PDF Creator

We found today one of our terminals did not have PDF creator installed on it. We need this on all terminals to start with E-mailing invioices. It is downloaded from Carquest link under patches. There is also a patch available that will allow you to open documents from Excel 2007 format on an Excel 2003 program. Let me and Rhonda know when all terminals have been checked for PDf creator

Payroll

I will be doing payroll on Wednesday, February 24th. Please make sure all vacation/sick days and time sheets are sent in.

Thanks.

Promo pricing - new for v50

we have turned on promo pricing - see images ( click to see larger ) - try this -- pick something on sale --like anything from T&E flyer ... see the BOX with reg & promo price and the dates to & from --and the 2nd image shows the INFO column --with a P for promo ( or could have a Q for any QUANTY BREAK options )

Helping us give a better experience shopping at CARQUEST

v50 - here

So - a new version of Exploris ... here is what is new ( SUMMARY VERSION )

-big item -ability to have what we had in J-Con - pricing with models - feel sorry for Exploris users who have had to tolerate the system for 2-4 years without models - we had to tolerate it 8 weeks

-scrambled cost pricing - we will go thru and turn a=that function back on (change security setting from a B to an A for most staff)

-options for core pricing - will see how we do it

-have MULTI-STORE option for doing ONE chanage and apply to all stores

-can track customer B//O's ( will we use ? )

-your icon on your desktop will change ..... NOTE ..... see image attached here

Now -- lets start complaining we don't have v50 yet ...( smile ) - come on CARQUEST IT

MAF --the secret is out

The new line MAF was listed on a ANN ( automatic new number ) report -- ah  -the secret is out -it was rumoured that a new line for Mass Air Flow sensors was coming - but we would never know by what some in Toronto would tell us ( silence does what ? )

Look at the image - looks like this will be a pretty good line for sourcing.  We will look at the billing  schedules once Toronto finally posts ( they are 2 months over due ) and keep working this line to the best performance we can.  It has been added to our rotating line code count list on google doc's.

Remember we are without e-cat for htis line until we get the next gen e-cat - we will see if we can get some buyers guides to help us until then - or we can use the sample Web-Link2 for some one in USA - to access the  proper lookup for the part --this will be a huge issue if Canada doesn't hurry up ....

X line rotors in system - use care on odd ball's

It was kind of cure ( well- nopt really ) that so many had NOTspotted the X line data in e-cat -- you have to get curious on what you see in e-cat - that is how we spot & solve problems

Anyways--the WHOLE X line is in and in e-cat --sort of ...  the image is for a old slow mover-- but the X line is missing The C for composite rotor ( Aimco does this - Raybestos does not -= and CMXuse Raybestos as main number )

THINK --and ASK before you say NO ... you have this priced - just drop the C ....

I also see 05-06 Smart TwoFour rear rotors ( #XRA  34325) -- too bad NO ONE has e-cat listings.... sign

Do not compare BDR 34325 with XRA 34325 ( is reverse psychology working yet ??? )  I have written Peter McNally to see why they are so much higher than the USA CARQUEST -- piggy ?  You have options - when something doesn't smell right -- check someone else.

Accounts Receivable

If for whatever reason you need to do a correction of any kind to a customers account please check with me first before doing anything even calling the help desk. I had an issue with balancing our AR for January. Part of the problem was that someone did a posting error correction and didn't tell me. These errors do not show up on my reports. I have to run an AR transaction report showing all transactions for the month. This report for January which was slow for everyone is approx. 600 pages of data, this is very time consuming to go through. I spent 8 hours trying to get this AR to balance. If you have to call me at home or my cell, call me, I would rather take the few minutes to tell you what you should do then spend 8 hours of my time trying to find something. If you have any questions CALL ME!

Tensioners just got interesting

Just when you saw ( we hope you ) the hydraulic tensions we added --we have a whole new type of tensions --called OAD and OWC ...here is what they say ....  There are 20M world wide.  Below are the bullet points from the banner that will be at the Expo in a couple of weeks.  We are putting together the collateral material now.  In a nutshell a regular solid pulley just drives the alternator.  The one way clutch will disengage the alternator and let it overrun but does not absorb engine vibration.  The OAD will not only disengage the alternator it will also absorb the torsional vibration (engine vibration) prolonging the life of the entire ABDS (Automotive Belt Drive System). 


YOUTUBE Video for demon on these - check it out


Your store will have samples ( either TEN 35015P or TEN 37017P ) sent to you soon --levels were just set ... sp what else can happen in tensions ??

FRI - how to trim number of options

On lines like FRI where we have as many types & kinds as Baskin Robbins -- there is a way to TRIM select sku's from your inventory ...   we have done this on a list of FRI already - where we don;t need Metallic on selected pads - the ceramic will do and are better for the same price --   you need to check the box -- DO NOT FORECAST ( see image ) in the  parts entry screen ( this is similar to the 3-18 screen in our older J-Con system.

PLEASE --use common sense on this -- and  if it is really that good of a suggestion -- verify of the other stores should also do it.    We do NOT have a way to get a list of all parts with this tuned on --we have requested this - any may come in the universal report write rumoured on v51.  Until then -if you make a change - we can't find it to correct.

Also note --there is a DNR ( Do Not Reorder ) - we do NOT want you to use this check box.  Bob at Walker Rd just had an incident where his staff was wondering why they didn't keep a part --the DNR was checked on that part.

Missing SMART CAR chassis

Peter McNally in Toronto seems to really resist adding the chassis parts in Mevi Tech that do not have any MOOG equiv. part #'s -- Matt from D&T sent me ( and Peter ) a not on these ....

