>From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Mon Jun 03 10:18:16 1996 Date: Mon, 3 Jun 1996 10:18:08 -0400 From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Cotter EFM vs Master Packs Hi: Just tried another download on EFM (been doing it for 2 years), but somebody now puts Master Pack Qty into the Order Multiple field in the TRIAD!!!!!! Watch this -->screws up order multiple royally!!!!! Who do we now explain this screwup in Chicagoland???????? Or do we just keep ignoring their mistakes (oops they do not error!). Rick >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Wed Jun 05 06:53:53 1996 X-Sender: jswift@mail.up.net Date: Wed, 05 Jun 1996 06:53:51 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: Cotter EFM vs Master Packs could have been a triad programming glitch.... i used fredware 10 days ago to upload a large correction file and thought i gave the wrong field codes -- master pack got posted to order multiple just as what happened to you...... i did re-correction postings (and checked FIL first) which came out correct... maybe it was a date-oriented gremlin in the dx-10 code that got ported to the eagle... never trust a triad programmer! At 10:18 AM EST 6/3/96 -0400, you wrote: >Hi: > >Just tried another download on EFM (been doing it for 2 years), but somebody >now puts Master Pack Qty into the Order Multiple field in the >TRIAD!!!!!! Watch this -->screws up order multiple royally!!!!! >Who do we now explain this screwup in Chicagoland???????? Or do we just keep >ignoring their mistakes (oops they do not error!). > >Rick >*************************************************************** > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > for hardware and building materials industry members. > > Address articles you wish to send to list members to: > > hardlines@cornells.com > > To remove your name from the mailing list, send email to > listserv@cornells.com with the following line in your message: > > unsubscribe hardlines firstname lastname > > For any other questions, send email to postmaster@cornells.com >*************************************************************** > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! Keweenaw Peninsula Chapter American Red Cross CIO/Treasurer Ham It Up! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Wed Jun 05 17:13:09 1996 Date: Wed, 5 Jun 1996 17:13:00 -0400 From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Re: Cotter EFM vs Master Packs Hi: Got more info from Jennifer @ TRIAD about this. Do not use Option J --> this causes the problem. I know --why even bother with EFM????? Except it does some cleaning. Still got Market Jitters or Mess. Any solutions. Rick >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Sat Jun 08 15:05:46 1996 Date: Sat, 8 Jun 1996 15:05:41 -0400 From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: EFM VS CODES Hi: Last week I commented about EFM vs Case Packs After several converstions with Cotter, TRIAD Reps and TRIAD, the answer do not use Option J unless you want master packs (contrary to Cotter's Philosphy of ShelfPack). Thanks for the help. Rick >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Tue Jun 11 17:53:27 1996 X-Sender: "John Fix 3rd" Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 17:49:16 -0400 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Re: Advice Line Slowness At 07:46 PM 6/10/96 -0400, Rick Schwartz wrote: > >Has anybody else experience the extreme slowness of the Advice Line?? > >I had a Priority 1 Callin with a down System that took 40 minutes before any >action started. Granted the action was good -->but a down system for 40 + >minutes!!! before assistance during a week day. > Try calling the direct number next time... I'm on the road so can't look at my desk, but it's toll-free for Cotter as part of the Alliance agreement and you usually get a live person within five minutes on hold. It reminds me of the "early days" back in 1982/83 when tthe phones were anwered by live advice line folks after only a ring or two. John PS - On the road in Dallas at Retails Systems 96... looking at POS systems that put Tru Trac and Triad to shame. Touch screen, user programmable, flat screen, RF.... oh yes, and quite expensive. I'll post a long report when I get back. Now it's off to the cocktail party. PPS - Triad and Cotter folks are attending as well, so they're seeing some of the "real world" POS technology as well. ********************************** Via John's new notebook computer, somewhere in the Lone Star State ********************************** >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Fri Jun 14 12:53:09 1996 X-Sender: "John Fix 3rd" Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 12:53:02 -0400 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Retail Systems 96 Show I attended the Retail Systems 96 showin Dallas at the beginning of the week. This annual event (now in its 7th year) is designed for those who design, purchase, or integrate in-store retail systems, both POS and warehouse management. Attendance at the expo was about 1,000 people. In addition to the product showcase/expo, there are a number of seminars covering all sorts of retail information management topics. Bob Johnson from Cotter and Company was in attendance, as was Harry Kypreos from Triad Systems. I met a few other hardware dealers, as well as reps from other wholesalers. The main reason I was at the show was to give a presentation on Wednesday entitled "Small Stores and the World Wide Web". The presentation went well, and was well attended (room was pretty full... though I don't know how many it held... perhaps 100-150). On Tuesday I spent the day wandering the expo, checking out the latest and greatest in POS systems. In addition to lots of nice peripherals (Ithaca has some new, cheap receipt printers due out by the fall), I saw a few really cool POS systems. One in particular was very impressive... It was built around NCR hardware, flat-screen touch technology, and Windows NT backoffice. The POS terminals actually could run DOS, Windows, OS/2, whatever. The back-office functions were really the key component... you could define all your POS functions via the back-office controls. For example, you could set up exactly which items to prompt a clerk for when a customer presents a check. You could set up different requirements for a refund, max refund to give in cash, what to do if a merchandise credit has less than $5.00 left, etc. etc. Changes made in the back room get downloaded right to the POS stations. Pricing was "unknown"... they could have someone contact me. The entire show was pretty much featuring Windows NT-based products.... IBM was there with a few OS/2 products, but they were low key. Most of their stuff was Windows NT as well. Other neat stuff was some of the customer analysis tools, some scheduling software, and some new ideas for speeding up credit card approvals. Symbol was showing some neat new hand-held units that customers in a super market would use to walk the aisles and ring up their purchases. WHen they get to the