Federal Judge Denies Class Certification in Key FACTA Suits Pillsbury Successfully Defends Client Against Class Action

15-Jun-2007 [Press Release]

Los Angeles, CA:
In a key set of decisions this week, a federal judge in Los Angeles has denied class certification for three Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) lawsuits, including Taline Soualian v. International Coffee and Tea LLC (CV 07-502-RGK) in which Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman successfully represented the defendant. Pillsbury currently represents more than a dozen clients in FACTA-related matters.

Taken together, along with a May 25th decision on Spikings v. Cost Plus, Inc. (CV 06-8125-JFW) also denying class certification, the cases establish a precedent that could impact more than 200 lawsuits that have been filed in recent months alleging that retailers and restaurants provided too much information on customers’ credit card receipts in violation of the law.

Effective December 4, 2006, FACTA requires that retailers provide no more than the last five digits of the card number or the expiration date on any receipt provided to the cardholder at the point of the sale or transaction. Since that time, the plaintiffs’ bar has filed hundreds of suits seeking class status. If any retailer is found in willful violation of that rule, each class member would be eligible to receive between $100 and $1000 in statutory damages, which for larger retailers found to be in violation could cost tens of millions or even billions of dollars.

“The decisions this week are highly significant in that the court recognized that certifying class actions in these FACTA cases could result in serious financial hardship for the retailers, and makes no sense given that no harm has been done to the plaintiffs in terms of identity theft or any other damage,” says Robert Wallan, a partner with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman in Los Angeles, who lead the defense team representing International Coffee and Tea. “These decisions reach a common sense result.”

In the Soualian suit, during a credit card transaction with one of the Defendant’s Coffee Bean stores, the Plaintiff received an electronically-printed receipt that contained the card’s expiration date. Plaintiff sought to certify the class of individuals who made purchases at the Defendant’s stores between December 24, 2006 and January 24, 2007, who also received receipts containing expiration dates.

U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner of the Central District of California found that due to the enormous damages requested and the lack of harm suffered by the plaintiffs, the plaintiffs failed to pass the superiority test which is required for class certification. In addition, the defendants investigated and removed expiration dates on credit card receipts as soon as they were made aware of the alleged technical violation.

“There is no evidence that any customer making a purchase from the Defendant’s stores…suffered any actual harm due to the inclusion of the expiration date on credit card and debit card receipts,” Judge Klausner wrote in his decision. “Furthermore, it appears virtually impossible for the inclusion of the expiration date on a credit card or debit card receipt to result in identity theft or any other actual harm…. Given the disproportionate consequences to Defendant’s business (if class was certified, statutory damages could be as high as $48 million), and the lack of any actual harm suffered by members of the potential class, the Court finds that Plaintiff fails to meet the superiority requirement.”

The judge also noted that he denied class because upon learning it was in technical violation of FACTA, International Coffee and Tea immediately investigated and rectified the situation, demonstrating good faith and no willful intent.

The other two FACTA cases in which Judge Klauser denied certification this week targeted Avis Rent A Car and clothing retailer Charlotte Russe.

View this article online at: http://www.pillsburylaw.com/bv/bvisapi.dll/portal/ep/newsReleaseDetail.do/pub/2007615142951625/ruleType/PUB_FIRMNEWS_RELEASES/channelId/-8593/tabId/5/pageTypeId/9208

If you have any questions, please feel free to call BHD at 800-377-7776.

BHD at Nike Events around the World

Retail Pro is used to handle retail sales at Nike events worldwide. Big Hairy Dog is there to help as Nike sets up its enormous tent to house the specialty merchandise that is making record sales at these events.

Karen Page, BHD Sales Rep, and Paul Jones, Tech, recently attended the Chicago and Honolulu Marathons, both of which were huge successes. Retail Pro at the POS kept the sales lines moving at a rapid pace, and flawlessly handled the sales of Nike merchandise. Here are some of the pictures taken at these events.

BHD Holds Annual Holiday Party

Big Hairy Dog's 2008 Holiday Party was a big success, with employees enjoying each other's company along with dinner and spirits. It seemed to be agreed by everyone that this was the best party yet. Here are just a few of many pictures taken at the event.

