Non-Active Parts File …maybe ???

We have written a couple of requests for the non-active sku file – that would allow us to add X lines to the non-active file.

Before we became a CARQUEST jobber ( in 2004 )  we had an Autologue computer system …so imagine the smile I had when we heard Autologue bought Parts Watch ( and Exploris – the CARQUEST name for the system ) … we know how handy it was to have a user friendly non-active data file … for 10,000 parts in an X line — you add 100 your stores that you stock and you keep the rest in the non-active file – handy for when a special order comes along.

We see this ( see image below ) …. not sure how CARQUEST will ‘adjust’ our ability to use it once it happens …. but we hope

In the mean time — our Bulk Parts delete is broken and we have started a process to get it fixed ( help desk call # 100 56964 ) … we miss the bulk parts delete … and really want it back working asap ..

Inv Count Sheets – after 57.11

Joe from Auto Barn mentions this point that all stores should watch for ….  On Inventory Count Report … you will need to CHANGE the Print Qty … from QOH ( Qty on Hand ) to Qty Available ….  To help correct for items with DONE DEPOSITS you have special ordered in.

Life after 57.11 update in Parts Watch …

OK …so we waited and waited …and many of our changes … well …have yet to make it …sure 57.11 is full of BUG FIXS …but many are not the ones we run into day after day.

 

Example of something we hoped would have been fixed … after such a long long wait … in many screens you can check a button and ALL items either become Checked … or Un-Checked … see image below- this is handy and common sense …

BUT — in Multi-store forecasting …. guess what … you have to OPEN each part to see the individual store details …. there. can be many … and should you close that screen with saved changes…you have to re-do all the parts opening …. OMG …

Once more small thing …. if you have wider screens ( and who is not getting wider screens these days … let Parts Watch ( Exploris ) be dynamic and expand to show all the data … another ‘brain ache’ we have asked for …. many years ago …. and we wait ….

Follow Up on Overstock Returns

Sorry for the lapse in posting …been busy ( and other feeble excuses like that ) … so we added a 4th store and did it have dead stock …it made us look at how we were handling Overstock Returns ( link to 2016 article -click here ) \\

 

So I went thru all 4 stores and really cleaned up the lines that we needed to look at – vs the ones we could ignore and pick up quarterly or semi-annually … to  make a long story short … after ( 2 weeks or so ) …somehow the daily return PO reverted back to the the original ( or something close …full of application and DEAD lines codes ) …. omg …how did that happen …in all 4 stores … 1 store I could see …but …?

So …I went thru the vendor list … remember – to kill line codes in multi-store –this system cannot do it simply  … you need to do it one store at a time ( you can update PN Codes ( sub lines ) across the stores … )   I have now asked the question …might someone ever ‘refresh’ vendor line codes …and our list of approx 350 OBSOLETE or inactive lines …could they ever come back to life.

Here is a sample of the dead lines in our Canadian Exploris system..

ps- the new store we picked up had 135,000 active CARQUEST parts … our 3 existing stores that do way more in volume ..have less than 50,000 parts in CQ numbers … a lot of dead parts that other stores just never bother to flush ?   If you work in excel …who wants all this junk ?

Time to get serious on ‘little things’

Sorry for the long lapse in posting here and on the CQCHANGE blog … so lets look at little things and see why they are IMPORTANT.

For many years now the e-cat people ( whom are really hard working and helpful to our staff ) have accepted the fact that one supplier may call something one way and another supplier something different.  Well ..this has gone on far too long …. OK …this needs some leadership at the top … look what can be gained if we do NOT TOLERATE product description variation …

1. we identify duplication easier … do we really need to stock and carry two ? or more?
2. so much easier for the staff and customers using web-link to find the part
3. read read point #1 and #2 …that should be enough right there

Here are some images for gas pedal and gas pedal sensor … same thing …

Thanks Debbie for this tip….

OK –I didn’t know could ask that ….

I love it when I find out something new …. I do not feel ashamed when I say ..gee ..I didn’t know that … because now … I do know that and I CAN USE that knowledge …  here is perfect example … see the Exploris and Web-Link images below

Now — you can send a PRS ( product resolution ) form ..or as I am Canadian we get the easy way and can send the e-mail to catalogPRS(at)carquest.com –and request they work at the product identifiers to CONSOLIDATE the parts in question and make it easier for the staff and customers to fond what they need.

 

So –I will give this a try … I hope you will too,  if we all work together we can make our e-cat the best ….

 

Standardize Part Type for E-Cat … why is it important ???

Here is a e-mail we just sent ..this is important and we have been fighting for this FOR YEARS now … and not making much headway … but …we know it is super important and will keep up the fight…  your support would also be appreciated … let them know it is important for you as well…

 

From: Greg Henderson

Subject: IMPORTANT –Standardize E-Cat part type ….. was Fwd: [EXTERNAL] CONFUSED ON DAYCO

Date: November 29, 2017 at 9:45:22 AM EST

To: Merchandise Science <merchandisescience@advance-auto.com>

Cc: Ken Bush <ken.bush@advance-auto.com>, Tim Folks <tim.folks@advance-auto.com>, Doreen Slayter <doreen.slayter@advance-auto.com>, Mark Boyer <mark.boyer@advance-auto.com>, Steve Gushie <steve.gushie@carquest.com>

Hi Kyle

Is there ANY WAY you can show this to ALL PM’s (Product Managers) ,,,, and show them the IMPACT that we suffer when one supplier has a different way to describe the part for e-cat ??