cashier, they plug the hand-held in the cradle and the total shows up for payment to be tendered. The back-room system randomly signals cashiers to spot check bags, and the more often a customer shops and checks out accurately, the more likely the system woud skip checking their bags. It's evidently in use at many European locations... would be sort of neat for loose stuff like plumbing fittings, screws, etc. Of course, pricing was impossible to determine.... we'll be in touch. Any particular areas folks are interested in further details on, let me know. John >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Fri Jun 14 14:52:19 1996 X-Sender: "John Fix 3rd" Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 14:52:03 -0400 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Re: Advice Line Slowness At 07:46 PM 6/10/96 -0400, Rick Schwartz wrote: > >Has anybody else experience the extreme slowness of the Advice Line?? > >I had a Priority 1 Callin with a down System that took 40 minutes before any >action started. Granted the action was good -->but a down system for 40 + >minutes!!! before assistance during a week day. > Try calling the direct number next time... I'm on the road so can't look at my desk, but it's toll-free for Cotter as part of the Alliance agreement and you usually get a live person within five minutes on hold. It reminds me of the "early days" back in 1982/83 when tthe phones were anwered by live advice line folks after only a ring or two. John PS - On the road in Dallas at Retails Systems 96... looking at POS systems that put Tru Trac and Triad to shame. Touch screen, user programmable, flat screen, RF.... oh yes, and quite expensive. I'll post a long report when I get back. Now it's off to the cocktail party. PPS - Triad and Cotter folks are attending as well, so they're seeing some of the "real world" POS technology as well. ********************************** Via John's new notebook computer, somewhere in the Lone Star State ********************************** ************************************************************************* John Fix 3rd http://www.cornells.com/john.htm John3@cornells.com (914) 961-2400 Cornell's True Value Hardware Manager/Cashier/Webmaster Before sliced bread, what was the greatest thing? ************************************************************************* >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Fri Jun 14 18:30:51 1996 Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 15:25:43 -0700 X-Sender: RKnudson@popd.ix.netcom.com From: Robert Knudson Subject: Cotter Network; Makita Cordless Driver-Drill 1. Thanks to all of you who commented on the Cotter Network / Triad Connect. One common theme was that this system is a lot slower than just placing a voice call to the warehouse. We talked to Robbie Cleveland at Cotter Information Services Operation Support (312 695-6322) and she says they are now implementing changes which will speed up the system. They are not signing up new users until these changes are complete (about 90 days.) 2. Cotter recently closed out their Makita 9.6 volt, 3/8 inch cordless driver-drills, model 6201DWE, Cotter IBM number 285152. This had been a good item for us, retailing at $169, our cost $148, so we bought up all we could find. This unit is 2-speed, variable speed, and reversible. The kit comes with 2 batteries 9100, keyless chuck, phillips bit, battery clip, battery cover, quick charger DFC 9700, and plastic tool case. While our supply lasts (currently 300) we're selling them to other stores for $99 plus freight. 3. I'm really looking forward to John's report from Retail Systems 96. Robert Knudson CMC Builders Supply / True Value >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Sat Jun 15 11:17:08 1996 From: RICKSS1@aol.com Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 18:35:48 -0400 Subject: Re: Advice Line Slowness John: You got your notebook working again. What type (if a new one) --> I have to invest in something soon. Advice line -->quick assist only at certain times -->this was not in that time. However, "Big Brother" was watching -->Bruce Jones tracked me down via E-Mail -->he seems upset that I aired my opinion in public -->Good. I'll forward one of his notes. I have been earing from other dealers who are frustrated too. I am working with one Advice Tech - very new 4 calls on the problem with no solution. Cannot fastpath any R programs now. Glad you had fun in the Lone Star. Have fun. Rick >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Sat Jun 15 17:27:48 1996 Date: Sat, 15 Jun 1996 14:27:40 -0700 X-Sender: batesace@netcom.com From: batesace@netcom.com (Wade Doss) Subject: Re: Advice Line Slowness >Hi: > >Has anybody else experience the extreme slowness of the Advice Line?? > >I had a Priority 1 Callin with a down System that took 40 minutes before any >action started. Granted the action was good -->but a down system for 40 + >minutes!!! before assistance during a week day. > >It took 3 -1/2 hours before the system was working again -- Scrub, Reload, >and Recovery procedures --UGH > Rick, What was the cause of your having to run recover? I would agree that 40 minutes is to long for a priority 1 call. I would say 15-20 minutes max for a down system call. Wade Wade Doss Bates Ace Hardware Atlanta, GA 404-351-4240 fax 404-350-8402 batesace@netcom.com WDoss@msn.com Compuserve 76050,3511 >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Mon Jun 17 14:44:02 1996 X-Sender: "John Fix 3rd" Date: Mon, 17 Jun 1996 14:43:53 -0400 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Retail Systems 96 For those who are interested, the POS software vendor that impressed me the most was Trimax. They had the Windows NT system that allowed custom programming by non-programmers. They have a web site at www.trimax.com where you can find out more details about the company and products. Another interesting product was the new Ithaca receipt printers. They had a few prototypes at the show, and they looked good. They print about 25% faster than the PCOS50 series printers, and the paper is much easier to change. They also handle check printing (i.e. amount of sale, pay to, etc.), and other forms fed through the printer. I saw several employee scheduling programs.... they were all primarily designed for larger operations (i.e. multi-store, LOTS of employees), but could be used by small stores. Staffworks for Windows by Campbell Software was pretty easy to use, as was Labor Day by Verifone (the credit card terminal folks). A company called Harmonics was showing credit card systems designed for large companies (i.e. Cotter) to install their own authorization network. Mapp (or whomever) would still authorize and process the cards, but Cotter (for example) would maintain a dial-up server that would process approvals faster than going direct to MAPP. The transaction time would drop from 22-30 seconds (what are folks generally seeing from POS? We get about 22-23 seconds usually from swipe to print) to about 15 seconds. The difference is due to the types of phone numbers being dialed... the POS system