Just another day in the BHD Tech Room

This picture shows Werner, one of BHD's senior techs in a typical hard-working, "I can fix your problem" mindset. We know those of you who have worked with Werner are aware that he is just as good at having fun as he is at solving electronic technical issues. While all at Big Hairy Dog are held to the highest of standards, there is great camaraderie and always time for a little fun.

Retail Pro discontinuing sale of Credit Pro and PPM credit card software

Retail Pro announced that they will be discontinuing the sale of Credit Pro and PPM credit card integration software, This does not affect those who currently use PPM or Credit Pro. Big Hairy Dog will continue to support these products. If you have any questions, please feel free to call 800-377-7776.

BHD Chooses new Anti-Virus Software

After testing various Anti-Virus softwares BHD has decided to go forward with AVG as our primary software. We are also approving Kaspersky for use with Retail Pro.

We are discontinuing the use of Trend Micro Internet Security starting with version 2009. Older versions still work fine with Retail Pro, but remember when it comes time to upgrade your Trend Micro - do not upgrade to version 2009. This version creates performance issues with Retail Pro that can not currently be fixed.

We will continue to check with Trend Micro to see if they release an update that fixes the issue, but we can not wait indefinitely for that to happen. Starting Jan 1, 2009, the only version they will available to buy will be the 2009 version.

If you have any questions regarding this, please feel free to contact a BHD tech at 916-368-1070.

More States Requiring Price Displays at Retail Checkouts

Many states are now requiring Scanned Price Displays at the Retail Point of Sale. These displays must be placed in a location plainly visible to consumers. Each year, more states adopt this legislature, managed under the State Department of Weights and Measurements, subdivision (a), article 13300.

In part, this article states: "13300. (a) The operator of a business establishment that uses an automatic checkout system to sell goods or services to consumers shall ensure that the price of each good or service to be paid by the consumer is conspicuously displayed to the consumer at the time that the prices is interpreted by the system."

For those states who just adopted this ruling, the price displays must be in place on and after January 1, 2009. Big Hairy Dog is working with our customers to get price pole displays shipped and installed by deadline. These interface seamlessly with Retail Pro, and are sale-priced to be affordable to those customers needing them.

We have heard from some customers who have been fined for not having this hardware in place. Be sure to protect your business to avoid legal action. Call today to order your pole displays and save with our end-of-year special pricing. 800-377-7776.

BHD Minimum Staff, 2-6pm, Friday, Dec. 5

BHD Staff will be participating in a company-wide meeting from 2-6pm on Friday, Dec 5. During those hours we will be operating with a minimum staff available. We ask customers who need to reach a staff member, and know in advance, please call before 2pm. There will be minimum tech support available from 2-6pm for any emergencies which may arise.

Trend Micro Internet Security 2009 Not Compatible with Retail Pro

Trend Micro has a new version of their virus software that is being released. This new version causes slowdowns in Retail Pro that we have determined can not be avoided and are not tolerable for our customers.

Therefore we will not be selling Trend Micro Virus software any longer. The version that causes the issue is Trend Micro Internet Security 2009. This is an upgrade to the TM Internet Security 2008 that we currently install on all of our PC's.

TM Internet Security 2008 still works fine and please continue to use it. When your subscription to Trent Micro Internet Security 2008 expires DO NOT UPGRADE to the 2009 version.

Big Hairy Dog is currently testing a couple of new Anti-Virus Software packages for our customers: AVG and Kaspersky. Most likely we will be going with AVG, but we will give a formal announcement shortly.

If you have any questions regarding this issue, please feel free to contact a BHD tech at 916-368-1070.

BHD Customers using EFT Solutions, Please Read!

For clients using EFT solutions integrated with Retail Pro, there is a great Workstation Preference that allows a receipt to automatically be printed after an approved transaction.

From the main screen in Retail Pro, select:

OPTIONS
WORKSTATION PREFERENCES
EFT (from the left side)

Check the three preferences shown here on each workstation. This will eliminate the need to hit "Enter" after swiping the card. The information from the card will be read immediately and a receipt printed.

