*grins* I appreciate the offer, truly, but I think I am going to do something simple yet capable with OpenOffice.
Dave On Tue, Apr 29, 2014 at 2:36 PM, extdgl42 <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > -----Original Message----- > >From: Dave Park <[email protected]> > >Sent: Apr 28, 2014 5:02 PM > >To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > >Subject: [Ql-Users] Things I have learned... > > > >Hi all, > > > >I have learned a lot in starting a business. Some of the lessons have been > >hard. > > > >The biggest lesson has been getting postage right. Dealing with postal > >services from deep in the heart of Texas has been one of the must > >frustrating experiences. Packages that disappear, or that I visit the > >shipper a week after mailing and they're still sat there... > > > >I had a heart to heart with my mailman. He has become something of an > >acquaintance of mine, and I have broken the protective shield so I get the > >'real deal' from him. The handwritten international mailing labels and > >customs forms are the problem. Handwritten labels are examined at the > >portal where they go on the plane so they have a security mindset. If the > >labels were computer generated, the details are pre-submitted to the USPS. > >If anything is flagged,they know before you even give USPS the package. > > > >SO: I have invested over $200 in a digital USB postal scale, postal > account > >with stamps.com (a USPS provider, who allows me to enter and print the > CN22 > >customs form on the same mailing label) and a 4x6 large format postal > label > >printer. With these I'll get all the benefits of digital mailing, plus I > no > >longer need to go to the post office. Instead, I can just hand the mail to > >my carrier and he'll scan it - it will be in the system already. > > > >Other benefits include easy tracking numbers and email notifications for > >my customers, reduced price insurance and it checks and formats > >international addresses correctly - something I suck at. > > > >I will switch over to this new system gradually during this week. > > > >The next problem I have is parts. I have thousands and thousands of > >components here. The SuperRAM alone has 19 different parts. Many parts are > >unique to one product, but some apply to more than one - like SMD BAT42 > >diodes, for example. The hard part is when i have two almost identical > >parts but with a small difference for different product lines. > > > >Until now, I have used divided trays/cases for each product. That 'sort > of' > >works, but it also doesn't. They aren't suited to when I receive tape or > >reel components, which come on a long reel suited for automated machine > >mounting. I am loath to remove them from the reel to put them in the > cases. > >Also, some components have no markings identifying them, so I mark the > >reels. > > > >I need to devise a system where I can identify and locate any component, > >easily and quickly. Where I can have a kit list to kit assembly packs for, > >say, 50 UltimIDEs. Some components will appear 5 or 8 times on an > UltimIDE, > >so the kitting sheet should know how many, their component names, etc. I > >think I'll need to create a spreadsheet template for this. If it can also > >keep track of what the components cost on a per unit basis that would help > >me with cost accounting. > > > >In the mean time I have three wire rack shelves and a table surface > covered > >in bags, reels, strips and cases of parts. Very unsatisfactory. > > > >I have the utmost respect for Rich at RWAP, who has hundreds of items and > >also very limited space. How does he do it? > > > >Dave > > > > > >-- > >Dave Park > >Sandy Electronics, LLC > >[email protected] > >_______________________________________________ > >QL-Users Mailing List > >http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm > > > I would offer to save you time, programming SS, whether Excel or Abacus or > whatever ... but do not want to foist heartburn or worse on anyone :-) . > Just notice the two pkges I right now mentioned. C++ at the local community > college (some time ago) drove me crazy. > > Doug > _______________________________________________ > QL-Users Mailing List > http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm > -- Dave Park Sandy Electronics, LLC [email protected] _______________________________________________ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
