DORMAN Flyer - banned in Canada ? part A

Peter McNally has banned the Dorman flyer in Canada - oh boy - what a bone head move. We have totally supported this flyer for a couple of years and find it really grows our business. Oh - sure - there are some catagories that we do NOT support like Control Arms & TPS & Harmonic Balancers - as we feel we have a better source -- but the rest of the flyer is GREAT and REALLY helps us tell the story to our shops that we have MORE & MORE & MORE OEM type parts all the time --calll us -- we ahve it or can get it.

Images are pages from the catalog - click to enlarge. If you want the entire cat in PDF see the message board under the general public section.

This lack of support is ONLY a Canada issue - Raleigh fully supports the flyer. In fact there are 6200 flyers in Toronto --we are trying to get a bunch as I write this.

These are the first 5 pages

Long World Pac parts # you can copy and past to J con

Smart Car Oil

The Valvoline 505682 5w40 oil that we stock for VW and Jeep Diesel is also the proper oil for Smart Cars (diesel). The Jeep is originally listed as 5w30 but Chrysler has subbed it to 5w40.

Product Info sheets

Managers for all stores are going to have to RE-THINK how they handle the Product Info sheets on the CQ-LINK - we are seeing more of these and we need to think how we get the proper staff to make sure they have read these?

We hope these will continue - as we need the product knowledge .... so how do we make sure the staff read them ... on LOW TECH solution I have used ( years and years ago ) is a CLIP BOARD and set the staff numbers on each page --and have staff INITIAL as they read. Keep the clip board in a central spot and make sure you post something on a REGULAR ( err ..daily ...?) basis ont he board so staff have a reason to get into the habit of reading.

Or a higher tech way would be forward as an attachment on their e-mail ....

Managers choice -- but something needs to be done --- and remember -- you as the store manager are expected to review the product and make sure you have set the stock level as required ... your notes on wht you ahev done will be most helpful to any staff reading the communication.

got a FLEX -- whoops

Matt shows us that we don;t have the Ford Flex filter (wix #57502 >> CQ# 84502)

I just happen to check to see if USA is missing it as well -- of course not --they have it !!! -- just us Cdn's who have to wait for the slow process ....

E-cat is showing 85516 -- will make sure Brian Wiggs can have a look at what is right. Matt says there is a split date --before uses 85516 and after the one that Canada lacks ... hmm ...

Missing Images -- sometimes a BUG

When you see a LINK for images and you get this ( the BLUE IMAGE with CARQUEST LOGO and a tall skinny # 1 on it ) --it is a BUG and that part number should be reported to the help desk --to make things easier you could e-mail me and I will forward. You should NOT get a screen that looks like this with the CARQUEST name and indications that a picture was available but not shown when you click on it....


HOWEVER ... the 2nd image from ACTIVANT is NOT A BUG ( image has a red # 2 on it ) when they do not have images .... if an image is NOT available thru CARQUEST the system will look to see if Activant has the Image ( a new feature I think )

Can you spot a BUG ....

CARQUEST Hats

Some things CARQUEST does very well - and then there are the simple things --that they drop the ball on --like keeping us informed on what is the part # on promotional hats --and keeping the hats in stock in Toronto. They are inbetween suppliers and hats will be in short supply.

The all BLUE hat is SPE 765 11 12 - but they are out of stock as I write this -- but - gee they have some of the OLD # 765 112 that I ordered for all stores (just one case - if you want more --see your store manager and order on a separate invoice to make it easier to claim ad co-op - tag a note on the invoice so Rhonda knows to claim

Another hat (I have a sample left in my office) is blue from and cashmere (light beige) rear panels for 50 cents more - that part # is SPE 765 11 13 --I placed an order for a case of each with Angela -who is transferring some from St John ....

2009 Service Guide

I see that Dorman has the 2009 Service Dealer Guide is now out. For the electronic version click on the link.

http://www.dormansdg.com/digitalmagazine.html

Here are additional links that might help you --check them out ...
--new to aftermarket flyers --

--virtual trade show --

web-link chemical & accessory section ?

anyone using the chemical & accessory tab in web-link?

Can you leave a comment ?

