hardlines Digest Mon, 01 Dec 1997 00:00:25 -0500 V01 #27652 Today's topics: 'Re: restock & thanks' 'Re: restock & thanks' 'RE: hardlines Digest - V01 #27650' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 30 Nov 1997 15:01:08 -0500 (EST) From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Re: restock & thanks In a message dated 97-11-30 00:33:12 EST, you write: << >>Can anybody explain to me why TruServe is having the restocking program to >>start and end in December???? Is this for sure? I have not received any information about restocking yet. How did you find out about it? David Casaletto True Value Home Center Pittsburg, Kansas >> Dave: My field rep -- title I forget what it is today-- sent me a FAX -- if you want a copy E-Mail me your FAX # Bud: Thanks for the reminder about "friendly" check writers. Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Nov 1997 16:34:59 -0600 From: "David Casaletto" Subject: Re: restock & thanks >My field rep -- title I forget what it is today-- sent me a FAX -- if >you want a copy E-Mail me your FAX # > Rick, My fax # is 316-231-1011. Thanks! David ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Nov 1997 23:45:14 -0500 From: John Hillenbrand Subject: RE: hardlines Digest - V01 #27650 We handle paid holidays in the same manner. Our full time employees work the same days and hours each week, year round. Over the years none have really complained, it was taken as "win some-lose some" as the holidays fall on different days each year, with the exception of Thanksgiving. Atlantic True Value Hardware Freeport, NY John Hillenbrand Jonhill@unix.asb.com -----Original Message----- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 Nov 1997 17:32:14 -0500 From: Tony Brinkmann Subject: Paid Holidays At our stores we have always paid our full-time employees for holidays if it fell on days when they normally would have worked. So if Xmas and New Years fall on a Tuesday and an employee was always scheduled to work Tuesdays then he would be paid for the holidays. This was to prevent them from losing pay. However, if an employee was scheduled to be off on Thursdays then he wouldn't be paid extra for Thanksgiving. Some employees seem to have trouble with this rule if it's a year when they don't get the holiday pay because they are normally scheduled to be off. I'ts easy to change my rule to satisfy the employee. But, since the pie is only so big I would have to reduce benefits where it didn't seem to matter as much. I wondered how other stores handled paid holidays and if I'm really being nit-picky about this. What's the consensus? ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27652 ********************************** hardlines Digest Tue, 02 Dec 1997 00:00:04 -0500 V01 #27653 Today's topics: 'Re: Holiday Pay' 'Re: Sick Pay' 'Re: labels with Tru Trac' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 1 Dec 1997 00:18:31 -0600 From: "Cyndi Martini" Subject: Re: Holiday Pay We seem to be paying Holidays like most people. If you are full time and normally scheduled to work that day you get 8 hours straight pay as long as you don't call in the day before or after a holiday on your scheduled days. We haven't had much complaints from those who are don't get paid the holiday when it is their normal day off. I do, however have another somewhat related question: How many, if any., sick days do you pay full time employees each year? After years of abuse we abolished ALL sick time pay about 8 years ago. There have been many complaints about it, especially since it does not affect the few salaried people I have (all of which are family and managerial with several yrs experience). I can understand the employee's point of view, but I am somewhat leery of re-instating the policy and the owner(my dad) is against it. Requiring doctors excuses makes them mad because some feel that even though they are sick enough to stay home from work, they are not sick enough to visit the doctor. Understandable, but it is very difficult to run a business when the store is short-handed and I have yet to come up with a way to handle sick time that is agreeable to all or atleast most. Well thanks for all the great ideas and for any suggestions I may get. Cyndi Martini Martini Hardware Houston, TX 77023 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 08:08:28 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: Sick Pay At 12:18 AM EST 12/1/97 -0600, Cyndi Martini wrote: > How many, if any., sick days do you pay full time >employees each year? After years of abuse we abolished ALL sick time pay >about 8 years ago. Requiring doctors excuses makes them >mad because some feel that even though they are sick enough to stay home >from work, they are not sick enough to visit the doctor. Understandable, >but it is very difficult to run a business when the store is short-handed >and I have yet to come up with a way to handle sick time that is agreeable >to all or atleast most. > we also abolished a separate sick pay 'plan'. we discovered that the same employees always used up their sick 'allowance' by the end of the year and others (another 'same' group) never had more than a couple of sick days. what we did was to accrue 'paid time off' at the rate of 4% for the first year, 6% for the next 9, and 8% after 10 years. i 'don't care' why they take the time off except that: 1. scheduled time off must fit into our schedule 2. each employee MUST take 7 contiguous days every 18 months 3. unscheduled (crisis) time off must be reported to management immediately ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 09:26:37 -0600 From: mike jones Subject: Re: labels with Tru Trac > > Greetings Hardliners: > Thanks to everyone who responded to my posting on 11/8 > concerning my "availability" :-) I have several things working. > I am looking at a store with a Tru Trac system and no label > making program. Who among you have a TT system and also produce your > own labels? I am familiar with Triad and Labelmaster and Fredware, but > what is available for Tru Trac? > Thanks. > > Mike Jones > mjones@ccipost.net ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27653 ********************************** hardlines Digest Wed, 03 Dec 1997 00:01:38 -0500 V01 #27654 Today's topics: 'Re:Sick Days' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27653' 'Re: take off several times' 'Re: Salary People' 'Re:holidays, sick time' 'Hillman SKU Change' 'More on Sick pay' 'Re: Hillman SKU Change' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 07:33:40 -0500 (EST) From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Re:Sick Days In a message dated 97-12-02 00:43:58 EST, you write: << lated question: How many, if any., sick days do you pay full time employees each year? After years of abuse we abolished ALL sick time pay >> We do not pay for sick days. The abuse of Salary People caused this. We had several people on salary that seemed to be sick .......... Needless to say, we even limited salary people to strictly management (also concurs with the laws). My people would like to see it, but the expense of vacations and paid holidays alone is very high. They can use sick days against vacation days. However, we do allow 2 days for Mourning of immediate family. On paid holidays, if a full-time person is off that day, that person is entitle to another day (expense!!) We do have "lost-pay" insurance for full-time if out of work on sickness for more then 4 weeks (MA does not have a policy for this). Question: would you put up with a fulltime employee (good worker) who must take off several times in the day (run errands ex:pickup wife, drop kids off at school, pickup brotherinlaw from work.....). Having fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 04:45:56 +0000 From: "Peter J. Cailotto" Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27653 > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 09:26:37 -0600 > From: mike jones > Subject: Re: labels with Tru Trac > > > > > Greetings Hardliners: > > Thanks to everyone who responded to my posting on 11/8 > > concerning my "availability" :-) I have several things working. > > I am looking at a store with a Tru Trac system and no label > > making program. Who among you have a TT system and also produce your > > own labels? I am familiar with Triad and Labelmaster and Fredware, but > > what is available for Tru Trac? > > Thanks. > > > > Mike Jones > > mjones@ccipost.net > > ------------------------------ > > End of hardlines Digest V01 #27653 > ********************************** Several years ago, ISP developed a sign designer package that works great for labels. However, like many other Tru-trac ad ons, they have not (to my recollection) continued to develop this product. The program works great and it uses snow to get info. You may wish to contact the Tru-trac marketing department to see if they have any new products available for this... -- *********************************************************** Peter Cailotto business page: http://www.dedot.com/pkm/Arrow.html personal page: http://www.dedot.com/pkm *********************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 07:57:14 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: take off several times this depends on how often it occurs. one of the sections of our employee policies states that deviations and exceptions from these policies may be allowed by management without setting a precedent. if clyde, who has been here 20 years, has a really bad week we'll bend over backwards to accomodate his problems - but we expect him to go back to his 'regular standards' next week. when ralph (another 20-year man) got cancer we kept him on sick pay till he died (18 months). At 07:33 AM EST 12/2/97 -0500, Rick Schwartz wrote: >Question: would you put up with a fulltime employee (good worker) who must >take off several times in the day (run errands ex:pickup wife, drop kids >off at school, pickup brotherinlaw from work.....). > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 08:03:05 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: Salary People in the 'old days' we used to pay people for 8 hours for every day they showed up - no matter how many hours they worked - "salary". when i 'took over', i decided that there were several people who were getting 'abused' by this -- they would come in early and leave late so that the store got opened and their tasks were completed when it was convenient (usually when the store was closed!) now if i 'need something extra done' i have to pay for it. that seems fairer..... i'm the only one on salary. (dad doesn't get paid at all...) At 07:33 AM EST 12/2/97 -0500, Rick Schwartz wrote: > we even limited salary people to strictly management (also concurs with >the laws). ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 08:27:03 -0500 From: Tony Brinkmann Subject: Re:holidays, sick time Thanks for the responses concerning paid holidays and sick time. It seems that we can be comfortable with our store policies. To sum it up, the policy for our eight full-timers is: Vacation - five days paid after one year with us; ten days after two years. Personal time - five days per year; can be used for sick days or just goofing off and acrue one day a month first five months to keep some-one from taking five days their second week with us; an unscheduled absence or lateness requires documentation ( doctor's excuse etc). Death in immediate family - no written policy but we have twice given two days paid in addition to the above. Health insurance - upon starting everyone is eligible ( we use TruServ Insurance ) and we cover 50% of the costs including dependents coverage. Most of our nine part-timers get none of the above benefits. Some do because they have been with us as much as 17 years. We are planning to have a written policy on part-timers benefits soon - probably giving them partial amounts of the full-timers benefits after five years. Tony Brinkmann Brinkmann True Value Hardware Sayville, LI, NY ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 09:25:41 -0500 (EST) From: RICKSS1@aol.com Subject: Hillman SKU Change Hi: If anybody looked at last week EFM report you would have noticed a lot of Hillman being discontinued and / or SKU change. Guess what --> TruServe will be changing the SKU scheme of Hillman to fix the Case Packs!!!!!!! from F100 to 1 etc. How many people hours will it take us to fix our system and floor????????? This is not a complaint, just a comment. Comments? Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 10:35:31 -0600 From: "Virgil H. Cox" Subject: More on Sick pay On Mon, 1 Dec 1997 at 00:18:31 -0600 Cyndi Martini posted a sick pay discussion. First off, Cindi, what are you doing up at Midnight writing e-mails about sick pay? I'm going to assume the battery in your pc is working, and that the clock is set correctly. I myself was engaged in much more productive work, called sleeping.=20 Anyway, we have a simple policy. Here's the section from the store policy manual: "For purposes of definition =93Sick Leave=94 includes absences for assist= ing with the illnesses of the employee, their spouse, or dependent children.=20 It does not include anyone else, and sick leave and/or sick pay will not = be granted for any other instances. The company reserves the right to requir= e a doctor=92s written proof of visit and/or authorization to return to wor= k for the absence to be excused with pay. Sick leave must be earned before = it is allowed with pay. Sick leave is available only to full-time employees. For employees with less than one (1) year of service, sick leave is earne= d at a rate of 4 hours per month after one month of full service.=20 For employees with more than one (1) year of service, six (6) days of pai= d sick leave are granted per calendar year, effective January 1st of each year after the first year of service.=20 Sick leave may be used hourly or daily, but it may not be accumulated beyond the yearly anniversary date. Unused sick pay will be paid out at year end, but accrued sick leave will not be paid upon termination of employment. =20 In the case of accident or extended illness beyond those previously outlined, each case will be examined on it=92s merits." Hope that prints: can't figure out how to re-size the font after copying from Pagemaker. Anyway, the point is, we recognize that folks get sick, that some get sick more than others, and that people have different threasholds of discomfort. Some want to leave at the slightest thing, and some will work no matter how bad they feel. It's never convenient, but that's the way it is. That's our attitude. We also recognize that it does NOT help us to have a sick person show up and get all his/her co-workers sick too. So, we send 'em home when they a= re ill, comfortable with the notion that we have provided them with enough extra sick pay throughout the year that it wont hurt the pocketbook too bad, of at all in most instances. Additionally, since they KNOW that they'll get the money either way, we find that most people don't call in sick unless they really are. After all, it's really just wasting their money to do so. To reinforce this, we make a big deal out of handing out the unused sick-pay checks in January. It's amazing; mostly the same peop= le get it every year.=20 Hope this is of interest. And Cindi, get some sleep . . . . .=20 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 14:57:05 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: Hillman SKU Change i had commented last week to tom gransee about some anchors that were priced by the each. i figure that anything i can't attach a price ticket to (or the price ticket is worth more than the item ) shold be inventoried by the pack rather than the each. sounds like he was way ahead of me.... we've got a 'way' of marking our sku's so we know how we're selling/buying them and price them by the box or each depending on my whim at the moment - not truserv's. at least that way i can complain without doing much more than looking in the mirror. At 09:25 AM EST 12/2/97 -0500, Rick Schwartz wrote: >Hi: >If anybody looked at last week EFM report you would have noticed a lot of >Hillman being discontinued and / or SKU change. Guess what --> TruServe will >be changing the SKU scheme of Hillman to fix the Case Packs!!!!!!! from > F100 to 1 etc. >How many people hours will it take us to fix our system and floor????????? > >This is not a complaint, just a comment. > >Comments? > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27654 ********************************** hardlines Digest Thu, 04 Dec 1997 00:02:53 -0500 V01 #27655 Today's topics: 'hardlines Digest - V01 #27654 -Reply' 'sku piece counts and paid leaves and Fredware' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 23:30:30 -0700 From: Jon "M." Johnson Subject: hardlines Digest - V01 #27654 -Reply ** High Priority ** This is an automatic reply to your message. I will be out of the office calling on members until Monday December 8 and unable to keep up with my messages as currently as normal. If you need help right away, call Colleen McMahon at 5401 or Mike Brixey at 5402. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Dec 1997 21:34:54 -0500 (EST) From: Richard Filion Subject: sku piece counts and paid leaves and Fredware I have the Triad lumber package and have some advantages to those who do not in the area of converting stocking sku's to ordering sku's. Back when we first began setting up our DX-10 we made some stocking decisions. One of those was not to worry about petty items. As a consequence we sell all Hillman items on a non-counted sku. We just order replacements about once a quarter. We also do not inventory individual wood screws, but just sell them generically by the piece or by the box of 100. We only bin tag all of those items and carriage bolts, nuts, washers, hex bolts, lag screws, sheet sandpaper, even wire nuts, pipe straps, 90 degreee solder elbows, and a few others that we sell in large quantities. We inventory the larger bolts, and put the size in the manufacturers field on IMU Screen S so that we can use the look-up manufacturer's number at the POS. A 1/4" x 1 1/2" long carriage bolt is given the manufacturer's number of CB14112. We use N14 as the sku for 1/4" coarse hex nuts. and use the MAP feature to order correctly from Servistar. Servistar has put us through hell with changes to the sku count. They started out with a piece order requirement with a minimum ship of one box and a price per hundred. That works all right when you are only dealing with boxes of 100, but the amount of confusion that was resulting from 3/4" hex nuts and other boxes of less than 100 was unbelievable. They once ran a price change and we received well over one thousand stickers which immediately went into the garbage. They now use box order quantites and prices. We price everything, except boxes of wood screws, by the piece and then use quantity break to encourage buying by the box. Our computer is set up to sell flat washers with one price by the piece, a lower price per 100, and we use a kit sku to sell them by the pound and still keep inventory accurate. While Serivstar was staggering around trying to figure out what it wanted to do we used the RICU function to change how we were ordering. I do not use their pricing on any of these items, but transmit my prices to them with my order so that I receive their stickers with my prices. My thinking is that it is much easier to convert by selling multiples of things rather than fractions. Paid time off: Back many years ago we unfortunately paid many holidays and had liberal sick days. In fact most people were salaried. The Government changed all that and it cost us a considerable amount of money as it is against the law. Now only two people are salaried. We treat all employees alike in terms of full time or part time. No part time employees get any paid holidays or vacations or sick days. Full time employees get six paid holidays and two weeks vacation after two years, one week before. We allow sick days as needed within reason. Anybody who seems to be abusing the privilege gets told that they have to take vacation time. People get a different day off if their regular day off fell on a holiday. What is "Fredware". +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Richard Filion rhfil@nh.ultranet.com Filion Lumber 603-659-3361 Newmarket, N.H. ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27655 ********************************** hardlines Digest Fri, 05 Dec 1997 00:00:00 -0500 V01 #27656 Today's topics: 'Re: sku piece counts and paid leaves and Fredware' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27653' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 4 Dec 1997 15:44:06 -0600 From: "David Casaletto" Subject: Re: sku piece counts and paid leaves and Fredware From: Richard Filion > What is "Fredware". Dear Richard, "Fredware" is like PC access for Triad but is much more flexible. "Fredware" is the slang name as it was developed by a hardware dealer in California, Fred Nichandros. The "real" name is EZ Software sold through Cole Computer Products. Their phone number is 800-222-0039. Ask for Ron. I use EZ software to emulate a Triad terminal on all my PC's. We also print price stickers, bin tags with bar codes, etc. It also can be used to download information into a spreadsheet where you can change the data, then upload it back in to Triad. Anyway, call them and they can send you a brochure. See ya! David Casaletto True Value Home Center Pittsburg, KS P.S. Has any True Value store received notification of the restocking order other than from their rep? I have not seen anything on CSN or in the mail. (It started December 2nd and ends January 3rd.) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 Dec 1997 23:11:32 EST From: ROTEN RAND Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27653 To Mike, If you are talking about bin lables the program is already there. You have to type in the sku # and it will print you lables. For price updates it prints them automaticly. Randy Whetstone Nelsons True Value ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27656 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sat, 06 Dec 1997 00:02:26 -0500 V01 #27657 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27656' 'Hillman SKU's' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 5 Dec 1997 12:34:33 EST From: DURFEES Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27656 The only thing I've seen about a restocking order is here. What good is a restocking order before the end of the year??? In Rhode Island we pay property tax on what we own as of 12/31/97. I really don't want to restock at $38/m. Who's bright idea was this to change to Dec from Jan?? Paul Durfee ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Dec 1997 20:52:45 EST From: AlannnnT Subject: Hillman SKU's I was told by Truserve warehouse that the Hillman disc. numbers were going to become central ship items. Not being discontinued for real, just making it impossible to know when you might really have it in inventory. Alan Talman Karp's TV, East Northport NY ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27657 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sun, 07 Dec 1997 00:01:30 -0500 V01 #27658 Today's topics: 'Re: Hillman & Restock & Boatman Credit Card System' 'CIS Warning' 'Re: CIS Warning' 'John Fix Sr - 1902-1997' 'Re: CIS Warning' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 6 Dec 1997 08:00:31 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Re: Hillman & Restock & Boatman Credit Card System Hi: I have been calling about the topics of Hillman and Restock to Chicagoland. Hillman --> part of the restructuring of case packs. There was a TSN about this. If one did not see / or get I will be happy to FAX it. I wonder where the convertion hours would have saved -- Chicago keeping the old SKU's or changing them. (10,000 stores X 600 sku's). Restock -->spoke to Rob L. Stores were asking for this (quote). There will be another restock offering in January for those who can not take advantage of helping boosting the TruServe Sales in December. A letter is due out on this. Boatman's Processing of Credit Cards. I must admit on the third day that I am impressed with the "new" TruServe program. The hypercom terminal (even though uses small paper -->calculator size) is very fast and very detail. The customer receipt even prints out the card holders name. The next day FAX report is great. The detail reports from the unit is good and the unit even prints out a settlement copy at 11:00 P.M.. There is even a "dail-in" PC program to retrieve sales data --> I am getting a demo disk on this -->there is a $0.15 per minute charge. The "Help Desk" has been very good and responsive. Thanks and have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 6 Dec 1997 12:03:11 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: CIS Warning Hi: DO NOT DOWNLOAD FRI 12/5/97 CIS FILES --> MAJOR PROBLEM YOUR FILES WILL NOT WORK AFTERWARDS Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 06 Dec 1997 12:41:25 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Re: CIS Warning At 12:03 PM 12/6/97 -0500, Rick Schwartz wrote: >Hi: > >DO NOT DOWNLOAD FRI 12/5/97 CIS FILES --> MAJOR PROBLEM > YOUR FILES WILL NOT WORK AFTERWARDS > >Have fun > Rick, Have you tested the files on the Eagle yet? The Triad and TruTrac use the same MCS file updates, so I wonder if the data on those systems will get trashed as well? John ************************************************************************* John Fix 3rd http://www.cornells.com/john.htm John3@cornells.com (914) 961-2400 Cornell's True Value Hardware Manager/Cashier/Webmaster ************************************************************************* ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 06 Dec 1997 17:11:17 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: John Fix Sr - 1902-1997 Just a short note to let my fellow retailers that my grandfather, John Fix Sr, passed away today. Some of you may have been aquainted with him, either personally or through my stories. He was born in 1902, began working at Cornell Brother's Hardware in 1916 and purchased the business from the Cornell family in 1932. He steered the business through the depression, as well as a fire that destroyed the store in the 1946. He founded a dealer owned cooperative called Harlem Valley Supply, which later disbanded when he and many of the members joined Cotter & Company in 1962. He operated the store with a simple philosophy... serve the customer. But the customer was not just someone coming into the store to buy something... they were friends from the neighborhood, fellow homeowners or tradesmen. People you met in the market or at church... folks who's children played with your children. In this crazy retail environment with "big boxes" and price competition (not that these times are any crazier than the depression of the 30's), it's easy to lose sight of this basic principle. We sometimes forget, just like our customers (often?) forget. I'm sure that many of you raised in hardware business have grown up with the same philosophy as a foundation for your business... it just gets lost sometimes under the computer printouts and promotional flyers. So, just take a moment to remember the person who taught you how to run your store, and how to treat your customers and employees. John ************************************************************************* John Fix 3rd http://www.cornells.com/john.htm John3@cornells.com (914) 961-2400 Cornell's True Value Hardware Manager/Cashier/Webmaster ************************************************************************* ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 06 Dec 1997 17:30:45 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: CIS Warning which files don't work? my whole CIS system seems to be 'normal'..... At 12:03 PM EST 12/6/97 EST, Rick Schwartz wrote: >DO NOT DOWNLOAD FRI 12/5/97 CIS FILES --> MAJOR PROBLEM > YOUR FILES WILL NOT WORK AFTERWARDS > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27658 ********************************** hardlines Digest Mon, 08 Dec 1997 00:02:39 -0500 V01 #27659 Today's topics: 'Re: John Fix Sr' 'Re: John Fix Sr - 1902-1997' 'Restock Program, CIS Warning' 'hillman' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 7 Dec 1997 00:07:15 -0600 From: "Cyndi Martini" Subject: Re: John Fix Sr John, I was sorry to hear about the passing of your grandfather. He sounds just like my grandfather who shared a similar philosophy of how a business should be run. My sympathy and prayers are with your family. Cyndi Martini Martini Hardware Houston, TX ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 07 Dec 1997 08:52:20 -0800 From: rgbadger@cyberportal.net Subject: Re: John Fix Sr - 1902-1997 John Fix 3rd ; Our sympathy to you, your family, your employees, and your community. Nancy at Rand's Hardware, Plymouth New Hampshire********************************************************************** > John Fix 3rd http://www.cornells.com/john.htm > John3@cornells.com (914) 961-2400 > Cornell's True Value Hardware Manager/Cashier/Webmaster > *************************************************************************> *************************************************************** > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > for hardware and building materials industry members. Back > issues are available at > > http://www.cornells.com/hardlines/ > > To remove your name from the mailing list, send email to > listserv@cornells.com with the following line in your message: > > unsubscribe hardlines firstname lastname > > For any other questions, send email to postmaster@cornells.com > *************************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 07 Dec 1997 13:19:53 -0800 From: Fred Nichandros Subject: Restock Program, CIS Warning I must thank Rick Schwartz for the ruckus he and other people have been raising about Tru-Serve's December restock program. That was rediculous! How many people would want to place a restock order in December? I am really glad that Tru-Serve got the message and is offering restocking in January as well. In response to the CIS warning: like Jack Swift, I did a CIS download December 6th and did not have any problems with the files. I have had problems with crashing my CIS database in the past, however - it seems to be unusually fragile. That is one of the few programs that I have had to restore from a backup. Fred Nichandros Workbench True Value Hardware Castro Valley, CA ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Dec 1997 16:23:30 -0500 From: "blake sayers" Subject: hillman This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0010_01BD032C.749F8E60 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable we dropped hillman about 1 yr ago,very happy with lower prices and = better service from HIGH POINT FASTENERS(973-293-3411) we wont be changing 600 skus. Is Robert F Johnson still VP of Information Services at truserve? He = does not return phone calls.=20 ------=_NextPart_000_0010_01BD032C.749F8E60 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
we dropped hillman about 1 yr = ago,very happy=20 with lower prices and better service from HIGH POINT=20 FASTENERS(973-293-3411)
we wont be changing 600 = skus.
Is Robert F Johnson still VP of = Information=20 Services at truserve? He does not return phone calls.
 
------=_NextPart_000_0010_01BD032C.749F8E60-- ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27659 ********************************** hardlines Digest Tue, 09 Dec 1997 00:03:53 -0500 V01 #27660 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27659' 're:Sympathy' 'Re: CIS File PM384' 'Re: John Fix Sr - 1902-1997' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27659' 'National Mfg.' 'CIS/MCS files' 'new suppliers' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27659' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 08:07:00 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27659 In a message dated 97-12-08 00:41:35 EST, you write: << >> ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 08:10:33 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: re:Sympathy John Fix 3rd : Our deepest sympathy to you, your family, your employees, and your community. Rick Schwartz ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 08:02:48 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Re: CIS File PM384 Hi: To answer the CIS Problem --> I downloaded on Friday and the system came up with a PM384 problem (TRIAD did not and work) --384 is part of April Advertising Advisor. Needless to say, the sytem crashed. My backup also crashed. Oh well. I am waiting word from Chicago Land. Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 08:57:21 -0500 From: "Wade Doss" Subject: Re: John Fix Sr - 1902-1997 John, Sorry to hear of your lose. Our prayers and thoughts go out to you and yours. I know that a goal that we all have is to have made a difference or impression so that once our time is up that those that remain might remember us. Your comments would confirm that Sr. did just that. Wade batesace@acehardware.com wade@batesace.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 08:07:16 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27659 In a message dated 97-12-08 00:41:35 EST, you write: << >> ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 11:13:24 -0500 From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@compuserve.com> Subject: National Mfg. Dear Folks, I usually belabor the obvious. We were looking at the GMROI for some direct ship only vendors in our store. National was one of those vendors. The GMROI for National is not what it should be. I believe that my order points are too high and that many items which are being purchased in full boxed don't deserve it, especially when they are in the TruServ warehouse. The good sellers profitabilty contribution to the fineline is being cannabilized by inventory investment in the slow sellers. Solution: All C, D, and X items which are in the TruServ warehouse are being switched to order indicator "W" and their order multiples will decrease to 1. Minimum order points will be adjusted to some number which is a function of the largest most frequently encountered sale quantity. This is especially important in the bulk areas like angle irons and eyebolts, etc. All A, B, and Direct Ship only items will be routinely reviewed for DS buying, though A and B items may be purchased from warehouse when they go below the Minium order point. A few questions: 1. Have people been migrating from DS lines to warehouse in significant numbers? 2. We have seen dramatic changes in cash flow over the past 18 months with decreased reliance on DS and Relay. Have you? Profitability has improved slightly; we don't seem to have taken a real hit on margin in buying more from the warehouse. 