From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 1998 12:02 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27904 hardlines Digest Wed, 30 Sep 1998 00:02:00 -0400 V01 #27904 Today's topics: '"The skus, they are a-changin'...."' 'Mail boxes' 'TruServ Catalog Charges on Triad' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1998 08:18:46 -0400 From: Bill Round Subject: "The skus, they are a-changin'...." RE: Triad set up for changing skus. Dear TruServ Folks, and other retailers who are in the same boat... I found this in the never-sent message section of my e-mail. Just thought= it might be handy. We all change skus no matter what affiliation we have.=A0 TruServ is doing= them by the thousand because of organizational needs.=A0 Under normal conditions, everybody has to do it when one manufacturer goes bust or the co-op changes lines, or the buyer in the store changes lines.=A0 When a store changes affiliations, skus change again.=A0 It is all a mess no matter how you cut= it.=A0=20 Here is a Triad-based procedure for fiddling with skus.=A0 It is= cumbersome.=A0=20 1.=A0 Install a flex report in the system called CHANGSKU.=A0 Put these= fields in function DEF: CHANGSKU Field=A0 Position Length=A0 Field Description=A0=20 1=A0 =A0=A0 1=A0=A0 =A0=A0 14=A0 SKU 10=A0=A0=A0 18=A0=A0=A0 32=A0 DES 6=A0=A0=A0=A0 52=A0=A0=A0=A0 5=A0 PRIME=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 VENDOR 43=A0=A0=A0 60=A0=A0=A0=A0 5=A0 SEC=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0= VENDOR 44=A0=A0=A0 67=A0=A0=A0 10=A0 VENDOR=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 STOCK= NUMBER 3=A0=A0=A0=A0 78=A0=A0=A0=A0 2=A0 DE 4=A0=A0=A0=A0 81=A0=A0=A0=A0=A03=A0 CLS 12=A0=A0=A0 85=A0=A0=A0=A0=A06=A0 FINE=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 Line 74=A0=A0=A0 92=A0=A0=A0=A0=A09=A0 QOH 21=A0=A0 102=A0=A0=A0=A0=A05=A0 LOCATION 22=A0=A0 108=A0=A0=A0=A0=A01=A0 -=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0= =A0 M 18=A0=A0 109=A0=A0=A0=A0 1=A0 C=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0= S 34=A0=A0 110=A0=A0=A0=A0=A01=A0 O=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0= =A0 O 23=A0=A0 111=A0=A0=A0=A0=A01=A0 D=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0= =A0 P 17=A0=A0 112=A0=A0=A0=A0=A04=A0 ES--=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 123 39=A0=A0 116=A0=A0=A0=A0=A01=A0 D=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0= =A0 I 48=A0=A0 118=A0=A0=A0=A0=A08=A0 RETAIL 83=A0=A0 127=A0=A0 =A0 8=A0=A0 LAST=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 S There will be some overlaps;=A0 The last field may be off the report.=A0 If= you have trouble with this and are interested in getting this going, drop me an e-mail. This allows the user=A0 to run a RIS report showing these fields.=A0 The= primary vendor from and to fields should be CHANG. Select on A's, B's, or use the zero quantity flex report option. 2. Add a new vendor to MVR called "CHANG". I use this to designate skus which need to be changed to a new sku. These are either going to be changed or= have been changed by the primary vendor. 3. For any sku which comes up in CAT or some paper report from the prime vendor as discontinued with a substitute, CHANG goes into the primary vendor field. The new sku number to be substituted goes into the vendor stock= number field, and the new primary vendor (usually the former primary vendor) goes into the secondary vendor field. 4. Once a sku is identitified in this manner, these are the benefits: a. The sku will not come up on the primary vendor RSO. You won't be disappointed when you order it and it doesn't come in. b. When it runs out you have control over whether you buy the substitute= and continue with some other sku. c. You can run an RSO for the SECONDARY vendor to see these skus, then= take appropriate action for adding the new substitute, combining or changing the sku, cursing the buyers, etc. d. Set up a que to catch these skus as they sell to zero and take action before order day. =20 e. Use the CHANGSKU report for floor work. This has more information= than the RCIN report. f. All staff members can tell what the status of a sku is by looking at the primary vendor field. =20 5. Getting information for the fields.=A0=A0=20 a.=A0 Do it manually. A big hassle. b. Create an RQ report to compare your IMU file information with the CAT file information. This will create an interesting report, but the CAT= information is not absolutely reliable at this point. Items which TruServ discontinued may be "re continued" while remaining flagged in CAT as discontinued. If your weekly updates are not automated, perhaps you missed on, etc. c. Use a PC data base to compare your inventory SKUs with a= vendor-supplied and updated database, and create a new report showing the old sku and substitute sku.=20 d. For TruServ, pull the substitute section of the A-copies for items you ordered this week. e. Once a major update is done, if working with manual entry, then= monthly updates with less than are possible. f. This is a routine which must be performed. With TruServ, things are starting to calm down, but who knows? 6. Putting the information in the fields. a. Do it manually with FIL. =20 b. Triad Network System owners may have a way to upload the file created= by either RQ with CAT catalog cross-references or with the file created with an outside database. c. Use Fred's EZ software to upload the file. This is what I use.=20 7. If you do nothing else: a. Run a zero quantity RIS report with the CHANGSKU flex format for zero quantity A movers. Do these and save sales. If you have time, do the B's= and C's. b. Spend the time to do the RQ report with the CAT information. For those who have read through all the stuff to this point, the up and down loading= can be avoided by the queing an RQ once or twice per week. =20 8. The RQ approach: a. You should have Triad LEVEL 20, CAT in your system, and RQ. You should have your EFM set to automatically run once per week. This is the best way= to keep your files current and complete. b. Create an RQR report using the RIS CHANGKSU fields above.=20 c. The SEARCH statement should look for your primary Vendor (COT, for TRUSERV members), your favorite popularity (A, B), and a substitute #1 field of greater than 100000. Watch the substitute #1 statement as the wrong entry will= cause the report to fail. I would also have it look for skus either at Zero QOH= or QOH less than order point. d. Que the report to run after your weekly RSO. e. The report takes a long time to run. f. This report will give you a fairly clear picture to skus to be= changed, deleted, or combined. Regards,=20 Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware 290 Main Street Stoneham, MA=A0 02180 Phone:=A0 781-438-0131 FAX:=A0=A0=A0=A0 781-279-9123 Email:=A0=A0 billr@roundshardware.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 17:02:59 -0400 From: Bill Round Subject: Mail boxes Dear folks, I am tired of Steel City Mailboxes. They are dull. They are all over the place. We are missing the boat offering this merchandise when customers are looking for something a bit better. I have sold Salsbury before, but they are more a supply house source. We are in a residential suburban market where most houses have mailboxes on the front porch, with some houses still delivered through a mail slot. Any new construction get a curbside RFD box; developments get a cluster box. I'd appreciate any suggestions. Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware 290 Main Street Stoneham, MA 02180-3506 Phone: 781-438-0116 FAX: 781-279-9123 E-Mail: billr@roundshardware.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1998 13:53:49 -0400 From: Bill Round Subject: TruServ Catalog Charges on Triad Dear Folks, Rick Schwartz just called about the TruServ CAT quarterly update charge. This has apparently become a monthly charge? I spent some time on the phone waiting for billing explanations. It felt a bit like calling the Post Office, although I did not fear driving some postal worker to a murderous response. Anybody notice the billing change? And, why is the mfg-vendor info on the tapes all wrong? The CIS mfg-info is up to date. The CAT tape should be, too. Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware 290 Main Street Stoneham, MA 02180-3506 Phone: 781-438-0116 FAX: 781-279-9123 E-Mail: billr@roundshardware.com ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27904 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 1998 12:01 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27903 hardlines Digest Tue, 29 Sep 1998 00:00:46 -0400 V01 #27903 Today's topics: 'RE: Dinner in Houston' 'Houston' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1998 08:03:11 -0400 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: RE: Dinner in Houston Sunday evening sounds good to me. After the users group meeting seems like the best time. John ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1998 10:55:01 EDT From: Vvtempl@aol.com Subject: Houston John - Sounds like there will be a Sunday night rendevouz in Houston of your "Hardlines pack". Since several people are emailing you with their itinerarys, are you going to print a list of who & where they are staying for possible meetings before Sunday night's group? I'll be at the Sheraton Astrodome. Again I want to thank you for the exchanges you "sponsor" here. It helps elevate the sanity level in an insane environment. - Vickie Temple, Bloomington Hardware, Bloomington Indiana ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27903 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Monday, September 28, 1998 12:05 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27902 hardlines Digest Mon, 28 Sep 1998 00:04:36 -0400 V01 #27902 Today's topics: 'Re: Dinner in Houston' 'dinner' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27899' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27901' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1998 01:30:05 -0500 From: "Cyndi Martini" Subject: Re: Dinner in Houston Hi gang, If those people wishing to get together during market will let me know which night would be good for them, I can try to help with the "organization" of it. My store is here in Houston and I will be more than willing to make any reservations that we may need. Let me know what you want to do. Cyndi Martini Martini Hardware Houston, TX P.S. I will be attending the Saturday night entertainment so that evening I will not be able to attend anything that we may try and do. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1998 18:20:24 -0500 From: truevalue@chamber.worcester.ma.us Subject: dinner Cindy's offer sounds good. I vote for Sunday Eve Paul Poirier Park Ave True Value Worcester MA truevalue@chamber.worcester.ma.us ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1998 19:54:05 EDT From: Hdwmgr@aol.com Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27899 To all the wonderful members who sent information to me: Many thanks to all of you. I received many responses to my question about the ordering with telxon/triad. With all the information I received I'm sure we will be able to do the order much more efficient than before. Bob Johnson I also appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to see that someone from Chicago contact me. I appreciate all the effort taken to help me out. I will post a letter on hardlines once we are up and running and have placed our first order. Once again many thanks to all of you. Sheri Foor Everett True Value Everett, Pa. 15537 ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1998 22:19:48 -0400 (EDT) From: NorthLima@webtv.net (John Crouse) Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27901 --WebTV-Mail-2047335242-2808 Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7Bit In response to Bill Rounds question about sensormatic. This is the best money we ever spent. The cost is about $255.00 per 5000 adhesive tags or app. 5 cents each. The reusable tags are app. 33 each I believe. Our theft problem is still existing but I know we have killed at least 98% of it. Our store policy is we tag all items possible. When an item goes to the checkout area the clerks know there is a tag that must deactivated. This way of tagging all items leaves no one guessing what items may or maybe not bugged. The sensormatic rep. told us in the training session that batteries would be an item we will notice the biggest ordering difference in. He told us that no one likes to pay for batteries. Within 3 hours after he left we had our first person try to go out the door without paying , as he told us , it was a pak of Duracell batteries at $ 5.29. Right after that we had a motel maintenance man who we seen every day for many years, who we treated like family go thru the arch only to have the alarm go off, he then yelled he forgot something. ran back thru the store and threw out of his pocket a $ 6.89 electrical item. I was very afraid we would upset the people in our small town, but I figured if they get mad about me trying to protect what is mine, I really did not want them to shop with us. In our area in the last 10 months I see Sensormatic all over the place along with other type systems. To my knowledge after 29 months we have not lost any customers over us having this, people have accepted this as a way of life these days. If theft is a problem for you I can highly recommend Sensormatic, you will have a few minor errors at first as everyone is nervous about what to do when the alarm goes off, the company will tell your employees how to handle these situations. But I think the best way is to bug all items possible and keep the merchandise going thru the registers and not out the door in someones pocket......Jack --WebTV-Mail-2047335242-2808 Content-Description: signature Content-Disposition: Inline Content-Type: Text/HTML; Charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7Bit --WebTV-Mail-2047335242-2808-- ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27902 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Sunday, September 27, 1998 12:03 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27901 hardlines Digest Sun, 27 Sep 1998 00:03:29 -0400 V01 #27901 Today's topics: 'Re: lightning problems' 'Member Insurance has a new CEO.' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 09:34:22 -0400 From: "supergator" Subject: Re: lightning problems Tony: We had a similar situation here in the lightning capital of the world(Florida). Six years ago we changed from a PACE computer system to CSD(now Triad CSD). Our office sits 250' or so from our Jacksonville Beach store building; we had several lightning problems over 5 years. The solution for us was to replace the copper running between the two buildings with a fiber cable. We have not had even one problem over the past 6 years. If grounding does not solve your problem, you may want to investigate a similar solution for your system. Joe Proctor Proctor ACE Hardware Stores Jacksonville Beach, Florida ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 10:56:20 -0400 From: Ken Stevenson Subject: Member Insurance has a new CEO. --------------25EB1E8C6F0A3B582ADD5B4E Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Member Insurance has a new CEO. Wayne Fell started on Aug 30th and is taking the place of the retiring Bill Voss. Mr. Fell comes from Sedgwick Group in Atlanta with a background in Association Programs like Member Insurance. Mr. Fell will be attending the TruServ market in Houston. hardlines-request@cornells.com wrote: > hardlines Digest Tue, 22 Sep 1998 00:02:28 -0400 V01 #27897 > > Today's topics: > 'Hello Mike Cole' > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 07:50:47 -0400 > From: Bill Round > Subject: Hello Mike Cole > > Dear Mr. Cole, > > Could you elaborate on your experience with the Sensormatic? I have been > considering such a purchase at the market. > > At the urging of the store manager, we have removed many of the glass cases > at the store. We have removed a number of fixture extensions to bring as > much of the merchandise within customer reach as possible. > > The guiding thoughts have been that inaccessible merchandise left unsold > for 4 years is the equivalent of the stuff having been shop lifted 4 years > before. An increase in theft can be covered with an increase in GP > percent. Shoplifting can occur even with merchandise secure in the cases. > How many times have I handed an item to a "customer" who smiles the smile > of the honest person... then walks out the front door? How much stuff is > outside the case unprotected: $8 metric hex bolts vs. $6.00 folding rule? > How many sales are lost when the clerk covering the area is busy and the > customer who would have purchased walks out because the merchandise is not > available? > > Do you put the shrinkage figures against the sales and GP history for the > skus? I wish Triad would put that on the history screen so that we had a > ytd profit figure allowing for "shrink." How much does it cost you to tag? > How do select items to tag? > > Regards, > > Bill Round > Round's True Value Hardware > 290 Main Street > Stoneham, MA 02180 > Phone: 781-438-0131 > FAX: 781-279-9123 > Email: billr@roundshardware.com > > ------------------------------ > > End of hardlines Digest V01 #27897 > ********************************** --------------25EB1E8C6F0A3B582ADD5B4E Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Member Insurance has a new CEO.  Wayne Fell started on Aug 30th and is taking the place of the retiring Bill Voss. Mr. Fell comes from Sedgwick Group in Atlanta with a background in Association Programs like Member Insurance.  Mr. Fell will be attending the TruServ market in Houston.