Just a quick look - see many opportunities to improve
-list # of items in any section--so you can avoid sections that are blank
-add missing parts --look up ANY ATF fluid

Red Chassis - 5 years 100,000 kilo warranty

It has been confirmed that Red Chassis ( RCH ) is indeed 5 years or 100,000 kilo warranty -- now to get this info out

USA dollar -- any bets?

see the image attached ( click to enlarge ) - any bets on where the US dollar will settle ? Just after most Cdn suppliers had a round of PRICE INCREASES to offset the RAPID rise in the Fall or 2008 -- now we have to fight with them for a price roll back.

Lines like Keystone -- PLEASE make sure you tell your customer that prices reflect daily changes in the dollar .....

Warranty info updated on CQ-Link - redux

One step forward --two steps back --we wait ( and wait ...and wait ) for the IT dept to fix the broken drop down box for warranty info ... n the mean time you can download a PDF file ....

OK --but BE CAREFUL -- I see a mistake --so you will want to KNOW what date your warranty data is ...so if a NEWER version exists - you will know ... you can save & RE-NAME and add a date to the name (which is what I do )

If you spot a problem - use the old crappy feedback form ( while we wait for the IT dept to give us back the better PRS form we had been beta testing )

you will see this has been an ongoing issue for a while -- search word warranty and see...

CARQUEST.COM - new additions

I noticed that www.carquest.com has links to MSDS sheets with two options - give it a try. I might expect the Cdn web site ( www.carquest.ca ) will someday have these - we will ask.

A few other differences as well--click on the image to make it larger -the LEFT hand on is .ca and the RIGHT hand on is the dot com USA site.

NOTE ---this data has been added to out multi-store PLAXO address book - so you can find it a year from now

PLEASE give this a try to see if it will help you help your customer.

New TCK Timing Kits - FREE T Shirts

record the TCK timing belt kits your customers sell--and redeem TEE SHIRTS

Starts now ( May 25 th) thru to Aug 31 2009

survey questions - have a look

It has been a while since AIA has polled jobbers ( and the FIRST TIME they have polled shops both auto repair & body shop )

Here are the links

*** click here for general shop questions ***

*** click here for Jobber questions ***

*** click here for Body Shop questions ***

Most survey won't let you skim the questions unless you answer them --this one does -- look at the questions and see what major questions are trying to get answered. What questions answer efficiency and what for effectiveness. Can you see what traits business do that really helps profitability and what are just 're-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic' ).

The people who respond should get a summary of the answers - ...here is the key reason to suggest that your shops do it .... "Those who complete the survey will be provided with the opportunity to access the aggregate data for a limited time once the survey has closed."

This data helps you understand where you are relative to a ot of other shops (mind you most of the shops that respond are BETTER shops who take the time - poorer shops somehow never have the time nor effort to do these ...wonder why ?? ( smile)

On the other hand --some of the questions asked are fairly intensive to figure out - this extra work will stop many from answering - wonder if there could have done a better job for questions and to provide some background on why they ask what they do ( for example - inventory turns - show how to calculate otherwise most people take sales divided by inventory whereas it should be COGS (cost of good sold = sales minus profit) divided by inventory.

Road show for product info

Tue June 2nd - Windsor Holiday Inn Express - all staff are welcome and encouraged to attend. See your store manager for details. The more we can learn the more we can pay in taxes ( Joe made me say this )

Free-CAT

The May 2009 issue of Jobber news has a article on FREE-CAT -- a group of major auto parts suppliers ( Gates, Tennaco, etc etc ) trying to provide an optional source for e-cat


check out *** click here for free-cat ***

It will be interesting to see how this grows over time.

missing Parts Names on Web-Link

in an attempt to streamline web-link sometimes they have taken too many names away --case in point the MISSING header for brake Hoses - click on image to see enlarged. If you can find another header that is MISSING - send a feedback form (yep - we are stuck on the old version while politics trumps common sense.)

Payroll

I will be doing payroll on Wednesday, May 27th. Please make sure that timesheets and vacation/sick days are reported before then.

Tension & Belt Kit

Doing a switch from Dayco timing belt kits ( no belt included ) to Gates with the belt --happening this weekend. Can someone please confirm the e-cat shows BOTH and reply as a comment

TEN sub line 2 >>>> goes to RBR sub line 20

more success stories --once we get the data

We are awaiting CARQUEST to add this DOR 905-505. Have asked Mike Deal to UP the Movement Code RIGHT AWAY on this part ONCE it gets entered into the ADIS computer systems - quite a demand for this part....