would dial some Sprint 700 number rather than an 800 number or a 950 number. John PS - Hoping to make PC Expo this week in NY... more for fun and my web stuff than retailing, but you never know what might show up at these shows. ************************************************************************* John Fix 3rd http://www.cornells.com/john.htm John3@cornells.com (914) 961-2400 Cornell's True Value Hardware Manager/Cashier/Webmaster Before sliced bread, what was the greatest thing? ************************************************************************* >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Mon Jun 17 16:02:44 1996 From: Scott Ellenson Subject: Used Triad Equipment for Sale Date: Mon, 17 Jun 1996 14:00:41 -0600 To Hardlines Members: I have another company that needs to sell some Triad equipment. Quantities Description Price 1 TI 850C $50 1 3100 Printer $300 W/Stand 1 Cash Station $500 (DX-10) NCR (small) Terminal Cash Drawer 1 DX-10 CPU $100 #1100 series ** All equipment was on support up until January 1st 1996. The purchaser will pay shipping. Call Dave @ 612-780-6996 ** If you would like software details on Dimensions to find out why dealers are switching to Dimensions e-mail me your address and/or hit my web page: www.dimen.com Thanks Scott Ellenson Dimensions Computer Advisors 800/755-5911 Ext: 301 >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Tue Jun 18 07:52:17 1996 Date: Mon, 17 Jun 1996 19:59:43 -0400 From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Re: Advice Line Slowness Wade: Problem undetermine except harddisk error cause the problem ????? -->before replacing the disk they wanted to try to rebuild it. So far so good except now I have lost fastpath on Reports! Oh well. They (CA) cannot figure that one out -->since Thursaday -->good speed. At least everything else is running. Have fun Rick >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Tue Jun 18 17:31:30 1996 Date: Tue, 18 Jun 96 16:08:38 CDT From: DEREK KING Subject: JOB???? WELL ALL WAS FINE UNTIL LAST MONDAY WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THE STORE I AM WORKING AT IS GOING TO BE SOLD!! WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?? THE OWNER HAD AGREED TO SELL IT TO ME AFTER I FINISHED COLLEGE. BY THE WAY IS ONLY TWO MONTHS AWAY! I CURRENTLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I AM GETTING MARRIED IN JULY, BOUGHT A NEW HOUSE IN MARCH, HAVE A NEW TRUCK AND ALL I WANTED WAS TO OWN THE STORE. THE OWNER CUT MY PAY THE SAME DAY I WAS TOLD THE STORE WOULD BE SOLD ASAP. I WANTED MY PAY CUT BECAUSE I AM GOING TO SCHOOL ON SATURDAYS UNTIL JULY SO I WOULD NOT BE THERE. AS SOON AS I TOLD HIM HE HIT ME WITH THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT. I HAVE BEEN THERE SIX YEARS AND I CAN SAFELY SAY I AM THE BEST EMPLOYEE, BECAUSE THE OTHERS ARE JUST THERE TO GET A PAY CHECK. I WAS THERE TO LEARN MY CAREER. WELL TO MAKE IT SHORT I AM CURRENTLY IN THE MARKET FOR A JOB. I WOULD JUST HOP OVER TO THE NEXT TRUE VALUE AND TRY TO GET ON THERE, BUT THE NEXT TRUE VALUE IS ONE HOUR AWAY! WELL LIFE GOES ON! LISTEN TO THIS THE OWNER TOLD ME THAT MAYBE THE NEXT OWNER COULD PAY ME MORE MONEY TO MANAGE THE STORE AND MAYBE EVEN A COMPANY TRUCK. WHO CARES I WAS GOING TO BE THE ONE THAT CALLED THE SHOTS. I AM NOT GOING TO HANG AROUND AND WORK AT A STORE THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE OWNED. I WISH I WOULD HAVE LISTEN TO MY DAD WHEN THE OWNER FIRST MENTIONED SELLING THE STORE TO ME. MY DAD TOLD ME TO GET IT DOWN IN WRITING. DID I? NO. WELL DAD WAS RIGHT AGAIN!! I WILL STILL KEEP UP WITH YOU GUYS AND GALS AND WHO KNOWS ONE DAY WHEN I HAVE THE MONEY I MAY START KING TRUE VALUE?? WELL UNTIL NEXT TIME JOB HUNTING, DEREK KING PS THE OWNERS THINK I AM STAYING WITH THE COMPANY SO IF YOU KNOW WHO I AM AND KNOW THE STORES OWNERS PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS OUT. THANK YOU! >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Wed Jun 19 02:19:21 1996 Date: Tue, 18 Jun 1996 23:17:40 -0700 X-Sender: chapman@mail.adnc.com From: Dave Chapman Subject: Re: Used Triad Equipment for Sale Scott, My name is Dave Chapman, I am the manager of Pykles True Value located in San Diego, CA. We are currently looking for used TRIAD reciept printers. If you have any information please E-mail me. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Dave Chapman At 02:00 PM 6/17/96 -0600, you wrote: >To Hardlines Members: > >I have another company that needs to sell some Triad equipment. > >Quantities Description Price > >1 TI 850C $50 >1 3100 Printer $300 > W/Stand >1 Cash Station $500 (DX-10) > NCR (small) Terminal > Cash Drawer >1 DX-10 CPU $100 > #1100 series > >** All equipment was on support up until January 1st 1996. The purchaser will pay shipping. > >Call Dave @ 612-780-6996 > >** If you would like software details on Dimensions to find out why dealers are switching to Dimensions e-mail me your address and/or hit my web page: www.dimen.com > >Thanks > >Scott Ellenson >Dimensions Computer Advisors >800/755-5911 Ext: 301 >*************************************************************** > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > for hardware and building materials industry members. > > Address articles you wish to send to list members to: > > hardlines@cornells.com > > 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 >*************************************************************** > > >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Wed Jun 19 09:36:49 1996 Date: Wed, 19 Jun 1996 09:37:40 -0400 (EDT) X-Sender: rmaed@unix.worldpath.net From: BOB AIKEN Subject: Iomega Zip Drives I am at that dreaded point of having to solve the full-disk problem. I have a laptop and a desktop that both need more drive space. I am considering the Iomega Zip Drive to store less used programs, freeing up the space I need. It would be a great deal less expensive than upgrading two computers, especially the laptop. I run essentially the same programs on both computers, but where I travel and sometimes do presentations with the laptop, I want to keep both. Can anyone tell me from personal experience if the slightly lower access speed is a problem for programs you only use occassionally, or does it drive you nuts? Looking for help, Bob Aiken rmaed@wordpath.net >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Wed Jun 19 09:55:53 1996 X-Sender: "John Fix 3rd" Date: Wed, 19 Jun 1996 09:55:45 -0400 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Re: Iomega Zip Drives At 09:37 AM 6/19/96 -0400, Bob Aiken wrote: >I am at that dreaded point of having to solve the full-disk problem. I have >a laptop and a desktop that both need more drive space. Are you running Windows 95 on your laptop (and desktop)? If not, I'd suggest upgrading to it for two reasons... 1: Great utilities for laptop support, notably power management features and "hot swap" support for PCMIA cards. 