Re: [Ql-Users] Things I have learned...
*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 wrote: > > > > -Original Message- > >From: Dave Park > >Sent: Apr 28, 2014 5:02 PM > >To: "ql-us...@q-v-d.com" > >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 > >d...@sinclairql.com > >___ > >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 d...@sinclairql.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Things I have learned...
-Original Message- >From: Dave Park >Sent: Apr 28, 2014 5:02 PM >To: "ql-us...@q-v-d.com" >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 >d...@sinclairql.com >___ >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
Re: [Ql-Users] Things I have learned...
In a previous move, not the one I have just done, this was downsizing without losing anything. Anyway in a previous move I went for. A one bed flat to a three bed house with a roof room and very large garage /shed and managed to fill it up instantly, I just don't know where all the stuff came from. That was also pre returning to the QL as well, so I have even more stuff now. On 28 Apr 2014 23:09, "Rod H" wrote: > Long ago I learned one of life's prime lessons. My wife and I lived in > apartments for 2 1/2 years moving every six months (early gypsy phase) and > each move cleared out all the unnecessary junk. Then into the 3-bedroom > townhouse, still just the wife and I, for 17 years. Then into the big > house for 25 years - still just the wife and I. When coming here we > divided up the house equally - I got the workshop, half the two-car garage > and the big room above the garage. She got the rest of the house. I > proceeded to fill my portion with Sinclair computer stuff, Timex-Sinclair > computer stuff, QL computer stuff, ordinary computer stuff, camera stuff, > car stuff, motorcycle stuff, and other stuff. Now she wants to move again. > > The lesson? You always acquire stuff to fill the available space. And > more! > > > Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2014 22:12:51 +0100 > > From: r...@rwapservices.co.uk > > To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com > > Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Things I have learned... > > > > > > > > > On April 28, 2014 at 10:02 PM Dave Park wrote: > > > > > > I have the utmost respect for Rich at RWAP, who has hundreds of items > and > > > also very limited space. How does he do it? > > > > Simple - my office is designed as a Tardis - I remember moving - I > emptied the > > contents of my office and they filled the van! > > > > Rich Mellor > > RWAP Software > > www.rwapsoftware.co.uk > > www.sellmyretro.com > > ___ > > QL-Users Mailing List > > http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm > > ___ > QL-Users Mailing List > http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm > ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Things I have learned...
Long ago I learned one of life's prime lessons. My wife and I lived in apartments for 2 1/2 years moving every six months (early gypsy phase) and each move cleared out all the unnecessary junk. Then into the 3-bedroom townhouse, still just the wife and I, for 17 years. Then into the big house for 25 years - still just the wife and I. When coming here we divided up the house equally - I got the workshop, half the two-car garage and the big room above the garage. She got the rest of the house. I proceeded to fill my portion with Sinclair computer stuff, Timex-Sinclair computer stuff, QL computer stuff, ordinary computer stuff, camera stuff, car stuff, motorcycle stuff, and other stuff. Now she wants to move again. The lesson? You always acquire stuff to fill the available space. And more! > Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2014 22:12:51 +0100 > From: r...@rwapservices.co.uk > To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com > Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Things I have learned... > > > > > On April 28, 2014 at 10:02 PM Dave Park wrote: > > > > I have the utmost respect for Rich at RWAP, who has hundreds of items and > > also very limited space. How does he do it? > > Simple - my office is designed as a Tardis - I remember moving - I emptied the > contents of my office and they filled the van! > > Rich Mellor > RWAP Software > www.rwapsoftware.co.uk > www.sellmyretro.com > ___ > QL-Users Mailing List > http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Things I have learned...
> On April 28, 2014 at 10:02 PM Dave Park wrote: > > I have the utmost respect for Rich at RWAP, who has hundreds of items and > also very limited space. How does he do it? Simple - my office is designed as a Tardis - I remember moving - I emptied the contents of my office and they filled the van! Rich Mellor RWAP Software www.rwapsoftware.co.uk www.sellmyretro.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[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 d...@sinclairql.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