Cdn dollar - where ?

look at the chart ( from Yahoo ) -the Cdn dollar is getting stronger ... so that could mean a slowdown on the recent flood of price INCREASES for the weaker dollar from last fall ... and maybe some price roll backs --still WAY TO EARLY to tell ....

Staff Meeting Locations

just a quick reminder that May staff meeting is at Auto Barn

June & July will be at Petes Paint

Greg

Product Feedback - finally back up

Product Feedback is finally back up --- well --the old clunky one anyways .... you click on the word feedback -- I missed it the first time I looked at it ...see image - have it circled

The new better product resolution system is OFF LINE for now --we will wait a month and ask for a time.

More details at next staff meeting ---which is again at Auto Barn next monday

what do you think of this ????

Mike Washington's stores use PO # for almost every sale .... and if a PO number is not required --they put customer info - like 'Harry picked up' .... so when the customer calls - we know who we sold it to.

For trade accounts you can put the vehicle or misc info in like who called it in ...

What do you think --worthwhile trying in your store ????

Aurora & Park Ave battery - group 101

Ken tells me that the error in e-cat for REAR SEAT GM cars ( Park Ave & Aurora ) is solved -- it is NOT the group 78 as shown --it is group 101... now we wait for CARQUEST to get the part into the system .... stay tuned

Swine Flu ?

Wash hands - cover mouth when coughing or sneezing and ...oh yeh -- do not date Miss piggy

Petes Paint suggests these sku's to consider stocking .... GOJ 9652-12 CAN00 Purell hand sanitizer and and MMM 07048 mask -- it has the rating that is required ( or you may also have cheaper masks when a rating is not required )

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.

Greenhouse Scissor Cart batteries - now available

Cute story -it shows you that CARQUEST has more than one door to try -- if you want to get a part added so we can sell them ...

Ken at D&T had customers asking for a particular battery - at first they asked for "Chorlide' batteries --this turns out to be a brand name of Exide - once we had the spec sheet --East Penn identified as a 8KFS Scrubber-Sweeper battery. A phone call to Toronto purchasing goes unanswered ..then a follow up e-mail -- but Greg Guytt from Auto Barn walks by and hears the story -- he goes back to his store and submits a FEEDBACK FORM on the NEW Beta test form his store is using --and within one hour Mike Deal from Raleigh calls them and it is handled .... it took weeks for one order as a special order --now with the warehouse stocking we can get overnight

*** click here for pdf flyer ***

ps --what is the application --a scissor cart used in Greenhouses to pick fruit .... another market we can serve by "proudly serving a world in motion'

Battery Sale - on NOW

Battery sale - on now until end of May

Typical U1 and Marine items -- many have $5.00 or $7.50 in rebate that customer can mail in for

Signs printed 3-31-09 ( don;t get me started about being late - that is a whole subject onto itself )

Additional signs posted on CARQUEST Jobber message board (including rebate coupons) --the rebate coupons we are still waiting to see from Toronto - they are coming - but in the mean time - print what you need for the next few days

Pig $$$

I still need pig money from the following staff. Please have it for the April meeting at Auto Barn. If there's any issues please let me know. After April it will be $12 instead of $10.

Ryan
Amanda
Brian
Debbie
Jake
Greg G
Jason
Steve M


Thanks.

POS

I have placed POS schedules in your mail slots at D&T for March and April for month end. Make sure that these get followed. If you have any questions let me know.

Thanks.

Payroll

I will be doing payroll on Monday, March 30th. Please make sure all timesheets and vacation/sick days are sent in before Monday.

Engines

The Plaxo address book has been updated with engine supplier details. Wr are still working on finishing ATK details

Advance (Factory Engine) and Repower Auto ( old Ont ReMan Engine) updated---search for ENGINE in plaxo and read the notes

Watch for more details on ATK --- ask your store manager for more details

RPR --missing cores

look at your sales on RPR --the core prices where set to zero as a mistake by Toronto --we are requesting an update tonight -- check sales and make sure you GOT any units sold BACK ...or we are burning for $50

Price Stickers

The price sticker (or lack of) problem should be fixed by the end of this week. All stores will have to check or recheck the date on your stickers in the showrooms.

ECC rush freight shipments

There has been some confusion on the OVERNIGHT airfreight UPS shipments from USA to Toronto for ECC parts -- if you find that you are refused this service -- please tell Greg H ...