hardlines-request@cornells.com wrote:

hardlines Digest    Tue, 22 Sep 1998 00:02:28 -0400   V01 #27897

Today's topics:
     'Hello Mike Cole'

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 07:50:47 -0400
From: Bill Round <billr@roundshardware.com>
Subject: Hello Mike Cole

Dear Mr. Cole,

Could you elaborate on your experience with the Sensormatic?  I have been
considering such a purchase at the market.

At the urging of the store manager, we have removed many of the glass cases
at the store.  We have removed a number of fixture extensions to bring as
much of the merchandise within customer reach as possible.

The guiding thoughts have been that inaccessible merchandise left unsold
for 4 years is the equivalent of the stuff having been shop lifted 4 years
before.  An increase in theft can be covered with an increase in GP
percent.  Shoplifting can occur even with merchandise secure in the cases.
How many times have I handed an item to a "customer" who smiles the smile
of the honest person... then walks out the front door?  How much stuff is
outside the case unprotected: $8 metric hex bolts vs. $6.00 folding rule?
How many sales are lost when the clerk covering the area is busy and the
customer who would have purchased walks out because the merchandise is not
available?

Do you put the shrinkage figures against the sales and GP history for the
skus?  I wish Triad would put that on the history screen so that we had a
ytd profit figure allowing for "shrink."  How much does it cost you to tag?
 How do select items to tag?

Regards,

Bill Round
Round's True Value Hardware
290 Main Street
Stoneham, MA  02180
Phone:  781-438-0131
FAX:     781-279-9123
Email:   billr@roundshardware.com