2: DriveSpace compression... it slows down the boot-up process, but will give you up to 40% more space on the drive. I haven't used the Zip drives yet, so can't help you directly with your question. John >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Wed Jun 19 10:44:44 1996 Date: Wed, 19 Jun 1996 10:45:09 -0400 From: JoeWaytula@aol.com Subject: Re: Retail Systems 96 We at Cotter & Company are looking at both Cambell's staffing program and Harmonics. Nothing has been finalized yet with either company. I first saw Harmonics at the riscon show in Chicago last year. Besides the different type of phone number, they have a box that replaces the modem which gives some of the speed increase. They are installed in musicland record stores and are rolling out in pier 1. They really do get a 10 to 15 second response time. I went to a couple of musicland stores to try it on weekends. I am planning to meet with campbell next month to see if their product would be feasible for the stores. Their program looks at the last 6 weeks of sales in 15 minute increments and also looks at the same 6 weeks a year ago to forecast labor need. Their price is pretty high, but they claim it will pay for itself in less than a year. On another topic, we are having a meeting on friday at Cotter & Company about down loading Pin Point prices to the stores. If you have any suggestions, get them to me fast. Those of you that are using Pin Point prices, do you tend to use mostly one or the other of the price categories (i.e. competitive and highly competitive) or do you use half and half? joe waytula >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Wed Jun 19 15:27:17 1996 Date: Wed, 19 Jun 1996 12:26:40 -0700 X-Sender: RKnudson@popd.ix.netcom.com From: Robert Knudson Subject: Re: Iomega Zip Drives At 09:37 AM 6/19/96 -0400, Bob Aiken wrote about the Zip drive for storing less used programs: My local computer dealer just suggested to me to consider the Iomega Jazz optical drive. It's about as fast as a hard drive, and has removeable media for unlimited storage. It's about $599 for the drive, about $150 for the optical disk. Other companies make a phase change read/write cd drive. Robert Knudson CMC Builders Supply / True Value Arizona >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Wed Jun 19 18:24:02 1996 Date: Wed, 19 Jun 1996 18:23:52 -0400 From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Re: Retail Systems 96 Joe: Funny, I was just speaking to Bob Johnson about pinpoint and fineline pricing. Big problem in trying to stay with the Cotter Formula and being on a computer since there is no communications between the 2 systems!! Makes a lot of key punching and my person is ready to "fight". We can only download the updated costs --> retails (fineline and pinpoint --competive) must be hand punched in --> this week is about 800 lines!!!!!! I do not really want my TRIAD to calculate retails since (in theory) Chicagoland can do better and stay on top of things faster. Last, where else can spread myself out into!#@%$@#$^. We need a communication port (PC or TRIAD) to get these retails in. I could use either even though TRIAD would prefer them. If you want vocal discussion please call me at 508 674 3515. Thanks Rick Schwartz Str 3472-8 >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Wed Jun 19 21:06:27 1996 Date: Wed, 19 Jun 1996 21:07:17 -0400 (EDT) X-Sender: rmaed@unix.worldpath.net From: BOB AIKEN Subject: Re: Iomega Zip Drives John: Thanks for you input on Iomega. I am running Window 3.11. I have not upgraded to 95 since I did it on our store PC. Nightmare time! Had to reformat disk and start over. I was running Softram and I think it was the culprit, but not sure enough to try again, but I guess the time is coming. I was not aware of the advantages you cited, so that is a powerful incentive to try again. Bob Aiken rmaed@worldpath.net At 09:55 AM 6/19/96 -0400, you wrote: >At 09:37 AM 6/19/96 -0400, Bob Aiken wrote: >>I am at that dreaded point of having to solve the full-disk problem. I have >>a laptop and a desktop that both need more drive space. > >Are you running Windows 95 on your laptop (and desktop)? If not, I'd >suggest upgrading to it for two reasons... > >1: Great utilities for laptop support, notably power management features and >"hot swap" support for PCMIA cards. > >2: DriveSpace compression... it slows down the boot-up process, but will >give you up to 40% more space on the drive. > >I haven't used the Zip drives yet, so can't help you directly with your >question. > >John > >*************************************************************** > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > for hardware and building materials industry members. > > Address articles you wish to send to list members to: > > hardlines@cornells.com > > 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 >*************************************************************** > > >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Wed Jun 19 21:17:20 1996 Date: Wed, 19 Jun 1996 21:18:10 -0400 (EDT) X-Sender: rmaed@unix.worldpath.net From: BOB AIKEN Subject: Re: Iomega Zip Drives Bob Knudson, Price is the real issue that is driving my question about the Iomega vs. Jazz drive. I can get the Iomega, plus ten 1meg removable disks for $298. That vs. the Jazz at about $749 total is making me think about how slow the Iomega might be. The Jazz is admittedly much faster, but when you are talking a difference of about 12 or 13ms, how much difference is that in practical terms? Would you really notice it to the point of yawning, or is it a minor aggravation? I don't know, but I am certainly curious. Thanks for the imput. Bob Aiken rmaed@worldpath.net At 12:26 PM 6/19/96 -0700, you wrote: >At 09:37 AM 6/19/96 -0400, Bob Aiken wrote about the Zip drive for storing >less used programs: > >My local computer dealer just suggested to me to consider the Iomega Jazz >optical drive. It's about as fast as a hard drive, and has removeable media >for unlimited storage. It's about $599 for the drive, about $150 for the >optical disk. Other companies make a phase change read/write cd drive. > >Robert Knudson >CMC Builders Supply / True Value >Arizona > >*************************************************************** > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > for hardware and building materials industry members. > > Address articles you wish to send to list members to: > > hardlines@cornells.com > > 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 >*************************************************************** > > >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Thu Jun 20 01:06:16 1996 Date: Wed, 19 Jun 1996 22:04:34 -0700 X-Sender: chapman@mail.adnc.com From: Dave Chapman Subject: Re: Retail Systems 96 Joe, I am the manager of Pykles True Value in San Diego, CA Store #8520-9. I am currently in the process of instituting pin point pricing and the biggest drawback I see is having to physicly change the current price to the new pin point price for every SKU in my store. If Cotter & Co would provide some kind of LOAD tape that would allow members to download the file and then choose which SKU's to apply pin point pricing to it would make life alot easier. Dave Elliot, our Cotter