[tlasjr]

Great posts but the description of the pos system shows why it's a more complex problem than just retailer distribution.

If the system shows an item is selling they ship more. They don't have trouble distrbuting to the store where it is selling and needed. The example of the produce is a good one. It shows they were able to distribute it according to their plan, it was their sales forecast that was wrong. It should have been corrected more quickly.

So let's say there are 6 six figures evenly distributed of two each. One of them is destined to be a peg warmer. Lets say the planogram calls for 8 figures on the shelf. Week one they sell 10 figures, so they ship another case. Week two they sell another 10 figures and order another case. By week three there are 6 peg warmers on the shelf, so the sales slow because they they only have two desireables at a time.
Three weeks later they get in a fourth and final case. After a couple of weeks they have nothing left but peg warmers and dont need to order another case.
At this point the toy company comes back with wave two only to find that the retailer doesnt want any or at least a greatly reduced number of cases.

The problem from our point of view is that we have trouble finding that lastest wave. The problem from the Toy company point of view is they have no way to get us their product.
The problem for the retailer isn't that their system is underordering sellable product it's that the system causes them to order a product which will only sell 84% of the prduct they take in.

It's sobering to realize their systems don't identify individual items for inventory. Ever bring in the wrong receipt for a return?

Anybody have any ideas for solutions?