I am assured by Peter McNally that they will indeed continue to provide this service until the Cdn warehouse is added.

Please make sure your co-workers remember this as well

Time Change

Don't forget to spring forward this weekend.

Staff Meeting

The staff meeting is this coming Monday, please get me a head count for who will be attending by Friday this week. Ryan please have someone from D&T take care of beverages, I will handle food.

Thanks.

Right to Repair

The Parliment will be debating the pending Right to Repair legislation on March 5th, 2009. This is very important to our industry. Please go to www.righttorepair.ca and on the left hand side click "Take Action" and "Contact your MP". Follow the instructions listed and get everyone you know to fill it out too. We need all the support we can get .

Payroll

I will be doing payroll on Wednesday, Feb 25th. Make sure timesheets and vacation/sick days are handed in before then.

are we seeing the DEATH of PAPER CATALOGUE'S ?

The DEATH of PAPER CATALOGUE'S ?? Well - it seems one by one -the suppliers are stopping the general release of paper cat's. And of the many that still release them --some how the cat dept in Toronto CARQUEST never seems to have them. Do not get me wrong -I do not blame Kim ( the sole worker in this unloved dept ) - she gets no co-operations from many others at CQ.

With the new change in doing non-application lines on a more regular basis (managers - see message board for this ) we are looking up the lines - and making sure we have the lines - linked - to our Plaxo multi-user address book.

I have just added the following so we have access to the web sites for -- TRI - TRA - STL - BLB - AGD and maybe a few others - we had missed quite a few --and these are ONLY the lines being updated in Jan.

PLEASE make sure your staff are knowledgeable in looking up web based catalogues -- the death of paper catalogues might not exactly in 2009 -- but it is coming ... soon ....

Tool and Equipment Flyer - part # corrections

You can download from the link -- I have and printed one copy for each store ( copy as required ) the MANY part numbers that are corrected --so If you type in a part # and it doesn't work --see the corrected list.

Over achievers might also take a MASTER copy of the flyer - and mark as your copy (hands off) and manually update the corrections

Tool & Equipment Flyer

OK --skill testing question that we will ASK at the staff meeting on Monday ... what percentage of parts are NEW to the flyer ( that is existing parts but not on last flyer PLUS new lines to CARQUEST )

The facts might surprise you ....

New line - part of WDG -- Uniweld

New 'partial' supplier for WDG --sharing space ( for a temp time ?? since it is for Canada only so far ) with the poor line of welding parts from Dorman -- is Uniweld

Have added data into Plaxo for contact info. Have cat's on the way - wondering how many sku;s they added to the MIF data base ( you know our stance on this --we EXPECT all sku;s to be added to make it easier for special ordering & quoting prices )

Watch for more details. Andrew Rennert is our rep - he will be stopping by in the near future - give him the time and attention this lines deserves. Lets grow our welding business.

new line - MTP

new line of instruments coming soon -- -MTP --click here for their web site--- . This is rep'd by the steinel heat gun person

Note - to J-Con users --we had to manually add the MTP line - it was missing in our system. Once in we will check to see if we have the billing schedule (smile)

These numbers are on page 32 of the new tool & equipment flyer ...
MTP 190-CBI
MTP 414-042
MTP Autokit
MTP CO-180
MTP MT-702
MTP RT-01
MTP TES1326

Poor Pricing AFTER the Sale

I was chatting with Auto Barn staff yesterday on quick visit. It came up on items that AFTER the sale is over -the regular price is WAY TOO HIGH ...

Background: The product manager will set the price fields and the billing schedule manager then takes these and adds or subtracts to make the final price. So with TWO people partially involved in the price setting it can be dis-functional at times. Lucky of us that BOTH people report to Peter McNally and we can get a common sense review ...IF ... we report it.

STEPS:
1) yeh - you know I was going to say this --- make a FEEDBACK report ...this will go thru Raleigh and usual gets to the right person -- but as I mentioned above it steps on TWO area's you can get lost --( hint --so do LOTS )
2) tell me (Greg H) & your store manager
3) make a list - date it and repeat step #2 in 30 days or the next time it happens after a sale ...

At the next staff meeting I will ask you for an example of a poor pricing AFTER the sale -- start watching and thinking ---thank you

Jeep 3.0l diesel oil

The Jeep Grand Cherokee diesels take a 84062 CFI filter which all stores stock. The oil is special, Chrysler spec MS11106 or Mercedes Benz 299.51. Valvoline 505682 covers it as it the same as VW 505.01 spec. They take 9.5 litres so make sure you have stock levels to cover.