------------------------------

End of hardlines Digest V01 #27897
**********************************

  --------------25EB1E8C6F0A3B582ADD5B4E-- ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27901 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Saturday, September 26, 1998 12:02 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27900 hardlines Digest Sat, 26 Sep 1998 00:02:01 -0400 V01 #27900 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27899' 'Triad Lightning Problems' 'Houston' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 09:42:09 -0800 From: "John O'Daniel" Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27899 Hi folks, Are we going to meet somewhere in Houston and have dinner? I sure would like to meet some of you in person. My nephew and I will be at the Red Lion from the 28th to the 3rd. Let me know. John D. O'Daniel Skagway True Value Skagway, Alaska ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 08:34:44 -0400 From: Tony Brinkmann Subject: Triad Lightning Problems Several weeks ago I posted on this bulletin board a description of problems we were having with our Triad System. The problems were blown boards in different parts of the Triad ( printers, CPU ) which were caused by lightning strikes. The destroyed boards would cause some or all of our system to "go down". We believe we have found the source of the problem we have had with electric storms. An electrical engineer who deals with computer systems problems suggested it was caused by our ungrounded, shielded data cables. Our Triad System is in two seperate ( 200 ft ) buildings and it seems the long, exposed data cables became "antennas" for the electric fields created by the lightning strikes nearby. The aluminum shields wrapping the conductors were never grounded by us or our Triad field rep when we did the wiring. We are now grounding these shields. If anyone else plans to do the same with their system, it may be important to know that we were advised to ground one end only. Thanks for the suggestions I received from those interested in our problem. Tony Brinkmann Brinkmann True Value Hardware Sayvill, LI, NY brink@li.net ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 09:14:52 -0400 From: Bill Round Subject: Houston I will be in Houston through Sunday night, leaving first thing monday morning. How about some sort of gathering Sunday night after the user meetings? Why couldn't TruServ set us up with a little room somewhere with a buffet? Drinking fine quality amber beverages out of paper bags smuggled in by the attendees would add color and character to the proceedings. If there are fewer than, say, twenty people, then it would be better to make a dinner reservation somewhere. John's Father could organize it. It might distract him from the market floor temptations.... Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware 290 Main Street Stoneham, MA 02180 Phone: 781-438-0131 FAX: 781-279-9123 Email: billr@roundshardware.com ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27900 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Friday, September 25, 1998 12:04 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27899 hardlines Digest Fri, 25 Sep 1998 00:03:33 -0400 V01 #27899 Today's topics: 'October Market' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 18:43:50 -0700 (PDT) From: "Ralph M. Witkin" Subject: October Market I found out yesturday that my new boss will be taking me with him to Houston next month. The last Market I attended was still held in Chicago. I'm looking forward to meeting some of you, so let's keep each other up-to-date with any get together times and locations. == "It's just not necessary to do extraordinary things to produce extraordinary results." RALPH M. WITKIN P.O. Box 319 New York, NY 10163 212/560-0913 _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27899 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Thursday, September 24, 1998 12:03 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27898 hardlines Digest Thu, 24 Sep 1998 00:02:47 -0400 V01 #27898 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27897' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 18:44:27 EDT From: Hdwmgr@aol.com Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27897 Date: Wed. 23, l998 From: Sheri Foor Everett True Value Everett, Pa. Topic: Triad Eagle computer Our store just ordered the Triad Eagle computer to computerize our store. We are currently doing our order by Telxon. Our Triad rep told us we cannot download from our Telxon to our triad. Is this correct, or have one of the triad users out there figured out a way to do it? We will need to do our order through the telxon until we get the inventory totals loaded and correct or have enough history to generate a purchase history for the computer to do an order for us. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If you wish to e-mail me personally my e-mail address is HDWMGR@Aol.com Thanks to everyone who makes this site possible. Sheri Foor, mgr Everett True Value Everett, Pa. ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27898 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 1998 12:02 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27897 hardlines Digest Tue, 22 Sep 1998 00:02:28 -0400 V01 #27897 Today's topics: 'Hello Mike Cole' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 07:50:47 -0400 From: Bill Round Subject: Hello Mike Cole Dear Mr. Cole, Could you elaborate on your experience with the Sensormatic? I have been considering such a purchase at the market. At the urging of the store manager, we have removed many of the glass cases at the store. We have removed a number of fixture extensions to bring as much of the merchandise within customer reach as possible. The guiding thoughts have been that inaccessible merchandise left unsold for 4 years is the equivalent of the stuff having been shop lifted 4 years before. An increase in theft can be covered with an increase in GP percent. Shoplifting can occur even with merchandise secure in the cases. How many times have I handed an item to a "customer" who smiles the smile of the honest person... then walks out the front door? How much stuff is outside the case unprotected: $8 metric hex bolts vs. $6.00 folding rule? How many sales are lost when the clerk covering the area is busy and the customer who would have purchased walks out because the merchandise is not available? Do you put the shrinkage figures against the sales and GP history for the skus? I wish Triad would put that on the history screen so that we had a ytd profit figure allowing for "shrink." How much does it cost you to tag? How do select items to tag? Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware 290 Main Street Stoneham, MA 02180 Phone: 781-438-0131 FAX: 781-279-9123 Email: billr@roundshardware.com ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27897 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Monday, September 21, 1998 12:01 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27896 hardlines Digest Mon, 21 Sep 1998 00:01:22 -0400 V01 #27896 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27895' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 20 Sep 1998 08:58:17 -0700 From: Mike Cole Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27895 Hi Rick, Are you using your Triad to track shrinkage? I was able to virtually eliminate shrinkage in my store by combining Triad's shrinktrack and Sensormatic's EAS system. See you at the market in Houston. Mike Cole hardlines-request@cornells.com wrote: > hardlines Digest Fri, 18 Sep 1998 00:02:03 -0400 V01 #27895 > > Today's topics: > 'Store theft rarely recouped by dealers' > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 06:20:08 EDT > From: RICKSS1@aol.com > Subject: Store theft rarely recouped by dealers > > This is a multi-part message in MIME format. > > --part0_906027609_boundary > Content-ID: <0_906027609@inet_out.mail.aol.com.1> > Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable > > I > Hi: > > Just read this in the HomeCenter News and confirms one of my feelings of > chasing shoplifters: > > Rick Schwartz > Schwartz True Value > Fall River, MA 02724 > > > > Store theft rarely recouped by dealers > > > > > > > > Fruitland Park, Fla. - Sept. 15, 1998 - For every $1 stolen from a reta= > il > > store that is recovered by the company, $23.21 are lost through retail > theft. > > > > That=92s one of the sobering findings in a new survey of 29 retail comp= > anies > > operating 11,202 stores nationwide and nearly $250 billion in aggregate > sales. > > The Tenth Annual Retail Theft Survey was conducted by Jack L. Hayes > > International, a loss prevention consultant based here. > > > > More than $3 billion was reported lost through theft by the companies > > surveyed, which made over 780,000 apprehensions of thieves in 1997. Howe= > ver, > > the dealers were able to recover only 4.13 percent of those losses. > > > > Of the thieves apprehended, only around 8 percent =97 65,640 =97 were d= > ishonest > > employees. However, light-fingered workers steal, on average, 9.45 times= > the > > amount stolen by a typical shoplifter, $903.18 vs. $95.59. > > > > On the positive side, dealers were able to recover $68.5 million throug= > h > the > > apprehension of shoplifters last year, or 10.94 percent more than recove= > ries > > in 1996. > > > > For a complete survey, contact, Jack L Hayes International at (352) > 365-1200, > > or on the Internet at www.hayesinternational.com . > > > > > > > > > > > > =A91998 National Home Center News > > > > > > > > --part0_906027609_boundary > Content-ID: <0_906027609@inet_out.mail.aol.com.2> > Content-type: message/rfc822 > Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit > Content-disposition: inline > > From: RICKSS1@aol.com > Return-path: > To: RICKSS1@aol.com > Subject: Store theft rarely recouped by dealers > Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 06:16:53 EDT > Mime-Version: 1.0 > Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable > > Hi: > > Just read this in the HomeCenter News and confirms one of my feelings in t= > he > waste of chasing shoplifters: > > Store theft rarely recouped by dealers > > Fruitland Park, Fla. - Sept. 15, 1998 - For every $1 stolen from a retail > store that is recovered by the company, $23.21 are lost through retail the= > ft. > > That=92s one of the sobering findings in a new survey of 29 retail compani= > es > operating 11,202 stores nationwide and nearly $250 billion in aggregate sa= > les. > The Tenth Annual Retail Theft Survey was conducted by Jack L. Hayes > International, a loss prevention consultant based here. > > More than $3 billion was reported lost through theft by the companies > surveyed, which made over 780,000 apprehensions of thieves in 1997. Howeve= > r, > the dealers were able to recover only 4.13 percent of those losses. > > Of the thieves apprehended, only around 8 percent =97 65,640 =97 were dish= > onest > employees. However, light-fingered workers steal, on average, 9.45 times t= > he > amount stolen by a typical shoplifter, $903.18 vs. $95.59. > > On the positive