Anyone notice the LJ Connect

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Just noticed it this moment and came here to post.

...this does not bode well.
 
CLICK TO ACCESS
LJ DIRECT

Our new CUSTOMER SELF SERVICE website.



...does anyone see this as anything other than extremely negative for frame shops?



EDIT: I guess they're referring to "Frame Shops" as "Customers"?
 
cjmst3k said:
CLICK TO ACCESS
LJ DIRECT

Our new CUSTOMER SELF SERVICE website.



...does anyone see this as anything other than extremely negative for frame shops?



EDIT: I guess they're referring to "Frame Shops" as "Customers"?
Click to expand...

Nope. It's for us, not the public. You have to have an LJ account # to Login.

It doesn't looks like the launch date is 6/29/2012. I would wait to use it until they give the go ahead.
 
Been in the works for some time. I don't think we'll use it that much as we still prefer to fax, but one feature I was told about that excited me was the ability to check stock on moulding on my own which will really help when selling rushes. I don't see that functionality in what's currently there but I hope it's included by the time it's all rolled out.
 
I've been using ljDirect for about 10 years.

I was jsut playing with this new interface and it looks like a straight replacement with a better interface for ljDirect.

johnny, I've been able to check availablility in the local branch that whole time. It's a bit combersome, but you can do it.

I will wait for a go ahead before I use it, but it looks like it should be fine.
 
LJ Connect

LJ Connect is for our customers only - it's not for consumers. It's located in the "To The Trade" section of our website, where you have to register to enter. Consumers cannot access this section of our website.

LJ Connect is our new online ordering tool. It was launched this morning to our sales reps. We first launched on-line ordering for our customers with LJ Direct many years ago. LJ Connect is the new/improved version. There's a step-by-step webinar/tutorial in the To The Trade section. Your Larson-Juhl rep will be sending more information as well.
 
lynn@larsonjuhl.com said:
LJ Connect is for our customers only - it's not for consumers. It's located in the "To The Trade" section of our website, where you have to register to enter. Consumers cannot access this section of our website.

LJ Connect is our new online ordering tool. It was launched this morning to our sales reps. We first launched on-line ordering for our customers with LJ Direct many years ago. LJ Connect is the new/improved version. There's a step-by-step webinar/tutorial in the To The Trade section. Your Larson-Juhl rep will be sending more information as well.
Click to expand...

Lynn,

Just an fyi, it's on the home page of the site now. You do have to enter it but I'm thinking maybe the placement on the home page is what threw some folks off their stride.
 
lynn@larsonjuhl.com said:
LJ Connect is for our customers only - it's not for consumers. It's located in the "To The Trade" section of our website, where you have to register to enter. Consumers cannot access this section of our website.

LJ Connect is our new online ordering tool. It was launched this morning to our sales reps. We first launched on-line ordering for our customers with LJ Direct many years ago. LJ Connect is the new/improved version. There's a step-by-step webinar/tutorial in the To The Trade section. Your Larson-Juhl rep will be sending more information as well.
Click to expand...

I entered some things in ljDirect this morning, then went to ljConnect to look at it.

Seems to be pretty clean.

Anyone who has used ljDirect should be able to pick up this pretty easily.
The trickiest thing is the lack of a specific "pricing quote" function.
Of course, you accomplish the same thing by staring an order, then saving the shopping cart.

I'm intriqued by the spreadsheet import function.

The only thing I haven't figured out yet, is how to do a shop/length buy comparison like I used to do in pricing quote.
I'm guessing I just "order" both, then delete the one I don't want.

It's good to see them supporting this and not just killing ljDirect like it looked like a couple of years ago.
 
LJ Connect

Thanks Paul! I just walked down to IT, and it will be coming off the home page shortly. To avoid confusion, it should only be behind the "To The Trade" section.
 
lynn@larsonjuhl.com I have question about the save image button at the bottom of the moulding image pages on the larson juhl website. For instance if you click on save image button under moulding #733235 it saves it as 1535.jpg, the actual moulding number does not show up on the image or the file name. Wouldn't it be better if it saved as the moulding number, like 733235.jpg?