rep, has told me that something like this is in the works but I would like to know what kind of time frame I'm looking at. If it's only a couple of weeks away I'll hold off, but if it's a couple of months I'm going to have to march on. Any info you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Dave Chapman Pykles True Value At 10:45 AM 6/19/96 -0400, you wrote: >We at Cotter & Company are looking at both Cambell's staffing program and >Harmonics. >Nothing has been finalized yet with either company. > >I first saw Harmonics at the riscon show in Chicago last year. Besides the >different type of phone number, they have a box that replaces the modem which >gives some of the speed increase. They are installed in musicland record >stores and are rolling out in pier 1. They really do get a 10 to 15 second >response time. I went to a couple of musicland stores to try it on weekends. > >I am planning to meet with campbell next month to see if their product would >be feasible for the stores. Their program looks at the last 6 weeks of sales >in 15 minute increments and also looks at the same 6 weeks a year ago to >forecast labor need. Their price is pretty high, but they claim it will pay >for itself in less than a year. > > >On another topic, we are having a meeting on friday at Cotter & Company about >down loading Pin Point prices to the stores. If you have any suggestions, get >them to me fast. Those of you that are using Pin Point prices, do you tend >to use mostly one or the other of the price categories (i.e. competitive and >highly competitive) or do you use half and half? > >joe waytula >*************************************************************** > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > for hardware and building materials industry members. > > Address articles you wish to send to list members to: > > hardlines@cornells.com > > 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 >*************************************************************** > > >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Thu Jun 20 08:47:01 1996 X-Sender: "John Fix 3rd" Date: Thu, 20 Jun 1996 08:46:52 -0400 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Re: Iomega Zip Drives At 09:37 AM 6/19/96 -0400, Bob Aiken wrote: >Can anyone tell me from personal experience if the slightly lower access >speed is a problem for programs you only use occassionally, or does it drive >you nuts? > Bob, I spent the afternoon yesterday wandering the aisples at PC Expo being held in New York City. First, what a monster trade show. The floor area is about double the space used at the Cotter shows... I'd say Microsoft had about 5,000 square feet of booth space minimum, and every most of the major vendors had theater/presentation areas with seating for 100. I happened to find the Iomega booth, and chatted with one of the reps for a few minutes. He gave me a quick demo, and the speed did not seem to be a big issue. He did a copy of about 12 mb of files and programs to the Zip drive, and it went quickly. I think the access speed is about a third of what the average hard drive will give you (30ms for Zip, 10ms for fast hard drive), but it's still very fast. I'd say you'd be happy with the investment. John >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Thu Jun 20 11:34:52 1996 Date: Thu, 20 Jun 1996 11:35:42 -0400 (EDT) X-Sender: rmaed@unix.worldpath.net From: BOB AIKEN Subject: Re: Iomega Zip Drives John, thanks so much for the info on Iomega. What great timing you have! I'll let you know how I like it when I make the leap. Bob Aiken rmaed@worldpath.net At 08:46 AM 6/20/96 -0400, you wrote: >At 09:37 AM 6/19/96 -0400, Bob Aiken wrote: > >>Can anyone tell me from personal experience if the slightly lower access >>speed is a problem for programs you only use occassionally, or does it drive >>you nuts? >> > >Bob, > >I spent the afternoon yesterday wandering the aisples at PC Expo being held >in New York City. First, what a monster trade show. The floor area is >about double the space used at the Cotter shows... I'd say Microsoft had >about 5,000 square feet of booth space minimum, and every most of the major >vendors had theater/presentation areas with seating for 100. > >I happened to find the Iomega booth, and chatted with one of the reps for a >few minutes. He gave me a quick demo, and the speed did not seem to be a >big issue. He did a copy of about 12 mb of files and programs to the Zip >drive, and it went quickly. I think the access speed is about a third of >what the average hard drive will give you (30ms for Zip, 10ms for fast hard >drive), but it's still very fast. I'd say you'd be happy with the investment. > >John > >*************************************************************** > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > for hardware and building materials industry members. > > Address articles you wish to send to list members to: > > hardlines@cornells.com > > 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 >*************************************************************** > > >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Fri Jun 21 03:34:52 1996 Date: Fri, 21 Jun 1996 03:35:32 -0400 From: Johnbaybum@aol.com Subject: no price tickets We have just started experimenting with no pricing on packages, relying on barcodes only for POS. I have a couple of questions for those of you out there who have had experience in this field. Any procedures or ideas will be greatly appreciated. 1) On regular weekly orders do you print your own price tickets for the items you do price, letting the Triad use the "Print Price Tickets" field? 2) If you use the preprinted price tickets from Cotter, how do you remember which items do not get ticketed? Wouldn't it be nice if when transmitting our weekly order we could use the afore mentioned field to tell Cotter's computer which items to print tickets for. That way when checking in an item that we don't price, the bin lable would be the only thing for that sequence #. In the past few months that I have been reading the mail on this forum I have learned a few things. We have had Triad since 1984, I think it's safe to say we've been through alot with the company. The only thing that really gripes me is the prices they charge for hardware. Anyone who pays any attention to the computer market knows how much a good 1gb hard drive should cost, certianly not what they charge. We won't even mention the processor upgrades. Thank You John Marshall Richland Home Center Richland, MI >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Sat Jun 22 10:07:53 1996 Posted-Date: Sat, 22 Jun 1996 07:07:52 -0700 Date: Sat, 22 Jun 1996 07:09:35 +0000 From: "Peter J. Cailotto" Subject: Re: no price tickets Your idea about cotter and price tickets is a good idea, but don't look for anything to happen soon, if ever. I have made many suggestions to Tru-trac, and have quit putting in my input because I haven't seen much done about what I suggest. Tru trac put a field into the item file about aa year ago to print price stickers (Y/or N). You can set the default to Y or N to begin with, but then you have to decide which items you need to sticker. I have set my default to "N" and have made changes however, I believe new items added are set to "Y", and this causes more price stickers to be printed than need be. In my humble opinion, the defaults should be set by Cotter, and the price stickers should print in line item sequence (e.q. #1,#2,#3...). The items that are picked for pricing should include all items without UPC's (e.q. lumber, brass nipples, ect.). Additional items that should be printed are galvanized/black fittings (UPC's don't always scan), hose clamps (even though they do now come with UPC's in the box), plastic spray bottles, clear lexel ---ever try to scan a clear lexel cartridge?