RCH RMS10510 [LOWER BALL JOINT]
RCH RMS10192 [LOWER CONTROL ARM]
RCH RMS10193 [REAR LATERAL LINK]
RCH RMS10845 [FRONT STABILIZER BAR LINK]
RCH RMS10846 [REAR STABILIZER BAR LINK]
RCH RMS10617 [OUTER TIE ROD END]


Hey - Peter - if you see this -- holly crap man --how many times do we have to politely request to GET US THE PARTS that WE CAN SELL.  We have for more than TWO YEARS -- asked for the Mevo Tech parts that they bring top market FIRST ( as R + MS  prefix ) .....  we have a few sway bar parts finally -- but not the rest of the line ...two years ... that is bull shit ....


First to Market .... well ... not in this case ....

East Penn factory support - clarification

Just to clarify --if you have a pressing issue for East-Penn batteries - and Ryan Jackson is too far away ( eg North Ont or Eastern Ont ) - you or Ryan can contact Jim Sweeney for next day ( or 48 hour ) support for the problem

Gates Hydraulic Tensions

Have added a sample hydraulic tensioner to each store - in RBR P/N Code 20 in Tensioners

D&T will get # RBR T43148 ( fits 2003-04 Intrepids, 300M  & Pacifica
A Barn will get T43096 fits 92-04 Toyota Camry, 98-03 Sienna & more
Petes will get T43129  fits 03-07 Honda Accord + others

Please-- show staff - use as salesmen 'what's new'  - ensure you see them in e-cat and generally get smarter

new Tool & Equipment flyer

Can you see the NEW LINES in our upcoming tool & equipment flyer?

Holly Cow  Batman - Star Warning -- after writing Pete McNally since 2005 and every year since then --we finally have Star Warning Systems ( page 7 )

Steadymate is part of Kinedyne (a truck hold down specialist similar to Ancra that some of our stores stock ) see page #2

CanRoss is new to me ( have I been sleeping ? ) part of ESP --not sure is ESP is a catch all line for amny vendors--havewritten for more details - see page 18

JET Tool we had hread about ( and their sister company ITC ) - we have sold Jet for many years - this is welcome and long overdue.  We look for more from Jet.  Page 28

Now --look for NEW PARTS in established lines ...

Freeze a stock re-order level ?

Want to keep something at a set reorder stock level ( for whatever reason ) -- you can click the DO NOT FORECAST box in the part record ( see image ).

Five years form now --want to print out what you changed to DO NOT FORECAST --you can get that report

in >> INV REPORTS >> FORECAST INFO REPORT and click on the forecast flags option for 'do not forecast' . Thanks to Larry on the BT Help Desk for all the details.

Greg G and others will look at setting some CARQUEST FRI metallic pads to do not stock --as the managers feel the ceramic in select sku's cover the application better.

Please -- quote a second opinion on catalytic converters

We are encouraging you to QUOTE from our Walker and a second supplier - of your choice -- whether it be A&B Imports or WorldPac or ????

Greg G in Auto Barn confirmed this on a converter that was just TOO MUCH in Walker and rather than LOSS the sale -- he quoted in A&B Imports and got the sale.

With the price of platinum going up -- a second opinion is a good thing

can't confirm a source for a part then hold on a QUOTE

Click here to see the BUG


the ability to Verify that a source is available for a quoted part -- suggested by Jason & Greg at Auto Barn and Ryan at D&T

Keep your suggestions coming -- we will get it only if we ASK.

For example -- where do you find the CAP marked 710 ?? ( see image )

Payroll

I will be doing payroll on Wednesday, January 27th. Please make sure that all vacation/sick days and timesheets are sent in before that.

Thanks.

BE HAPPY - it is contagious

Want to be happy -- work with happy people .... Click Here to see link

quote .... This means that surrounding ourselves with happier people will make us happier, make the people close to us happier — and make the people close to them happier. But social networks don't transmit only the good things in life.
Christakis found that smoking and obesity can be socially infectious too. If his thesis proves out, then the saying that you can judge a person by his or her friends might carry more weight than we thought."

Lets work on this - eh?

Honesty 101 -- what would you do ?

This tip came from Shawn at Auto Barn - Honesty quiz -- you bought a fuel pump --got a GREAT price for your 2003 Chev Impala -- going to install it - and guess what --that damm GREAT PRICE is not so great -- as the pump you bought has NO STRAINER .... so you try to buy a strainer ... damm ... delays .... HEY ... guess what -- no one sells a strainer separately ... WTF ... now that is a piss off .... and the place you bought that pump from --won;t take it back ... hmm ... burned ...or ?? hey -- buy a pump from CARQUEST - they have strainers on it -I will pull the strainer off and use it and return the pump -they won't notice ....

TRUE storey -- as we got a pump from the DC - and it had the strainer broken off. Look at the images --someone returns something like this --call up the image --and make sure all the parts are still there ... thanks for sharing Shawn.

What the hell just happened ????

The problem we just had ( master computer lost VPN ) seems to be getting better and the truth is coming out on what just happened today ( Monday Jan 11th ) - a server went down and had to be re-started a couple of times in Raleigh ... so where are the back up and duplicates ?

Anyways Shawn found out from a help desk person ( see this   link for suggestion on how to make the next PROBLEM better ) that you could also go to your computer 's CONTROL PANEL --  ADMINISTRATION TOOLS -- SERVICES -- and highlight the Cisco AnyConnect item and click on the RESTART the service link -- click on the attached image to see larger

Can you remember this tip ?  This is FASTER than shutting down the  WHOLE computer.    Debbie had to do this shutdown several times - perhaps her timing just just off relative to the serve in Raleigh coming back up.   Lets hope for some peace and quiet .... on our computers so we can go sell parts.

It is also interesting that Ryan solve the problem (by switching master computer to his machine )  so he could get the web-link orders to print.  The whole issue of what is the master and  what is a standby slave needs to be worked on - to get better in understanding.