 
Taking snafu's idea even one step better.... when you
plug in an order, and you get to save a copy of the order,
it would be nice to have next to the order.... the thumbnail
of that frame or moulding ordered.

I have noticed over the decades, that when I get in an order
of say five mouldings.... there is sometimes no clue as to
which moulding is which. Usually on a bundle, there is a sticker...
but lately, those stickers have become head scratchers....
and I'm pretty good at figuring out the chinese characters......
but when one came in a few months ago as "dog fish
with public toilet in clam sauce to go".... I knew that something
was wrong.

Turned out to be in Oyster sauce and not to go.
 
lynn@larsonjuhl.com said:
...We first launched on-line ordering for our customers with LJ Direct many years ago. LJ Connect is the new/improved version. There's a step-by-step webinar/tutorial in the To The Trade section. Your Larson-Juhl rep will be sending more information as well.
Click to expand...

Our sales rep, Mary Lindbergh is on the job - she actually emailed us about this last night! :D Looking forward to working with this newest version.

John
 
LJ Connect

The recommendation for the moulding item number to be the title of the saved jpg file is a good one. Thank you for sharing.
 
Baer Charlton said:
Taking snafu's idea even one step better.... when you
plug in an order, and you get to save a copy of the order,
it would be nice to have next to the order.... the thumbnail
of that frame or moulding ordered.

I have noticed over the decades, that when I get in an order
of say five mouldings.... there is sometimes no clue as to
which moulding is which.

Baer, Good idea. I'm not sure what it would take from an IT perspective to make that happen, but I'll check in to it.
Click to expand...
 
just trying to help..... I'm a visual kind of person, and
I'm sure I just heard a few hundred heads just nod
that they are too....

after all.... when someone is looking for a moulding around
here.... the first question is "can you post a picture?"
 
I really Like to deal with people.......nuf said.

Rich, Sandie, Frank you hear me....
 
Cavalier said:
Lynn@LJ: Curiosity, because I know Da Boss would like to know too--will we be able to access past or unpaid invoices ordered by fax as well?
Click to expand...

I can answer that - yes.
I can now.
Once they have been entered by CS.
 
Currently, you can see the invoice number in the detail screen on previous orders, but you cannot see a total for the entire invoice. It's only item by item. On the previous order screen, you can see called in orders, faxed in orders, web orders and any credit orders.

I checked with IT, and the complete viewing of invoices (not item by item) will be in our next project phase on LJconnect. After that phase goes live, you will be able to view any LJ invoices from the web site. Thanks.
 
LOVE online ordering with LJ (have used direct for a long time) and this new system looks great.

Thank-you LJ!!!
 
Warning Message fo unsecured content

For Lynn of Larson Juhl.

While using LJ Connect, I run into a warning message about loading an "unsecured resource".
This happens when you are logged in and using secured pages(URL has "https").
I looked into the html of the page and saw that the page is using google api library with an "http" URL.
There might be other resources in the page that is using an unsecured URL, I did not check further.
I believe google has another set of libraries that is in a secured location (https).
You might want to tell your web guys to use that one so that the warning message would go away.
It gets a little annoying after a while.
I am using Google Chrome on a Windows 7 and (windows XP my POS pc)

Regards,
Troy
ArtHaus Framing
 
I have gotten that message from many web pages, like Pinterest too, more Chrome thing than a Larson issue.
 
I just used it for the first time, today, and I feel guilty about the cost to those wonderful Customer Service Agents in Atlanta that have treated me so well over the years. :icon20:
 
Troy, IT looked into it and said it is now fixed. Thank you.

Pat, We have had an online ordering tool for several years (LJ Direct). LJ Connect is just an upgraded and improved version. Some customers prefer to order online, especially if they like to order outside our regular Customer Service Center hours. It also provides another option during a heavy call time/season when you would rather not and can't wait on hold. It's not meant to be a replacement for our customer service reps, just another option for customers. Hope that helps.
 