Example … Dayco calls it … DRIVE BELT TENSIONER PULLEY  GROOVED PULLEY  –        and -DRIVE BELT TENSIONER PULLEY SMOOTH PULLEY

And Litens calls it ..  DRIVE BELT TENSIONER PULLEY  (and consolidated the grooved and smooth )

Either way is OK … just don’t have BOTH …. as it causes unneeded  complexity in E-Cat   We need the help of the PM’s to review with new supplier to see if they can copy the way the old supplier did it … or change the way of the old one … just STANDARDIZE Please…

We have WAY TOO MANY other examples of this ..we really need to push to get this smoother for the best customer experience we can offer.

Regards

Greg Henderson   
Ops Manager   /    DTauto.ca     / PetesPaint.ca   /    AutoBarn.ca
CARQUEST store    # 8315             #  8316             # 8317 
ADVANCE Auto       # 2721            # 2722               # 2723
Leamington, ON   519.322.2558 (cell)519.322.6466 (home)519.733.9182

Begin forwarded message:

From: Greg Henderson

Subject: Fwd: [EXTERNAL] CONFUSED ON DAYCO

Date: November 29, 2017 at 9:32:13 AM EST

To: Danny Rains <danny.rains@advance-auto.com>

Cc: Adrian Gordon <GORWOODAUTOMOTIVE@ROGERS.COM>

Hi Danny

did you fix just for Adrian’s store ?

If so —can you add our stores ( 8315  8316  8317 ) …. or better yet —do it for all stores ??

Can you adjust the names for they consolidate or were you placing The Old Dayco  above the Litens ( which will be good for a few months ..then we would want you to reverse or remove the  discarded Dayco data ….

We really favour the CONSOLIDATION whenever possible and URGE you to discuss this with the suppliers ….

Regards

Greg Henderson   
Ops Manager   /    DTauto.ca     / PetesPaint.ca   /    AutoBarn.ca
CARQUEST store    # 8315             #  8316             # 8317 
ADVANCE Auto       # 2721            # 2722               # 2723
Leamington, ON   519.322.2558 (cell)519.322.6466 (home)519.733.9182

Begin forwarded message:

From: “Adrian Gordon” <gorwoodautomotive@rogers.com>

Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] CONFUSED ON DAYCO

Date: November 29, 2017 at 8:45:59 AM EST

To: “‘Danny Rains'” <danny.rains@advance-auto.com>

Cc: “Greg Henderson” <greg.henderson@wrenchead.ca>, “Kevin Zavitz” <kz.gorwood@rogers.com>

Thank you Sir!

Adrian

From: Danny Rains [mailto:danny.rains@advance-auto.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2017 8:32 AM
To: Adrian Gordon <gorwoodautomotive@rogers.com>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] CONFUSED ON DAYCO

Done

 

Danny Rains

Manager|Content Services

 

t: 919.227.5106 | c: 919.649.0469 | f: 919.573.3560

Advance Auto Parts | 2635 E.Millbrook Road | Raleigh, NC 27604

 

From: Adrian Gordon [mailto:gorwoodautomotive@rogers.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2017 6:55 AM
To: Danny Rains <danny.rains@advance-auto.com>; Catalog PRS <CatalogPRS@carquest.com>; Vincent Salfi <Vincent.Salfi@carquest.com>
Cc: Greg Henderson <greg.henderson@wrenchead.ca>; Kevin Zavitz <kz.gorwood@rogers.com>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] CONFUSED ON DAYCO

 

Thanks Danny,

 

In the meantime can we display the code 2 series 1^st…..until Father Vincent advises otherwise?

 

Then catalogue users will see the stocking line at the onset.

 

Thanks again,

Adrian

It is what you learn after you know it all …

The title ( it is what you learn after you know it all ) is a reminder to not be smug or over confident on ones knowledge and to keep learning … well – here is a classic example of something if I learned it –I sure forgot all traces … so were do you set the price rounding to ON …

Hint – in Vendor section … need another hint … see image below …. damm …. how did I not know that …

Sure be nice when we get the short video training that some people had mentioned to expect … but when ?

Variable Margins — coming out of the stone age ..

For many years ( link here for 2012 version   and link here for 2009 version ) we have been writing various people at CARQUEST to get a system that would allow us as Jobbers to have variable margins on many standard lines so we can expect less margin to make the sale as the price increases… that seems pretty common sense to most ..and when you buy something personal you expect the seller would do the same … if the seller is too much on a $100 item maybe you look for a 2nd opinion … and the first guy looses 100% of any potential profit …

Well … the last major u[date allows for variable margins and we have tested them on a variety of lines .. there are issues – like requiring a change in what is the order of power to use what ( link here )

Innovation sure comes slow … even for really great things like this …why is that?

 

How BIG is too big … in DFIU Importing

WE have a line in Canada called BSL for Cross Canada body panels – CARQUEST Canada has stopped supporting this data — but we still sell body panels and need up-to-date data … so we get the data file from LKQ Cross Canada.   If you try to import the entire file the program will just ‘explode’ and die …without any warning … given the data is almost 100,000 sku’s …  so over the years we have tried various amounts of data with 25,000 parts seeming to work.  We have tried 30,000 and now today we just tried 33,000 parts ( to cut the file into 3 sections ) …and it works …

It takes approx 30 minutes to update each section …but then we are doing it for 3 stores ( so the image that say 99,000 parts is 33,000 x 3 )

Too bad CARQUEST Canada says they can’t maintain the file … and dumps the work onto individual jobbers … of which many do not know how to do this …