Hey, I wasn't ragging on Karen or anyone else there. In fact I wasn't even really ragging on them at all. I was really ragging on a business situation where people get stuck in a position and which way to use employees can make a long term impact. I certainly am not perfect and am not afraid of telling anyone that. [eek] I also know about controlling expenses and maximizing either profit or cash flow. But, if you are a for profit manufacturer, and you want to reduce the time to receive income, and you have product in house to ship, and you have a shipping person who is swamped - there are alternatives - short term and long term.
By example in another industry: Let's assume that I am an extremely successful contractor who spends his time in the field producing income. But because my time is so valuable there I don't pay attention to the fact that I haven't been billing, so the bank account is bare - but I do have a ton of work to invoice customers for. If I am worried about cash flow - I should either outsource the invoicing part or hire a temp. If I think that it is invoicing problem is permanent - then hire permanent or outsource permanent. If I really think that what I need is to invoice so as to maximize profit now - then minimize costs to invoice and take longer to invoice by doing it myself. Isolated hiccups in a process are just that. But when the hiccups don't stop and there is a pattern then care should be paid.
I have bought from Bridge City and done that. I have bought from Woodpeckers and done that. I will happily do so again. I don't mind waiting. But others do. I wish all of them the best success and hope everyone gets their tools soon!
Peter