side, dealers were able to recover $68.5 million through t= > he > apprehension of shoplifters last year, or 10.94 percent more than recoveri= > es > in 1996. > > For a complete survey, contact, Jack L Hayes International at (352) 365-12= > 00, > or on the Internet at www.hayesinternational.com . > > =A91998 National Home Center News > > [ Top of Page ] > > --part0_906027609_boundary-- > > ------------------------------ > > End of hardlines Digest V01 #27895 > ********************************** ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27896 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Friday, September 18, 1998 12:02 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27895 hardlines Digest Fri, 18 Sep 1998 00:02:03 -0400 V01 #27895 Today's topics: 'Store theft rarely recouped by dealers' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 06:20:08 EDT From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Store theft rarely recouped by dealers This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --part0_906027609_boundary Content-ID: <0_906027609@inet_out.mail.aol.com.1> Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable I Hi: Just read this in the HomeCenter News and confirms one of my feelings of chasing shoplifters: Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 > > Store theft rarely recouped by dealers > > > > Fruitland Park, Fla. - Sept. 15, 1998 - For every $1 stolen from a reta= il > store that is recovered by the company, $23.21 are lost through retail theft. > > That=92s one of the sobering findings in a new survey of 29 retail comp= anies > operating 11,202 stores nationwide and nearly $250 billion in aggregate sales. > The Tenth Annual Retail Theft Survey was conducted by Jack L. Hayes > International, a loss prevention consultant based here. > > More than $3 billion was reported lost through theft by the companies > surveyed, which made over 780,000 apprehensions of thieves in 1997. Howe= ver, > the dealers were able to recover only 4.13 percent of those losses. > > Of the thieves apprehended, only around 8 percent =97 65,640 =97 were d= ishonest > employees. However, light-fingered workers steal, on average, 9.45 times= the > amount stolen by a typical shoplifter, $903.18 vs. $95.59. > > On the positive side, dealers were able to recover $68.5 million throug= h the > apprehension of shoplifters last year, or 10.94 percent more than recove= ries > in 1996. > > For a complete survey, contact, Jack L Hayes International at (352) 365-1200, > or on the Internet at www.hayesinternational.com . > > > > > > =A91998 National Home Center News > > > --part0_906027609_boundary Content-ID: <0_906027609@inet_out.mail.aol.com.2> Content-type: message/rfc822 Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Content-disposition: inline From: RICKSS1@aol.com Return-path: To: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Store theft rarely recouped by dealers Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 06:16:53 EDT Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable Hi: Just read this in the HomeCenter News and confirms one of my feelings in t= he waste of chasing shoplifters: Store theft rarely recouped by dealers Fruitland Park, Fla. - Sept. 15, 1998 - For every $1 stolen from a retail store that is recovered by the company, $23.21 are lost through retail the= ft. That=92s one of the sobering findings in a new survey of 29 retail compani= es operating 11,202 stores nationwide and nearly $250 billion in aggregate sa= les. The Tenth Annual Retail Theft Survey was conducted by Jack L. Hayes International, a loss prevention consultant based here. More than $3 billion was reported lost through theft by the companies surveyed, which made over 780,000 apprehensions of thieves in 1997. Howeve= r, the dealers were able to recover only 4.13 percent of those losses. Of the thieves apprehended, only around 8 percent =97 65,640 =97 were dish= onest employees. However, light-fingered workers steal, on average, 9.45 times t= he amount stolen by a typical shoplifter, $903.18 vs. $95.59. On the positive side, dealers were able to recover $68.5 million through t= he apprehension of shoplifters last year, or 10.94 percent more than recoveri= es in 1996. For a complete survey, contact, Jack L Hayes International at (352) 365-12= 00, or on the Internet at www.hayesinternational.com . =A91998 National Home Center News [ Top of Page ] --part0_906027609_boundary-- ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27895 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Thursday, September 17, 1998 12:00 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27894 hardlines Digest Thu, 17 Sep 1998 00:00:20 -0400 V01 #27894 Today's topics: 'Various and sundry stuff.' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1998 09:55:34 -0400 From: Bill Round Subject: Various and sundry stuff. Dear Sid, Here are a few addresses you might be interested in. hardlines This is the all-purpose industry mailing list run by John Fix for the past several years. Hundreds of store owners, industry people, managers, Triad, Truserv, ACE affiliates, corporate lurkers, spies, rif-raff, etc. Sometimes quiet, occasionally useless, frequently interesting, entertaining, informative, and outrageous. John Fix III Moderates the above. Also seems to be going into web-page consulting and perhaps system consulting. Makes lots of money when his father's buying urges are temporarily suppressed. Richard Filion . Servistar Triad user with Lumber yard in New Hampshire. Steve Kirk. Triad Request Geek. Very good. Get in touch with him via Triad 800 number. Wolfgang something or other. I've never used him, but he is a very good consultant. Hope this helps. See you at the market. Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware 290 Main Street Stoneham, MA 02180-3506 Phone: 781-438-0116 FAX: 781-279-9123 E-Mail: billr@roundshardware.com ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27894 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 1998 12:01 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27893 hardlines Digest Wed, 16 Sep 1998 00:01:14 -0400 V01 #27893 Today's topics: 'Laurey Concealled Hinges' 'JUST ASK RENTAL ON TRIAD (SBC)' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 06:37:08 -0400 From: Bill Round Subject: Laurey Concealled Hinges Folks,=20 Found in our inventory several months after the fact. Can anyone use these? ITEM (SKU) =BA DESCRIPTION =BA QTY =BA PRICE/PER =BA= EXTENSION =20 L10300 =BA Concealed Hinges - Full Ov=BA 20 =BA 19.99 /BG=BA = 399.80 =20 =BAWill sell at $9.00 =BA =BA =BA = =20 =BA =BA =BA =BA = =20 L10100 =BA Concealed Hinges - Full Ov=BA 10 =BA 14.99 /BG=BA = 149.90 =20 =BAWill Sell at $7.00 =BA =BA =BA = =20 =BA =BA =BA =BA = =20 L10200 =BA Concealed Hinges - 1/2 Ove=BA 12 =BA 15.49 /BG=BA = 185.88 =20 =BAWill Sell at $8.00 =BA =BA =BA = =20 =BAWill Sell at $8.00 =BA =BA =BA = =20 =20 What is a straight hardware store doing with these things? They were in the display..... Regards,=20 Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware 290 Main Street Stoneham, MA=A0 02180-3506 Phone:=A0 781-438-0116 FAX:=A0=A0=A0=A0 781-279-9123 E-Mail:=A0 billr@roundshardware.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 09:08:45 -0400 From: "Listmanager" Subject: JUST ASK RENTAL ON TRIAD (SBC) From: "JASON JAMISON" I NOW HAVE THE UP-GRADE FOR SBC THAT WILL IMPORT ANY TRANSACTION DONE IN SBC, OVER TO THE TRIAD POS. THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE FOUND IS THAT THE ENTIRE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS PLACED INTO THE SKU RENTAL AND NONE OF THE AMOUNT IS CREDITED TO THE SKU DAMAGE WAIVER. BEFORE THIS UP-GRADE I TRACKED THE DOLLARS AS TWO DIFFERENT SKU'S. I THEN KNEW AT ANY GIVEN TIME WHAT DAMAGE WAIVER HAD PRODUCED JUST BY LOOKING IN IMU. I LOVE THE UP-GRADE BUT I DO NOT LIKE THIS COMBINING OF THE TWO ITEMS INTO ONE. ANYONE KNOW IF THE POSTING OF BOTH SKU'S IS SLOTTED FOR CHANGE IN THE NEXT UP-GRADE? To reply: mailto:inventory.70@tools.cornells.com To start new topic: mailto:inventory@tools.cornells.com To login: http://tools.cornells.com/~Hardlines ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27893 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 1998 12:04 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27892 hardlines Digest Tue, 15 Sep 1998 00:03:50 -0400 V01 #27892 Today's topics: 'Re: More readable format' 'RE: More readable format' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 01:20:52 -0500 From: "Cyndi Martini" Subject: Re: More readable format Hello everyone, Is anyone else getting their messages from the hardlines with all the HTML codes in the message? The message from Bill Round came in that way and I was wondering if there was something that could be done to make these letters more readable and whether or not someone might know if it is my email program that is causing this. Sorry, I don't want to make this into a PC helper column, was just curious as to whether others were getting the same type of messages. Thanks for all the help. Cyndi Martini Martini Hardware Houston, TX ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 08:17:22 -0400 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: RE: More readable format Re: Cyndi's comments on the formatting of text The safest way to keep things easy to read is for everyone to send their email in plain text format. There are far too many email programs out there for me to detail how to set this option, but if text is colored or bold when you type your message then your text will be difficult for others to read. The mailing list strips out all the formatting, since some programs can't handle it. That's why you wind up seeing occasional computer "garbage" in the messages. Anyway, there's no easy answer right now other than for folks to send in plain text. John ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27892 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Monday, September 14, 1998 12:03 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27891 hardlines Digest Mon, 14 Sep 1998 00:02:37 -0400 V01 #27891 Today's topics: 'ServiStar Paint Warranty...' 'Please Critique instruction style' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 00:32:34 -0500 From: "Bobby Dill" Subject: ServiStar Paint Warranty... I've like to ask if anyone else has been told by their Truserv Paint Rep they could not write-up ServiStar Paint ??? We were told this by ours and then we later discussed it with others and they pointed out the fact the cans still say 100% Guaranteed... So what's the deal ??? We've spent over 15 years telling our customers that and we're not about to change the rules at this point. We've decided if Truserv won't stand behind it, we would anyway... Can't you just see Sears saying their tools no longer carry a money back warranty ??? Saved By The Grace Of God, Kept By His Spirit, Prepared For The Rapture... & Equipped For Tribulation... Bobby Dill Bobby@unclejoes.com www.unclejoes.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 10:44:55 -0400 From: Bill Round Subject: Please Critique instruction style Dear folks,