If you have any questions about this, please feel free to call a BHD Tech at: 916-368-1070.

BHD Techs with Super Powers?

As our techs make courtesy calls to customers, one customer recently told BHD tech, Brian, "We ran into a little problem last week, but Derek got us fixed in what must of been less then 10 minutes. The good people at Big Hairy Dog have slid down the bat pole to conquer the joker's minions and save the day yet again!"

We at Big Hairy Dog don't claim to have Batman on our side, but we understand how our customers might think so.

Retail Pro users can not upgrade to Trend Micro Internet Security, TM 2009.

The new version of Trend Micro Internet Security (TM 2009) has been changed, affecting the operating speed of Retail Pro. On TM 2009, Retail Pro runs slower when it is running on a workstation. The operating speed of Stand Alone PC's are not affected by this latest version.

NOTE: Big Hairy Dog is installing TM 2008, which causes no negative effect on the operating speed of Retail Pro.

There is no way to turn off the ‘On Access’ scanning in this new version and excluding Retail Pro from the scanning does not help the speed.

So for right now, Retail Pro users can not upgrade to Trend Micro Internet Security, TM 2009. We will keep you updated as to the resolution of this issue. If you have any questions, please call a BHD Tech at 916-368-1070.

Four Heads are Better than One

Paul, one of the senior Techs at BHD, recently assisted Nike in their retail store at the Chicago Marathon. An issue arose which required 23 PCs to be reconfigured. Paul called BHD to get some information from Werner, a fellow senior tech. Werner mentioned the situation at the Chicago Marathon to the other BHD techs and soon Nathan and Rich picked up their phones and dialed into the PCs at the Chicago event to help reconfigure them remotely.

Paul reports that the situation came up unexpectedly and a plan of action was quickly agreed upon. The entire issue was resolved within a very brief period of time, thanks to the spontaneous teamwork that is a fundamental part of Big Hairy Dog service. "We break every rule to take care of our customers!"

Purging Sales Orders with ECI link open - BHD has the FIX

A technical issue has been discovered when customers attempt to purge Sales Orders while the ECI integration link is open. This includes the link being open even at the main screen. Some customers have experienced duplication of Sales Orders while purging with the ECI link open.

Retail Pro is working on a permanent fix to this problem, however to remedy this in the short term, please do not purge Sales Orders until you are completly closed out of ECI.

If you have any questions about this issue, please call a Big Hairy Dog Tech at 916-368-1070.

BHD Sends Raffle Winner to Hawaii

Big Hairy Dog held a raffle during the last tradeshow season. Any new prospect who scheduled and received a Retail Pro demonstration at the show, was entered into a drawing for a free Hawaii vacation.

The Rain Shed, a fabric and notions shop, located in Corvallis, OR won the raffle. They recently returned from their trip, and shared some pictures with us. The photo above was taken atop Diamond Head volcano.

The Rain Shed is now enjoying the benefits of Retail Pro technology in their shop. They remarked, "We wanted a cruise for our 25th anniversary (9/4/07) but we bought a thirty year old business instead. BHD is helping us bring it into the 21st century technology-wise. We have had nothing but good experiences with you which makes life easier. You even provided us with this wonderful, relaxing, much needed break."

Congratulations to Glenda and Mike on the success of their new business, and on winning the trip to Hawaii.

Security Not Polling? BHD has the Fix!

Are you having problems with your security settings while polling to remotes? If so, Big Hairy Dog has the fix.

Recently Retail Pro wrote an update in the software, which is essentially a hidden "secret" switch that stops security from being overwritten at remote sites.

PROBLEM: Once you’ve initialized for security, new or changed user info does NOT poll over, even though RPRO says “SECURITY HAS BEEN UPDATED”. In reality, the new or changed user info has NOT been updated.

FIX: The fix for this is to edit the RPROUI.INI file. Open the file and go to the very bottom of the page. Find the section that says:

[Polling]
XFERPWS=0

This setting needs to be set to 1. This will allow security to be updated at the remote. If you are experiencing this problem, fix the RPROUI.INI file as follows:

[Polling]
XFERPWS=1

This step must be taken at ALL REMOTE LOCATIONS. Then reinitialize security and the issue will be resolved.

