Best Practices

Tidbits and Tips for Best Success.

1.Some manufactures change product descriptions, size and packaging (affects images accuracy) on a regular basis. This is especially true in food categories.

2.Images are often not correlated to size or unit of measure. For example, at the time of this writing the bar code on a can of Diet Pepsi returns an image of a six pack of Diet Pepsi.

3.Always cross check the information and thumbnail images with the product in hand.

4.Use caution with size / unit of measure. They are subject to change. Most of the this information returned by the detective is for use by a consumer, not a retailer or distributor. Do you really need size to be part of the description? In most business systems units of measure should be stored in separate fields (not with description) and it should represent inner pack (ea) and case packs for replenishment.

5.Check with your vendors and see if they can accept purchase orders with bar code information instead of "their" part number. Most of them can, but do not publicize it. They want to "lock you in" by having you use their code. If you don;t liek the answer a salesperson gives you, talk to someone else in their company. Explain that this will make it easier for you to do business with them, and that their competitors may already be doing it.

6.The database grows by over 40,000 items every day. Subsequent searches often produce different results. Make it a practice to search all of your items on a regular basis to keep things fresh.