If this comes through the e-mail in a recognizable form, please critique the instruction sheet for Round's True Value.  Is it too long?  Garbage?  The staff here says it is too long. 

In today's tight labor market, anything we used to take for granted with employee training is out the window.  I am convinced that the path to success in customer service at the retail level is to mimic the McDonald's model for training and managing staff members.  Everything has to be defined, proscribed, delineated, explained, and any options or situations requiring thought have to be anticipated and addressed with policy and procedure.  Target behaviors must be taught from the ground up and reinforced constantly.  If new staff members show themselves to be capable of independent thought and in possession of common sense,  they are the cream of the crop and deserve more money and operational latitude.  If they have practical or industry knowledge on top of that, I probably can't afford them, or they are in management.

This is a cynical analysis of the situation, and I invite criticism.  McDonalds, Home Depot, Walmart, and a whole raft of others anticipated declining educational standards and the growing passivity of a work force weaned on television, video games, and the culture of rampant individualism.  These organization didn't create the "McJob" with malevolent intent; they had a business solution to a cultural problem.  Their pool of prospective employees needed to be taken by the hand and built from the ground up.  The "Mcjob" had to be created to make use of the "Mcperson" who was showing up to work in increasing numbers.  These people were being produced by the "McCulture,"  a homogenized mixture which rewards mass media efforts, corporate cookie-cutter operations,  and massive economies of scale. 

If Round's True Value does not adopt the successful operating features of the successful business in the "McCulture," will Round's True Value be successful?  Does Ace's reportedly heavy-handed approach seem out of line?  Does the TruServ "True Advantage" program seem so unreasonable? 

Sorry to have bantered along here.  I was thinking as I went for coffee that people could post procedures here which could be pasted into any give store's procedure manual.  Most store I know of don't have them.  The manuals we get from the associations or the coops are too vague or just don't apply to the situation.  I thought that an HTTP format manual kept on-line and available in the store might be most useful.  Maybe I can use my Windows NT server for something real on the sales floor.  The headings could be for the "Virtual Hardware Store Operations Manual" might be:

Personnel-  Policies and procedures.
Operations-  Policies and procedures
Merchandise and Sales-  Policies and procedures.
Physical Plant-  Policies and procedures.

Regards,

Bill Round
Round's True Value Hardware
290 Main Street
Stoneham, MA=A0 02180-3506
Phone:=A0 781-438-0116
FAX:=A0=A0=A0=A0 781-279-9123
E-Mail:=A0 billr@roundshardware.com


Round's True Value Hardware, Inc
Rug Machine Procedures

Date:  08/19/98

RE:   The Blue Luster Rug Cleaning Machines

Folks,

I have discontinued the old rug machine program.  This was a leased-machine arrangement where a local franchisee took care of the machines we rented. The arrangement was not satisfactory.

I have purchased 2 new rug machines.  The store owns them.  We will maintain them. 

Here are the new procedures:

1) The new location for the machines is the service desk.   We selected this location to remove the time-consuming write-up and instruction activity from the front desk, where it often compounded existing problems there. The service desk is better equipped to provide the service and instruction our customers expect.  The checkout desk can be left to do what it is equipped to do. 

2) Rates, Rules, and Usage.
a) The rental for the Blue Lustre Rug machine is  $15.95 per day. 
b) The deposit is $25 on sku 201 in cash, check, or charge card.
c) This is a 24-hour rental. 
d) The machine must be returned clean or there will be a $5.00 charge. Charge sku DIRTY.
e) Charge for holidays. 
f) Take unit out after 4:00 on Saturday and return by 5 on Sunday.  If kept over to Monday morning, charge additional day.
g) As of 08/22: No half days.
h) We do not reserve units.  First come, first serve.
i) Do not leave the unit in a car overnight during cold weather.  It will freeze.
j) For a house charge, no deposit is required, but ask for positive ID (driver=92s license).  Charge the first day=92s rental plus any subsequent days when the machine is returned.
k) Employee discount is 50%.
i) Not available to employee at this rate on weekends.
ii) If unit here on Sunday after 4, then employee can rent.
l) Rug machine usage:
i) This is not a =93steam cleaner.=94  None of them are.  It is a glorified wet/dry vacuum cleaner which sprays a water/detergent solution and vac=92s it back up.
ii) The dirt and water come out of the rug.  The water will be black and sandy.
iii) The object is to get as much water out of the rug as possible to minimize dry time and possible damage to wood floors.
iv) Clean the machine when done. There will be charge for a machine returned dirty.
v) It=92s a 24-hour=20 rental.
vi) Work a 2 square foot area at a time.  Hit the spray button, and then drag the machine.  Stop spraying: drag the machine over the spot again.  You can not over vacuum, but you can over-spray.
vii) Coverage listed on cleaner instruction.
viii) Blue Lustre and Maintenance-One carpet extraction cleaners can be used. 
ix) DANGER:  Do not sell carpet shampoo for use in this unit.  It will foam all over.








3) Rental Contract Write-up.
a) The rental contract write-up with name, address, signature, and ID will be done at the service desk.  The customer can complete the form him or herself.  Other customers can be served in the meantime.
b) Follow the instructions on the Rental Register page.
c) Fill-in the shaded red boxes.
d) Check the items rented on the lower left-hand side of the rental contract.
e) Have the customer sign the contract.  They are responsible for the equipment, and for returning it clean.  A $5 charge will be made for a dirty machine.
f) Fill in the first day=92s rental and deposit to be paid .
g) Have the customer sign the rental form.
h) Tear off the LOWER yellow customer copy of the rental form. This has the barcode coupons.
i) During the winter months, please remind customers to keep the machine in a heated room.  Do not leave in the car or the garage.  The machine will freeze and break.  They will be charged for the repair.
j) Send the customer to the front desk.

4) T= o check out at the front desk.
a) Scan the barcode for the first day=92s rental charge.  The sku is RUG. When the system asks for a =93serial number,=94 type in the rental form number in the upper-left hand corner of the form. Hit the ENTER key twice to continue.
b) Scan upholstery attachment barcode if the customer is renting this tool.  The sku is BL3.
c) Charge the deposit under sku 201. The deposit is always rung in regardless of the payment type, including check.
d) The customer pays for the first day=92s rental, deposit, and any other merchandise.

5) W= hen the machine returns, it goes to the back desk for check-in.
a) Check to see that all parts accompany the machine.  Check for the large vacuum hose, the small sprayer hose, the solution/recovery bucket, and the bucket top.
b) Check to see if the upholstery tool was rented and returned.
c) Log the machine back into the rental book.  Date and initial the page.
d) If additional days need to be charged, write =93Charge x more days.=94
e) Send the customer to the check out with the yellow customer copy of the upper rental form that says =93Thank you for using Blue Lustre products.=94

6) A= t the front desk after the machine has been checked in at the service desk.
a) The customer presents the lower and upper parts of the yellow rental form.
b) Cashier checks the number of days to be charged.
c) Charge for extra days(s)
d) Credit memo the deposit on sku 201 and return the cash (for payment by cash or check) or bankcard credit.
e) Staple the return slip to the yellow rental forms.
f) You do not have to fill out a return slip. 








7) Problems
a) The machine didn=92t work.
i) Please call to inform the store of a problem.
ii) For credit to be given, this must be reported within 2 hours.  Refer to a manager.
b) The unit will not spray.
i) Some women (and some men) do not have the strength to operate the sprayer hose fittings.  These fittings have collars that must be snapped back to release or lock the coupling.
ii) The filter screen in the solution tank has been covered with lint.
(1) Scrap the lint off so the solution will flow.
c) The vacuum will not pick up water.
i) The pick-up nozzle has been filled with lint.
ii) Clean it with a screwdriver.
iii) The vacuum switch is not turned on. Turn it on.
iv) The tank is full.  Empty it.
d) There are soapsuds everywhere!
i) Use a defoamer.  Soap from previous rug cleaning jobs is being drawn into the machine.
e) The unit smells!
i) Rinse unit with vinegar.
f) =93I can=92t make it back from New Hampshire by the time you close.  Could I keep it until Monday and return it after work without paying the extra day?  It=92s not really my fault.  You see=85.=94
i) We sell time.
ii) Charge the extra day.
g) My basement is flooded.  Can I rent this machine?
i) Sure, but basement carpeting seldom comes completely clean and odor-free. 
ii) Sell the cleaner containing odor treatment.
iii) Recommend a de-humidifier. Carpet removal often the only way to get rid of bad odors.
h) There are stains all over the run.
i) Use prespotter.
ii) Treat area with traffic lane pretreatment
iii) Use a spot remover.
iv) Important note: Our rug machines DO NOT SCRUB THE RUGS.
i) The Previous latest problem (fill-in):   ______________________________________________
i) Action: ____________________________________________________________________

j) The latest problem (fill-in):   _____________________________________________________
i) Action: ____________________________________________________________________