We invite you to call BHD tech support for assistance with this issue.
BHD Tech line: 916-368-1070

BHD Makes it to Egypt!!

A BHD T-shirt, that is, via Joe, our great shipping clerk! Joe and his wife vacationed in Egypt, visiting much of the ancient history the area has to offer. Here is a photo of Joe posing in front of the Egyptian Sphynx. Look closely and you'll see the BHD logo on his shirt!

Joe and his wife grab every bit of culture they can, attending weekly musical theaters at Sacramento's Music Circus. Joe has even been known to sing a few bars of classic musicals in the office. (not a bad voice, either.)

By all accounts, they had a wonderful time. Welcome back, Joe!

Embellish recognized in Sacramento Magazine

Embellish, a BHD customer, and quaint European-style home-decor gift shop, was recognized in the September, 2008 edition of Sacramento Magazine. Part of the charm of Embellish comes from the 1800s era brick building the shop is housed in, and contains 2000 sq. ft. of lamps, candles, clocks, tapestries, jewelry and much, much more.

Located in old town Elk Grove, CA, Embellish is a thriving specialty retailer using Retail Pro to manage its technology needs.

Congratulations to Embellish, another great customer!

Congratulations to Christina!

Big Hairy Dog takes pride not only in its great customers, but also in its great employees. Probably all of you have spoken to Christina in our Service Department. Christina is that cheerful voice that follows up after onsites, and calls just to check in and see how you're doing.

Christina recently graduated from Phoenix University, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Business. We often see her studying hard during her lunch break, and we know these last years have represented long hours and a lot of perseverence for her. Congratulations, Christina. We are all proud of you!!

Natural Disasters: Data Back-Up is Crucial!

Backing up your data on a regularly scheduled basis may just be the action that saves your company from financial disaster, in the event of an emergency.

Big Hairy Dog has customers who have been affected by natural disasters, such as fires, earthquakes, hurricanes and flooding. The thing that has protected these businesses from ruin is data back-up. Natural disasters come with little or no predictability, so it's best to be prepared at all times.

Best practice suggests backing-up data when no one is using the system, so no data is lost. Whatever method or schedule your company chooses, it is vital to the security of every business to have a current and complete back-up available.

If you have any questions about backing up your company's data, please call a BHD Tech at 916-368-1070.

BHD Demos Retail Pro to Many Interested Retailers at Tradeshows

Big Hairy Dog Sales, Training and Tech Staff have been busy giving demonstrations of Retail Pro to retailers all over the country.

The BHD booth at MAGIC Tradeshow in Las Vegas, (right) was filled with shoppers looking for the best solution for their POS and Inventory Control needs. Also present were BHD customers who were able to schedule time to receive free training and tech support.

BHD Sales Reps, Karen and Pam, (below) respond to questions from interested attendees. Traveling to shows from New York to San Diego is an important way to reach those retailers looking for a better solution to their business needs. We find they are always amazed at the flexibility, scalability and ease of use that Retail Pro offers.

Beware of ‘Anti-virus’ MALWARE

The ‘Antivirus XP 2008’ and the ‘Vista Antivirus 2008’ is designed to warn users that it has detected a virus on their computer, and tries to trick the user into purchasing this software to eliminate the virus. These programs, shown on the left, are actually MALWARE (malicious software) programs.

Below is a link to a MALWARE remover that removes both Vista and XP versions of this software and is absolutely FREE.

http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html

We recommend if you have this software on your PC please call Big Hairy Dog to help you remove it . Call 916-368-1070 if you have questions about this software, or would like BHD to assist you regarding this issue.

Delta Breeze at the Sacramento State Fair

Recognize that drummer? That's our own Mic Malaney, President of Big Hairy Dog. Mic is drummer for the Sacramento-based band 'Delta Breeze', which is becoming a big hit in the greater Sacramento area. Mic refers to the band as "a bunch of old farts" but their growing number of fans hear an incredible jazz sound with incredible vocalists.

