"Why do I need to write down part numbers?"

[Zeeko]

I work in an electronics shop that sells a lot of electronic components (ie resisters, capacitors, ICs...) and we have a few thousand different parts.

Now each of these parts are categorised and numbered for the customers ease of searching. When a customer is in this area poking around for parts (we call this the fidgit corner) either me r my offsider tend to race up there to make sure: a) they are not stealing b) screwing up where parts go after they pick them up c) find out what they REALLY need.

The most important reason we help them is so we can write down the part number for each item so they can be rung up on the system.

In time where the customer refuses service ("Na mate I'm right - know what I'm after") we go on to other customers. This is where a problem lies.

15 minutes later the customer comes up to the counter with a few handfulls of components to be rung up - these are cheap (average 50 cents). And of course they haven't bothered to write down the part numbers on the SUPPLIED paper and pens in that area.

If we are busy the last thing I want to do is go searching for the correct part numbers by figuring out exactly what capacitor or resistor they have. Doing this task on 15-20 items is very frustrating and needlessly time consuming as I could be helping customers who don't know what they need exactly.

Some even have the nerve to tell me to hurry up as they (obviously in a hurry as they didn't bother writing said numbers down) need to go and I should know the numbers. Granted the more popular parts like coaxial connectors and switches I know off by heart but when I get a bunch of random parts from different categories it just shits me.

[bainsidhe]

Not for nothing, but can p/n be listed on the outside of each package? That way, it will be similar to a UPC and can more easily be cross-referenced? You know, in case one of these asshats puts the part back in the wrong place.

[karma_gypsy]

I believe Zeeko's system is much like ours. A whoooole bunch of loose pieces and whatnot, all neatly organized into containers. Whereas the containers list the much needed part-numbers. It would simply take way too much time to place a part number (or even a price) on each individual piece (plus, most pieces are so tiny, it's not even worth the attempt).

Of course, we sell tools in our store and all tools have one general parts/inventory number. It's just remembering the price is what can be tricky at times.

[KnitShoni]

It sounds like these aren't packaged parts. They may be displayed like screws or nails in a hardware store.

[Boozy]

I'll bet there are some members here that have worked in grocery stores that feel your pain.

When I shop, I see a lot of people packaging up nuts and candy from the bulk food bins, tossing them in the cart and walking away without getting the PLU's down.

[Zeeko]

Yeah - everything is in little containers with a part number and price above it.

[ReverendBSB]

Same thing at the hardware store I work at. Almost half of my time is spent going back after customers and finding prices for items they were too lazy to write down.

[Mark Healey]

I work in an electronics shop that sells a lot of electronic components (ie resisters, capacitors, ICs...) and we have a few thousand different parts.

Where is this place. We had something like that in San Diego and they had some of the coolest surplus stuff, but they closed. They had these caps the size of the old quart oil cans. I always wanted to do something evil with one of those.

[Zeeko]

Where is this place. We had something like that in San Diego and they had some of the coolest surplus stuff, but they closed. They had these caps the size of the old quart oil cans. I always wanted to do something evil with one of those.

Alas I am in Australia, capacitors are fun though arent they!

[theredbaron47]

I feel your pain. I got that all the time at the hardware store I used to cashier at.

There was an entire aisle, both sides, of nothing but little compartments of screws, bolts, nails, spikes, nuts, all kinds of fidgity pieces like that. They were *all* prominently priced (how's that for alliteration? ), and we provided free small paper bags and pens to write down the prices and quantities of what they bought (yes, honor system very much).

I'd venture a guess of maybe every 1 out of 3 people who bought those fidgity items never bothered to look at the prices. At first, I'd either page hardware for a price check, but then started not to care, and would ask the customer, "How does $X.XX sound?".

I know, not the best for business, but they hardly made any money off those items anyway, not even counting the number of people who stole from that aisle.

Anyhoo, I feel your pain like whoa. I was just a cashier, so I didn't even have to worry about people messing the merchandise up. More power to you.

[lordlundar]

Alas I am in Australia, capacitors are fun though arent they!

Even more so when you have explosions in mind.

[Geek King]

Alas I am in Australia, capacitors are fun though arent they!

Oh my, yes. I had a cap blow in my computer's power supply while I was typing. No power surges that I noticed, just decided to go with a KAPOW! the sounded like nothing so much as a lead balloon popping. When I popped the power supply out, the cap had knocked a dent in the casing and peeled the rubber off itself.

I imagine they are much more fun when you do it on purpose.