoint prices Hi Group, Hot off the CSN press: Acting on the resounding Member request at the recent Spring Market, "Pin Point Princing" will change to "Everyday Value Prices". Well, here's my opinion, we didn't gain anything! What the heck is "value" prices. I don't care if Wal-Mart uses it, we need LOW prices. Not pinpoint, not value, LOW!!!!!!!! Call Diane Ventre at 773-695-5270 and tell her your opinion. See ya! David Casaletto True Value Home Center Pittsburg, KS ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27499 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sat, 10 May 1997 00:00:48 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27500 Today's topics: 'Get the word out' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 09 May 97 16:43:20 EDT From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Get the word out Ladies and Gentlemen of the TruServ Persuasion, During the Sunday evening Triad "business" meeting at the Cotter Atlanta Market, the mood of the crowd betrayed a certain dissatisfaction with the meeting agenda. I personnally enjoyed the Sunday evening "get togethers" where the usual band of characters conducted the what's new sessions. I will admit that this last one had been co-opted by the marketing people and turned too much towards the "dark side" of the Triad force. Some members appeared to be angry, and many felt that the meeting held little benefit for them. There were calls from the crowd asking for a "user's meeting." There were even cries for "Round Tables." I restrained myself from comment, but I did feel the urge to address the crowd on the subject of user groups. I wanted to call for volunteers to come forward to do the organizing and put the meetings together. This is the type of thing which needs interested users to run things. I wanted to give a thumbnail sketch of what Rick Schwartz and your humble correspondant did with the Manchester RDC Triad User's Group in the Late 80's, how it evolved and how it crumbled. I wanted to remind the audience that whenever three or more members meet to discuss things over coffee, beer, or in the case of the Manchester Group, chinese food... there you had a group. With a bit more effort the little group can become a big one, or an influential one, or a profitable one. I also wanted to state the benefits which I and others have enjoyed running these groups. In some respects, the meeting was an indication of what has happened to the True Value membership: We expect it all to be done for us; the bureacrats will handle it all in our best interest. They can handle it, yes, but they need direction and purpose from us. Otherwise, they cook up a bureacratic interpretation of "what the member needs." Gosh, it's like the Kennedys and the Clintons.... they know what's best. In the absence of clear communications from a broad spectrum of the membership in the form of letters, E-mail and faxes, we could expect nothing more. I'd like to write a piece for the MEMBERS magazine about this stuff. Someone should get the ball rolling for Local User Meetings. If it is a "member's" magazine and not a house organ playing a management tune, then it should be a wider forum for TruServ members. Lurkers, please forward something to the proper authorities. Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware Stoneham, MA ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27500 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sun, 11 May 1997 00:02:12 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27501 Today's topics: 'Used Triad equipment for sale' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 10 May 1997 09:29:19 Eastern Daylight Time From: sellenson@dimen.com Subject: Used Triad equipment for sale > Ladies & Gentlemen: > > We have additional used Triad hardware available. > > The contact is Sue at M J Murphy Hardware @ 408-659-2291. > > Quantity Description > > 10 VDT Terminals > 2 3100 Printers > 2 3320 Printers > 2 NCR Slip Printers > 2 Cash Drawers W/PAC Boards > 1 DX-10 CPU > > All the above equipment is under TriCare or Depot Support. > > Thanks! > > Scott Ellenson > sellenson@dimen.com > National Sales Manager > Dimensions Computer Advisors > > PS: In the spirit of competition is it not time to allow other "True > Advantage" Software Providers to attend the Markets? Doesn't > competition FORCE competitors to get better in the areas of support, > software capability and costs? > > I would like to hear from the hardlines group what prevents other > vendors from attending the markets. > > ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27501 ********************************** hardlines Digest Mon, 12 May 1997 00:03:37 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27502 Today's topics: 'Spring' 'Cotter Relay and Warehouse' 'Re: Spring' 'Re: Cotter Relay and Warehouse' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 11 May 1997 06:01:28 +0000 From: DAVID PILGRIM Subject: Spring Finally, A spring weekend without rain and a chance to sell some of the merchandise that has been stored up for a couple of months. I don't know how it's going in other parts of the country, but its been a wet spring out here. We are running DM65 with our regional group and have not seen a very large response from it to date. The version our group is running is "A" with a regional 4 page insert. Anyone else seeing any decent results from this flyer? Sunday's weather is supposed to be as good if not better than Saturday's, so happy selling!!!! David Pilgrim Village True Value Maple Valley, WA ------------------------------ Date: 11 May 97 08:49:23 EDT From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Cotter Relay and Warehouse Fellow TruServ Members, Is it my imagination, or is the weekly TruServ/Cotter order becoming a jumbled mess? Is it temporary? Is it localized? Is it institutionalized? 1. Multiple A-Copies: Regular warehouse, Hub warehouse (soon to be gone and replaced by central ship), the add-on order which the guys just had to have, the DS paint order, the Paint brush order, the Relay A-Copies (times two given the hub system). 2. Relay and Warehouse picked and mixed together. This requires the orders to be worked simultaineously... with up to 8 a-copies. Merchandise for future sales must be handled and rehandled, extracted from totes, often traveling to the floor and returning as there was no space, then into storage. 3. All merchandise is picked in the warehouse storage sequence. This is the most economical way for this to be done... for the warehouse. The merchandise must be handled and re-handled again at the store level to get it to the proper location. 4. "Free Astray" does not mean "Free ash tray," nor does it mean economical or efficient handling at the store level. It usually means that the missing merchandise was reordered for the next shipment and arrives on the same truck for a double shipment. It could also mean that the customer for whom the merchandise was intended has now purchased it elsewhere. Has anybody else observed these problems? Please advise. Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 May 1997 21:04:35 -0500 From: "Dana Whitton" Subject: Re: Spring David, I know what you mean about the rainy spring, this was the first weekend in a month it hasn't rained here in the Florida Panhandle. Thank goodness for the circular (the Florida group is running the same one) We have had good response and sold out of several items which are also out of stock in the warehouse. I hope that means we've all been doing well with it. On another note I've been reading about special promotions, such as Ladies Night etc. Has anyone tried this, If so How did it turn out? How did you promote it? Cya Dana Whitton Gulf Breeze True Value ---------- > From: DAVID PILGRIM > To: Multiple recipients of list hardlines > Subject: Spring > Date: Sunday, May 11, 1997 1:01 AM > > Finally, A spring weekend without rain and a chance to sell some of the > merchandise that has been stored up for a couple of months. I don't know > how it's going in other parts of the country, but its been a wet spring out > here. We are running DM65 with our regional group and have not seen a very > large response from it to date. The version our group is running is "A" > with a regional 4 page insert. Anyone else seeing any decent results from > this flyer? > Sunday's weather is supposed to be as good if not better than Saturday's, so > happy selling!!!! > > David Pilgrim > Village True Value > Maple Valley, WA > > *************************************************************** > 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, 11 May 1997 21:14:58 -0500 From: "Dana Whitton" Subject: Re: Cotter Relay and Warehouse Actually Bill our paperwork seems to have dwindled with the closing of the Ocala warehouse and as for relay and warehouse orders being mixed together that hasn't been a problem for us because we do receiving with the IST unit. It's much faster and you don't have to seperate items from different PO's if they are from the same vendor. My problem is with the new routing, for some reason they send my shipment from Atlanta south to Ocala (approx 500miles) and turn around and send it back north west to me (approx 500 miles) Instead of sending straight from Atlanta to us (approx 300miles) Somebody didn't look at their map very well! Now our order is a full day later than it was and is causing a scheduling problem. I am hoping they straighten this out quickly! Free Astray was a problem for a while until I started refusing to accept them and sending in a request for adjustment. Eventually the driver got the idea he better not leave our mdse at someone elses store. ---------- > From: WILLIAM H. ROUND <102753.622@CompuServe.COM> > To: Multiple recipients of list hardlines > Subject: Cotter Relay and Warehouse > Date: Sunday, May 11, 1997 7:49 AM > > Fellow TruServ Members, > > Is it my imagination, or is the weekly TruServ/Cotter order becoming a jumbled > mess? Is it temporary? Is it localized? Is it institutionalized? > > 1. Multiple A-Copies: Regular warehouse, Hub warehouse (soon to be gone and > replaced by central ship), the add-on order which the guys just had to have, the > DS paint order, the Paint brush order, the Relay A-Copies (times two given the > hub system). > > 2. Relay and Warehouse picked and mixed together. This requires the orders to > be worked simultaineously... with up to 8 a-copies. Merchandise for future > sales must be handled and rehandled, extracted from totes, often traveling to > the floor and returning as there was no space, then into storage. > > 3. All merchandise is picked in the warehouse storage sequence. This is the > most economical way for this to be done... for the warehouse. The merchandise > must be handled and re-handled again at the store level to get it to the proper > location. > > 4. "Free Astray" does not mean "Free ash tray," nor does it mean economical or > efficient handling at the store level. It usually means that the missing > merchandise was reordered for the next shipment and arrives on the same truck > for a double shipment. It could also mean that the customer for whom the > merchandise was intended has now purchased it elsewhere. > > Has anybody else observed these problems? Please advise. > > Regards, > Bill Round > Round's 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 > *************************************************************** ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27502 ********************************** hardlines Digest Tue, 13 May 1997 00:02:38 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27503 Today's topics: 'Bill Rounds A-copy headaches' 'Re: Cotter Relay and Warehouse' 'Re: Used Triad equipment for sale' 'hardlines Digest - V01 #27500 -Reply' 'used computer' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 12 May 1997 00:01:44 -0700 From: "Jay, Will and Linda Farr" Subject: Bill Rounds A-copy headaches You think you've got problems .... We send three orders to Cotter weekly for warehouse shipments. The main order, an order made up of only special orders (Cotter has been great about putting up with this second order that allows us to pull orders that have already been sold faster), and a last minute faxed order. I agree that the multiple invoices on the same looking A-copies are confusing, but it doesn't seem to be a big problem for our receiving people ... however we've been assuming Cotter is always correct since we started selling by UPC's. We're about to change that process and go to Fredware RP scanning software. I don't think that this will add any more complication from the multiple invoices, and I still think that Cotter is incredibly accurate in their picking ... the $ errors aren't forcing us to audit the receiving ... it's more a case of the horrible problems that errors cause down the road in our inventory! Jay Farr Farr's TV Coos Bay, OR 541-267-2137 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 May 1997 08:13:03 -0400 From: John Fix 3rd Subject: Re: Cotter Relay and Warehouse At 08:49 AM 5/11/97 EDT, Bill Round wrote: > >4. "Free Astray" does not mean "Free ash tray," nor does it mean economical or >efficient handling at the store level. It usually means that the missing >merchandise was reordered for the next shipment and arrives on the same truck >for a double shipment. It could also mean that the customer for whom the >merchandise was intended has now purchased it elsewhere. > I think that Cotter should not ship items free-astray. If it finds it's way back to the warehouse, it should just go back in stock. We have started to follow Rick Schwartz's procedures of refusing items with labels from the previous week, although it's tough to catch them coming off the truck. Sometimes, we just send them back the following week... a variation on an old saying..."Return 'em all... let Cotter sort them out!" John ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 May 1997 08:35:18 -0500 From: "David Casaletto" Subject: Re: Used Triad equipment for sale > > Ladies & Gentlemen: > > > > We have additional used Triad hardware available. > > > > The contact is Sue at M J Murphy Hardware @ 408-659-2291. > > > > Quantity Description > > > > 10 VDT Terminals > > 2 3100 Printers > > 2 3320 Printers > > 2 NCR Slip Printers > > 2 Cash Drawers W/PAC Boards > > 1 DX-10 CPU > > > > All the above equipment is under TriCare or Depot Support. > > > > Thanks! > > > > Scott Ellenson > > sellenson@dimen.com > > National Sales Manager > > Dimensions Computer Advisors > > Scott, I called on this equipment the last time you posted it and they were not ready to sell and wanted to only sell it as a package. When they are ready to sell pieces, let me know. Thanks, David Casaletto True Value Home Center Pittsburg, KS 316-231-0900 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 May 1997 07:23:06 -0600 From: BOB JOHNSON Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27500 -Reply Bill Rounds....We will be working on a new format for the meetings and education round tables...BOB ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 May 1997 09:02:52 -0500 From: "David Casaletto" Subject: used computer Hi Group, Does anyone have an old laptop that still works, but is outdated? I need a 386 or 486 with both serial and parallel ports, external power port, and external keyboard port. I just need to run Dos with almost any size hard drive. If anyone wants to part with one cheap let me know. Thanks! David Casaletto True Value Home Center Pittsburg, KS truevalue@pitton.com 316-231-0900 316-231-1011 (fax) ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27503 ********************************** hardlines Digest Wed, 14 May 1997 00:04:15 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27504 Today's topics: 'Re: 100% Cotter Compatible' 'Re: 100% triad Compatible' 'Receiving Headaches' 'multiple A copies and IST's' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 08:33:00 -0400 From: John Fix 3rd Subject: Re: 100% Cotter Compatible At 07:50 PM 5/8/97 -0500, Jack Swift wrote: > > > i'd hate to spend the money to attend a meeting in florida (it's a >long way - we still have snow here) and end up discussing "which keystrokes >to use to clear year-to-date receivable fields" or "here's how i ring up a >return". > I did spend money to go to Florida, and saw two different sets of classes, one for Tru Trac and one for Triad. Wouldn't it be more productive if the owners could meet as one group? This wasn't about ringing up returns, it was about ways to use our business tools, and until we are using the same tools we can't easily learn from each other. As long as you're doing your creative CIS import/export, and Bill Round is doing his Fredware workarounds, and Dane Sheahen is doing his Filemaker Pro inventory management, then we can't share techniques and ideas as effectively as if we were speaking the same computer language. John ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 10:18:52 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: 100% triad Compatible John, let me liken this to the instructions for drilling a hole: Using a bit the size of the intended hole, run your drill in 'forward' mode (refer to the manufacturer's instructions for the location and operation of the forward/reverse switch).................. it seems to be a given in the software industry that "documentation shall be so limited in it's usefulness that the customer will be forced to purchase additional training materials, thereby providing additional revenues". it appears that the online context-sensitive help files are a significant improvement over the books that no-one but a programmer could decipher, but they still have a long way to go to allow a person to fully understand the software. the 'keystroke differences' between brands of software are only important when you discuss 'exactly how' to generate a order-point/max-stock or min-max/eoq report, not in the discussion of the math involved. you talked one time about analyzing transactions to determine the average amount of add-on sales when a promotion item was purchased. that was a "way to use a business tool", and it doesn't matter what brand of business tool is used or the keystrokes/reports to be used -- just that it might be a valid way to measure the effectiveness of a promotion in comparison with another store or another promotion. and that brings me to the most important part of any software package - export/import capabilities! because Bill, Dane, and i have unrestricted access to our detail data, we can write (or share) a simple program (or set up our favorite spreadsheet/database) to quickly manipulate the voluminous raw data to generate any 'special' analysis we'd like. getting triad or any other vendor to include special reports in their 'standard software' is impossible because of the gross impracticality. the most important differences between stores are not related to software brands, but operating philosophies. Bill Round likes to buy in bulk and utilizes a warehouse, i tend more to weekly ordering because of a lack of off-floor storage. maybe i should kick out my basement floor tenant and use it for a warehouse -- at the very least, i can compare our handling costs and our final 'sold' margins. and i can do this without being able to run the same reports - since there is no 'standard' report that covers this unique circumstance. no, John, we don't need to have the same reports. we just need to be able to generate comparable analyses. i don't care whether your forward/reverse switch is on top or near the trigger, just that you can get the drill into forward! it's your manufacturer's problem if he can't tell you where it is, and i wouldn't want to own a drill that had such poor documentation that i had to have a "joe's-drill user's group" to learn where the switch is. At 08:33 AM EST 5/13/97 -0400, you wrote: >At 07:50 PM 5/8/97 -0500, Jack Swift wrote: >> i'd hate to spend the money to attend a meeting in florida (it's a >>long way - we still have snow here) and end up discussing "which keystrokes >>to use to clear year-to-date receivable fields" or "here's how i ring up a >>return". >> >I did spend money to go to Florida, and saw two different sets of classes, >one for Tru Trac and one for Triad. Wouldn't it be more productive if the >owners could meet as one group? This wasn't about ringing up returns, it >was about ways to use our business tools, and until we are using the same >tools we can't easily learn from each other. As long as you're doing your >creative CIS import/export, and Bill Round is doing his Fredware >workarounds, and Dane Sheahen is doing his Filemaker Pro inventory >management, then we can't share techniques and ideas as effectively as if >we were speaking the same computer language. > >John ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 13 May 1997 17:36:48 -0400 (EDT) From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Receiving Headaches Hi: Bill --> you forgot to mention that Totes are mixed -- relay and warehouse -- and listed on the same card --too! And that all the Tickets look the same since the R does not STAND OUT! Last, the Relay Shipping Tickets do NOT have SKU # on them. The receiver job is becoming a Professional One. Maybe UPC will be the way but in Massachusets we still must ticket everything. Hurrah -- another person wants to see the end of FREE Astrays. What's this new FredWare for receiving?? Is it well tested?? Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value ------------------------------ Date: From: tomhanson@POBoxes.com (Tom Hanson) Subject: multiple A copies and IST's I'd like to second Dana Whittons comments on receiving with an IST. It seems to handle multiple PO's very well. I would have started sooner but I didn't know Triad had added option Z to RRP until I ran into Sam Costa at the market. We have at least 5 sets of A copies every week from warehouse orders and any relay. Just run the boxes past the scanner in any order and the IST sorts through them fine. The exception reports make it possible to track down any errant items. The "linking" of upc's captures new upc's as soon as the upload is done making it possible to sell the items by scanning quickly. I seem to have to warm boot the IST before every upload but I am told a fix is on the way. Now, if we only could selectively assign user codes as we scan items and print labels on the IST printer for certain items? Tom Hanson Bangor True Value Hardware Bangor, Maine ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27504 ********************************** hardlines Digest Thu, 15 May 1997 00:01:13 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27505 Today's topics: '100% Compatable' 'Re: 100% Compatable' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 10:48:47 -0500 From: hardware Subject: 100% Compatable In regards to the questions raised about creating a common system for all TruServe stores, it has been told to the Coast to Coast Store owners (but not the Servistar store owners) that there is already a system being created as we speak. This system was originally being designed to encompass the Servistar and Coast systems, but is now being revised to accommodate the True Value system (maybe not TRIAD). The system will be a windows based POS 100% compatible everything to everyone type deal. It's name is UNITY. At this point they are rolling out step one, which is a stand alone CD-ROM catalog. But they say within two