'Delta Breeze' recently played at the Sacramento State Fair, and rocked the house. Check them out! They're on MySpace at: www.myspace.com/deltabreezeband. Listen to some of the great classics, like "Unchain my Heart", "Heatwave" and "Chain of Fools".

BHD Customers Recognized!

Big Hairy Dog takes every opportunity to share customer's stories and successes to our entire customer base around the world. We believe we have the best customes and we strive to do whatever it takes to help them be as successful as possible.

A couple of BHD customers were recently recognized for their success:

1. Yves Lingerie, a popular shop in Roseville, CA was voted Best Lingerie Shop by ‘Best of Intima Magazine’. This is quite an honor, and we congratulate Yves Lingerie!

2. Funtastic Play Centers, Inc. was recently listed in Sacramento Business Journal as one of the top Sacramento-based Franchises.

Knowing the history of hard work, expertise and good business decisions behind these stores, we at Big Hairy Dog congratulate them both for being recognized in their industry.

Big Hairy Dog Traveling to Trade Shows

Big Hairy Dog participates each year in a number of Retailer Trade Shows around the country. We demonstrate Retail Pro software to retailers specializing in apparel, gifts, sports and footwear, just to name a few.

When the 2008 Summer Trade Shows are over, Big Hairy Dog sales reps, techs and trainers will have traveled to Portland, Atlanta, Seattle, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Chicago, and San Diego. We are always happy to help retailers across the nation find better business solutions to their POS, Inventory Management and data capture and reporting processes.

Big Hairy Dog also uses these trade shows as a time to offer free tech support to our customers. Customers may call and schedule time with a BHD tech at a trade show. This gives us another opportunity to connect with our great customers as well as provide FREE tech support. We consider this just another way to live by our motto:

“We break every rule to take care of our customers.”

Mick and Sandy Malaney featured in Business Solutions Magazine

Big Hairy Dog founders, Mick and Sandy Malaney, are featured on the cover of the August, 2008 edition of Business Solutions Magazine. The related article, entitled 'Shread your POS Playbook' is prefaced with a warning to other VARs: "The contents of this article will not sit well with some VARs. It is strongly advised that you do not proceed if you’re afraid to stand out from the crowd or if you have a sensitive ego."

Big Hairy Dog's unconventional business strategies are explored, as well as the role its business partners play in BHD's business process. Mick and Sandy discuss the successful partnership between Big Hairy Dog and Ingram Micro. Read the article in full.

BHD Interview with Bud Lilly's Trout Shop

Bud Lilly’s Trout Shop was named after Bud Lilly, a master fly fisherman known around the world as one of the great promoters of the sport.

The Trout shop, located in West Yellowstone, Montana, has been owned by Barbara and Dick Klesel for 18 years. Besides selling a wide selection of clothing, outdoor equipment and gifts, the store also offers an art gallery, giving visitors the opportunity to capture the beauty of the Yellowstone area in various mediums.

They have virtually no local customer base, as West Yellowstone is a town of only 1000 residents. They have, however, a very successful e-commerce business and ship products to every corner of the globe. Some international customers order merchandise online and pick up their purchases when they visit Yellowstone to fish and hike.

Barbara wears many hats at Bud Lilly’s. She is the owner, Retail Pro SYSOP, manages inventory, and much more. We recently spoke to Barbara about Bud Lilly’s use of Retail Pro.

BHD: What POS system did you use before Retail Pro?

Barbara: When we purchased the store, there was no system, just a cash register. The method of restocking was a major issue; the shop had never been inventoried. Retail Pro was our first major purchase.

BHD: Did you do much comparison shopping before deciding on Retail Pro?

Barbara: We researched a number of POS systems, and while attending the Outdoor Retailer Show, we thought we had our minds made up. Then we walked into Big Hairy Dog’s booth and met Rob and Mic. We became convinced that they really believed in Retail Pro and would not only stand behind the system, but would work with us every step of the way to get our system up and running. Even though we were clear up in Montana, we had complete faith in their ability to support us.

