THANK YOU for you effort to make things better

Yep - you bet -- a big fat THANK YOU for all the people who have taken the time to report known problems ( or even possible problems ) in pricing , supply, quality or what-ever ...

Click on the images to see it in more detail

We have a couple of staff we would be more appreciative if they could spot the problems as well- then take the time to write them up. I think the biggest skill is knowing when you SPOT a possible problem --once you have that skill-- it is just making a note and writing it up when you have a chance. You can do all the writing you want-- but if you can't spot the problems you lack at special skill.

Thanks to all who help make CARQUEST a better place.

ps- note every single note will produce a victory in the battle for change -- sometimes it takes more than one BULLET to gett heir attention. Winners never quit -- quitters never win.

Work Party Summer 08

Our staff summer party has been booked for Saturday June 14th @ the Cottam Hall so keep your schedule open. Just wanted to give everyone a heads up, i'll send out all the details closer to the date.

Mandy

TLR --almost here

If you look up Oct 18, 2007 -- you will see this post ... boy ...do some things take longer than others to get done -- well - after numerous phone calls--the data is in the Toronto DC --w e will get it on our next Parts Source update disc and there will be a rolling change

BX = item in BOX
B = item in blister pac --=- these are suffix's

Here is re-print ....


Morco trailer parts ( line TLR ) has blister pac's --the part number is the same - add a B to the suffix ( end ) of the part #.

We are awaiting Majid in Toronto to finish up and add the parts - we are told within a month ( we won't tell you how long they have been to get to this point ....but ... )

Soon -- we will look at updating our stock to the blister numbers.

Sample part # 1550135 -- shackle nut & Bolt
new # 1550135B --- is 6 bolts and nuts --the amount required for typical application. There is NO surcharge for the blister ( which is nice - as many companies have a 10 to 30% surcharge for the convenience and that inflates the price too hi )

ANOTHER CHANGE will be for items TOO BIG to fit into a blister pac ... eg. 1050025 single hanger kit ...the new part # will be 1050025 BX ...this is the same -- but with a customer friendly label with three languages and a bar code .... these extra labels will be available if we want to change from the old part to the new part. TLR 1050025 becomes 1050025BX

What's new in the Bahama's

Besides $10.00 Pina Coladas and $7.00 beers heres a rundown of what is coming from Carquest and a few hightlights from the meetings.
Day 1
Trade show with Carquest nascar driver Kasey Mears signing autographs.A lot of lines that are available in the US but not in Canada.Akebono was on hand and are going to be our new brake supplier for Gold pads.This is another move to get OEM stuff in a Carquest box.I also heard rumblings of consolidation of blue and reds to eliminate rmd and bmd???????????.
Day 2
Meeting
Use more product feedback,they claim someone looks at every one now.
Carquest is wanting us to push our cutomers to use voice of the customer
Rick Hendrick(owner of Hendrick racing 5,24,48,88 Nascar)spoke about teamwork.He also owns 68 car dealerships
Exploris and worldpac should be linked in 2008
Exploris version 46 next quarter
Version 47 (with multi store fourth quarter)
Heard many complaints regarding exploris.
New Carquest produced catalogue to be tested 2nd and 3rd quarter
Weblink two to be released in 2008
Platinum rewards available probably 2009 to all trade customers
Day 3
Meeting was a lot of motivational type speakers as well as Temple Sloan III.Carquest USA has a bunch of new National accounts not in Canada as well as some that are not in our areas.
All in all it was a pretty hectic few days as the Hotel was very large and the meetings were at opposite ends from where we slept.
Day 4
A little relax time,a $100.00 breakfast,a $60.00 pizza and a couple of those $10.00 pina coladas

ROL in Bankruptcy Protection

ROL Mfg is in the Cdn equiv. of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

TO BE SAFE -- you might want to double line some of the most sensitive items in flange kist where you might only keep ROL ... until the dust settles

Just what did Greg do ??

