Add significant functionality to customer purchase module
Hi guys!
I love everything about Repairshopr except I feel there is significant VITAL functionality missing in relation to customer purchases (or Refubs as we call them) which is a significant chunk of our business (and the hardest and time consumyest assets to track).
As it stands, you can create a "Customer Purchase" BUT:
1) You cannot give "store credit" or allocate the payment to an outstanding invoice etc
2) You cannot "buy/trade-in" an existing asset. For example, a customer books in a device (an asset) for repair, we open a ticket, the device turns out to be unrepairable (or to expensive to fix) and the customer wants to trade it in to cover the cost of the ticket.
3) You cannot progress a purchased device through a series of stages before adding it to inventory (you can change the status but thats pretty limited). You can't add parts from inventory (very bad), you can't use the checklists (worksheets) etc. If refurbs were allocated tickets, then you could use all the functionality of the ticketing system when processing refurbished devices.
4) You cant see a refurbished computers entire history. I.e. refurbs (which eventually become serialised inventory items) should be assets as well so you can see what repairs they had with the customer before you bought them, then what was done to them during "Refurbishment" (which parts were used, and notes, etc).
May I suggest something along the lines of:
1) You should be able to click on a customer asset (which may or may not be linked to an active ticket) and the click "Purchase" (and credit this to the customers account or their current invoice if applicable etc).
2) This would then auto create a “Customer Purchase”.
3) MOST IMPORTANTLY - Creation of a Customer Purchase at anytime should create an “internal” ticket, which could just be a normal ticket associated with a customer named "Internal". Note: If customer purchase is being manually created (as opposed to the auto creation from customer asset), this should also create the associated “Asset".
This would allow the item to proceed through normal repair processes like any other ticket before being added to inventory. i.e:
a) We would be able to allocate parts from inventory to refurb-in-progress
b) We would be able to use worksheets to create "refurb checklists" etc
4) Then, after the refurb ticket is complete, parts have been allocated to it and its been checklisted, it can be added to inventory.
The store credit feature will be changing in the next couple months most likely – but the refurb module is out for beta testing.
http://feedback.repairshopr.com/knowledgebase/articles/866307
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We do have planned a new Refurb tab that will be a lighter version of tickets, with assignment, status, adding parts, tracking time, notes, etc - then sending into inventory sort of like the customer purchases module does.
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@james, thanks for the details! I think the refurb module that's coming shortly will cover this..
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James Moore commented
So I'll walk through how my shop handles refurbs for in shop or online purchases. We repair gas detectors:
1. We evaluate the detector, assign it a worth based on how many sensors are working, board is in good shape, etc.
2. We give this evaluation to the customer. If they decline, we wipe the estimate out.
3. If they accept, we offer them store credit or Paypal them the amount depending on the situation.
4. After this, we log the monitor in as a job and do the repair work. We track the time spent and the parts used for profitability. Essentially we "buy" the parts from ourselves at cost. At the end of this, we use those numbers plus the amount we paid to the customer for the monitor as the "cost" of the serialized unit.
5. If this unit goes for sale, we sell it and that's it. Often though, we keep it as an internal asset for Rentals to customers.
6. If the unit is unable to be repaired into parts, we "scrap" the unit and then add the parts to inventory. Being able to set up items in the system that know what inventory items to create when the item is "scrapped" would be incredible, if unrealistic right now.One thing we often run in to is that we'll get a job in, create an estimate, and the customer will not want the detector repaired due to the cost. They'll often ask, "how much will you give me for it for scrap?" Having an easy way to do this when a job estimate is declined, or from the ticket itself would be excellent. We already have the asset data logged in as an asset, so we could just transfer the item from a customer assigned asset to an internally assigned asset.
Best,
James
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Ryan (CTO, Pinellas Computers) commented
@Michael: I think it would be helpful if you give insight on your step-by-step proposed workflow on how you'd like to see the Customer Purchases module work. We all handle this stuff differently, so us putting together a list can help everyone chime in on features they want and the best order of operations for everyone.
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Ryan (CTO, Pinellas Computers) commented
Please tell me it will somehow integrate the refurbs / customer purchases as ONE-TIME-USE inventory items; each getting their own unique item name, description, purchase cost, retail price, etc. as I keep dying for here:
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Michael Leone commented
Hi, thanks for commenting Troy! Okay I see. Mate, how are existing stores processing refurbs as it is now? SOme pointers would be great...
I really REALLY want to use Repairshopr but running the quantity of refurbs through it that process I think would be unworkable... As far as I can ascertain:
- You buy a refurb by creating a customer purchase
- You manually close any open tickets
- No idea how you process the payment (so that the purchase covers any outstanding amounts form the customer)...
- You use the Customer Purchase list to view and track all refurbs-in-progress? But you cant assign to a specific tech etc...So create tickets and assets manually for refubs then? But this will create duplicate assets (as one exists from the original customer ticket)?
- Once a refurb is complete, you add it to inventory (removing it from Customer Purchases?)... But wait, then you have a ticket... and an asset... and a serialised inventory item... So just close the ticket and delete the asset? And once its in inventory you can no longer see any history of that asset? Argh so confused...