------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27891 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Sunday, September 13, 1998 12:01 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27890 hardlines Digest Sun, 13 Sep 1998 00:01:24 -0400 V01 #27890 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27889' 'hardlines Digest - V01 #27889 -Reply' 'rubbermaid' 'keep trying' 'keep trying 2' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 07:00:45 -0400 (EDT) From: NorthLima@webtv.net (John Crouse) Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27889 --WebTV-Mail-1262028781-90 Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7Bit John, I also talked to the buyers at Truserv and they are very concerned at this problem. The message has GOT THEIR FULL ATTENTION. I realize the size of Rubbermaid corp., but firmly believe this would have continued if you had not put out an alert to this. I cannot believe the left hand did not know what the right hand was doing. Thanks again for your time you put into this for all retailers..........Jack --WebTV-Mail-1262028781-90 Content-Description: signature Content-Disposition: Inline Content-Type: Text/HTML; Charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7Bit --WebTV-Mail-1262028781-90-- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 11:28:02 -0600 From: BOB JOHNSON Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27889 -Reply Welcome to the new world order....There will be many instances of this type of experimenting going on in the world.....Rubbermaid, Black and Decker etc....So stay tuned...BOB ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 16:16:07 -0400 From: Bud Howe Subject: rubbermaid I would like to add my comments regarding "john's" letter dated sept. 11. John stated that TruServ had spoken to rubbermaid about on-line selling. I would like to know who at cotter spoke to whom at rubbermaid. I agree they should not be selling to our customers. Mfgrs should not walk the middle of the fence, selling wholesale and retail. I will not buy from my competition. Barnett Brass sells both ways also. I feel that rubbermaid should send a letter to all dealers stating they have stopped selling on line to our customers. I recommend that all TruServ dealers not place any bom orders until rubbermaid cleans up their act. Why support your competition?????? I for one will not Bud Super True Value ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 15:09:09 -0700 From: "Shimansky" Subject: keep trying This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0006_01BDDE5F.4B2C5D60 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi, It could be on this end. who knows. Thanks. Talk to you later. Love you, uncle Rolf ------=_NextPart_000_0006_01BDDE5F.4B2C5D60 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
     Hi,
 
     It could be on this = end. =20 who knows.  Thanks.  Talk to you later.
 
         &nb= sp;         =20 Love you,
         &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;            = ;   =20 uncle Rolf
------=_NextPart_000_0006_01BDDE5F.4B2C5D60-- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 15:13:46 -0700 From: "Shimansky" Subject: keep trying 2 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0016_01BDDE5F.EFB7C720 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hello, Please dissregard the keep trying message. It was meant for = someone else. Thanks, Rolf ------=_NextPart_000_0016_01BDDE5F.EFB7C720 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
     Hello,
 
