So, either you know or you don’t know that I happen to own St. Louis’ premier independent office supplies company, called Exec Business Products. Either way, as of now we are all on the same page. This month has been nothing but trouble, and it’s only half over. I don’t mean to make this blog a forum from which I rant about my problems, I don’t think anyone cares to read that, but maybe just this once. I don’t think one vendor of mine has delivered as promised, and I have spent the month doing almost nothing but tracking shipments and dealing with angry customers (mostly justifiably so). I struggle with this: if a vendor says that they are going to deliver product on time, how much hand holding do I have to do with them to make sure it happens? Say you call me and want some office supplies on Friday for a big presentation. I say, let me check with my vendor and see if we can do that. My vendor says that is no problem, they will have them on Friday morning. Order entered, I go off to do other things. Then Friday morning comes and you call me, screaming that your stuff is not there, and your presentation starts in an hour. I tell you to hang on while I call the vendor, and when I do, the vendor casually tells me something happened and the shipment did not go out, but they will get it out today for sure. Fire the vendor? I would, but it’s not that simple. I place the order and expect it to be delivered as promised. Do I have to call the vendor a couple times and make sure they are on top of it? That slows me down, and seems like something I shouldn’t have to do, however, if that’s what it takes to make sure the customer is taken care of, I guess that is what I will do, because that would be better than pissing off the customer. Thanks for letting me talk that out. But, that is another level yet of things to stay on top of and keep track of.
I certainly am not the premier local office supply dealer this month, that scenario has played out more times than I care to count. My system is obviously broken. My desk and my mind are an overwhelming cavalcade of loose ends. I am finding that my to-do lists have to-do lists, and there is paper freaking everywhere. I decided to call a time out this morning and try to get myself just a little better organized, and it has helped, but I still am not sure I am on top of everything.
Which brings me to my question for you loyal reader(s):
How do you stay on top of it all? Do you have a system? Give me your suggestions or any sites you use in the comments.
Oh yeah, since I plugged myself shamelessly above, I might as well go all the way: check me out here. And tell everyone you know, too.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Um, wish I could help…
can’t your vendor email you a tracking # so you at least know it shipped? this should at least give you some peace of mind….weather withstanding.
They gave me a tracking number, but they left a number out, so I could not get it to work until they called me back. Regardless, it all worked out, and things are back to going smooth (knock on wood)…I just needed to rant.