CUSTOMER SERVICE, DELIVERY, INVENTORY,ITEMS IN STOCK:
1) What are the benefits of ordering Lab Supplies through the ePortal?
Online ordering will provide you with up-to-date catalog information along with Yale’s discounted pricing. In addition, it will give you the ability to track your orders and increase your ordering efficiency through the use of time-saving features such as the ability to create templates and hot lists.
2) Do I have to use the ePortal to order Lab Supplies?
No, in many ways it is simply a replacement for phoning or faxing an order. However, it does offer the additional benefits mentioned above.
3) What do I do if an item does not appear in the online catalog?
The online catalog is very comprehensive and contains over 380,000 products representing thousands of suppliers. In fact, many items that are not in the paper catalogs will appear online. You may search by product description, catalog number, or manufacturer’s catalog number. For chemicals, you can search by a chemical name, substructure, CAT number, or a manufacturer name. If you fail to locate a product online, please contact the sales representative for help. Catalog content is updated every 2-4 weeks and the pricing is tied to the account number so that contract pricing is seen by the end user.
4) Will I get special Yale pricing using the ePortal to order Lab Supplies?
Yes. Yale’s special pricing will automatically display when you use Fisher’s web site so there is no need to call the vendor to find out Yale’s pricing. Furthermore, there is no need to even use catalogs when using the web site because all the items in the catalog are easily accessible online with detailed descriptions.
3) Can I save an order in Fisher’s web site?
Yes, you can save orders as a template (before order submission). These templates will remain in the system indefinitely until you choose to delete them. Submitted orders remain in the system for approximately 6-8 weeks after the invoice is paid. If you need to save submitted orders for your records online, we recommend copying the confirmation and saving it to another file on your hard drive.
4) May I combine orders for shipping purposes?
No, you can only ship to one shipping location at a time.
5) Is there a dollar limit to online Fisher Scientific orders?
Yes, the limit is $5,000 because you are ordering against a University-wide contract.
6) May I use Fisher’s web site for personal use?
No, Fisher does not accept personal orders because they are not set up to charge sales tax and all the accounts are set up using Yale Ship To addresses.
7) Can I create an order template to order frequently purchased items?
Yes, you can create your own template for items that you frequently purchase using the Template function in the Fisher web site.
8) Does the Fisher web site make a commitment for you?
No. Should you need a commitment in our system, simply use Yale’s Custom Commitments web tool.
9) Can I order from both the Chemicals contract and the Laboratory Supplies and Equipment contract at the same time?
No, you must create separate orders and be sure to enter the correct purchase order number for the corresponding contract. We recommend saving the purchase order number for Lab Supplies in your profile and simply changing this to the Chemicals purchase order number at the end of your order if necessary.
10) Can I order furniture on the Fisher contract?
No. You are not permitted to purchase furniture from Fisher. If you need to purchase furniture, please contact Tony Kulikowski, Buyer, at X2-9964 or Sun-Ae Kim, Assistant Buyer, at X2-9981.
11) Can I store multiple charge card information online with Fisher?
No. You will only be able to store information on one Purchasing Card at a time with Fisher.
12) Who do I call for help?
Contact our Fisher Scientific Sales Representative, Matt Glidden at (800) 955-9999 Ext. 5034. Internet Technical Support is also available for web site/technical questions at (877) 885-2081.
13) What do I do if I need my order by the next day?
Be sure to place your order by 2pm and note whether the item is available in the Agawam warehouse in Massachusetts. If the item is available there, chances are good that you will receive this item by the next day. Call our Sales Representative with emergency orders if necessary.
14) What should I do if my department requires internal approval on an order that I place through Fisher’s web site?
There are two options available for creating a departmental approval process:
1) Contact our Sales Representative and ask them to establish an approval hierarchy. The approval hierarchy has the ability to send email notifications to the requesters and approvers to inform them of order status. Dollar thresholds can also be established if desired.
OR
2) Alternatively, a requester can send an incomplete version of the order to an approver for a preliminary review using the following steps:
• Find item in catalog, enter quantity and add item to Shopping Cart.
• Click on Save As Template button, enter Template Name and click on Save Template.
• Open My Template at the top of page.
• Click on Shopping Cartlet in the lower left corner of screen.
• Open File – Send Page under the Netscape pull-down menu.
• Enter approver’s email address, type a note in the text field (do not remove existing information) and send email.
• After you receive a message back from your approval that you may proceed, print copies of emails and attach to the printed order confirmation to maintain in your files to establish an audit trail.
15) Do I need to use a Requisition number with Fisher?
No. Each order will generate a confirmation with a unique number that you can use for online tracking purposes. However, if your department has an additional process of assigning requisition numbers, then you may want to use your own numbering system.
16) Can I use split-charging in Fisher’s web site?
No. Either you will need to place individual orders if using a VIP number or if you are using a Purchasing Card as your method of payment, you can place one order and later go into SWAP (Simple Web Allocation Process) to reassign the charges to the appropriate account(s) quickly and easily.
17) Does Fisher Scientific provide training for using their web site?
Yes. Departmental training is the preferred method of training, although individual training is also provided. Training is also available on CD-ROM. Please contact the Fisher Scientific Sales Representative to arrange training or to receive the CD-ROM.
18) Can end-users register and train themselves?
Yes. Customers are required to know their account number to ensure proper delivery and Yale contract pricing. Tip screens and video demonstrations are available for ordering features within the site to assist end users who register themselves.
19) Does Fisher Scientific have an on-line help function?
Yes. Nearly every function has an associated “tips” screen, which describes how the function operates, and in some cases has a video demonstration of the function. Questions can also be sent via email or can be communicated by phone to the Fisher Scientific technical support desk.
20) Can I use a VIP Number when ordering online with Fisher?
Yes, you can also use your Yale Purchasing Card. It does not matter which one you use except that the Purchasing Card will enable you to use SWAP to reallocate funds if necessary and you may prefer one method to another when looking at your financial reports. (See below.)
21) What will my charges look like on my statements for Lab Supply orders if I use a P-Card?
P-Card charges for Lab Supply orders will look exactly like all other P-Card transactions.
22) What will my charges look like on my statements for Lab Supply orders if I use a VIP number?
Orders placed with VIP numbers will be invoiced on a per order basis. These will appear as actuals when the invoice is paid by Accounts Payable. We are currently working on electronic invoicing with Fisher and will inform you of any changes in this information in the future.