To SAM or not to SAM? That is the question

[desmorse]

Madman,
don't know how long you've been using SAM, but I found it very slow to begin with. Having invested all that money, I forced myself to use it and now will always use it in preference to paper. Even when I have a mixture of SAM & non-SAM blinds, I'll raise 2 orders rather than just 1 paper order, mainly because I can book the fit time in my diary on the SAM order.
Tend to agree on big orders though. recently did 14 rollers, every change took an age whilst it recalculated, so I probably would do these on paper in future.

At the end of the day, we're all different and what suits one person doesn't suit another. I'm a slight gadget freak, with poor handwriting, SAM suits me.

[scotton]

Been using it virtually since roll out nd have to say still not happy and if Idid not feel threatened by hillarys it would not be used

[BEZBOZNY]

I am here angryadvisor, I have been reading but my days are getting so stressful with customers shouting at me about the 3 for £99 offer I have been getting home, reading the forum and nodding off. I will try to help where I can, but just now I have to be thinking about my career and finding another company that will listen to their staff not just file the requests away for a quiet day. I have been trying for the last year or two to implement improvements, most of which have happened, you won't all have noticed but things are working that bit better now. The problem is I have run out of the drive to push for improvements I once had, I knew the day would come, so rather than continue to battle on I have decided to get my coat and look for another position. I have always been an ideas person and do not enjoy the methods I have to employ to get the ideas listened to, so, what does this mean for you lovely people. Well, it means I will do everything I can to answer every question I can up to the day I leave. It would be nice to be able to say I can promise to keep answering your questions and problems but I am a stickler for information being correct. We have some amazing Advisors on our books, I can only wish that Mellisa is able to keep you all focussed and motivated, Hillarys is a good company but I knew the day would come where I either got my ideas across without a fight or I would have to move on to somewhere that I was able to speak to the person at the top who did want to listen to my suggestions.

Keep on keeping on, when Mellisa actually says she cares and wants to help, trust me, I for one believe her, after all, logically it is in her interest to ensure you are all content and happy. She also does strike me as the sort of person who is extremely professional and has a passion for perfection (much like myself).

I will tell you all who I am after I have moved on, you can always PM me in the meantime if you want direct questions answered.

Good luck all of you, don't give up just yet, let's see what January 2006 brings.

[BEZBOZNY]

On the subject of SAM. The first beta test instals of new generation software are always full of 'holes' and ill programmed methods. Through live use errors and poor methods come to light that can be resolved in further updates to software v1.1 to v1.2 for example. I am completely behind SAM, given time it will become the perfect tool for you all to use. Imagine the image alone when you are (slowly I know) seen by customers entering their order details in your SAM rather than a dated piece of paper, then theres SATNAV and many other additional uses to tis lovely little bit of kit..........

Does it have a vibrate feature, that's not a perverse question, I just would like to know if you can leave it active during visits to customers

[RED]

Mine is no longer called SAM.
He cut his own umbilical cord to the mains this morning and now wants to be known as Samantha.
Red

[russell]

to sam of course the cost is too high but the benifits outweigh those i wouldnt ever go back too paper who wants too sit at home at 8pm writing out next days work also customers love it makes us a league above the opposition its getting better all the time anyway whats the alternative

[russell]

has anyone had a correct delivery (no damages all blinds included invoices there ) in the last 2 months or is it just me that hasnt :'(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ;Dsorry nodded off its so busy here

[blue movie man]

whats the crack tonight then comerades ???youre all so boring no wonder nothing gets done bye wasters

[hereticus]

Nope, not me !

Usually get to my lock-up to find that the entire delivery has just been dumped / thrown in, so I have to take it all out again and then feed it in tidyly and stack blinds properly.

Even if you receive all the right blinds you don't get the right paperwork to go with them.

The driver seems to have no respect for the product - packaging on at least a few blinds always bursts open, and I had a Roller with other week with tyre marks across it (presumably fell out of its package when he was unloading, drove over it, noticed it in his mirror, so stuffed it back in the carton and said nothing - customer actually found it quite funny and wanted five more the same).

I recall that about a year ago we all filled in an agents questionnaire about Despatch performance, but have had no response or feedback from this - was it really so awfully embarrassing that Hillarys have had to bury it ?

The only thing you can really say about despatch / drivers/ deliveries is that they are consistent - it has always been bad and it is still bad, so no change there then !

[madman]

Never had a problem in ten years with my drivers

[phugly]

I have got a cracking driver, nothing is too much trouble for him

[russell]

im not talking drivers their mostly good

[gloryboy]

i'm definately in the yes camp.

so much better than writing everything / faxing then waiting for phone calls to confirm the details.

my customers love it too, noone questions prices from it.

i still put my diary in outlook though and syncronise it with laptop.


it is still early days for the gadget, remember how difficult it was to get HO to communicate by email?
it can only improve with age and only through trial and error will IT get it doing what we want.

[gloryboy]

my deliveries are usually ok.

i do get up early and 'help' the driver unload, this way he doesn't just throw them 20 feet into the garage!