More Redundancy and Harrassing Vendors

So today I compiled a list. I took a list from a vendor that was all whacked out. This list contained all orders that we had with them that were either open or on backorder. Regardless of it being whacked out, I got it, and the data is there and great to have. It looked something like:

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CA 11


Div 1

Order# Order Dt Ship Dt Cancl Dt X St Cust PO# Store
OrdValue

2099261 01/21/08 10/08/08 10/01/08 6 50 LAS VEGAS 9999
1052.53

Order requested 10/08 ***


Line Style........ Color Description Size Ordered Shipped
Unit-price

22 883158 TWINKLE PUMPKIN PRINCE S 2 0
15.000@

M 2 0

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Okay, you get the point. I spent nearly an hour and a half compiling and typing this wacky data manually into a spreadsheet. Remember, I don't ever do anything around here, and just stand around. I guarantee Cliff (the person I replaced) never took this initiative.

So I have the list.

I then created two versions. One sorted by order date, and another sorted by Item #.

Now I have all of this data. All of the backorders from one of our suppliers, when they were ordered, as well as other juicy data. It's all there. I can really work from this list. With this list, I can get rid of merchandise we will never see again, turn off items we can't sell, and know what's on backorder. Nice.

I take this list to John.

At first, he is excited ( I told you no one's ever done this).

First he says, okay go through the bad ones, turn them off on the website. Of course. Check.

Next, he says go through the orders call the people, let them know. Obvious. Check.

Here's the fun part...

Well, before you do that. Call the distributor on the phone. Give them each item and go down the list and find out what's on backorder and what we'll never get.

(isn't that what this list is?)

So, once again, as with all the distributors, and with all work, it has to be done a second time. It also has to be done on the phone. No email, phone. And, I now have to waste a vendor reps hour reading him this entire list as he looks it up in his system (again), pulls up each item, and checks it all. I can't email him a spreadsheet. I have to call him and give him cause to hate me and avoid all future phone calls, like all the vendors do with John.

Good times.