Payroll

I will be doing payroll on Tuesday, January 27th. Make sure all time sheets and vacation/sick days are reported before then. I will also need all TD1 forms returned by then as well.

Thanks.

Ecc 53-39610

Look up 2004 caravan blower resistor and pay attention to the links. It is not catalogued properly for manual models but we have put in a patch

REDLINE universal connector

The Redline smoke machine has proven to be very popular ( RED - 95001 ) but a problem has been finding the schrader port ( with the green cap ) that is often time hidden ... How do you find an access point to test the EVAP ( fuel return line ) system ... see attached pdf.

---- click here ------

The sealing gasket # is RED 96-0017 ( not 0017-12 ) and the connecter is RED 95-0011 ...they are in the Toronto warehouse - waiting in total SECRET ... since the process to announce such details is so cumbersome - that no one tries any more --yep - this is an issue on my radar for 2009 --stop the banning of product managers from posting on CQ-link ...

D&T has one of each on order ( can you share with Petes & A Barn for salesmen samples ... )

ps - yeh - a bit pricey - -but when the tech wastes an hour on a problem that he can solve fast --the price gets to be less of an issue...

How many errors can you spot in ONE picture - WALKER

Click on the image to make larger

1) Note --the catalog pages are now scanned -they appear a bit SMALL on my screen but readable - try it --- see the BLUE part # for the cat diagram -that BLUE means it is hyper-linked to the image


2) we are FLUSHING all existing descriptions for WALKER .... we need to find HOW MANY mufflers we had linked that need to be re-added ...we don't want to LINK something that is NOT required --as it DUPLICATES the listing and makes it more complex for our customer ... but if we are missing the proper 18 series muffler -- we need to a) tell one of the Greg's and it will be linked using the @ int he description ...and b) write up a FEEDBACK form to get the missing data into the e-cat. The links to ROL will also go

3) notice the e-cat shows the 35 series clamp --we have asked if we can get the 32 series clamp to show instead. If that is too much of a problem --we can LINK the 35 series to use the 32 series using the @ in description ...

4) I have a NEW cross reference for the lifetime ( series 22 ) muffler to the 18 series muffler-- your manager can get a copy from the new message board by searching 'walker muffler x-ref'

Brake Cleaner - as a FLAME THROWER ??

This link - click here - talks of Princess Auto having to recall Brake Cleaner as the flame from the can exceeds federal limits ... gee -- brake cleaner as a flame thrower ...

Canada Post

There will be a rate change on Monday, January 12th. The rate to mail a standard under 30g letter will be going from $0.52 to $0.54.

Staff Meeting

I will be collecting pig money on Monday night. It's $10 for the year or a $1 a month. I will not be at the February meeting so please try and remember to bring it for Monday.

Thanks.

VIN information

I overheard a couple of times in the last month"check for a sticker under the hood" when a customer did not know engine size of their vehicle. This worked in 1975 but is totally useless in modern vehicles. It is embarrassing seeing a customer in the parking lot looking for a "sticker" that we told him he would find under the hood. The proper way is get the 10th character of the VIN on the door or on the dash. The info is available in our e cat ,Weblink,indentifix and if you must use paper it available from most spark plug cat's. Call me and I will show you if you cannot find on your own. Let's look more professional in 2009.

How do we know what CQ has ?

while we wait ( and wait ) for the non-application e-cat which we are hoping will solve some problems of knowing what CARQUEST has in many lines -- we struggle to know

Case in point - IDR Sheet Metal - a line everyone hates due to the nature of the product - hard to ship - rusts too easily - etc etc

We wondered what was in sub line 1 -the satin coat product. IDR SC4896-22 sells fairly well (note - I added for D&T ) in 2 stores --so we added EVERY PART by changing the stocking depth to 8 in the 3-9 update sub line page --then forcing all parts in NOW using the 8-15 3 'asterisk' 21 that is a secret only for BTM ( computer guys ) ...but who has a day to wait for the overnight update ?? want to get the darn thing solved and get on with life ....

Now - we have both IDR SC4896-22 and SC3672-24 set to stock in Petes & AB ... gee ..there has to be a better way ... howmany more parts are the warehouse HIDING that we could sell..... Joanne ? is there any help ??