--, and other items that have a UPC on the box, but don't have a UPC on the item. Just because the item has a UPC code, doesn't mean the item itself has a UPC code. I SHALL STIPULATE ONCE AGAIN FOR YOU COTTER PEOPLE LISTENING. THE ITEMS SHOULD BE PRINTED OUT AND SEQUENCED BY LINE ITEM. Tru-Trac members, write the date down 06/24/96 --> Maybe by 06/24/00 we'll see something on an update :^) Have fun! -- *********************************************************** Peter Cailotto business page: http://www.dedot.com/pkm/Arrow.html personal page: http://www.dedot.com/pkm *********************************************************** >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Sat Jun 22 09:39:47 1996 Date: Sat, 22 Jun 1996 09:39:29 -0400 From: Hampension@aol.com Subject: Re: no price tickets John: 1. We do use our Triad to print the few price tickets we need, and there are only a few. Most everything we buy has a bar code. We even make up our own bar codes for a few items that don't have them yet by bar coding the SKU. You can do that with and off the self bar code program and a PC if you have request. 2. We found out quickly that Cotter's price ticket program was expendable when we went to bar codes. I think you will too. >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Sat Jun 22 23:45:00 1996 Date: Sat, 22 Jun 1996 19:47:25 +0000 From: Annie Kincheloe/Craig Good Organization: A sign of Design Subject: Re: Retail Systems 96 Rick Schwartz- I know your dilema of trying to work Fineline Variable Pricing on the Triad. I've set up a work around to handle the whole process, however it requires a PC, request and EZ-Fil from EZ Software or Cole Computer Products. All Cotter warehouse skus on your Triad should have the proper fineline in the fineline field. A fineline difference lookup file is made that resides on your PC. You download cost changes and suggested retail changes via request to your PC. A simple basic program checks for anomolies like purchase/stocking conversions and makes the proper calculations. The program then adds or subtracts from Cotter's suggested margin whatever difference you've established in your lookup file. The new margin, a user code and the new cost are written to a file that is uploaded though FIL via the EZ-Software. The original price change file is deleted and the new one is recalculated in RPC by the uploaded usercode, new cost and new fineline variable margin! I can send the procedures and basic programs and fineline lookup file to you if you're interested. This work around isn't for the faint of heart, but if you're comfortable with the Triad, PCs and comma delimited files it works. Craig Good c/o Lyle's TV Hardware (soon to be Good TV Hardware) >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Mon Jun 24 11:56:04 1996 From: Scott Ellenson Subject: Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 09:53:31 -0600 Anyone heard this? What kind of impact will this have on Triad Customers Let me know. Scott Ellenson Dimensions ______________________ Scott- You may have already heard the news, but I thought I'd let you know about conversation this morning with Michael Tonkin and Vince Schneider. Triad has acquired CSD! According to Mike and Vince, CSD will operate as a division of Triad and the two products will gradually merge together with the CSD "omega" product. Nothing like a new twist. -- Gary ------------------------------------ >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Mon Jun 24 12:26:41 1996 X-Sender: "John Fix 3rd" Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 12:26:37 -0400 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Triad and CSD For those without Web access, here's the official press release from the Triad web site (www.triad.com) about the acquistion of CSD. Begin press release..... LIVERMORE, Calif., June 19, 1996 -- Triad Systems Corporation (NASDAQ:TRSC) today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Computer System Dynamics, Inc. (CSD). This acquisition immediately solidifies and expands Triad's position as the industry leader of information management systems for the Lumber and Building Materials (LBM) segment of the Hardlines and Lumber market. The transaction is expected to close by the end of June, following approval by CSD's shareholders. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The acquisition will add more than 600 customers with nearly 1100 automated locations to Triad's existing base of more than 4300 customers with approximately 5000 locations. Triad is by far the largest provider of information management systems to the entire Hardlines and Lumber industry. CSD, a privately held firm with revenues of about $11.5 million in its last fiscal year, is expected to operate as a subsidiary of Triad and remain headquartered in Denver. "CSD has an excellent record of developing and marketing information management systems and software products, with a strong focus on larger and multi-store businesses in the LBM segment," said Triad Hardlines and Lumber Vice President Chad Schneller. "Both Triad and CSD see this segment as a high-potential growth opportunity for our combined operations." "CSD identified a viable market niche and strategically focused on it, competing throughout North America. The company's philosophy is very synergistic with Triad's, which is meeting the ongoing and evolving business requirements of its customers through innovative product development, service and support programs." Bob VanZant, CSD President and a member of a group that founded the company in 1975, said he is excited about the opportunity to join forces with Triad. "This is a very positive step for our customers and employees," he said. "We are strengthening our ability to meet the accelerating requirements of our current and future customers in the United States and Canada. We now will be an integral part of the industry's leading information-management organization, with expanded product development resources and a premier national customer support organization." Triad President and Chief Executive Officer James R. Porter said the acquisition "meets our strategic criteria of investing in growth segments of the Hardlines and Lumber industry." Triad Systems Corporation builds value by providing the Hardlines and Lumber industry and Automotive Aftermarket with a growing array of