3. Dad ( the outragious resident character at Round's; the one with the basset hound) has expressed the fear that the business will be stripped of operating assets by running the inventory as lean as our direction indicates. Has anybody seen problems associated with this? 4. We are looking at reducing the number of closely related skus in the store. To do this we have established the "H" code in our system. The overnight suggested order first sets the new order quantities for non-H code items. The report for the floor follows this and picks up both items with a new order quantity... which will appear on the purchase order for TruServ... and the "hold" H-code items which have fallen below the order point. This seems to have worked well for the sku cluster problems such as gas cans, thermometers and good items which should not be restocked until "bad" items are sold. As always, when given a choice, a customer will always buy a "good" item rather than a "bad" item, and we have adopted this policy so long as we don't loose a sale. A customer will not walk out of the store if we offer a round gas can instead of a square one. They will walk out if we don't have a size gas can they want. Round's True Value is a monument to skus which cannabilize other skus sales. We are moving to change that. 5. I know Rick Schwartz has used a similar code exclusion scheme over the years. Does anybody have any schemes they have used to reduce the number of and investment in "D" movers? I've done well rebuying good sellers; I need do much better getting rid of the unproductive skus. 6. A member whose name escapes me pulls unproductive skus off the system with ReQuest and drops them into a spread sheet to make them look pretty on a sheet of paper. He then has a 2 or three page printout which is updated every few weeks with more closeout merchandise. He says he has pulled 20 to 40 grand out of inventory by this method. Customers always pick up that sheet; they look for it. 7. Could somebody post some RQ routines to calculate GMROI, TURN, and other sales stats? 8. With the passing of John's Grandfather, I am reminded that our industry is filled with characters who are colorful and interesting. There are some wild stories passed along as family folklore which might appeal to a larger audience. Is anybody documenting them? As my own kids get older, I have observed how my bedtime stories based upon "actual events" at the store have taken on a life of their own and have formed a common frame of reference for our immediate family. I've always wanted to write up "Grampy (Bill Round, Sr.) , Jasper (his basset hound), and the Mice at the store." My wife warned my that "snuff stories" are not healthy children's tales. They are not suitable for the general public, even if they involve rodents who "hitched a ride into the wrong hardware store!" on a pallet of bird seed. Perhaps I'll do that and post it here... I've got to run. Cheers, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware 290 Main Street Stoneham, MA 02180 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 08 Dec 1997 15:59:31 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: CIS/MCS files Rick Schwartz reports (via voice as AOL email is dead) that the CIS problem he reported was evidently something on his system and not a problem with the CIS files. John ************************************************************************* John Fix 3rd http://www.cornells.com/john.htm John3@cornells.com (914) 961-2400 Cornell's True Value Hardware Manager/Cashier/Webmaster ************************************************************************* ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 08 Dec 1997 19:44:11 -0500 From: Bud Howe Subject: new suppliers I feel that " hardlines " would be a excellent site to expose suppliers that give top notch service and price. As a true value dealer in central florida with a large garden shop, i am always looking for new suppliers. We also have a gift section in our store. I would be happy to supply names, phone numbers of any of my suppliers. One hardware supplier that we get great service from is Forney( welding supplies). e-mail me at budh@worldnet.att.net We have some excellent suppiers of bagged goods in our garden shop i would be happy to share. What do you have????? Bud ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 20:13:00 EST From: GEM404 Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27659 I really don't UNDERSTAND!!!! I thought we were told that with the merge we would see the best from both. RESTOCKING in DECEMBER!!!!!!! &^%$#@&^%$#* WOOPIE This is like the BEST deals with BLACK & DECKER.... Please Alow Me TO GO WOOPIE again... The Real Question is, >>>>> Do we have ANYONE in the Corp. Office that knows Hardware Retail????? Glenn New Market True Value ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27660 ********************************** hardlines Digest Thu, 11 Dec 1997 00:01:59 -0500 V01 #27661 Today's topics: 'Various Quotations' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 10 Dec 1997 13:11:48 -0500 From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@compuserve.com> Subject: Various Quotations Dear Folks, I got up early one morning and went to a breakfast meeting to hear Regis McKenna hawk his latest book. The book is "Real Time: Preparing for the Age of the Never Satisfied Customer." Gosh, I thought when I saw the announcement and the book title, that describes my entire customer base. Anyway, Mr. McKenna thinks the Internet is the greatest thing since... well, it's great and will make the rick poor and the poor rich and brands will go away and everybody will have absolutely all the information they need to make the best decisions, etc. Hmm. You'll have to go see the book at the local library. Here are a couple of quotes Mr. McKenna used which really got me thinking. From a sign on the wall at a Hong Kong food supermarket: "For your convenience, we recommend courteous and efficient self-service." Damn, it that doesn't hit the nail on the head, so to speak. Here we are trying to provide more and more service, and customers.... don't necessarily want another human to help them so much as they want to do it as quickly as possible, and by themselves if that makes it more so. From the January 15, 1997 Wall Street Journal article by Raju Naisetti entitled: "Too Many Choices, P&G (Proctor and Gamble), Seeing Shoppers Were Being Confused, Overhauls Marketing:" "... after 159 years, P&G is changing the name of its Sales Department to Customer Business Development, a change that may seem largely symbolic but that within a tradition-bound company such as Proctor and Gamble is a watershed event. The company decided it is wiser to let consumers drive supply than to force-feed retailers by making them buy more products than they can sell." Holy Smokes! Did that ever sound close to home. I'm going to look that piece up. I wonder if there are lessons there for the hardware business? Talk to the customers, collect the information, draw conclusions about what they are buying and why they are buying it, then sell them more of the same. Back to the baracades. Cheers, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware 290 Main Street Stoneham, MA 02180 ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27661 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sat, 13 Dec 1997 00:03:32 -0500 V01 #27662 Today's topics: 'Rakes' 'Peg-o-my-heart......' 'Credit Card -- Boatman System' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 08:32:39 -0500 From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@compuserve.com> Subject: Rakes Dear Folks, I have a customer whose landscaping crews are apparently tough on rakes. I have been selling this guy the standard Green Thumb metal leaf rake by Disston for the past few years (not guaranteed for commercial use, so the manufacturer has been through this before). He says he gets a few days out of them before the stamped collar which holds the tines together loosens and the rakes self-distructs. I've sold this customer Disstons, Garrants and Ames products. Any suggestions? Regards, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 08:32:41 -0500 From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@compuserve.com> Subject: Peg-o-my-heart...... Dear Folks, I think I have 2 tons of obsolete peg board hooks in the store. I mentioned this to Dane Sheahan yesterday, and he said that his crew disposed of them by bundling and selling them in the store. The thought of moving these hooks (for the fortieth time) and displaying "used" merchandise makes me feel ill. I though about donating them to some charitable outfit. Who could use them? The metal dumpster looks like the best alternative, though the senior member of the Round Family would have to be sent fishing while this project is completed. There's an idea for a new Children's story: "Grampy the Dumpster Diver tries to save his old bolts." That's for another day. I thought out filling the neighbor's pick up truck and hawking them at the flea market. But, I always get depressed going to those places when I see so much of what I believe to be my merchandise offered for sale. I could put my (under 10) kids out there to wheel and deal with the blood-thirsty, merciless flea market bargain hunters. The store yard sale is too far away to wait. The deciding factor is that the hooks are stored in an upstairs office which could be rented... I think I'll take the rent check.... Regards, Bill Round ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 16:56:40 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Credit Card -- Boatman System Hi: Re: Boatman (Merchant Service) BankCard System 1 week down and counting. So far the electronic system is great. We have found 1 handicap --> a lot of electronic transfers to our bank -->we are going to use a seperate account to handle credit cards -->chicago may be coming up with a better solution in the future. Will keep all posted. Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27662 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sun, 14 Dec 1997 00:04:42 -0500 V01 #27663 Today's topics: 'Re: Credit Card -- Boatman System' 'Re: Rakes' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27662' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 22:03:09 -0800 From: "DAVID D. PILGRIM" Subject: Re: Credit Card -- Boatman System RICKSS1 wrote: > > Hi: > Re: Boatman (Merchant Service) BankCard System > > 1 week down and counting. So far the electronic system is great. > We have found 1 handicap --> a lot of electronic transfers to our bank -->we > are going to use a seperate account to handle credit cards -->chicago may be > coming up with a better solution in the future. > > Will keep all posted. > > Rick Schwartz > Schwartz True Value > Fall River, MA We have been on it since November 17th. The reconcilation process has proved to be very time consuming. Our Discover and AMEX cards are still being paid thru the old Cotter system.(i.e. being forwarded by Boatmans to Discover and AMEX and then Discover and AMEX paying the old service instead of Boatmans) A resolution to this is to come. In addition, our Telecheck procedure was changed and when asked if we could have it back the old way, Boatmans response was no. This is also being resolved thru Tru-Serv. The All in One terminal is faster and easy to use, the rates are lower (once I can figure out how to read them) and it is nice to get the money faster. It is just frustrating to do the reconciliations. David Pilgrim Village True Value Maple Valley, WA ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 Dec 1997 07:43:02 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Re: Rakes In a message dated 97-12-13 01:17:32 EST, you write: << I have a customer whose landscaping crews are apparently tough on rakes. I have been selling this guy the standard Green Thumb metal leaf rake by >> I sell the Rugg Rake #41 to the Pro's (there are made on the other side of good old Massachusetts). There are blue in color and do hold up. If you want to try a couple --I got some or call 1 800 633 8772. Cost is around $10.. (freight and all). Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 Dec 1997 17:52:34 -0500 From: Bud Howe Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27662 hardlines-request@cornells.com wrote: > > hardlines Digest Sat, 13 Dec 1997 00:03:32 -0500 V01 #27662 > > Today's topics: > 'Rakes' > 'Peg-o-my-heart......' > 'Credit Card -- Boatman System' > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 08:32:39 -0500 > From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@compuserve.com> > Subject: Rakes > > Dear Folks, > > I have a customer whose landscaping crews are apparently tough on rakes. I > have been selling this guy the standard Green Thumb metal leaf rake by > Disston for the past few years (not guaranteed for commercial use, so the > manufacturer has been through this before). He says he gets a few days out > of them before the stamped collar which holds the tines together loosens > and the rakes self-distructs. > > I've sold this customer Disstons, Garrants and Ames products. > > Any suggestions? > > Regards, > Bill Round > Round's True Value Hardware > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 08:32:41 -0500 > From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@compuserve.com> > Subject: Peg-o-my-heart...... > > Dear Folks, > > I think I have 2 tons of obsolete peg board hooks in the store. I > mentioned this to Dane Sheahan yesterday, and he said that his crew > disposed of them by bundling and selling them in the store. > > The thought of moving these hooks (for the fortieth time) and displaying > "used" merchandise makes me feel ill. I though about donating them to some > charitable outfit. Who could use them? The metal dumpster looks like the > best alternative, though the senior member of the Round Family would have > to be sent fishing while this project is completed. There's an idea for a > new Children's story: "Grampy the Dumpster Diver tries to save his old > bolts." That's for another day. > > I thought out filling the neighbor's pick up truck and hawking them at the > flea market. But, I always get depressed going to those places when I see > so much of what I believe to be my merchandise offered for sale. I could > put my (under 10) kids out there to wheel and deal with the blood-thirsty, > merciless flea market bargain hunters. > > The store yard sale is too far away to wait. The deciding factor is that > the hooks are stored in an upstairs office which could be rented... I > think I'll take the rent check.... > > Regards, > Bill Round > > > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 16:56:40 EST > From: RICKSS1 > Subject: Credit Card -- Boatman System > > Hi: > Re: Boatman (Merchant Service) BankCard System > > 1 week down and counting. So far the electronic system is great. > We have found 1 handicap --> a lot of electronic transfers to our bank -->we > are going to use a seperate account to handle credit cards -->chicago may be > coming up with a better solution in the future. > > Will keep all posted. > > Rick Schwartz > Schwartz True Value > Fall River, MA > > ------------------------------ > > End of hardlines Digest V01 #27662 > ********************************** Leaf rakes are policy A. I would use true value's no quibble return policy. As long as this customer is buying other products from you and not abusing the rakes just replace them and get as much goodwill as you can while you replace them. Remind him how important he is to you and he would not get this same kind of top notch servive at home depot and other big boxes. Sell him something else when he comes in. Bud ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27663 ********************************** hardlines Digest Tue, 16 Dec 1997 00:01:08 -0500 V01 #27664 Today's topics: 'Tru-Trac 5.0' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 15:46:00 EST From: DURFEES Subject: Tru-Trac 5.0 If you've updated be careful of the new F10 lookup feature in item change. If the sku you expect doesn't appear be aware that using an F7 search could change the discription on the sku your looking for to the discription of the sku the machine found first. PRD ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27664 ********************************** hardlines Digest Wed, 17 Dec 1997 00:02:17 -0500 V01 #27665 Today's topics: 'Hillman' 'Damn the warehouse, full speed ahead!' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 16 Dec 1997 22:37:17 -0500 From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@compuserve.com> Subject: Hillman A technical note: I was reminded today about the sku and pack changes coming up for TruServ members with Hillman and Star Stainless fasteners. Hex, lag, carriage screws, anchors, and stainless fasteners will receive a new sku to accommodate pack changes. If you don't want to be visited by all the ghosts of inventory valuations past, I might suggest that you delay fastener sku changes or loading until after the first of the year. I do not wish to see a sku for 1/4" lag screws with a quantity on hand of 300 each at .07 suddenly read in the system as 300 boxes at $7.00 per box (replacement cost). To accommodate Cotter several years ago while still maintaining UPC control, I used a kit sku scheme where the base Cotter sku (by the each) was a component of the kit sku (for the box). The UPC was attached to the box to deliver the box price to the customer while the kit sku relieved inventory on the Cotter Sku (by the each). This also avoided the unpleasant situation where the cashier sold an entire box of hex screws for 1 piece because the price tag for the each price "worked just fine" at the register. I'm thinking that file maintenance might not be nice to us over the next month or so. Comments? How are people handling this situation? 1. Blow out all the skus and add the new ones. Physically inventory the affected merchandise? 2. Change the item numbers and kill the QOH, then reinventory? 3. Work the QOH's on a spread sheet to convert them to box values and post them back on the system while putting the old skus to zero? 4. Anybody worried about alternate part numbers which had been put in over the past several years? My apologies to all the stores with the elegantly simple descriptive skus. 5. I need ideas. Cheers, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware Stoneham, MA ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Dec 1997 22:37:19 -0500 From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@compuserve.com> Subject: Damn the warehouse, full speed ahead! Dear Folks, "... The Overstockings where hung in my warehouse with care, in hope that inventory reduction would soon be there... " Well, I'm not putting out any milk and cookies for inventory reduction, and I ran out of hope that the problems would take care of themselves. I put the skids on relay, promotion, and DS buying. I avoided a mad distribution of unmanageable direct ship purchase orders at the market. I cranked up warehouse buying. I think I ran out of some Xmas items early (but not too many). And, why did TruServ run out of Xmas Tree bags in the Manchester RDC? Money came out of the warehouse in gobs and hunks. I've spent a several hours a week for the last few months pulling stuff out and sending it to the sales floor myself. The store manager had shelving removed from the warehouse. There is no place for the merchandise to hide. It's sell or suffer with merchandise, and I only want to suffer with the stuff I absolutely need to suffer with. Does anybody have any experience with running an inventory down in a controlled manner? Like, WAY down? Any suggestions? Horror stories? I'm very interested in hearing from people who've violated the traditional wisdom that hardware stores must be crammed with merchandise or they are not worth shopping. We are proceeding with the thought that we have had so much stuff chaotically displayed or hidden from view that our sales have suffered because customers just couldn't see it. We need enough stuff to provide customers with concrete choices while not overwhelming them with redundant merchandise and bloated categories. Ho, Ho, Ho, and all that jazz, Bill Round Round's True Value Hardware Stoneham, MA 02180 ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27665 ********************************** hardlines Digest Thu, 18 Dec 1997 00:01:20 -0500 V01 #27666 Today's topics: 'Re: Rakes' 'Re: Hillman' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27665' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 00:07:24 -0600 From: hardware Subject: Re: Rakes The Yoeman family makes the best snow shovels in the world, and they also make a pretty good garden rake. All American Made in Monticello, Iowa. You can contact the Yoeman family via the internet at yo-ho.com . Linda Cottin Cottin's Hardware Lawrence, KS ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Dec 1997 22:35:32 -0800 From: "DAVID D. PILGRIM" Subject: Re: Hillman > WILLIAM H. ROUND wrote: > > > I was reminded today about the sku and pack changes coming up for TruServ > > members with Hillman and Star Stainless fasteners. Hex, lag, carriage > > screws, anchors, and stainless fasteners will receive a new sku to > > accommodate pack changes. > > > How are people handling this situation? > > 1. Blow out all the skus and add the new ones. Physically inventory the > > affected merchandise? > > 2. Change the item numbers and kill the QOH, then reinventory? > > 3. Work the QOH's on a spread sheet to convert them to box values and post > > them back on the system while putting the old skus to zero? > > 4. Anybody worried about alternate part numbers which had been put in over > > the past several years? My apologies to all the stores with the elegantly > > simple descriptive skus. > > 5. I need ideas. > > WE TOOK THE MOST SIMPLISTIC APPROACH OF ALL. WE DO NOT CONTROL NUTS & BOLTS AT THE SKU LEVEL. TO MUCH ROOM FOR ERROR. WE SELL EVERYTHING UNDER ONE SKU - BOLTS. AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE TAKE A GENERAL COUNT OF THE AREA FOR INVENTORY VALUATION NEEDS. I FIGURED THAT SINCE THE HILLMAN REP SERVICED THE ENTIRE SECTION, I DID NOT HAVE TO ORDER THRU THE TRIAD AT ALL, THEN WHY CONTROL IT TO THAT LEVEL. IT HAS WORKED FOR US FOR MANY YEARS. DAVID D. PILGRIM VILLAGE TRUE VALUE HDW MAPLE VALLEY, WA ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 08:51:39 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27665 In a message dated 97-12-17 00:28:06 EST, you write: << How are people handling this situation? 1. Blow out all the skus and add the new ones. Physically inventory the affected merchandise? 2. Change the item numbers and kill the QOH, then reinventory? 3. >> ______________- or 9. Watch the mess build up -- have a cleaning fit after 6 months of dust settling. The RCIN option C --> use it more and more as more and more confusion comes down!. Oh well Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River MA 02724 ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27666 ********************************** hardlines Digest Fri, 19 Dec 1997 00:00:36 -0500 V01 #27667 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27666' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 21:02:49 EST From: DURFEES Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27666 I have to agree with Dave from WA. To many sku's with screws nuts and bolts. It wastes a lot of time loading the LDT. We slush all nuts,bolts,screws to hdwe as anal as I am about inventory this is one area I gave up on. Paul ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27667 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sat, 20 Dec 1997 00:01:44 -0500 V01 #27668 Today's topics: 'What? Me Worry?' 