new Battery price labels

We have changed the way we do price labels for batteries on display - instead of doing a custom label for each sku - we are doing a mail merge to a label layout - in this case the 2" x 4".

Your store's stock level is shown in small print ( ignore labels with zero for your store ).

On deep cycle we have listed the amp hour rating instead of the CCA & CA ratings. If the word ROAD is on the warranty field -- this unit has free road side assistance ... sorry - the grey labels can;t be done - you will need to pick it up from the warranty field. ALL 24 month no charge replacement units are FREE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

Should you notice the labels are out of date --tell Greg H asap --new labels can be run.

Pig Donations

Here's a list of infractions that will cost you money for the pig. More may be added at later date.


Failure to run off POS $5.00

Failure to change your EOD status after a holiday $20.00

Failure to start EOD $20.00 (applies to D&T only)

Failure to complete the above actions causes me more work and puts me behind for that day. If you have an issue with these amounts come complain to me.

Complaints cost $2.00

what is new in VEHICLE Technology

The recent CTI class focused on new vehicle technology

Ford 6.4 Diesel trying to be cleaner -- capturing the 'soot' in a particulate filter by the cat ... then BURNS the soot with extra fuel - getting to 1100 degrees F ( 550 C ) ... search youtube for '2008 ford diesel flame' to see a couple of video's showing a flame over a foot l;ong coming out the tail pipe -- whoops -- lets write some new code to limit that ...:-) So one more thing to look up on exhaust (Active Diesel Particulate Filter = DPF )

Overview on Mercedes BlueTec Diesel that has a special 'liquid' that is injected into the exhaust - by adding Ammonia to exhaust you covert NO2 to Nitrogen and Water - only problem- if you let the liquid container run out - the computer shuts toe motor off and will not start.

Variable Displacement Engines ( Like Greg's Honda ) - look for many more of these. The new GM 5300 is a good example in new Camaro and Impala. Very sensitive to oil grades - some will trip a computer code when the WRONG oil weight is used ... These engines use noise canceling technology to cover the rougher operation on partial cylinders. Honda uses a complex AIR CUSHION motor mount as well.

Some discussion on CVT ( Constantly Variable Transmissions ) with a ever growing list of vehicles now using this. Now -- when do we get the tranny fluid to sell --keep putting in the product feedback requests.

Product Feedback - closed for a day ( or two ? )

Hold your feedback items -- there is a technical glitch - that will be corrected soon -- you will not be able to log into the Product Resolution System for a day or two = is being worked on by the IT dept ( so lets see how quickly they can get this handled )

Ryan first noticed this. If you can;t wait - there are other ways ( or call Greg Henderson as his log-in still seems to be working ( or might have been the first to be turned back on )

Keystone prices -- Spring Flyer

Well - guess what -the flyer (Seasonal Savings - runs April 21 thru May 30 ) that you got last week-- it s US pricing .... they are re-printing more flyers -- Cdn flyers will have FRENCH on them

You can use -- but you need to get USA currency exchange

Cylinder Head Center

Did you know they have a website now.

www.chcentre.com

Payroll

I will be doing payroll on Tuesday, April 28th. Please have timesheets and vacation/sick days reported before then.

Thanks.

ONLINE MEDICAL CLAIMS

Just to let everyone know, the online claim form from MANULIFE is not as difficult as previously reported. I submitted one online after last weeks staff meeting. I received the money direct deposit into my account in less than 1 week.

https://wwwec7.manulife.com/GBPlanMemberUI/Login.aspx?language=English

If anyone needs help setting this up, let me know.

Dorman AC line repair kit

Has anyone told you that CARQUEST has added DOR 800-600 Air Conditioning line repair kit?

Well - apart from me ...:-)

Here are some details ...The Dorman OE Solutions A/C Line Repair Kit saves the time and expense associated with complete A/C Line Assembly replacement by giving you the ability to repair only the damaged section of the A/C line. This 64-piece repair kit allows A/C line repairs to be performed “on-the-vehicle,” as an alternative to removing the entire line. It provides a solution to replacing costly OE lines, that are often difficult to install and time consuming.

Benefits of the A/C Line Repair Kit:
Offers solutions for a wide variety of repairs, reducing the need to order A/C lines as the sole form of repair.
49 fittings and all corresponding O-rings (where needed), all completely replenishable.
The compact “close quarters” tool has been specifically designed to make it easy to perform repairs on-the-car.
Ratcheting Tubing Cutter design allows A/C line to be cut while still on the vehicle, eliminating the need to remove entire line during repair. 