Pat Murphey said:
I just used it for the first time, today, . :icon20:
Click to expand...

You're not alone, I used it first time last week. I like that I can see what is supposed to be in stock. It would be nice to see stock quantities as well.....I am planning to put items in throughout the week and I would like to see when an item becomes critical...sure, I could send an order every day....but that would affect my discount....

Anyway, I sent my order, according to system everything was in stock...and then I got a call that a certain moulding was not (it is going to be discontinued and there were just 'odds and ends') :icon21:
 
Another Improvement Suggestion

It would be nice if our local warehouse does not have the moulding we need (out of stock), that we are allowed to order (chopped or otherwise) from another warehouse that has the moulding. Right now, I have to call in order to order chopped from another warehouse.
Or better yet, display a list of alternate warehouses that has the moulding and let the frame choose which warehouse they want to place the order with.

Regards,
Troy
 
Troy - Thanks for your suggestion. When you order a chop and it's out of stock from your branch, the LJ Connect system will automatically revert that chop to another warehouse, and Larson-Juhl will cover the shipping. However, that automatic revert only happens when the out of stock item is ordered as a chop. If a length item is ordered and is out of stock, the only options are to back-order it or cancel the item, as you've probably experienced.

Randy - Thanks very much for your suggestion of adding cut to order plexi to the system.

I will share your both of your thoughts with our LJ Connect Team, as they're considering improvements moving forward.

Thanks very much, Troy and Randy, for using LJ Connect and thanks again for your suggestions.

Best,

Arlynn
 
NY Framer said:
Is there a simple way to check stock using LJ connect?
Click to expand...

Ditto. That would be a really nice feature to have. I've had times when I've had to call (very hard of hearing so it's tuff) to see if they have enough in stock for an order.

Be nice to see how much in stock for moulding and acrylic. I'm sure others would like to see more things. The reps have stock levels so it is available and reasonably accurate.
 
Arlynn at Larson-Juhl said:
Troy - Thanks for your suggestion. When you order a chop and it's out of stock from your branch, the LJ Connect system will automatically revert that chop to another warehouse, and Larson-Juhl will cover the shipping. However, that automatic revert only happens when the out of stock item is ordered as a chop. If a length item is ordered and is out of stock, the only options are to back-order it or cancel the item, as you've probably experienced.
Click to expand...

Arlynn,
I did not know that. You might want to change the message that pops up when a moulding is out of stock also say the "chop alternative" instead of just saying to call customer service.

Regards,
Troy
 
Thanks for your question NY Framer & Larry! The best way to check stock on any LJ item (moulding, matboard, glass, acrylic, equipment, supplies, etc.) is to enter the item # and quantity needed into the LJ Connect order form. Then, click outside of that field and the item's availability will be automatically updated, so you will easily be able to see if what you need is available. If an item is not available in the quantity you require, or if it's coming from a warehouse other than your usual location, a pop-up box will appear with details on that particular item. LJ Connect does keep real-time inventory on all Larson-Juhl items. I hope this helps!

Troy - thank you very much for this suggestion. I'll be sharing it with the LJ Connect team as well.

We really appreciate everyone's thoughts and feedback on this online ordering tool! I hope you all have a great Friday!

Thanks again,

Arlynn
 
Hi Arlynn,
Great to see your smile here on the Grumble. I guess your easing Lynn's load
and are the new "follow the Grumble" person. :thumbsup:
Say hi to all, and welcome to the G.
 
Arlynn at Larson-Juhl said:
Thanks for your question NY Framer & Larry! The best way to check stock on any LJ item (moulding, matboard, glass, acrylic, equipment, supplies, etc.) is to enter the item # and quantity needed into the LJ Connect order form. Then, click outside of that field and the item's availability will be automatically updated, so you will easily be able to see if what you need is available. If an item is not available in the quantity you require, or if it's coming from a warehouse other than your usual location, a pop-up box will appear with details on that particular item. LJ Connect does keep real-time inventory on all Larson-Juhl items. I hope this helps!

Arlynn
Click to expand...