     Please dissregard = the keep=20 trying message.  It was meant for someone else.   = Thanks, =20 Rolf
------=_NextPart_000_0016_01BDDE5F.EFB7C720-- ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27890 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Saturday, September 12, 1998 12:03 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27889 hardlines Digest Sat, 12 Sep 1998 00:02:34 -0400 V01 #27889 Today's topics: 'Rubbermaid update' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 17:47:23 -0400 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Rubbermaid update I can't speak for what might be happening at other co-ops and retailers, but TruServ has spoken with Rubbermaid about the Everything Rubbermaid online store. Evidently the Rubbermaid sales group was not aware of what was being sold online, and the fact that many items were selling for below Rubbermaid retail pricing. I'm not sure exactly what action Rubbermaid will take... they may just raise online retails to list or higher, only sell close outs, or similar. In my opinion, they should not be selling online at any price. It doesn't help them to have inflated retails since the consumer will think that the in-store price is also high. Anyway, word of the potential boycott of Rubbermaid has spread, and it looks like it's had the desired effect. TruServ (and hopefully others) pressured Rubbermaid to rethink their online efforts, and Rubbermaid has gone back to corporate with these comments (I'd bet there will be some heated meetings at Rubbermaid next week). Although the list has been relatively quiet about this topic (five or six notes), there have been a lot of communications directly to the co-ops from concerned retailers. Based on some conversations I had today, as well as a few changes already made to the Rubbermaid web site, I'm recommending that TruServ members place their normal BOM orders. The proposed boycott might not have yet caused Rubbermaid to act, but TruServ has reacted quickly and alerted Rubbermaid to the problem. So (my opinion), at this point I'm going to place my normal BOM orders and assume that Rubbermaid is in the process of scaling back their online store. I'm confident that TruServ is as concerned as us about Rubbermaid's online store. Thoughts? Have a great weekend! John ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27889 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Friday, September 11, 1998 12:00 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27888 hardlines Digest Fri, 11 Sep 1998 00:00:20 -0400 V01 #27888 Today's topics: 'CIS User Info Request' 'Re: CIS User Info Request' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 18:40:51 -0400 From: Bill Round Subject: CIS User Info Request Dear Folks, Is there anyway to pull a Central Ship Indicator from the CIS weekly data feed? It would be very nice to have a central ship code on my RSO's. We could even do up separate PO's. We could start with "MAYBE," "NEXTWEEK," "NOHOPE", and so on. Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware 290 Main Street Stoneham, MA 02180-3506 Phone: 781-438-0116 FAX: 781-279-9123 E-Mail: billr@roundshardware.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 20:09:30 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: CIS User Info Request several of the cis files have that data - it's probably ignored by triad. look at c:\cis\data\loadfil.dat right after doing a rdc balance download. position 4-5 identifies which rdc (number) the information comes from (rim/hub or c/s) position 12-13 identifies where the merchandise 'should' be shipped from (rim or hub or c/s) position 14-18 is the balance in that rdc as of 6:30 the morning of the file however, there are 2 reports concatenated into this file, rim and c/s... and every record that is in the c/s part (with a balance) is in the rim part without a balance. if you want, i can make a simple program to give you a file of the skus that are (probably) going to be c/s and you can fredware/fil one of the user codes for them. At 06:40 PM EST 9/10/98 -0400, you wrote: >Dear Folks, > >Is there anyway to pull a Central Ship Indicator from the CIS weekly data >feed? It would be very nice to have a central ship code on my RSO's. We >could even do up separate PO's. We could start with "MAYBE," "NEXTWEEK," >"NOHOPE", and so on. > > ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27888 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 1998 12:03 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27887 hardlines Digest Wed, 09 Sep 1998 00:03:04 -0400 V01 #27887 Today's topics: 'RE: Manufacturers/Retailers & On-Line Selling' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27883' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27886' 'hardlines Digest - V01 #27886' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 10:00:44 -0400 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: RE: Manufacturers/Retailers & On-Line Selling Ralph Witkin wrote... > However, I don't know how effective a "silent buying moratorium" >will be. The right people may never realize what's happening, they >may charge it off to other circumstances (stock market, Clinton, 62 >home runs or whatever's in the news) -- we need to directly let them >know they can't bite the hand that feeds them. Ralph, The Bargain of the Month auto-ship is a good way to protest, as there are enough TruServ management folks on the list to pass the word to Rubbermaid. TruServ will realize why orders are down, and I'm sure they will tell Rubbermaid. Since the January flyer has no BOM promotion, all we'd be losing is the .12 per piece margin. Just toss the Rubbermaid signs in the January promo kit, and run the other two items. Are there any similar promotions going on at Ace, Hwi, etc? This issue is of concern to all retailers, no matter who they buy from. It would be helpful if each retailer on the list passed the info along to at least two other store owners that are not on the list. We need to make them aware of what's happening in online retailing as well. John ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 09:02:28 -0600 (MDT) From: gkhj@digisys.net (Gary Hanson) Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27883 >One big concern of retailers about Internet commerce is the potential for >manufacturers to bypass the normal distribution channels and sell directly >to the end user (consumer). The additional cost to the manufacturer to >handle order fulfillment would be offset by the additional profits they get >from selling at full retail. This is a great observation John however it reminds me of when Cotter & Company was getting started and the independant distributers complained that the manufactures where selling direct to the retail outlets. They threatend to not carry the manufacture product. My personal feeling is that internet shopping will be like Sears cataloges you can get some cheaper prices (maybe) but you dont get to touch or feel the item and you do not get help on whether it is a good item for what you need it for. I think the business is a changeing business and that in order to stay alive we need to carry their product until such time as it is no longer viable for us to carry and make a profit. I also feel that we should not partner up with these manufactures except to carry there product while we can make a profit and dont be afraid to drop their product when it is not feasable any longer. If the item is getting adverse sales from the net then I feel that at market the best thing to do would be to tell Rubermaid (or any other manufacture) that you will place the order with the understanding that the order is canceled if they offer the item at a lower retail price on the internet. In this way they choose if they wish to sell to us or through the net and the line would be drawn. Gary Hanson Cardinal Building Center ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 08 Sep 1998 13:30:38 -0400 From: Bud Howe Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27886 hardlines-request@cornells.com wrote: > > hardlines Digest Tue, 08 Sep 1998 00:01:49 -0400 V01 #27886 > > Today's topics: > 'Manufacturers/Retailers & On-Line Selling' > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 06:41:49 -0700 (PDT) > From: "Ralph M. Witkin" > Subject: Manufacturers/Retailers & On-Line Selling > > Mike: > You have a good idea. Something does need to be done about this, > and the sooner the better. Right now it's not a problem, but later it > will be. > I can just see the future: Customer comes into the store, asks > questions, wants different models demonstrated, etc., then buys > on-line, but comes back to the store, for more advice and repairs and > maybe to buy a part or low dollar value accessory (or maybe just to > find out which part # or accessory he needs to order direct). > However, I don't know how effective a "silent buying moratorium" > will be. The right people may never realize what's happening, they > may charge it off to other circumstances (stock market, Clinton, 62 > home runs or whatever's in the news) -- we need to directly let them > know they can't bite the hand that feeds them. > > == > "It's just not necessary to do extraordinary things > to produce extraordinary results." > > RALPH M. WITKIN > P.O. Box 319 > New York, NY 10163 > 212/560-0913 > _________________________________________________________ > DO YOU YAHOO!? > Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com > > ------------------------------ > > End of hardlines Digest V01 #27886 > ********************************** Take the on line buying once step further. He buys it on-line but returns it to you when it becomes defective. He can't return defective goods when he buys on line to the source. What the heck return it to you, with the explanation, but you handle this line. Buttons won't work cotter needs to back up their dealers with a promise to rubbermaid and others, sell on line and we find another source, period. Then do it. The word will get out real fast. Bud ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 22:36:14 EDT From: AlannnnT@aol.com Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27886 Ralph writes, However, I don't know how effective a "silent buying moratorium" will be. The right people may never realize what's happening, they may charge it off to other circumstances (stock market, Clinton, 62 home runs or whatever's in the news) -- we need to directly let them know they can't bite the hand that feeds them. Actually, a silent moratorium can backfire badly. It gives the Rubbermaid web page guys a chance to say--"Look, I told you that Truserve dealers are weak. They can't even sell that plastic crappy thing for 2% over cost! See, I told you guys, we have to sell direct or we all perish" So? Now what? Alan Talman Karps True Value (our web page is at www.homebrewshop.com) ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27887 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 1998 12:02 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27886 hardlines Digest Tue, 08 Sep 1998 00:01:49 -0400 V01 #27886 Today's topics: 'Manufacturers/Retailers & On-Line Selling' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 06:41:49 -0700 (PDT) From: "Ralph M. Witkin" Subject: Manufacturers/Retailers & On-Line Selling Mike: You have a good idea. Something does need to be done about this, and the sooner the better. Right now it's not a problem, but later it will be. I can just see the future: Customer comes into the store, asks questions, wants different models demonstrated, etc., then buys on-line, but comes back to the store, for more advice and repairs and maybe to buy a part or low dollar value accessory (or maybe just to find out which part # or accessory he needs to order direct). However, I don't know how effective a "silent buying moratorium" will be. The right people may never realize what's happening, they may charge it off to other circumstances (stock market, Clinton, 62 home runs or whatever's in the news) -- we need to directly let them know they can't bite the hand that feeds them. == "It's just not necessary to do extraordinary things to produce extraordinary results." RALPH M. WITKIN P.O. Box 319 New York, NY 10163 212/560-0913 _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27886 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Monday, September 07, 1998 12:01 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27885 hardlines Digest Mon, 07 Sep 1998 00:00:34 -0400 V01 #27885 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27884' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27884' 'rubbermaid' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1998 01:10:22 -0400 (EDT) From: NorthLima@webtv.net (John Crouse) Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27884 --WebTV-Mail-1834929955-3251 Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7Bit John, I appreciate you bringing to our attention the RUBBERMAID pricing on the internet. We are a smaller store ( around 10000sq ft ), and have mentioned to cotter in 1996 that at the ASD shows and the TWANSWORLD shows you can buy RUBBERMAID at lower prices then you can buy direct from them. I was told the items were closeouts or surplus. These were everyday items that cost us more thru cotter at that time. We are located about 1 hour from the RUBBERMAID factory and their OWN retail store called EVERYTHING RUBBERMAID. I was scared when they opened their outlet but do not believe they have hurt my sales. Many stores do not know they have their own retail outlet. Their own store has had a bit higher retail then we have . The stores in the area closer to them may find it different. I like the idea of the button to wear at the market, but this is like 7 weeks away, and this gives them to much time to get settled in on the net, I personally think we should bring this to the attention of TRUSERV now, and let them go to bat for us. I have on order around 120 of the January item, if the word gets out now about this problem and stores with a backbone pull together we may stop this before it spreads to other products from other vendors. We as retailers know this is going to happen on a bigger scale as time goes on but let us try to have OUR COMPANY help us now, not later. I have battled for over 20 years the mail order companies and do not find the clout with the hobby industry people that we could have with the hardware people in a case like this. All Tru Serve members should bring this to the attention of any stores in their towns that retail RUBBERMAID products and have them take this to their management, as this is a problem for all retailers. The vendors who want to sell thru the internet will have to learn that the retailers will not sit still and continue to support their lines, if they sell thru the internet.. Sorry I got so wound up but this a grave problem that we have to face now. It is not going to go away, but a stern voice now may help.........Jack --WebTV-Mail-1834929955-3251 Content-Description: signature Content-Disposition: Inline Content-Type: Text/HTML; Charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7Bit --WebTV-Mail-1834929955-3251-- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1998 13:12:05 EDT From: IMPINE@aol.com Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27884 PERHAPS THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO AIR OUR FEELINGS WITH THE VENDORS THAT ARE EITHER DOING OR CONTEMPLATING THE DIRECT SALES APPROACH. EMAIL IS ONE TOOL, BUT A MORE POWERFULL TOOL MAY BE THE SHOW IN HOUSTON. WE SHOULD CONSIDER MAKING THE VENDORS AWARE OF OUR FEELINGS, AND PERHAPS THEY WILL GET THE MESSAGE. AFTER ALL ANYONE OF US ATTENDING THE SHOW, IS CLEARLY THERE TO BUY. THE SUCCESS OF THE SHOW IS MEASURED BY THE VOLUME OF MERCHANDISE ORDERED. NOT ORDERING, OR ORDERING LESSER QUANTITIES SENDS A MESSAGE THAT MAY BE LISTENED TO. AFTER ALL ASIDE FROM THE WAREHOUS, BOM, CONTRACTOR CLUB AND OTHER ADVERTISING PROMOTIONS RUN BY OUR CO OP, ELIMINATION OR TAKING A PRODUCT AWAY FROM "CENTER STAGE" SHOULD SEND THE APPROPRIATE MEASURES, AS PARTICIPATION IN THESE PROGRAMS ULTIMATELY REST WITH THE STORE OWNERS. MIKE BOCHNER HENDERSON LUMBER SERVISTAR JERSEY CITY, NJ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 06 Sep 1998 12:52:15 -0600 From: James Burns Subject: rubbermaid I like John's idea. Why don't mfg.use the internet to help retailers sell their products instead of trying to sell direct to the consumer? I'm afraid though that we are all in for a battle with another retailer - the internet. We will need to focus on what we have learned to do already. Treat the customer right and make them want to come back to our stores. James Burns doitcenter@3lefties.com ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27885 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Sunday, September 06, 1998 12:01 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27884 hardlines Digest Sun, 06 Sep 1998 00:01:21 -0400 V01 #27884 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27883' 'Online selling' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1998 08:30:51 EDT From: Magnet1125@aol.com Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27883 RE:Online selling-I think the timing of this Rubbermaid(and I'm sure others are there or contemplating being there) on line selling is wonderful. Possibly Tru-Serv members at the Fall Market could be supplied with a button or a sticker that says something like "Sell online-then not with us" or some such thing. I think the cancellation of the BOM is a GREAT idea, and I for one will do that this morning. By the way, if you check the site (www.Rubbermaid.com) you'll find such wonderful bargains as the #7890 cabinet for sale at $109.99 PLUS $60 shipping. The Tru-Serv suggested retail is $99.99. Bargains galore and great public relations for the saving one gets on online purchasing. John, thanks again for providing a great service for the members. Bob Rosenberg North Street TV Danbury, Ct ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1998 14:19:58 -0400 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Online selling I like Bob's idea about buttons or stickers to alert manufacturers to our concerns about direct sales to consumers. I'm not sure if it's a big concern quite yet, but now that Rubbermaid is testing the waters I'd expect others to follow if we don't make our objections clear. The problem with items selling for less then store retail is the consumer might come in the store looking for the same price. "How come I can buy it from Rubbermaid for $4.17 when you sell it for $4.99?". Now in addition to having to match Home Depot prices, we need to match reduced manufacturer prices?!? The fact that merchandise is sometimes priced higher is really not much better, since a consumer might choose to order online just to save the hassle of going to a store. So the manufacturer makes even more money. If you visit the Rubbermaid site, you'll find some great marketing ideas, which could be tied in to the local stores. There are packages of products for organizing your fridge.... why not offer a way for the consumer to print the list and use it to shop their local store? Rubbermaid spent a lot of time (and money) on this site, yet there is no listing of retailers who carry their products. Why not point to True Value, Ace, Wal*Mart, etc. web sites? John ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27884 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Saturday, September 05, 1998 12:03 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27883 hardlines Digest Sat, 05 Sep 1998 00:03:05 -0400 V01 #27883 Today's topics: 'Manufacturers selling direct to consumers' 'Rubbermaid online selling' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 12:08:37 -0400 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Manufacturers selling direct to consumers One big concern of retailers about Internet commerce is the potential for manufacturers to bypass the normal distribution channels and sell directly to the end user (consumer). The additional cost to the manufacturer to handle order fulfillment would be offset by the additional profits they get from selling at full retail. The downside for manufacturers is that they risk losing retail sales at the store level, which for the near future will still far exceed online sales. Why alienate retailers who have featured their products for years if all you will get is a small number of online sales? That's a question we need to pose to Rubbermaid, as they are now selling a large assortment of their products directly to the consumer via an online web store. Outdoor products (sheds), kitchen products (pitchers, food containers), bathroom products (shower caddy's) and more. A shower caddy that lists for $4.99 is available on the site for $4.17. The products are not close outs or discontinued product, but current top sellers, merchandise stocked at tens of thousands of retail locations around the country. They are probably even available online via retailers like Wal*Mart. If you stock Rubbermaid products, and especially if you are a regular direct ship customer, I think you should consider contacting Rubbermaid and your wholesale supplier to protest this foray into retailing directly to the consumer. With the fall trade shows coming up, this is a good time to protest their decision by seeking out other sources for these products. Any thoughts? John Manager Cornell's True Value Hardware www.cornells.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 12:17:01 -0400 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Rubbermaid online selling Quick follow-up to the online selling issue... TruServ members who don't like the idea of Rubbermaid selling directly can cancel the auto-ship of the upcoming Rubbermaid Bargain of the Month item for January (won't go into item or price details since this is an open list). John ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27883 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Friday, September 04, 1998 12:02 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27882 hardlines Digest Fri, 04 Sep 1998 00:01:59 -0400 V01 #27882 Today's topics: 'Boxes of Cheap paint brushes' 'paint brushes!' 'Re: CAT Function' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 03 Sep 1998 13:56:02 -0400 From: Bill Round Subject: Boxes of Cheap paint brushes RE: Richard Filion paint brush lament.... Richard Filion complained about the paint brushes going to Direct ship. It's not so bad. I have a sku which was only available on drop ship from Truserv mfg. The brush DS minimum was always low, so it wasn't too much of a hassle. That same sku went to warehouse status, then it went to DS. Then, for some reason, there is a special arrangement where you order from the warehouse and.... it is shipped from the factory. I finally figured out what was going on when I had 4 boxes of 2 dozen each in the store. It was the "brush of the week" program. This business is becoming too complicated. Who's on first..... We have adopted a position where we have attempted to minimize the number of suggested orders we see. If an item can't come in via TruServ or our secondary vendor Standard, we have to really look hard at the line. I have thrown lines out of the store because we can't get the turns or don't want to deal with the extra report, check-in, etc. TruServ should stock stuff to make it easier for us to operate our stores. Period. Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware 290 Main Street Stoneham, MA 02180 Phone: 781-438-0131 FAX: 781-279-9123 Email: billr@roundshardware.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 03 Sep 1998 14:04:53 -0400 From: Bill Round Subject: paint brushes! Hey, Now that I think about it, why are any of those assortments allowed into the stores without bar codes? Whip the person responsible! By the way, we discontinued a lot of TruTest brushes over the past 12 months. Good thing. I suspect that most of the skus will be discontinued to make way for the.... COMMONIZED ASSORTMENT! Several existing skus seem to be marked-out. The display seems to be looking bare. I will have to expand my alternative line. I wish corporate would acknowledge that this is precisely what happens in stores which are running for turns without big back stocks. Once the alternative line brushes take up the space once occupied by TruTest, TruServ manufacturing will loose that business for what could be forever. Failure to make running changes costs the coop money. And, on top of it, many of us in high-employment areas just don't have the personnel to do the "busy-work" to change things over. Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware 290 Main Street Stoneham, MA 02180 Phone: 781-438-0131 FAX: 781-279-9123 Email: billr@roundshardware.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 03 Sep 1998 20:12:03 -0400 From: Bill Round Subject: Re: CAT Function At 07:41 PM 9/1/98 -0500, you wrote: >Small item, but has saved us a lot of headaches. With new vendor >changes, many UPC codes in our Triad are not valid for the new vendor. >Bring up vendor list in CAT and hit add on everyone you show in your >system, Triad will add only the new UPC code. Sure beats trying to >capture or manually load. > >John Sippel >Sippel True Value Hdwe Stores >Universal City, Tx 78148 >email: jsippel@swbell.net By the way, not only will the UPC code add to MUPC through the CAT function for existing skus, but if the UPC is in your system for a non-TruServ sku when adding a new TruServ sku for the SAME ITEM, a message will come up giving you the sku that's already in the system. This is a sure tip-off that you have a duplicate sku situation. Use RCIN option RC to combine them... and make one sku. A thought: This could be a secure way for anyone to add a UPC code to the system. If the bar code needs to be captured, why can't a cashier or sales floor person add it through CAT? All they can do is pass along a TruServ error if there is one. It could not be a route where the chain saw bar code is attached to a gallon of paint thinner. This has always bothered me. A WARNING: if you have the Triad cashier UPC capture mode on, Turn it off immediately. I still find stuff screwed up from the 2 months experience I had with this feature... 8 years ago. I am the only one who can capture bar codes on the fly at POS. If you have an operation of any size, multiple cashiers adding bar codes will be a disaster of biblical dimensions.... Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware 290 Main Street Stoneham, MA 02180-3506 Phone: 781-438-0116 FAX: 781-279-9123 I-Mail: billr@roundshardware.com Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware 290 Main Street Stoneham, MA 02180-3506 Phone: 781-438-0116 FAX: 781-279-9123 E-Mail: billr@roundshardware.com ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27882 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Thursday, September 03, 1998 12:01 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27881 hardlines Digest Thu, 03 Sep 1998 00:01:18 -0400 V01 #27881 Today's topics: 'Re: UPC Codes in CAT' 'Re: UPC Codes in CAT' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 08:51:23 EDT From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Re: UPC Codes in CAT In a message dated 9/2/98 12:04:32 AM Eastern Daylight Time, hardlines- request@cornells.com writes: > > Small item, but has saved us a lot of headaches. With new vendor > changes, many UPC codes in our Triad are not valid for the new vendor. Good point, but also before ending the ADD function make sure your system does not show a duplicate SKU for the added UPC Code (one may hit before reading the warning). Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 02 Sep 1998 16:41:42 -0400 From: Bill Round Subject: Re: UPC Codes in CAT RE: Rick's UPC comment. The Triad (and other systems, I'm sure) should build more intelligence into the CAT function. Define the target sku, what goes over, what the end result should be-- then make the software take the user through the task. Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware 290 Main Street Stoneham, MA 02180-3506 Phone: 781-438-0116 FAX: 781-279-9123 E-Mail: billr@roundshardware.com ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27881 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 1998 12:01 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27880 hardlines Digest Wed, 02 Sep 1998 00:00:38 -0400 V01 #27880 Today's topics: 'CAT Function' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 01 Sep 1998 19:41:33 -0500 From: John Sippel Subject: CAT Function Small item, but has saved us a lot of headaches. With new vendor changes, many UPC codes in our Triad are not valid for the new vendor. Bring up vendor list in CAT and hit add on everyone you show in your system, Triad will add only the new UPC code. Sure beats trying to capture or manually load. John Sippel Sippel True Value Hdwe Stores Universal City, Tx 78148 email: jsippel@swbell.net ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27880 ********************************** From: hardlines-request@cornells.com Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 1998 12:04 AM To: Hardlines Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27879 hardlines Digest Tue, 01 Sep 1998 00:04:24 -0400 V01 #27879 Today's topics: 'hardlines Digest - V01 #27878 -Reply' 'Market Dates' 'Bad CAT Data' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1998 01:01:19 -0600 From: Dennis Chappell Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27878 -Reply Market starts Friday October 30 and ends Tuesday November 3rd. Regards, Dennis Chappell ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1998 07:48:00 EDT From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Market Dates Hi The Market Dates are getting ....... Commercial/Industrial Market -- Oct 27 (Tues) -->Oct 29 (Thur) Computer Education Market Oct 29 (Thur) TruServe Market Oct 30 (Fri) -->Nov 3 (Tues)(only til 12:00 Noon ) Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True V alue ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1998 19:00:14 EDT From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Bad CAT Data Hi Does anybody know who to speak to at CCI-TRIAD about bad SKU data in CAT? These SKU's are correct in TruTrac and CIS: 180059,260596,270827,387552 They are NOT Discontinued as displayed in TRIAD. Thanks Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27879 **********************************