BHD: What are the most useful features of Retail Pro for you?

Barbara: I like it all, but in particular, I like that we can print a Re-stock report every night along with an Out-of-Stock report. The reports help greatly with pre-season ordering, which is huge for us because of our compressed selling season. Having accurate data has proved essential in the success of our business. The reports show us how much we sold of particular items during the previous season, and when it sold out. We need to know our discount margins, and margin by vendor in order to see where we should be putting more of our purchasing dollars. We also love the accounting link, as it saves us so much time.

BHD: Why did you choose Big Hairy Dog as your Retail Pro service provider?

Barbara: Who can resist a company named after Molly, the Big Hairy Dog? Anyone who names their company after their dog must be good people. I’m sure glad I choose BHD, because I know other stores in town that made other choices, and are now regretting it. I am very happy with the service I get from Big Hairy Dog.

Big Hairy Dog at the US Track & Field Olympic Trials

The top track and field athletes in the United States recently met at the University of Oregon in Eugene for 10 days of competition at their Fourth U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials.

Nike was a huge presence at the Trials, operating from a 2500 sq. ft. tent, where visitors could purchase a large variety of Nike and other products. Big Hairy Dog was there, as well, assisting in the smooth operation of the selling of merchandise in the tent area. Seven Retail Pro registers accommodated the enormous volume of sales.

Big Hairy Dog applauds all of the athletes who competed, and congratulates those will be going on to Beijing.

Big Hairy Turkey?

Big Hairy Dog is located in a part of Sacramento where wild turkeys run free. We have a few favorites that hang around our front entrance. Locals accept that turkeys have the right-of-way, and brake for them, drive around them, and generally protect them from traffic. Here is a picture of our Big Hairy Turkey.

Rivercats Baseball and Retail Pro - A Winning Team!

Big Hairy Dog staff recently enjoyed a night of minor league baseball. The Sacramento Rivercats played against the Tacoma Rainiers and our Rivercats gave us another big win.

The Sacramento Rivercats is another great customer of Big Hairy Dog. They run a smooth operation with Retail Pro. They are one of a growing number of sports teams successfully operating their organization with Retail Pro and the support of Big Hairy Dog!

Happy Birthday Werner!

Werner, one of Big Hairy Dog's senior techs, had a birthday recently. He was surprised to walk into the office and find his desk and surrounding area decorated for the occasion.

His great accent, sense of humor and many funny stores keep us all entertained. He is appreciated by peers and customers alike.

Join us in wishing Werner a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

BHD offers FREE Retail Pro Training Videos

During a Courtesy Call, one of our customers recently asked “Are those training videos on your website REALLY FREE??”

The answer is YES! Big Hairy Dog offers a library of FREE TRAINING VIDEOS for you to download and view at your convenience, and at your own pace. These videos cover topics from Inventory, Back Office, POS, Tools & Advanced Features, Reports, and Tech Tips. And these videos do not just cover high-level general information; they are detailed, step-by-step instructions to help you through any aspect of the system. Over 60 videos in all!

SAVE YOUR TECH SUPPORT DOLLARS! Take advantage of these educational FREE TRAINING VIDEOS!
Just another way BHD puts you first!

Interview with Sneaker Villa

Sneaker Villa is more than your average retailer. It is indeed a Movement; a smart retailer in the urban areas of Pennsylvania’s major cities. They prefer to serve those in inner city and urban neighborhoods, where they are serious about giving back to the communities they serve.

The Sneaker Villa stores are designed to be neighborhood hubs where customers can purchase premier head-to-toe fashion, watch flat-screen TV's, purchase concert ticks and on weekends, listen to the spin of live DJs.

"We serve the neighborhoods most retailers have forgotten about" says John Goy, Sneaker Villa's IT Manager. "Our customers are primarily young, and come by foot, bicycle or public transportation. We are a vital part of their community."

We recently spoke with John about Sneaker Villa's use of Retail Pro.

BHD: What POS system did you use before Retail Pro?

John: We were using CamData and it gave us problems from the installation. It did not poll correctly, and CamData was unable and unwilling to resolved the problem. We were really struggling with the system and knew we had to make a change.