innovative information-management solutions. End of press release...... I assume that CSD sold primarily LBM systems, targeting lumber yards and home centers as opposed to hardware store operations. Any CSD system owners on the list? How about folks who might have looked at CSD, but went for a Triad, Dimensions, or other LBM system? John >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Tue Jun 25 22:58:46 1996 From: "CASALETTO FAMLIY" Subject: RE: Retail Systems 96 Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 21:58:02 -0500 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal ---------- > From: Annie Kincheloe/Craig Good > To: Multiple recipients of list hardlines > Subject: Re: Retail Systems 96 > Date: Saturday, June 22, 1996 2:47 PM > > Rick Schwartz- > > I know your dilema of trying to work Fineline Variable Pricing on the > Triad. I've set up a work around to handle the whole process, however it > requires a PC, request and EZ-Fil from EZ Software or Cole Computer > Products. All Cotter warehouse skus on your Triad should have the proper > fineline in the fineline field. A fineline difference lookup file is > made that resides on your PC. You download cost changes and suggested > retail changes via request to your PC. A simple basic program checks for > anomolies like purchase/stocking conversions and makes the proper > calculations. The program then adds or subtracts from Cotter's suggested > margin whatever difference you've established in your lookup file. The > new margin, a user code and the new cost are written to a file that is > uploaded though FIL via the EZ-Software. The original price change file > is deleted and the new one is recalculated in RPC by the uploaded > usercode, new cost and new fineline variable margin! I can send the > procedures and basic programs and fineline lookup file to you if you're > interested. This work around isn't for the faint of heart, but if you're > comfortable with the Triad, PCs and comma delimited files it works. > > Craig Good c/o Lyle's TV Hardware (soon to be Good TV Hardware) Craig, I'm interested in this workaround. I'm comfortable with Triad, PC's but not yet with comma delimited files. I do have EZ software with the FIL upload function, but have yet to use it. If you have time, send me more information at: David Casaletto True Value Home Center 1701 N. Broadway Pittsburg, KS 66762 316-231-0900 Fax 316-231-1011 E-mail: casaletto@pitton.com Thanks! David > *************************************************************** > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > for hardware and building materials industry members. > > Address articles you wish to send to list members to: > > hardlines@cornells.com > > 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 > *************************************************************** > > >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Tue Jun 25 18:06:01 1996 Date: Tue, 25 Jun 96 16:59:14 CDT From: DEREK KING Subject: TEST THIS IS ONLY A TEST. I HAVE SENT SEVERAL NOTES BUT THEY NEVER GET POSTED. WELL MAYBE IT IS THE SCHOOLS FAULT OR MAYBE NOT? GOTTO GO TO CLASS!!! DEREK ---- TRUE VALUE ALABAMA >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Tue Jun 25 19:45:06 1996 Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 19:45:40 -0400 From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Re: TEST RECEIVED LOUD & CLEAR Why do people and computers only work in CAPITAL print???????? Rick >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Tue Jun 25 19:50:20 1996 Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 19:50:57 -0400 From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Mini-Blind Lead Scare Hi: The latest scare on the "cheap" mini blind scare tactic --> they contain lead which can seap out after 2 or 3 years! Great, another product that will be banned or marred for life. Any reactions other then taking them off the Shelves???? Any word on our sources??? Having fun yet??? Rick P.S. The lead was used to stiffen the vinyl slats in the fabrication process in some foreign country (s). >From owner-HARDLINES@cornells.com Mon Jul 29 18:36:54 1996 To: Multiple recipients of list HARDLINES Sender: owner-HARDLINES@cornells.com Reply-To: "Hardlines" Date: Wed, 26 Jun 1996 14:27:35 From: RVandenber@gnn.com () Subject: To buy or not to buy? That is the Question Help! I am thinking about buying a small hardware store in the San Bernardino, CA mountains and I am seeking advice. The store has been in business for 50 years with the current owner having it for over twenty years. It has about 2,700sq feet of retail floor space and is associated with the Sentry logo. The city it serves has about 22,000 full time residents and becuase of it's mountain location has four distinct seasons. It is also the smallest of three stores in the area with the other stores catering to contractors. These other two stores carry hardlines but also have substantial inventories of lumber and building supplies. Major outlets like Home Depot and Contractors Warehouse are not considered a problem because they are over 50-60 (mountain road) miles away. In discussions with the owner of the store for sale, I was informed that the inventory was not computerized and that he had no reason to change his inventories. I also found that he has not advertised for the last five years and with discussions with residents, found the owner was not well liked in the community. According to the financials the business has been losing money for the last five years. (Owner states this is because of his age and bad health). I am looking at this store, not as a way to get rich, but as a way to change my life style. The questions I have are as follows: 1) Can three hardware stores survive in town of about 22,000? Especially the smallest store? 2) Is 2,700 sq feet of retail space enough to carry a profitable hardline inventory? 3) What % of operating costs should normally be devoted to advertising? What is considered the best means of advertising? 4) How does one figure an owners salary (note: store has one full time employee making $6.00 per hour). 5) I assume that if I computerize the inventory, and track sales and adjust inventory according to needs of community i could make the business profitable again. Is this a pipe dream? 