Nick's Nit-Picks...

I have been noticing a few things that keep happening that seem like common sense, but certain tasks are not getting done or are being done the wrong way. 

- When you use the last of a store-use item (i.e. TAPE!), get another of the item the first chance you are free and write the SKU on the PIP log at the service counter.  Last week the clear tape for POS1 ran out, then the tape for POS2 was in POS1.  Today, the service counter tape ended up at the registers, and nobody PIPed a new roll (or two)...

- If you call for assistance, stick around with the customer and associate to learn how to solve their problem (and/or change their life)...  You will never learn if you get stumped and leave the customer without understanding how to fix whatever problem they are dealing with.  If there is a hot floor, it is okay to just switch associates and move on to another customer, but try and stick around & learn something if you can.

- It has been brought to my attention that the cutting wheel on the key machine keeps getting broken teeth and has been replaced twice within the past month or so.  This wheel should not go dull that quickly.  As far as I know, the wheel at the Parsons store's key machine has never been replaced since I started there almost two years ago, and it cuts keys just fine (albeit slowly).  Do not smash the key up against the cutting wheel, when PIPing I noticed quite a few keys that were torqued/twisted, indicative of trying to cut the key too fast.  When cutting keys, start from the shoulder of the key and not the tip, let the machine do the work.

- Twyla (our Hillman rep., they take care of our fasteners in Aisle 17) informed me last week that she has been noticing A LOT of misplaced fasteners that are being stocked in the wrong bins/locations.  For example, an entire box of stainless fasteners was dumped into the bin of regular steel fasteners, and we stock grade five nuts and bolts which look almost identical to the regular steel ones.  And then there are full boxes of fasteners stocked in a blatantly and horribly wrong place...  Each box of fasteners has both the bin number on it, and a SKU for its individual place.  This is pretty basic, stop messing it up.

In general: If you are not sure about something, ask a manager; don't be scared... 

That's it for my griping (for this week...).  Thank you for all of your help with everything else, we are doing very well for the year so keep up the good work.

Thanks,

-Nick G