BHD: How did you come to the decision to purchase Retail Pro?

John: It was actually a CamData tech who (on the QT) recommended Retail Pro to our owners, Ruth and Chris Lutz. They went to Magic in Las Vegas, met with Karen, saw the product and were sold.

BHD: What features are most used by Sneaker Villa?

John: At this point in time, we use Retail Pro primarily for POS, but we know we’re using only about 50% of its functionality. Retail Pro is a very powerful software package, and as we continue to grow, the system expands accordingly, to meet our increasing inventory and reporting needs.

BHD: Why did you choose Big Hairy Dog as your service provider?

(Ruth): We were looking at a number of POS systems at Magic, and walked into the BHD booth. Karen answered our questions, gave us a demo, and we loved what we saw.

BHD: Are you satisfied with the service you are getting from BHD?

John: Big Hairy Dog has always given us good service, but after spending time training with them in California, I have a completely new appreciation for the entire staff. They have a remarkable dedication to serve their customers. Colt has given me some of the best training in my entire IT career. Karen, Buddy, Paul, Stephen, Cynthia - the whole staff is great!

FIX for SYSTECH DIAL-UP ERROR

In the SYSTECH units that have been sent out to upgrade from modem, there are three optional dialup numbers that were initially programmed by the SYSTECH manufacturer. Big Hairy Dog has discovered the primary (default) dialup phone number to IP translation is INVALID, (800-950-8950). If you use this number to dialup, you will receive an error message saying “This number cannot be reached from you calling area.”

There are two other phone numbers translating to IP. These are:
877-529-5688
800-866-1764.

Both of these numbers are valid roll-over numbers, and can be used without error.

If you are experiencing this error, please call Big Hairy Dog at 800-377-7776, and we will correct this issue for you.

Pictorial Tech Support

In a "pictorial approach" to customer support, Big Hairy Dog offers hardware photos on our website. When customers hear a tech refer to their "ethernet cable", many do not know what this cable looks like, let alone what it is used for.

We at BHD consider it part of our responsibility while providing excellent tech support to educate our customers on their hardware, as well as software. The next time you hear a hardware term that you're unfamiliar with, just refer to our hardware photos at: www.bighairydog.com/pics.htm.

We hope you're surprised at how much you learn!

Trend Micro gets High Rating

Big Star Reviews has just published an updated 2008 Internet Security Review.

In a rating system with 6 being highest, Trend Micro received 5.5 stars. The review states:

“The download and installation or Trend Micro is seamless and can be completed quickly. The interface is very user-friendly and implementing the Trend Secure features such as Remote File Lock and Transaction Guard takes little to no effort.

Trend Micro internet security software is a wonderful tool for a wireless network. The Home Network Control allows the user to customize the configuration for multiple computers. This program doesn't just provide Internet security tools, but is dually functioned to act as a parental control, saving a lot of system resources. Trend Micro offers customer support via email, chat and phone and only costs about $50.00."

BHD has Solution for Trend Micro Error

The latest update of Trend Micro Virus Software is causing problems with many software programs, including Retail Pro.

If you are experiencing problems running Retail Pro as a result of a Trend Micro Virus update, please call Big Hairy Dog at 916-368-1070. A tech will resolve the problem for you.

BHD Service - The Never Ending Story

Sneaker Villa purchased Retail Pro from Big Hairy Dog and enjoyed their support for several years, until a new CFO decided that they would do better with a local service provider. At that time, Jared Sadlowsky headed up the IT Department and agreed to transfer to a New York dealer only because he was promised that IT would be taken off his plate.

The new dealer was providing next-day return of down calls, and when Jared called with an issue, would hear the rapid page-turning of the Retail Pro manual as his dealer tried to locate an answer.

When the CFO decided that the IT Department was, indeed, best handled by Jared, it landed again on his plate. Jared agreed to take back IT management only if Sneaker Villa transferred support back to Big Hairy Dog.

Jared is now the VP of Store Development but can remember many experiences he’s had with BHD. He says “When I called to ask a question, Paul or Werner had the answer before I could even finish my sentence. There is such a comfort level working with BHD. I could go on for days about their excellent service.”