'Cameras Vs Security' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27666' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 19 Dec 1997 07:16:00 -0500 From: "WILLIAM H. ROUND" <102753.622@compuserve.com> Subject: What? Me Worry? Dear Folks, While I might be accused of being anal about inventory... which I don't think I am... I certainly am about money going going into the cash drawer and merchandise scanning through the front register. The way Cotter had originally set up the Hillman file, it was certainly possible to scan boxed merchandise through the front desk at the each price. That got real old real fast. I spent a lot of time setting up Kit skus which permitted the psychotic cashier of the month (the "PCM") to automatically scan the highest prices possible while removing as much decision from him or her I could. The level of control for fasteners is in part a function of the sales levels, merchandise mix, and checkout set-up for the store or lumber yard. If I were running my Brother's store, every item would have a sku and a descriptive reference of some sort because it's a small store and much of the ringing is done by salespeople. In my store, we have dedicated cashiers at the front desk who wouldn't know a lag screw from a hex bolt. A descriptive sku scheme would slow them down and infuriate the customers. Once the bar codes where set up linking the higher level "kit" of the box to the lower-level "piece" sku, we got more money for the merchandise going through the front. It was consistant with the rest of the merchandise in the store that when an item went "beep," the cashier would sell a quantity of one. I really don't care what the count is on the merchandise. That's the Hillman Salesman's problem. We have procedures to sell bulk fasteners on a generic sku which works, and we gather fastener boxes when they are emptied into the bulk bins to be sold at the front desk and credited against the bulk sku so there is some way to relieve inventory. Now I must fix the data so that I will receive file maintenance, order out of the warehouse in a pinch, and continue selling merchandise for as much $$$$ as possible. Regards, Bill Round ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 19 Dec 1997 16:58:45 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Cameras Vs Security Hi: Regarding to the inquiry I made back in June, I finally installed a 4 camera (which it was more cameras now.....) sytem with tape backup from Secure Controls and caught our first "shoplifter". The shoplifter used the baby carriage to the stuff merchandise in and leave. Now to catch more! Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 19 Dec 1997 18:23:46 -0800 From: rgbadger@cyberportal.net Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27666 Concerning skuing of nuts and bolts...since we computerized our inventory back in 1984, we assigned a sku for all bulk and boxed screws, bolts, nuts. As we were a SERVISTAR dealer st the time, we used 'EF as the sku (E because E was their hardware depertment, and F for Fasteners) We are now Cotter (True Serve) but buy all these drop ship from Hillman. We have one person who hand-checks beens once a week, and orders it. Their UPC codes have been a problem since we started scanning, but the clerks have been told to ignore the codes and go by the retail preprinted on each box (nothing else in the store has been left priced, but we get the labels from Hillman with each shipment) We do nails a different way. Each type is given a 2 letter sku (NM,NK,NB etc)Which works because we sell them bulk, and they are cheaper the more pounds a customer buys. The 25# and 20# boxes we get from True Serve are skud, but are taken out of inventory once we open a box to fill a bin. We have a chart with boxed numbers and the prices are in the computer, and we usually have an acurate count. We still have some problems buying copper pipe, etc. out of Cotter as we buy by the lenght (i.e. 10ft., 21ft.) but sell them in the store buy the foot. Always seem to be recounting this area. Hope this helps. Nancy Badger, Rands TrueValue, Plymouth, NH > Hardlines Mailing List is an unmoderated Internet mailing list > for hardware and building materials industry members. Back > issues are available at > > http://www.cornells.com/hardlines/ > > To remove your name from the mailing list, send email to > listserv@cornells.com with the following line in your message: > > unsubscribe hardlines firstname lastname > > For any other questions, send email to postmaster@cornells.com > *************************************************************** ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27668 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sun, 21 Dec 1997 00:02:41 -0500 V01 #27669 Today's topics: 'FanScan Phone Cards' 'Re: Damn the warehouse, full speed ahead!' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 10:38:31 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: FanScan Phone Cards were we wierd-as-usual or did everyone have bad luck with this 'corporate' idea? we 'got sent' 20 of these (491396), sold 5 and have to throw away the other 15 because they expire 12/31/97. i see that the harvard hub has 1894 of them left which will hurt our patronage refund when they get thrown away.... maybe i ought to bring them to market and drop something on the floor so i can stand behind the buyer when he bends over to pick it up .. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 11:11:09 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: Damn the warehouse, full speed ahead! actually, bill, you're doing it the only sensible way. the best way to determine the appropriate inventory level is to start with too much for at least a year. this way you'll always have enough to satisfy the customers and be able to generate an accurate weekly/monthly sales history. you won't lose that sale-of-10-boxes because you only have 9 in stock. and that comment applies to breadth as well as depth of inventory. if you've stocked 6 models of 2-slice basic toasters because each one was on a different promotion (remember those days?) you can see which models are popular *in your market* and make an informed decision on which ones to dump. the problem we run into is the new items. without a sales history (never stocked it before and there's nothing we can compare it to), we usually order too few if we order any at all. if it starts selling, we have to carefully ramp up our purchases until we overshoot (but not by too much!). sometimes by the time we start ordering it, the cuastomers have given up and developed that pattern of buying it somewhere else. and my friends who are not in retail have the naivete to ask me why i don't like to go to the local indian casino.............. At 10:37 PM EST 12/16/97 -0500, Bill Round wrote: > >Does anybody have any experience with running an inventory down in a >controlled manner? Like, WAY down? Any suggestions? Horror stories? > >I'm very interested in hearing from people who've violated the traditional >wisdom that hardware stores must be crammed with merchandise or they are >not worth shopping. We are proceeding with the thought that we have had so >much stuff chaotically displayed or hidden from view that our sales have >suffered because customers just couldn't see it. We need enough stuff to >provide customers with concrete choices while not overwhelming them with >redundant merchandise and bloated categories. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27669 ********************************** hardlines Digest Mon, 22 Dec 1997 00:03:44 -0500 V01 #27670 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27666' 'Re: FanScan Phone Cards' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 21 Dec 1997 07:58:07 -0500 From: Tony Brinkmann Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27666 hardlines-request@cornells.com wrote: > > hardlines Digest Thu, 18 Dec 1997 00:01:20 -0500 V01 #27666 > > Today's topics: > 'Re: Rakes' > 'Re: Hillman' > 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27665' > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 00:07:24 -0600 > From: hardware > Subject: Re: Rakes > > The Yoeman family makes the best snow shovels in the world, and they > also make a pretty good garden rake. All American Made in Monticello, > Iowa. > > You can contact the Yoeman family via the internet at yo-ho.com . > > Linda Cottin > Cottin's Hardware > Lawrence, KS > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Tue, 16 Dec 1997 22:35:32 -0800 > From: "DAVID D. PILGRIM" > Subject: Re: Hillman > > > WILLIAM H. ROUND wrote: > > > > > I was reminded today about the sku and pack changes coming up for TruServ > > > members with Hillman and Star Stainless fasteners. Hex, lag, carriage > > > screws, anchors, and stainless fasteners will receive a new sku to > > > accommodate pack changes. > > > > > How are people handling this situation? > > > 1. Blow out all the skus and add the new ones. Physically inventory the > > > affected merchandise? > > > 2. Change the item numbers and kill the QOH, then reinventory? > > > 3. Work the QOH's on a spread sheet to convert them to box values and post > > > them back on the system while putting the old skus to zero? > > > 4. Anybody worried about alternate part numbers which had been put in over > > > the past several years? My apologies to all the stores with the elegantly > > > simple descriptive skus. > > > 5. I need ideas. > > > > WE TOOK THE MOST SIMPLISTIC APPROACH OF ALL. WE DO NOT CONTROL NUTS & > BOLTS AT THE > SKU LEVEL. TO MUCH ROOM FOR ERROR. WE SELL EVERYTHING UNDER ONE SKU - > BOLTS. AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE TAKE A GENERAL COUNT OF THE AREA FOR > INVENTORY VALUATION NEEDS. I > FIGURED THAT SINCE THE HILLMAN REP SERVICED THE ENTIRE SECTION, I DID > NOT HAVE TO ORDER > THRU THE TRIAD AT ALL, THEN WHY CONTROL IT TO THAT LEVEL. IT HAS > WORKED FOR US FOR > MANY YEARS. > > DAVID D. PILGRIM > VILLAGE TRUE VALUE HDW > MAPLE VALLEY, WA > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 08:51:39 EST > From: RICKSS1 > Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27665 > > In a message dated 97-12-17 00:28:06 EST, you write: > > << > How are people handling this situation? > 1. Blow out all the skus and add the new ones. Physically inventory the > affected merchandise? > 2. Change the item numbers and kill the QOH, then reinventory? > 3. >> > > ______________- > or > > > 9. Watch the mess build up -- have a cleaning fit after 6 months of dust > settling. > The RCIN option C --> use it more and more as more and more confusion comes > down!. Oh well > > Have fun > > Rick Schwartz > Schwartz True Value > Fall River MA 02724 > > ------------------------------ > > End of hardlines Digest V01 #27666 > ********************************** At Brinkmann True Value we have always handled the Hillman in the same way as National. That is, we use their SKUs. In the case of National we precede the number with an N and with Hillman we use an H. That's what we do for selling boxes. For all loose fasteners we use one SKU which we made up. I have an opening figure for our Hillman inventory and use that with minor adjustment to calculate current inventory values. Tony Brinkmann Brinkmann True Value Hardware Sayville, LI, NY ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Dec 1997 19:02:16 -0600 From: "David Casaletto" Subject: Re: FanScan Phone Cards > were we wierd-as-usual or did everyone have bad luck with this 'corporate' >idea? > > we 'got sent' 20 of these (491396), sold 5 and have to throw away the >other 15 because they expire 12/31/97. i see that the harvard hub has 1894 >of them left which will hurt our patronage refund when they get thrown >away.... > > maybe i ought to bring them to market and drop something on the floor so i >can stand behind the buyer when he bends over to pick it up .. > > Jack, They were guarenteed sale. We did nothing with them either! David Casaletto True Value Home Center Pittsburg, KS ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27670 ********************************** hardlines Digest Tue, 23 Dec 1997 00:04:50 -0500 V01 #27671 Today's topics: 'Re: Phone Card' 'MPO shortcut keys' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27669' 'duracell batteries don't fit anymore' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 22 Dec 1997 06:09:10 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Re: Phone Card In a message dated 97-12-21 00:03:56 EST, you write: << ubject: FanScan Phone Cards were we wierd-as-usual or did everyone have bad luck with this 'corporate' idea? >> Nice idea--> nationwide benefit -->highly questionable idea-->more for certain markets -->probably Chicagoland (again). However, these cards were on a quarantee sale and the unused can be returned to the system. Now who pays for all the unused ones??????? (Chicagoland or all the members). Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value P.S. Call the RDC for return authorization ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Dec 1997 13:11:10 -0600 From: Chuck Hank Subject: MPO shortcut keys I know the documentation is there for new features but many times you may be like me and only read the ones applicable to you at the time and you forget about others. I think this is an enhancement for level 18, but it may have been earlier I'm not sure. But it involves MPO and some shortcut keys using the numeric keypad on the right side of your keyboard. The NO SALE key doubles as an ADD key the VOID key doubles as a CLEAR key the TOTAL key doubles as a CHANGE key Sorry if this is redudent for users but I thought it might be of help to someone that is a heavy MPO user. Have a great Christmas everyone, Chuck Hank Hank Bros. True Value Hardware ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Dec 1997 19:06:11 EST From: AlannnnT Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27669 In a message dated 97-12-21 21:25:22 EST, you write: << Subject: FanScan Phone Cards were we wierd-as-usual or did everyone have bad luck with this 'corporate' idea? >> Jack, For once we had the foresight to cancel these before we got them. And don't throw them out, return them. You'll get full credit. It's only the dividend that can't be saved. Alan Talman Karps TV E Northport NY ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Dec 1997 19:17:01 EST From: AlannnnT Subject: duracell batteries don't fit anymore I called the Duracell sales agent today to see if they plan to replace the batteries with the tester built into the side. It seems they claim not to have gotten any complaints about the batteries not fitting into the devices anymore. Is this a national or a regional problem? The batteries are too large in diameter to fit into well made flashlights [mag lite] as well as cheap continuity testers [AW Sperry] and small battery operated TV's, etc. Customers are returning these items with batteries hoplessly jammed inside, we have to replace the batteries and the devices. We are considering dropping Duracell entirely, which would really hurt. They are the most requested name around here. What's up with this in your stores? I can't believe Duracell doesn't get more complaints about this. They must be B.S.ing me. Alan Talman Karps TV E Northport, NY ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27671 ********************************** hardlines Digest Wed, 24 Dec 1997 00:00:56 -0500 V01 #27672 Today's topics: 'Re: duracell batteries don't fit anymore' 'Re: duracell batteries don't fit anymore' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 06:14:45 +0000 From: DAVID PILGRIM Subject: Re: duracell batteries don't fit anymore At 12:17 AM 12/23/97 +0000, you wrote: >I called the Duracell sales agent today to see if they plan to replace the >batteries with the tester built into the side. It seems they claim not to have >gotten any complaints about the batteries not fitting into the devices >anymore. >Is this a national or a regional problem? The batteries are too large in >diameter to fit into well made flashlights [mag lite] as well as cheap >continuity testers [AW Sperry] and small battery operated TV's, etc. > we have gotten a couple of complaints also. haven't seen any devices crammed with the batteries still in them yet though. David D. Pilgrim Village True Value Maple Valley, WA Karrie Pilgrim ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 16:11:03 -0500 From: jack swift Subject: Re: duracell batteries don't fit anymore one of the newsgroups i'm on deals with global positioning systems. these $300 and up gizmos usually take aa batteries and we've all been warned not to buy duracell because of this problem! what a 'novel use' for an ez-out..... At 07:17 PM EST 12/22/97 EST, you wrote: >I called the Duracell sales agent today to see if they plan to replace the >batteries with the tester built into the side. It seems they claim not to have >gotten any complaints about the batteries not fitting into the devices >anymore. >Is this a national or a regional problem? The batteries are too large in >diameter to fit into well made flashlights [mag lite] as well as cheap >continuity testers [AW Sperry] and small battery operated TV's, etc. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Swift jswift@up.net N8WAV@W8YY.#UPMI.MI.USA.NA 47.119N 88.572W Swift True Value Hardware 402 Shelden Ave. Houghton, MI 49931 906-482-0530, 0531, 7766 Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Lambda Chapter Advisor Houghton County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Dereliction IS! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27672 ********************************** hardlines Digest Thu, 25 Dec 1997 00:02:01 -0500 V01 #27673 Today's topics: 'Christmas' 'Re: Stuck Batteries' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 24 Dec 1997 14:15:15 -0500 (EST) From: Richard Filion Subject: Christmas To all fellow subscirbers: I wish you all the best over the holidays. Hopefully you will get to spend some time with your families and loved ones. We here in the Northeast were recently buried by some nineteen inches of snow, giving us a white Christmas but much shovelling to go with it. Much success during the New Year, and may our acquaintance be mutually beneficial. Special thanks to John for making this possible. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Richard Filion rhfil@nh.ultranet.com Filion Lumber 603-659-3361 Newmarket, N.H. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24 Dec 1997 14:19:32 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: Re: Stuck Batteries In a message dated 97-12-23 00:07:22 EST, you write: << Date: Mon, 22 Dec 1997 19:17:01 EST From: AlannnnT Subject: duracell batteries don't fit anymore >> Thanks for the warning We get a some "stuckies", but never noticed the battery brand. Will take note and pass this onward. Have fun ]Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, Ma 02724 ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27673 ********************************** hardlines Digest Fri, 26 Dec 1997 00:03:19 -0500 V01 #27674 Today's topics: 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27673' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 25 Dec 1997 13:32:23 EST From: GEM404 Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27673 Hi Richard Don't know if I should say great or sorry for your White Christmas. I wish I could have some of the white stuff. I might be able to sell LAST YEARS winter items We are in New Market, Virginia. It is 54 here and the sun is out.. No White Christmas here. Merry Christmas Glenn Miller New Market True Value ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27674 ********************************** hardlines Digest Sat, 27 Dec 1997 00:04:25 -0500 V01 #27675 Today's topics: 'SKU Changes' 'EDCON 98' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 26 Dec 1997 18:01:47 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: SKU Changes Hi: Trying to read the latest version of the Merchandise Advisor and wondering if there is a CURE for all the SKU changes coming up. ILCO --> 23 lines because the Tru-Guard name being dropped. (Why!) Oh well. Thanks to Chuck Hank on finding those TRIAD hidden key strokes --> Nice. Have fun and a Happy New Year Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 1997 18:14:31 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: EDCON 98 Anyone going to the TruServ EDCON 98 this February in Las Vegas? I'm thinking of heading west, if I can manage to get away from the store for a few days. Last year's conference in Orlando was worthwhile, and the sessions look interesting. John ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27675 ********************************** hardlines Digest Mon, 29 Dec 1997 00:01:56 -0500 V01 #27677 Today's topics: 'Hidden key strokes, sku changes and shipping charges' 'Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27676' 'Re: Bicycle Contest' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 28 Dec 1997 00:31:18 -0500 (EST) From: Richard Filion Subject: Hidden key strokes, sku changes and shipping charges What hidden key strokes? As a possible solution to changes in sku, set up new sku's as alternate part numbers and then only change skus when you receive the new items. Cuts down on relabeling things. Too bad we do not have each our own capability to print labels and stickers. Then we could use any sku numbering system we wanted and ignore their constant changing. What are the TruValu shipping requirements? We in the ServiStar side are now up to $1000 per week or we get nailed with a $40.00 shipping charge. Is this the same policy you have? Is there a TruValu dictionary for the corporate lingo? I wonder when they will realize that we in the ServiStar side do not always know what is going on because we are not familiar with the terms being used by "the shirts". And how about a corporate phone book with e-mail and fax addresses. I want to find out more about the Buy of the Month program, but do not know where to apply for more information. I have always felt that corporate needed to address more the hardware store image of high pricing. Here they come out with a program that is intended to do just that, and I did not sign up for it because I was unaware of what its primary goal was. And if they were aware of the hardware store pricing image problem why did they not choose "ValuStar" as a name instead of TruServ? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Richard Filion rhfil@nh.ultranet.com Filion Lumber 603-659-3361 Newmarket, N.H. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Dec 1997 09:54:18 -0800 From: Bernard Rielley Subject: Re: hardlines Digest - V01 #27676 h > RICKSS1 wrote: > > > > Hi: > > > > I am curious on the drawing contest results. Hardliners, We had about 60 entries to post in the front window of our store. About 50 came from a local day care center, which picked up a pad of entries. Kids 4-7 years old. Most of the entries were pretty primitive, so we took them down, put them in a box, and drew a winner. One of the daycare girls. They were real happy to get the bike. We sold the rest of the bikes, and ordered two more. Still have one to send back. Bernie Rielley Oakbrook True Value Tacoma, WA ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Dec 1997 14:08:23 -0600 From: "David Casaletto" Subject: Re: Bicycle Contest I am curious on the drawing contest results. Even though we contacted a library, some teachers, and had the contest (not bold enough) in the circular, we had to pick from 4 entries. What are the other stores success??? Have fun Rick Schwartz Rick, We had 3 entries (two were sisters). Big waste of effort. No one saw it! David Casaletto True Value Home Center Pittsburg, KS ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27677 ********************************** hardlines Digest Tue, 30 Dec 1997 00:03:26 -0500 V01 #27678 Today's topics: 'A Reply' 'Re: Member Insurance' 'Re: Paint color display' 'Re: Paint color display' 'Re: Bicycle Contest' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 08:47:40 EST From: RICKSS1 Subject: A Reply Subj: Re: Hidden key strokes, sku changes and shipping charges Date: 97-12-29 08:44:07 EST From: RICKSS1 To: rhfil@nh.ultranet.com Rick Many questions. Many answers. Hope this is a start and help. Sometime we got to talk. Are you going to EDCON? Gotta look on map for NewMarket -- I am in NH a lot but around the central area -->Danbury..... Subj: Hidden key strokes, sku changes and shipping charges > What hidden key strokes? TRIAD Usage: Date: Mon, 22 Dec 1997 13:11:10 -0600 From: Chuck Hank Subject: MPO shortcut keys it may have been earlier I'm not sure. But it involves MPO and some shortcut keys using the numeric keypad on the right side of your keyboard. The NO SALE key doubles as an ADD key the VOID key doubles as a CLEAR key the TOTAL key doubles as a CHANGE key >As a possible solution to changes in sku, >set up new sku's as alternate part numbers and then only change skus when >you receive the new items. Cuts down on relabeling things. Too bad we do >not have each our own capability to print labels and stickers. Then we >could use any sku numbering system we wanted and ignore their constant changing. We do on the TRIAD system. But the time involved. Yesterday, I was day- dreaming about hiring an Inventory Manager to just work on these problems. Where would the pay-back be for this type of person?? Who would I fire to replace this person (maybe myself??). > What are the TruValu shipping requirements? We in the ServiStar charge. Is this the same policy you have? Should be the same, I do not know . > Is there a TruValu dictionary for the corporate lingo? Yes. However, everything is being change, change, change,change and change. > I wonder when they will realize that we in the ServiStar side do not always know what >is going on because we are not familiar with the terms being used by "the >shirts". We wonder too. I rather call them "Chicagoland" since they seem to be in a seperate country. >And how about a corporate phone book with e-mail and fax addresses. One came out in November --> if you did not get one call Chicagoland. E-Mail (for those that "know" how) use the first letter of that person name with the next 7 digits of the last name with @truserv.com ex:rschwart@truserv.com. >I want to find out more about the Buy of the Month program, but >do not know where to apply for more information. That is taken care of by advertising -- we get application forms in the monthly Advertising Advisor (blue book) -->do you guys get one?? >I have always felt that corporate needed to address more the hardware store image of >high pricing. >Here they come out with a program that is intended to do just that, and I >did not sign up for it because I was unaware of what its primary goal was. >And if they were aware of the hardware store pricing image problem why did >they not choose "ValuStar" as a name instead of TruServ? Sounds like there is poor communications between you and the new establishment. I have forwarded all this off to Ed Guinco -- "The New England Boss". Have fun Rick Schwartz Schwartz True Value Fall River, MA 02724 + ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 16:49:09 EST From: StevenO510 Subject: Re: Member Insurance I recently took the time to review our worker's comp, auto, and store & liability policies and found that member insurance is not competitive at all. Member insurance rates for workers comp were 17% higher than the competition (namely Erie); auto was 35% higher, and the store/liability/rental was 57% higher. Overall Member Insurance was 38% higher than the competition. If you consider the possible Dividend of 10% they were still out of the ballpark. After Member Insurance learned we were checking with the competition, they lowered their rates some $23,435. or 48% below the original policy premium and came in 16% below Erie. Is there any integrity with Member Insurance. Are they working hard to make sure we are getting the best premiums in the market. It doesn't appear like they are. And what about integrity if we were to have a big claim...will they be their with the $$ in an expediant manor?? I erge you all to get quotes on all your store insurance at least 2 months prior to your renewal. Steve Ober Office Manager Longenecker's True Value Manheim, PA ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 16:41:11 EST From: LoggyF Subject: Re: Paint color display Just got in the paint color chip display this morning. We got it all set up and had it half filled with the new color strips and had a customer pick out some colors to be mixed. Guess what we discovered? We had no formulas! Called the paint factory to get the formulas and they told me that the formulas would be sent out later this week (they gave me the ones that I needed). Is it just me or is there something wrong with this picture? If you have the new display coming in, I would suggest that you wait until you get the formulas before you set it up. That may save you some problems. Back to the sales floor.... LoggyF@aol.com Fred Logsdon Nevada True Value Hardware Nevada, IA ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 17:40:00 -0500 From: "John Fix 3rd" Subject: Re: Paint color display At 04:41 PM 12/29/97 -0500, Fred Logsdon wrote: >Just got in the paint color chip display this morning. We got it all set up >and had it half filled with the new color strips and had a customer pick out >some colors to be mixed. > >Guess what we discovered? We had no formulas! > > What do they say on the back of the color cards. At the market, my dad pointed out that the back of the cards had no store identification... True Value, Servistar, or Coast to Coast. He complained that consumers who grabbed a bunch of color cards might not remember where they obtained them. TruServ was worried that members would not like all three identities on the cards, but I thought that they'd be better with all three than none at all. John Cornell's True Value ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 19:12:53 EST From: The 2LLady Subject: Re: Bicycle Contest We had one entry last year when we had only a small prize. This year we gave away one boys (thanks to TruServ) and one girls bike. I contacted the elementary school and had around 100 entries from them as well as at least another 50 entries that were picked up at the store and returned to us. We had 2 very happy children!! As with everything it takes some effort to get the word out but it was in my opinion a very good program. We got free advertising when the kids took home the coloring pages from school, and from the contest being announced in the local paper. The newspaper is also going to print the pictures of the winners, a little more free advertising for us. Thanks TruServ for supplying the bikes! Oh yeah we don't normally carry bicycles but we sold all the automatic shipment, with the exception of the ones given away. Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! See you next year! Dana Whitton Gulf Breeze True Value Pensacola, FL ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27678 ********************************** hardlines Digest Wed, 31 Dec 1997 00:04:38 -0500 V01 #27679 Today's topics: 'Cotter Insurance' 'Re: Bicycle Contest' 'Re: New color cards' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 23:16:42 -0800 From: "Ralph M. Witkin" Subject: Cotter Insurance Steve O from PA performed a very detailed insurance premium analysis and should be saluted for his efforts and great suggestion concerning everyone else's renewals. It is very disturbing that a company which is member owned would be so much higher than a "outsider" and then be able to reduce the premium by so much when confronted with the loss of a client/member (any "refund" offerred for previous years over-payments?). I share Steve's concern about integrity (how many stores blindly believe Cotter to be the best answer on everything?) However, Steve's concern about a big claim reminded me of a very pleasant surprise in regards to Cotter insurance years ago: It was 1971, and our store was destroyed during the Sylmar earthquake, we later that year received a check for $60,000 via Cotter insurance (we didn't even know we were "covered") -- I know that was over a quarter of a century ago, and things change, but that's what happened to us. RALPH WITKIN fdba: San Fernando TV Hardware ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 17:24:35 EST From: SFAY Subject: Re: Bicycle Contest We had 7 entries...4 girls, 3 boys. We put the entries in a paper bag and after selling only one bike gave away the other three by pullling names. The kids were thrilled and it made a nice Christmas for them. If we hadn't done that, the leftover bikes would have gone to Toys for Tots. Truserve obviously doesn't realize that contests do not work in all markets. We end up with a lot of paper and merchandise that we literally can't give away. Speaking of Toys for Tots...how did you guys do? We had two people who filled our drop off box. No one else bothered. It's very discouraging..... Sandie Fay Lamson & Davis ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 21:47:28 EST From: LoggyF Subject: Re: New color cards John, You are absolutely right. There is no identification at all on the back of the cards. Here is what they say: Quality Products Manufactured Exclusively for Independent Hardware Stores, Home Centers and Lumber Yards. ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????? I thought that the merger was supposed to benefit everyone. This does not benefit anyone, as far as I can see! Couldn't they just as well say: Quality Products Manufactured Exclusively for Independent Coast to Coast, ServiceStar and True Value Hardware Stores, Home Centers and Lumber Yards. I see the following scenario: Woman comes in and picks up a handful of color chips, takes them home and picks out her colors. She then hands them to her husband and sends him out to pick up the paint. He promptly heads to Diamond Vogel (our biggest paint competitor) and they mix the paint for him in our colors. If he took them to a Coast to Coast or ServiceStar store we would all be getting some benefit out of it. But of course... what do we know? Having a great time trying to figure out the powers that be. LoggyF@aol.com Fred Logsdon Nevada True Value Nevada, IA ------------------------------ End of hardlines Digest V01 #27679 **********************************