Repairs: Leaks, Cracks, Twisted lines, Crushed lines 

Contents: Flexible rubber tubes, GM condenser repair lines (upper and lower), Rigid tubes, Unions, Female external O-Ring repair ends, Male internal O-Ring repair ends, Male external O-Ring repair ends, Sealant, High and low side service port unions, Clamp yokes, 900 elbow unions, Compressing clamp




The USA Jobbers have a deal with a iPod -- we as Cdn's wait quietly to hear what we get .....

Red Tek

I updated Red Tek pricing. I lowered a few to reflect the changing of the product since CTC now carries it and tends to low ball it in summer. We should have a fair and consistent price. Also remember when a customer tells you CTC is selling their install kit $39.95 it does not include the pro seal that our kit has

MTM 47099

Greg Guyitt had this as an extra "what is NEW" at the staff meeting yesterday - but you know what --Greg did NOT post on BLOG ... hmmm ...  he told us about MTM 487099 --- see image - in a pac of 5 --the dealer ( part # OE#: F5RZ 9F955-AB )  sells EACH for the price of our pac of 5 ( or MORE!!) --fits a ton of fords ....   google the ford # and see other message boards talking about this part - google is a great tool.

Does your store stock ?

Fits on end of the intake manifold runner control rod

Head Gasket Repair

Barry at last nights staff meeting had a RISLONE Head Gasket repair chemical he was positive on ... so I went digging to see ....

- Rislone is now part of Bars Leak

- guess what --the part # BAR 1111 is in stock in Cleveland .... but guess what it is NOT in our system in Toronto ( yet ! )

Keep the new parts coming and when we don't have the part soon enough -- post it on the feedback form

Keystone prices --to believe to not ?

We are in a Catch 22 situation for Line KST ( Keystone )

We hear of parts that price in the J-Con but are vastly different from Keystone.

 One person from Toronto wrote this back to me when I asked the QUESTION --HOW often is Keystone prices updated in the Warehouse system .... and therefore in our system ...

"Greg, J-Con is up-dated every 4 weeks and keystone price up-dates run

usually 6 weeks behind and therefore the only accurate price available is
from the Keystone web site which all the stores have access to or to the
800-line.

For more pricing information please contact Glenn."

He is talking about the Parts Source CD that we get every 4 weeks ...he is not answering my question on how often is Keystone UPDATED in the warehouse computer ...

When I wrote back asking why the last price change date was Feb 5 2009 (see image) I get another person replying ....  "My suggestion would be check the keystone web site as they change their

pricing frequently and are reluctant to send us an updated price file as it
will be obsolete be the time we get it.
The web price is the most current and accurate ."

BUT --the problem is --HOW OFTEN is the master file ( MIF) at the warehouse updated ....  kind of my original question ... because if the master file is not updated often enough it will cause us to :

a)  NOT BELIEVE what our computer system tells us -

b) shake our heads in disbelief

How can we stock something if we have doubts on the accuracy of pricing ....

We will need to VERIFY the pricing of everything we sell in the line KST??

I have asked Jason McDonald at Keystone if some standardization of pricing can be set with Toronto.  The KST file is HUGE ...  we need to know that it is being reviewed and updated every so often....

OK --given the above might happen --we  still need to be aware of USA Currency swings .. and that is in addition to all factors mentioned above.  Especially for special order parts.

THINK --when we are dealing with KST ...   but lets at least get the stocked parts updated often enough we have some trust in the accuracy on pricing.  If in doubt --double check--and let  me know what you find.  (Greg)

-

Hot Wheelz training cancelled

the Meguiars and Keystone training set for Wed April 15th is CANCELLED -- we may get a date in May - stay tuned

Staff Meeting

Please remember that the staff meeting on Monday will be at Auto Barn.

have you read a good book lately ?

Just wondering - how many have read a good book lately. I find myself having to force me to look for one - in this busy life it is easy to make excuses ( like I don't like to read - someone actually told me that one - an ex manager from years ago ) - but we have to keep a door open in head to continue to learn.

Carter Smith ( one of the classogram guys ) shared this book suggestion with me ... so I am a FAN of going to Amazon.com ( not the Cdn site - why the cdn site is weaker is beyond me ) and skimming some of the reader feedbacks - a great many feedbacks are works of art themselves - quite a few are so well written and concise that I feel I have the best part of the summary for the book )

Try his book for a minute -- click this link and skim some feedback
--then ask yourself - what have I read lately that is GOOD and helpful to make us as a company better.

Got another good book to share - leave a comment.