Thanks Arlynn,

I tried that and it took me a bit to get it to work. When you said "click outside the field", I took that literally and clicked somewhere else on the form.

What you should say is "click on another field or tab out of the field". If you don't click on another field it doesn't work.

In any case that is good to know but since it's sort of hidden it might be better to find some way to present the information. Since you are dynamically updating the form, it might be nice to have the form enter the status (100 feet in stock, out of stock , expected, yada,yada ) when the description and units are returned.

Also it doesn't seem to work for acrylic. I tried a quantities of up to 499 sheets with no error. At 500 it gave me "are you sure your quantity is correct?" error.

Mats worked OK as did a couple of random supply items.

But very nice so far. If you would pass those comments on, I would appreciate it.

Thanks
 
Ylva said:
I used it first time last week. I like that I can see what is supposed to be in stock. It would be nice to see stock quantities as well.....I am planning to put items in throughout the week and I would like to see when an item becomes critical...sure, I could send an order every day....but that would affect my discount....

Anyway, I sent my order, according to system everything was in stock...and then I got a call that a certain moulding was not (it is going to be discontinued and there were just 'odds and ends') :icon21:
Click to expand...

Let me repeat my own post from a while back as it seems I am not alone in wanting to see stock quantities.
 
Baer - Thanks so much! And will do :-)

Larry - Agreed, my wording was confusing, I apologize. I'm glad you were able to make it work for you, for the most part. And I will continue sharing your thoughts with the LJ Connect Team currently considering all improvement. We really appreciate your feedback!

Ylva - Thank you for re-posting. I'll also pass this along to our LJ Connect Team.

Thank you all again for using LJ Connect and have a great week!

~ Arlynn
 
Another suggestion. I just ordered items that are on this weeks special.

The specials email I received says I can order this specials through LJ Connect which I can, but when I place the order, the full price is shown rather than the sale price. I had to add a note making sure that the sale prices were applied or for them to contact me otherwise.

LJ connect should be showing the weekly sale price. Anything else will lead to confusion
 
Larry Peterson said:
Another suggestion. I just ordered items that are on this weeks special.

The specials email I received says I can order this specials through LJ Connect which I can, but when I place the order, the full price is shown rather than the sale price. I had to add a note making sure that the sale prices were applied or for them to contact me otherwise.

LJ connect should be showing the weekly sale price. Anything else will lead to confusion
Click to expand...

I got caught by that too Larry....... Are you ordering from the weekly specials page???

If you are........... it does show up in the final review! :popc:
 
blackiris said:
I got caught by that too Larry....... Are you ordering from the weekly specials page???

If you are........... it does show up in the final review! :popc:
Click to expand...

It didn't show up initially when I placed my order - it was still full price.

I just checked it though. The items I ordered were cancelled - and then reentered with the sales price so its ok.


What is this weekly specials page? I get an email from my rep with the weekly specials - Is that what you are referring to - is there something on larsonjuhl.com that shows the weekly specials?
 
Its hard to find.

When you are in OrDER entry....... there is a button on the left. In BLUE. Says weekly specials.
Right under the SERVICES box.
 
blackiris said:
Its hard to find.

When you are in OrDER entry....... there is a button on the left. In BLUE. Says weekly specials.
Right under the SERVICES box.
Click to expand...

Found it - thanks. It has the sale prices showing so you can order directly from that page. Just a little too hidden.
 
Questions or Suggestions about LJ Connect`

Your comments about LJ Connect are important to us. Thank you for mentioning the weekly specials were hard to find and and also that it's confusing when the sale price for those specials doesn't show up immediately when you add them to an order.

In the short time LJ Connect has been in operation, we have already made a number of changes, both in appearance and functionality, based on great feedback from framers who are using it. If you have any suggestions for other additions or changes you would find helpful, please feel free to post them here or send me an email at gperkins@larsonjuhl.com.
 
Greg,

On the "Saved Cart" screen it would be nice if they could move the
"Delete" button far away from the "Add to Cart" button.

Really far away please.
 
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