years the entire system will be ready and every other system our (TruServe) store owners use will then become obsolete. They say they will keep the cost at a minimum and will utilize the hardware we currently have to the best of their abilities. It sounds like a dream...or maybe a nightmare, but I have to agree, if we are to function smoothly as a whole we all need to be on the same page and our corporate headquarters would be best off only supporting one system rather than 3 or 6 or 8 different ones. Linda Cottin's Hardware Lawrence, KS ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 12:32:02 -0400 From: John Fix 3rd Subject: Re: 100% Compatable At 10:48 AM 5/14/97 -0500, Linda of Cottin's Hardware wrote: >In regards to the questions raised about creating a common system for >all TruServe stores, it has been told to the Coast to Coast Store owners >(but not the Servistar store owners) that there is already a system >being created as we speak. > > It's name is UNITY. At the Cotter market, there was some discussion about how one of the lead programmers for the Unity system had left SS/CTC after the merger announcement. This might have an impact on what track the development efforts take. I know the goal for Tru Serve is to first come out with a common Catalog system, and then later work towards full-blown POS systems. A catalog system is needed anyway to assist SS/CTC members in the transition to the new numbering system. By the way, this new numbering system will impact Cotter folks as well, as the addition of SS/CTC products to the warehouse system means that previously unused SKU number ranges might be needed. I'm sure we'll see some surveys in the weeks or months to come regarding member use of SKU's above 899999 at the store level. John ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27505 ********************************** hardlines Digest Fri, 16 May 1997 00:04:15 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27506 Today's topics: 'Re: just wondering???' 'skus' 'On the Lighter side' 'Copy of: hardlines Digest - V01 #27504' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 15 May 1997 08:36:15 -0400 From: John Fix 3rd Subject: Re: just wondering??? At 05:27 PM 5/14/97 -0500, David Casaletto wrote: > >Don't you think the digest format takes away from the most obvious benefit >of the internet, the fact you can almost carry on a conversation. The >digest format makes it a one day question, the next day an answer, the next >day a response back, etc. > >I'm not on digest and like it. I just wish everyone got my message at once. >Just food for thought. > It's an option that everyone can set.... most folks on the list only check their email every few days, so they don't need to see each individual message as it goes out. If they only read mail once a week, then all those messages can fill up a mailbox pretty quickly. You can set Digest or Undigest via the Hardlines web page, so folks have the option to change if they like. For those who want to change their settings, you can go to the Hardlines web page at http://www.cornells.com/hardlines/ Set your preference to Digest if you want to just get one mailing each day of all the accumulated Hardlines emails for the previous 24 hours. Set your preference to Undigest if you want to receive each message individually, immediately after it is sent to the list by the author. Thanks! John ------------------------------ Date: 15 May 97 20:05:23 EDT From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@CompuServe.COM> Subject: skus Ladies and Gentlemen, I do hereby and exclusively reserve the following range of 6 digit skus and the associated algorithms used to create them and all rights which flow directly and indirectly, through and about, up and down, so on and so forth, etc.: 900001 to 999999. These sku numbers shall now be considered copyrighted works of art. I do hereby grant the universe of TRUSERV dealers, vendors, corporate officers of TRUSERV, or their successors, the right to speak, sing, store in data retrieval devices, write, include in them in concomitant works of art, transmit them via broadcast media, and an in general use them to conduct their businesses provided appropriate copyright recognition is made. The following in-store exchange is an example: Customer: "How much is Cow Manure?" Customer Service Representative: " Cow manure, Sku 954154, copyright 1997 by Bill Round, is $2.99." Thank you very much. Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware Stoneham, MA ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 May 1997 19:47:54 -0500 From: "Dana Whitton" Subject: On the Lighter side A man walks into a hardware store and asks for a chainsaw that will cut 6 trees in 1 hour. The salesman recommends the top of the line model (sku 954154 copyright Bill Rounds). The man is suitably impressed, and buys it. The next day he brings it back, complaining that it would only cut down 1 tree and it took ALL DAY! The salesman takes the chain saw, starts it up to see what's wrong and the man shouts "What's that noise?!" Cya Dana ------------------------------ Date: 15 May 97 20:58:25 EDT From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Copy of: hardlines Digest - V01 #27504 ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- From: WILLIAM H. ROUND, 102753,622 TO: INTERNET:hardlines-request@cornells.com, INTERNET:hardlines-request@cornells.com DATE: 5/14/97 7:08 PM RE: Copy of: hardlines Digest - V01 #27504 RE: Jack Swift's characterization of me as "Bill the Bulk Buyer, the worshipper of warehousing." This is false. I hate my 2nd story warehouse. I have cut back on my "bulk buying" dramatically over the past few years. I have improved my cash flow with little effect on the margin by doing two orders per week. I think I could go to three. Regards, Bill Round ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27506 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sat, 17 May 1997 00:00:25 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27507 Today's topics: 'Re: Copy of: hardlines Digest - V01 #27504' 'PAUL DURFEE ' 'Warehouse' 'Security Camara' 'Re: Security Camara' 'hardlines Digest - V01 #27506 -Reply' 'Triad RF Terminals' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 07:46:34 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: Copy of: hardlines Digest - V01 #27504 now, this is informative! for 100 years we were a mine/mill supply house with a warehouse. when they closed the last mine, we stopped buying (rail) carloads of pipe, fittings, and wire rope. you think dealing with UPS is hazardous, try dealing with the railroads. when we moved, we sold our warehouse which had become an 'air storage facility' by then. i fondly remember the 'rush' of placing a single order totalling more than my annual cotter purchases! i've been reading bill's 'mumbling' about his warehousing problem and the manual procedures he has implemented to control it. a computer consultant once told me that if you computerize slopppy manual procedures, you'll have faster sloppy procedures. i've been wondering if going back to warehousing whould pay off -- now bill tells me that i'm better off where i am. thanks, bill -- these are the kinds of things that having common software wouldn't resolve but talking about policies does! (p.s. - Bill, i knew that reference would generate a delightful as well as informative response!) At 08:58 PM EST 5/15/97 EDT, you wrote: >RE: Jack Swift's characterization of me as "Bill the Bulk Buyer, the worshipper >of warehousing." > >This is false. I hate my 2nd story warehouse. I have cut back on my "bulk >buying" dramatically over the past few years. I have improved my cash flow with >little effect on the margin by doing two orders per week. I think I could go to >three. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 May 1997 10:08:22 -0400 (EDT) From: DURFEES@aol.com Subject: PAUL DURFEE hi, I'm new here, learned about this from Bill Round. I'm a RI Tru-Trac member True Advantage, Paint Shop I am the president of the Tru- Trac user group in RI I'm Also the only member using Tru-Trac in RI, wasn't hard to get Elected I riged it after all this is RI. I have about 5,500 sq. ft. of retail space Anything else anyone wants to know just ask. I'm interested in this Unity thing. More who is developing this???? Duck? IBM? CIS is the area of TrueValue Tru-Serv whatever that I have biggest problems. I've written a few letters in the last month trying to sink a usless program called VMI. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 12:11:16 -0400 (EDT) From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Warehouse Hi: The worse thing in retailing is a Warehouse!!!! We have Cotter who is supposed to be our warehouse but only delivers 2 times a week (if you scream). When will Cotter think about 3 times or 5 times --> just think what this will do to everyone's Cash Flow. That's how these Drug Stores and Auto Stores do it -- why not TruServe? That's my comment to Bill. Also, if Bill copyrights 900000 to 999999 will then Cotter go to 1000000 + numbers and will the TruTrac handle that?? However, I want to reserve 1000000 to 1999999 numbers!!!! Where the Sales??? Have fun Rick Schwartz ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 18:11:56 -0400 (EDT) From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Security Camara Hi: Does anybody have a good lead on "Video Security". Got a partner in my pocket that I want to catch and the electronic mouse trap ain't working! Any advice?? Other then put everything under Glass. Tip: We do use Patio Sliding Doors for "Lockup" areas -- works better and cheaper then Loziers or Childs -- and stronger. Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 17:52:12 -0500 From: "David Casaletto" Subject: Re: Security Camara > Hi: > > Does anybody have a good lead on "Video Security". Got a partner in my > pocket that I want to catch and the electronic mouse trap ain't working! > Any advice?? Other then put everything under Glass. > Tip: We do use Patio Sliding Doors for "Lockup" areas -- works better and > cheaper then Loziers or Childs -- and stronger. > > Have fun > > Rick Schwartz > Schwartz True Value Rick, We had a former employee stealing out of the back room when no one was looking. We put in a system from Secure Controls. They have a reasonable system with a smoke alarm camera. When we determined who it was, the police setup their locked vcr/security camera and we caught and prosecuted him. They also can sell you a time lapse vcr so you don't have to be glued to the screen. Call them at 1-800-322-2435 or the salesman at 1-803-819-1875. Their address is 3714 Runge St, Franklin Park, IL 60131-1112. Good luck, David Casaletto True Value Home Center Pittsburg, KS ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 17:06:19 -0600 From: BOB JOHNSON Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27506 -Reply To the the SKU# Master in Mass. Hold on to your 9's....BOBJO ------------------------------ Date: 16 May 1997 20:35:26 EDT From: Kez@garrett.ncin.com Subject: Triad RF Terminals We are anxiously awaiting to obtain a RF terminal through Triad's Beta testing. Is anyone on the "Hardlines Digest" currently using these from Alpha testing and are they worth the money? What kind of functions are you using them for? We are wanting to stop pricing individual items and use bin tickets for pricing. We also want to use it to do Receiving. I can see a lot of usage for scanning empty or low stocked bins to restock if inventory exists elsewhere or place it on order if out. Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated. I also read someone's perceived problems with the new Central Ship program and ERP. Can't we build the PO for Backorders "Yes" and eliminate the problems? You can maintain your Ship Later list on a separate PO if that is desired and reject them off the ERP'd order awaiting shipment of Central Ship items. Is this an adequate workaround or has someone came up with something better? Thanks! Jay (Naylor's True Value) ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27507 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sun, 18 May 1997 00:01:21 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27508 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27506' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27507' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27507' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 22:30:30 -0700 From: "Jay, Will and Linda Farr" Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27506 Bill, I have a group that I think you should check into ... it's called BRA (before you get the wrong opinion, it stands for Back Rooms Anonymous). By taking the first important step of admitting that you do in fact feel addicted to all that space filled with all that inventory, you are well on your way to freeing yourself of all the symptoms of BR Addicts: 1. Those feelings of satisfaction that at least this back room space is yours to arrange as you want it, without the mess created by the general public touching, or worse, buying the best of it. 2. The semiannual grovel sessions with your capitalist pig banker, where you mortgage your first born to finance the BR. 3. The middle of the night sweats about why your inventory is never right, and whether it is a dishonest employee(s), or the 'stuff' hiding behind the Xmas lights stored in the BR. 4. Heart attacks, high blood pressure, hemorrhoids, and the other afflictions of 'management' when you realize that the Tru-serv truck is on the road full of stuff the new employee ordered that is O/S on the floor, but neatly stocked in the BR. 5. The graduation from BRA is when you nail the door to the downstairs (backroom, attic) closed and vow to live forever (or die) on the in-stock position out of the Tru-Serv warehouse. Good luck (to us all) Jay Farr ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 09:03:58 -0400 (EDT) From: Magnet1125@aol.com Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27507 Rick-I installed the Magnavox system bought through Cotter at least 5-6 years ago. Four cameras which I placed pointing to dead spots. I didn't get the VCR but I have the monitor at my sales counter to let the "bad guys" know someopne might be watching. Unfortunately we very rarely are looking at the monitor unless something triggers us to do so. The system operates every day while we are open and has never given us a single speck of trouble. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 19:51:36 -0400 From: dconroy Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27507 hardlines-request@cornells.com wrote: > > Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 17:52:12 -0500 > From: "David Casaletto" > Subject: Re: Security Camara > > > Hi: > > > > Does anybody have a good lead on "Video Security". Got a partner in my > > pocket that I want to catch and the electronic mouse trap ain't working! > > Any advice?? Other then put everything under Glass. > > Tip: We do use Patio Sliding Doors for "Lockup" areas -- works better and > > cheaper then Loziers or Childs -- and stronger. > > > > Have fun > > > > Rick Schwartz > > Schwartz True Value > > Rick, > > We had a former employee stealing out of the back room when no one was > looking. We put in a system from Secure Controls. They have a reasonable > system with a smoke alarm camera. When we determined who it was, the police > setup their locked vcr/security camera and we caught and prosecuted him. > They also can sell you a time lapse vcr so you don't have to be glued to > the screen. > > Call them at 1-800-322-2435 or the salesman at 1-803-819-1875. Their > address is 3714 Runge St, Franklin Park, IL 60131-1112. > > Good luck, > > David Casaletto > True Value Home Center > Pittsburg, KS Rick, We've had a camera /time lapse recorder in place sisnce we caught our head cashier at it, years ago. Have used it more than a few times to reinforce our policies. Well worth the effort and expense. A half doze cameras, a auto sequencer and a multi- pix monitor are the basis of the whole thing. And...you should be able to freeze frame a suspect, and use your Poleroid and snap their picture. I.d. people whom you don't know, who are rippin' you off. We used a Panasonic sevailence recorder, and about any vendor can supply solid state cameras and the switcher/sequencer.. The recorder is stiff...about 2,500. the last time we checked....well worth it though. dan conroy Maskill TV Birmingham, michigan ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27508 ********************************** hardlines Digest Tue, 20 May 1997 00:04:19 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27509 Today's topics: 'Ship Laters' 'triad steering committee' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 19 May 1997 08:11:22 -0400 (EDT) From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Ship Laters Hi: To answer Jay --> I have been creating "Ship Later PO" from the A Copies right after receiving the A Copies -->this prevents reordering them on the next order and quickly tells me why we are out of stock. I use Fredware to reload the S/L in and delete the file on receiving day. I do not receive against this file and will not when Central Ship Begins. Probably will receive Centrals on a seperate PO. This may become a problem since we do not know how the EDI will work, yet. Wish list --> receiving Cotter EDI (ASY method) and being able receive which PO we want to instead of everything in the Sequence File. Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 May 1997 19:24:50 +0000 From: DAVID PILGRIM Subject: triad steering committee Do we still have a group of dealers that are part of a Triad Steering Committee? If we do, what topics are they dealing with with Cotter and Triad and how will the Tru-Serv merger affect this? Just wondering. David Pilgrim Village True Value Maple Valley, WA ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27509 ********************************** hardlines Digest Wed, 21 May 1997 00:01:03 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27510 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27509' 'Re: triad steering committee' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 14:12:01 -0400 (EDT) From: DURFEES@aol.com Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27509 Hi My topic today is learning. I learned yesterday if the computer gets shut off AOL deletes all mail that is not new or kept as new. SO I was contacted by two people about Unity, Please contact me again!!! Someone from Service Star /Coast to Coast was telling me about unity and in house programing. Please write again. Paul ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 14:38:58 -0400 From: John Fix 3rd Subject: Re: triad steering committee At 07:24 PM 5/19/97 +0000, David Pilgrim wrote: >Do we still have a group of dealers that are part of a Triad Steering >Committee? If we do, what topics are they dealing with with Cotter and >Triad and how will the Tru-Serv merger affect this? > > There is a retail automation committee, which consists of three Triad system owners, three Tru Trac system owners, and two board members (one Triad, one Tru Trac). I'm one of the Triad owners in the committee, along with Bill Round, Janna Naylor, and Sam Costa. The Tru Trac members are Ron Gadek, Will Halterman, Wayne Petrus, and Don Keller. There are a number of topics that we've discussed, but I think the primary goals are 1: Get the best value for the money for all automated members. This means lowering some costs, increasing value received for certain costs, and holding the line on costs that are already priced right for the member. 2: Help members get more value out of their system investment, through education and software enhancements. We really haven't discussed the merger in great detail, so so far I can't say what effect Tru Serve will have. John ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27510 ********************************** hardlines Digest Thu, 22 May 1997 00:02:22 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27511 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27510' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27510' 'Ship Laters' 'Re: Ship Laters' 'Re: Ship Laters' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 21 May 1997 10:07:28 -0400 (EDT) From: DURFEES@aol.com Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27510 To John Fix Does anyone on the committee seem outraged on what we pay Duck for software? Paul ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 May 1997 10:27:30 -0400 From: John Fix 3rd Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27510 At 10:07 AM 5/21/97 -0400, DURFEES@aol.com "Paul" wrote: > > Does anyone on the committee seem outraged on what we pay Duck for >software? > Boy, that's a loaded question. Pricing of software and support is a real mess to get into. The committee has not addressed pricing for software from Vaughn Duck (I'm not aware of detailed costs). Our original discussions were primarily about getting Triad support, software, and hardware costs lowered, while also trying to maintain Tru Trac costs at their low level. John ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 May 1997 17:21:49 +0000 From: DAVID PILGRIM Subject: Ship Laters In regard to the following: > > I do not receive >against this file and will not when Central Ship Begins. Probably will >receive Centrals on a seperate PO. >This may become a problem since we do not know how the EDI will work, yet. > It is my understanding from Cotter that there is not planned to be any changes in the EDI process for weekly orders for central ship. Since all deliveries are to be guaranteed in two business days, the EDI will come thru with the normal weekly warehouse order. You must set up any exception processing within your own manual process if this does not meet your needs. If I can move onto another subject, I would like to see some discussion on EFM. I do not have the cotter catalog on my TRIAD system as of yet and as a result, EFM has been a pain to use. For all of last year, my manufacturers numbers in my inventory file were 4 digits in length. Everything coming down from EFM were 5 digits in length. Therefore, all updates to my inventory file were being rejected and manual updates to the work files to correct the Mfg number had to be done. Very time consuming, and therefore only done when a specific SKU was needed to be added. At the first of this year, I received a fast change tape to correct my inventory file from 4 digits to 5 digits and to correct my manufactures file to 5 digits also. As a result of this fix, when I applied my first EFM update from my work files, my inventory file grew from 22000 SKU's to 33000 SKU's. This has now created additional problems. My weekly price change updates have grown proportionately, etc. The sad part of this process is that I now also have SKU's in my inventory file that are only good for other warehouses and also many that are restricted to BMC West usage only. THe only way to clean this up is to manually work the inventory file against the microfiche and delete those SKU's that are not available to me! And to think that I am paying for this privelege every month to TRIAD for system support and an intial cost for the software package. THe concept is great, the implementation of this product leaves alot to be desired. David D. Pilgrim Village True Value Maple Valley, WA ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 May 1997 12:42:51 -0500 From: "Dana Whitton" Subject: Re: Ship Laters David, I have been using EFM for about a year now and have found it very time effective for changes to the inventory file, such as standard pack, manufacturer codes and part #'s, UPC changes etc. The price changes are good but don't always download suggested retail which I like to compare to our own retail. The EFM report shows changes to be made old and new so if you scan this report you can usually spot potential problems and correct them in FIL before you finalize the EFM. We don't have the catalog software yet either so I don't update the new item file I just delete it and manually load items if I want to add them to my inventory. It works well for us. Dana Whitton Gulf Breeze True Value, Pensacola, FL ---------- > From: DAVID PILGRIM > To: Multiple recipients of list hardlines > Subject: Ship Laters > Date: Wednesday, May 21, 1997 12:21 PM > > In regard to the following: > > > > I do not receive > >against this file and will not when Central Ship Begins. Probably will > >receive Centrals on a seperate PO. > >This may become a problem since we do not know how the EDI will work, yet. > > > It is my understanding from Cotter that there is not planned to be any > changes in the EDI process for weekly orders for central ship. Since all > deliveries are to be guaranteed in two business days, the EDI will come thru > with the normal weekly warehouse order. You must set up any exception > processing within your own manual process if this does not meet your needs. > > If I can move onto another subject, I would like to see some discussion on > EFM. I do not have the cotter catalog on my TRIAD system as of yet and as a > result, EFM has been a pain to use. For all of last year, my manufacturers > numbers in my inventory file were 4 digits in length. Everything coming > down from EFM were 5 digits in length. Therefore, all updates to my > inventory file were being rejected and manual updates to the work files to > correct the Mfg number had to be done. Very time consuming, and therefore > only done when a specific SKU was needed to be added. At the first of this > year, I received a fast change tape to correct my inventory file from 4 > digits to 5 digits and to correct my manufactures file to 5 digits also. As > a result of this fix, when I applied my first EFM update from my work files, > my inventory file grew from 22000 SKU's to 33000 SKU's. This has now > created additional problems. My weekly price change updates have grown > proportionately, etc. The sad part of this process is that I now also have > SKU's in my inventory file that are only good for other warehouses and also > many that are restricted to BMC West usage only. THe only way to clean this > up is to manually work the inventory file against the microfiche and delete > those SKU's that are not available to me! And to think that I am paying for > this privelege every month to TRIAD for system support and an intial cost > for the software package. THe concept is great, the implementation of this > product leaves alot to be desired. > > David D. Pilgrim > Village True Value > Maple Valley, WA > > *************************************************************** > 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: Wed, 21 May 1997 13:14:17 -0500 From: "David Casaletto" Subject: Re: Ship Laters ---------- > From: DAVID PILGRIM > To: Multiple recipients of list hardlines > Subject: Ship Laters > Date: Wednesday, May 21, 1997 12:21 PM > > If I can move onto another subject, I would like to see some discussion on > EFM. I do not have the cotter catalog on my TRIAD system as of yet and as a > result, EFM has been a pain to use. For all of last year, my manufacturers > numbers in my inventory file were 4 digits in length. Everything coming > down from EFM were 5 digits in length. Therefore, all updates to my > inventory file were being rejected and manual updates to the work files to > correct the Mfg number had to be done. Very time consuming, and therefore > only done when a specific SKU was needed to be added. At the first of this > year, I received a fast change tape to correct my inventory file from 4 > digits to 5 digits and to correct my manufactures file to 5 digits also. As > a result of this fix, when I applied my first EFM update from my work files, > my inventory file grew from 22000 SKU's to 33000 SKU's. This has now > created additional problems. My weekly price change updates have grown > proportionately, etc. The sad part of this process is that I now also have > SKU's in my inventory file that are only good for other warehouses and also > many that are restricted to BMC West usage only. THe only way to clean this > up is to manually work the inventory file against the microfiche and delete > those SKU's that are not available to me! And to think that I am paying for > this privelege every month to TRIAD for system support and an intial cost > for the software package. THe concept is great, the implementation of this > product leaves alot to be desired. > > David D. Pilgrim > Village True Value > Maple Valley, WA > Hi David, Before I got CAT, I loaded all new items into a holding department (we used Dept 60). If an item was then used, such as QOH, QOO, FQO, etc. we then transfered the item into the regular department. Since Dept 60 was higher than all my other departments, I could run reports excluding these items. I identified the items by running a RQ report for Dept 60 items with QOH, QOO, FQO, etc. Since the items have a date loaded field in IMU, I would delete items out if they had not been used in a year. Now with CAT, I don't download any new items, I just load from CAT as needed. See ya, David Casaletto True Value Home Center Pittsburg, KS ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27511 ********************************** hardlines Digest Fri, 23 May 1997 00:00:48 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27512 Today's topics: 'Re: EFM' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27510' 'Tru-Test Paint' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27510' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 21 May 1997 23:33:41 -0700 From: "Jay, Will and Linda Farr" Subject: Re: EFM Efm is great for updating packs, and vendor codes (but why doesn't Cotter Tru-Serv use the Universal Product 5 digit number for Mfg vendor code (i.e. the first half of the UPC)? There are now 3, 4, and in some cases 5 different codes that Cotter TS maintains for popular manufacturers ... makes it almost impossible to work up a DS order, and wouldn't it be neat to pick up an item and know it's vendor code by looking at the UPC?!!!) Sorry for the run on ( )'s. EFM also updates costs, and UPC's, but it does a lousy job on descriptions and manufacturer part numbers. The new descriptions are atrocious ... does anyone out there have a Fredware file with good old descriptions of paint that have the model number ... i.e. HPX-9 still there that I can borrow? I have a file full of descriptions of "white latex paint". The manufacturers' part numbers are a problem with the -'s, /'s, spaces, and other extraneous characters ... it makes it a guessing game as to how to access items with . Triad could 'fix' this by giving us a that ignores these characters, but I haven't gotten much response when I've suggested that to them. All in all, EFM has some nice features, but you really have to pick and choose in order not to screw up your data file. Jay Farr jwlfarr@mail.coos.or.us ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 May 1997 07:42:08 -0400 (EDT) From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27510 To AOL users with hangups Yup I Know the feeling. However, to read "old" and lost mail go to the top bar and highlight (click on) mail -- then click on "Check Mail You Have Read" -->this is held for about 1 week. AOL phone line is "touchy" -->need a "clean" line. The phone line does not like "clicks ...." from other phones on the same line. Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value P.S. -- Paul --> AOL did not recognize you this morning????!!!! ------------------------------ Date: 22 May 97 08:16:52 EDT From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Tru-Test Paint RE: My brother's idea. Fellow Tru-Serv Members, My brother Bruce has wants to bill his store as a "factory outlet for Tru-Test Paint." We do own the factories. Are we not "outlets?" Maybe he can get established as one of the shopping tour bus stops on the way up to the Kittery, Maine outlet store swamp. Your comments are, as always, appreciated. Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value... and, by the way, did you know that the Kennedys are connected to the Guiffords? ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 May 1997 19:06:30 -0400 (EDT) From: Kasczb@aol.com Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27510 Please remove my name from the hardlines distribution list. My email is kasczb@aol.com. Thanks. ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27512 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sat, 24 May 1997 00:02:20 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27513 Today's topics: 'Re:EFM' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 08:51:17 -0400 (EDT) From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Re:EFM Hi: To Jay -- If you still want Part# mixed in with the Paint Description, use Fredware. Down load the MFG Part # Field and the Description Field, merged the 2 in a Data Base Software, and upload it back in (Sorry Tru-Tracs) -- it works fine. However, who are these descriptions really for -- The Store or the Consumer?? This can be some debate, but the enduser must understand the description moreso then us. My solution was to rebuild the RIS programs to show the MFG Fields. This works fine except for Electrical Bulbs -- the F Descriptions are reversed --->Cotter claims because of EDI ex 54432-F96T12CW --->Yup, I am downloading this and reversing! EFM is great if you pick out what you want. FASTTapes are Horrible!! Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27513 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sun, 25 May 1997 00:03:52 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27514 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27513' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27513' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 22:56:09 -0700 From: "Jay, Will and Linda Farr" Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27513 Thanks to Jack Swift and Rick Schwartz for very prompt help in what should have been obvious to me. I.e. to use Fredware to combine mfg part number and description to return my paint department to a "retail friendly" place. Just goes to show how much smarter we all are together than alone. Thanks to John for this forum! Jay Farr jwlfarr@mail.coos.or.us ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 19:54:14 +0000 From: BERNARD RIELLEY Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27513 Rick, We TruTrac users do not have to purchase Fredware. We can extract item records from the item file, load them on to an old 286 in to a data base, change any records, and load it back. Why the "sorry Tru Trac"? Bernie Rielley Oakbrook True Value Tacoma, WA ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27514 ********************************** hardlines Digest Tue, 27 May 1997 00:01:49 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27515 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27514' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 06:40:08 -0400 (EDT) From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27514 Hi: To Bernie: Sorry, (again), I have been under the impression that TruTrac users could not make changes in certain data bases such as descriptions. Glad to hear you can, and I will be teasing one particular user about this (who is also listening ). Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27515 ********************************** hardlines Digest Thu, 29 May 1997 00:00:52 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27516 Today's topics: 'MrRinseAll' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 12:19:26 -0400 (EDT) From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: MrRinseAll Hi: Looking to find other dealers (mostly in the NE) that have leased Mr. Rinse All machines. Please contact me. Thanks Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value 508 675 1404 FAX 508 679 97 88 ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27516 ********************************** hardlines Digest Fri, 30 May 1997 00:00:39 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27517 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27516' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: From: tomhanson@POBoxes.com (Tom Hanson) Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27516 >hardlines Digest Thu, 29 May 1997 00:00:52 Eastern Daylight Time V01 >#27516 > >Today's topics: > 'MrRinseAll' > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 12:19:26 -0400 (EDT) >From: RICKSS1@aol.com >Subject: MrRinseAll > > >Hi: > >Looking to find other dealers (mostly in the NE) that have leased Mr. Rinse >All machines. Please contact me. Thanks > >Rick Schwartz >Schwartz True Value >508 675 1404 FAX 508 679 97 88 > >------------------------------ > > >End of hardlines Digest V01 #27516 >********************************** RICK: I OWN A MR. RINSEALL THAT I WILL PART WITH CHEAP. SERVICE HAS DISAPPEARED FOR US HERE IN MAINE. I WASN'T THAT IMPRESSED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE THING. OURS ALLOWED PART OF THE EXPELLED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE MACHINE WHICH INSTANTLY CORRODED THE INNARDS. I HAD TO MAKE A MODIFICATION MYSELF. WE DO GREAT WITH RUG DOCTORS WHICH I THINK ARE MADE BY A DIVISION OF THE SHERMAN TANK CORP. YOU HAVE TO PAY RUG DOCTOR A PERCENTAGE BUT THAT IS A LITTLE NEGOTIABLE IF YOU DO ENOUGH VOLUME. A VERY NICE COUPLE MAINTAINS THEM HERE IN MAINE. I'LL BE IN MASS ON THE 18TH. LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO BRING THE OLD MR. RINSALL DOWN. TOM ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27517 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sat, 31 May 1997 00:02:04 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #27518 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27517' 'Quantity break signage' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 10:49:49 -0400 (EDT) From: Magnet1125@aol.com Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27517 We have had Rug Doctor for a lot of years-Good machines and good service- Only rental item (We're Just Ask Rental) we don't own. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 10:05:55 -0500 From: Chuck Hank Subject: Quantity break signage I am trying to think of ways of showing customers that if they buy, lets say 12 air filters that the price which is normally .79 would now be .71 or 8.53 for the case. Is anyone doing this now and any suggestions? I am hoping that by showing the case prices we can show a more competative price and also encourage bulk purchasing. Another item is like on electrical recepticals. I think this would be a great was to promote contractor pricing using the quantity break. I am thinking of pulling out the items by quantity break codes and then using request do the math and pass them over to label works but this is all still a theory. Thanks, Chuck Hank ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27518 **********************************