A few of you asked what did I REALLY do at the 'racing school' -- they call it more an 'advanced driving school'

Photo #1 is SKID CAR where they can adjust the amount of traction to the front or rear wheels - causing UNDERSTEER
or OVERSTEER
- really an eye opener. Another safety item that I didn't get a photo of was the WET BRAKING area - how to control in wet conditions with & w/o ABS - also a tremendous exercise

Photo #2 is exercise to get you to LOOK AROUND - not just thru the front window -- you will see the sun screen is up - so no front view --we are doing wide S turns forcing us to look sideways when going straight. Another exercise was to make us run the race track backwards ( no - not in reverse ) - after multiple times thru the course on a clockwise they reverse --so all the entry points for the turns are NEW - really makes to LOOK AROUND for the next turn - this was really hard.

Photo #3 is typical race track - they had standard 400-430 HP C6's, Z06's - they have a handful of these extra go-fast cars and one Calloway supercharged vet - that was awesome in the straights - the supercharger whine is intense. The 2nd car (red) is the Callaway.

The hardest part --the 'heel-toe' downshifting - by far

All three days are a real test for your heart.

Payroll

I will be doing payroll on Thursday, March 20th. Please make sure that all time sheets and vacation/sick days are sent to me by Wednesday. Please fill out your timesheets right to March 31st. If any adjustments need to be made I will make them on the April payroll. The cheques will be dated for March 27th.

BRG hub bearings - missing in action

A while back another jobber mentioned that the second ( RED line ) BRG hub bearings were missing from e-cat. My first thought w as the MCL file - the file that tells what lines are turned on and off ( and in what order they display ) was accidentially set to not show == so we tried to contact Brian Wiggs who controls this -- and we called and called.

Today I received a reply back from Doug McIntosh saying that the entire data file for BRG was accidentally erased from our Feb copy of the e-cat -- hmm ... when we get our new March CD/DVD we will have our data back.

If managers want to do an INTERIM patch -- we can add the @BRG 12345 to the BGS parts ... today I wrote an update in the J-Con tips blog -- click on the J-Con link on the left if you would like to see it ....

what's hidden at CARQUEST

All stores in our group now have a handful of the banned 2007 New Castle Service Line Parts catalog ... have a look and see what is new that we can sell ... . - for example ...click here ...---

Now -- you can't judge sales from the Toronto DC --as who knows this stuff even exists ... USA Jobbers know --as they can get the catalog ... but most Cdn Jobbers have NO IDEA this is in stock --or if not in stock --is available and can be stocked.

What else do you see that you like. And --should the pricing be a little hi --you are encouraged to do a feedback form with Peter McNally's name in it --asking for FAIRER Cdn pricing given the stronger Cdn dollar .... Peter .... stop keeping too much -- give us the fair price....

Idea's ?

EVAP course -- March 2008

This a copy of post on CTI BLOG --every once in a while you should see what is posted on the CTI blog .... hint .... the CTI blog is on the LINKs at the LEFT HAND side of this page ....oh ...yeh .... gee ....



With EVAP course coming soon-- time to dust off your ALLDATA or Mitchell1 or in this case the CARQUESTDIRECTHIT (powered by Identifix ) and try some cars that have caused you a problem -- to see how these internet based help tools can save you time and trouble.

If you would like a demo on DIRECT HIT - click here and - or call call 866-698-1976 and ask for Jeff Meyer - the guy who is responsible for Ontario -- he has hosted a few clinics in the area with the most recent at the Harrow Transportation Museum on Feb 25 -the shops whom attended had a good time. Jeff does an excellent phone demo to give you an idea of how this ( or similar systems ) can save you LOTS of time in finding that problem --- how much is your time worth ?

Click on the image to make larger

http://www.carquestdirecthit.com/Corp/try_direct.asp

Jobber News

We have an author among us. Greg Guyitt wrote a letter to the editor of Jobber News and it was published in the February 2008 edition, see page 9.

Time Change

Don't forget to spring forward this weekend. Turn your clocks ahead one hour.

see CTI blog on Platinum

see the CTI blog for post on Platinum prices

Cat Back promo ? - who is up to speed?

Walker has a promo for cat back ( pipes starting from the Cat Converter and back to end - hence the term Cat Back ) .... but how do we know what assemblies fit this criteria???? Any feedback to other staff & stores appreciated --there was very little detail on the link ---starts NOW thru end of April