[DAVE]

We are using the open orders function to take and track deposits for special orders. It would be nice to have a toggle to be able to view only those orders still open, i.e. still with an amount due. The current view showing all orders, complete or not, is confusing and getting cumbersome to scroll thru as the list grows, and viewing completed orders is really not as critical as those still due.

[fwhorch]

Hi there,

We're using house accounts for special orders (we complete the sale, post the deposit and put the remainder on a house account).

Have you tried that? What are the pros and cons of using house accounts instead of open orders? When do the sales post if you use open orders?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts anyone is willing to share.

Best regards,
Fred

[RetailEdge Moderator]

Fred,

We have one customer that I know of that does this with an entire part of his business (propposals for large landscaping orders). It seems to work pretty well. Open orders are not considered sales until the final payment is taken. However open orders will change the status of item quantities from being On hand to being allocated and will remove the quantity from the quantity available. You can then have the sales screen prompt the clerks when they are selling a quantity of an item greater than the amount available.

If you are putting the remaining balance of an open order on an account the sale will be completed. You may or may not want to do this. For instance we deal with furniture stores where the special orders may take 6+ weeks to deliver. They don't want these orders posting in the month where the order is taken. So they just leave it as an open order and only take final payment when the item comes in.

Also sometimes it might be easier to track your special orders if you leave them as open orders. That way you can simply open up your Sales Manager and display open orders. This will show you your special orders.

Hi there,

We're using house accounts for special orders (we complete the sale, post the deposit and put the remainder on a house account).

Have you tried that? What are the pros and cons of using house accounts instead of open orders? When do the sales post if you use open orders?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts anyone is willing to share.

Best regards,
Fred