6) Are there inventory items that one can carry in a hardware store which would help draw non-home owners? Note: city has about 1.5 million tourists a year. Any insight, suggestions, or words of encouragement would be appreciated. I am working a business plan right now value any thoughts from you the experts! Thanks, Rick Vandenberg E-mail: RVandenber@GNN.COM P.S. If I started a chat line to talk about starting and runing a hardware business would anyone be intrested? >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Sat Jun 29 14:10:13 1996 To: Multiple recipients of list hardlines Sender: owner-hardlines@cornells.com Reply-To: "Hardlines" Date: Sat, 29 Jun 1996 14:09:48 -0400 From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Re: New mail server.... Got your message --> enjoy the new computer Quiet??? Vacations??? ---> yea, the employees get it , leaving the management short handed......... Still having fun Rick >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Sat Jun 29 14:20:12 1996 To: Multiple recipients of list hardlines Sender: owner-hardlines@cornells.com Reply-To: "Hardlines" X-Sender: "John Fix 3rd" Date: Sat, 29 Jun 1996 14:19:57 -0400 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Hardware jokes wanted.... I'm putting together a page of hardware store humor, containing jokes, anecdotes, true-life tales that might amuse, etc. If you'd like to become famous by having a story posted on the web, email your joke/tale to either the hardlines list (hardlines@cornells.com) or to me directly (John3@cornells.com). Here's one some of you probably already heard... A man walks into the hardware store and tells the clerk he needs the biggest chain saw in stock, as he has about ten large trees to cut down in the woods near his home. The clerk sells him a top-of-the-line model, safety goggles, oil, gas can, and work gloves, and sends the customer on his way. Several hours later, the customer shows up at the store with the chain saw. His clothes are filthy and he's drenched in sweat, and the chain saw is dented and caked with sawdust and dirt. The customer yells "I've been out there for three hours with this damn thing, and I still haven't gotten one tree cut down. This things a piece of junk.. it must be defective. I want a new one, or else give me my money back." The clerk is quite surprised, as he's never had complaints with this model saw before. "Let me just check the saw out and see if it needs adjusting" he says to the customer. The clerk cleans the saw off a little, adjusts the chain, and pulls the starter cord. "Brrrrrrrrr....." goes the motor as the chain saw starts up. "What's that noise?" asks the customer. John >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Sat Jun 29 14:29:03 1996 To: Multiple recipients of list hardlines Sender: owner-hardlines@cornells.com Reply-To: "Hardlines" Date: 29 Jun 96 14:28:07 EDT From: Tony Brinkmann <102352.231@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Vacation!? Vacation!? I wish. It's been so busy we're all exhausted from the overwork and overtime. I heard something about the possibility of Cotter stocking Olympic stains in the future. Anyone know anything about this and when it might happen? I believe I heard/saw it on the CSN monthly broadcast. This would be positive news for our paint store. A hardware dealers worst nightmare - the Triad goes down on a busy day. It's happened to us on a Saturday morning ( our fault, not Triad ). Last week it happened at the Home Depot in Patchogue - a few miles down the road. Customers told us it was absolutely nuts there. The lines were unbelievably long and the customers irate. There was such chaos at the registers that cashiers were allowing customers to take the merchandise free of charge when it took too long to get prices. I love Home Depot horror stories. Customers seem to be more and more displeased with the service there. And our business is way up. By the way, I enjoyed the news from John Fix III about the shows he's been attending. Thanks. Tony Brinkmann Brinkmann True Value Hardware and Van Kemenade Paint and Wallpaper Sayville, Long Island New York >From owner-hardlines@cornells.com Sun Jun 30 11:41:59 1996 To: Multiple recipients of list hardlines Sender: owner-hardlines@cornells.com Reply-To: "Hardlines" Date: Sun, 30 Jun 96 15:37:52 UT From: "MIKE JONES" Subject: RE: no price tickets John, We are a small town store but we use ScanCor Labelmaster to "Bin Label" almost every item in our store. We have 19,000 sq. ft, housewares, video rental, hardware, cellulare phones and a lot more. After receiving our ERP from Cotter, I review the retail pricing making any corrections necessary (being thirty miles from the nearest "Big Box" store, we can get a few cents more for most of the pin-point pricing items than stores in the big cities). Then, I download an RBL file for that PO and print out the labels for each department manager to put up. We use the Cotter price tags for items that are too big for bins or shelves. We find that our customers will tend to not buy (and not ask) if the price is not evident. However, we went to this system because we had too many items that were being discounted because of an "old" price sticker on the item itself. (Our receiving man still uses the Cotter price sticker by cutting off the price and using the SKU in case the bar code won't scan at the register. This happens occasionally and no one knows why we lose a bar code that has been in the system for months!) What we'd like to do is to use a hand-held scanner to go down the aisle making corrections/updates to a file and either printing out a tag immediately or downloading to labelmaster. I'd like either one! Re:Triad We had a situation recently where we had to Restore from a previous backup and we had to go back THREE DAYS!!! to get a tape to read correctly. It was a NIGHTMARE. Meanwhile the Triad field engineer is replacing everything on our system except the paint trying to get it to work! Not only is it expensive, it is unreliable. Our owner says we are not going to spend ONE DIME MORE on Triad and we are beginning to look for a new POS system (which is why John Fix's reports are very timely to us). Even out here in Mayberry, USA we need the technology to support our efforts and Triad is not keeping up with the industry. They'd better get on the ball or get out of the game. Keep fighting. Mike Jones at Hardware_Man@msn.com ---------- From: owner-hardlines@cornells.com on behalf of Johnbaybum@aol.com Sent: Friday, June 21, 1996 2:35 AM To: Multiple recipients of list hardlines Subject: no price tickets We have just started experimenting with no pricing on packages, relying on barcodes only for POS. I have a couple of questions for those of you out there who have had experience in this field. Any procedures or ideas will be greatly appreciated. 1) On regular weekly orders do you print your own price tickets for the items you do price, letting the Triad use the "Print Price Tickets" field? 2) If you use the preprinted price tickets from Cotter, how do you remember which items do not get ticketed? Wouldn't it be nice if when transmitting our weekly order we could use the afore mentioned field to tell Cotter's computer which items to print tickets for. That way when checking in an item that we don't price, the bin lable would be the only thing for that sequence #. In the past few months that I have been reading the mail on this forum I have learned a few things. We have had Triad since 1984, I think it's safe to say we've been through alot with the company. The only thing that really gripes me is the prices they charge for hardware. Anyone who pays any attention to the computer market knows how much a good 1gb hard drive should cost, certianly not what they charge. We won't even mention the processor upgrades. Thank You John Marshall Richland Home Center Richland, MI