Techs on Tour Around The World

Big Hairy Dog techs and trainers are flying to more corners of the world than ever before! We are the best at supporting customers no matter where they are located.

BHD Tech, Rich, just returned from visiting several customers in Alaska. The onsites went well and he was able to view some beautiful wilderness.

NOW is the best time to purchase Software and Hardware

Section 179 of the 2008 Economic Stimulus Act gives you a tax break on property purchased in 2008. The new limits are as follows:

A business can expense up to $250,000 (previously $128,000) of section 179 property purchased in 2008. The $250,000 amount is reduced if the cost of all section 179 property exceeds $800,000.


To read the entire Section 179, please refer to the IRS site at:
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=179227,00.html

BHD - A Global Service Provider

QUESTION:
Where on Earth could a company in Singapore, China find the best Retail Pro Service?

ANSWER:
Big Hairy Dog, Sacramento California.

Milan Boutiques knows that distance just doesn’t matter when it comes to the best Retail Pro service, training and tech support in the world. Milan Boutiques, a group of three high-end shops in Singapore, wants to be sure their customers will not be inconvenienced with downtime due to technical issues. They insist on the best POS System and the best Service Provider available to retailers world-wide.

After not getting the service they needed from their local Retail Pro dealer, they searched for a Service Provider that offered them the best fit for their expectations of excellence. Milan Boutiques chose Big Hairy Dog for Emergency Tech Support, and then transferred their membership to BHD, even though it was the farthest Service Provider from Singapore. As Milan Boutiques Director, Mrs. SeowLing Tang-Cheung states, “We felt complete confidence in Big Hairy Dog’s ability to take care of the global customer.”

BHD's Make-A-Wish Annual Fundraiser

It’s that time of year again—when Big Hairy Dog undertakes our annual Make-A-Wish Fundraising Drive.

This year the BHD goal is to raise $13,000, enough to grant the wishes of several very ill and well-deserving children.

We give our customers the opportunity to join us in this great cause through the purchase of raffle tickets. The winning raffle ticket will be given your choice of

• 20 FREE TECH HOURS
• An Award-Winning Chili dinner for 8, packed in ice and sent directly to your home.

We hope you will join us in this year's drive. When you call in, be expecting to hear "Would you like to purchase a raffle ticket?"

Big Hairy Dog offers Rent-A-Tech Support

Have a Physical Inventory planned? A Special Store Event scheduled?

If so, you can rent a Certified Retail Pro Technician to be on standby for you, to handle any unforeseen problems that may occur after BHD's normal technical support hours (see below for support hours).

You pay only:

• 1 hour at the regular hourly rate for each business day you have the Rent-A-Tech on call. (Mon. - Fri.)
• 2 hours each weekend day you have the Rent-A-Tech on call. (Sat. and Sun.)

The tech will carry a pager and be on duty specifically for your company’s needs. Any time that the technician spends with you will be billed (by the minute) to your account.

NOTE: ALL PAGER CALLS ARE BILLABLE AT THE AFTER HOURS RATES WHICH APPLY.

BHD hours of business: (You may page a technician before or after these hours.)
Monday through Friday 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. PST
Saturday and Sunday 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. PST

To sign up for a Rent-A-Tech, call Christina at: 800-377-7776.

BHD Service - We're on Your Side!

We constantly hear about the lack of Customer Service that consumers get today. Frustrated that the consumer importance deminishes as soon as they sign on the line, consumers are finding that the Customer Service they were promised is either backlogged or nonexistent.

NOT TRUE at Big Hairy Dog. At BHD you will never have to ask for help in a voicemail box. All calls are returned and issues resolved promptly. 'Good Old Fashioned Customer Service' that is so hard to find, is what Big Hairy Dog is all about.

BusinessWeek.com reports on "Customer Backlash against Bad Service". Even though some of these stories may be amusing, BHD knows bad customer service is no laughing matter.
Big Hairy Dog - We're on Your Side!

Save on Consumables at Big Hairy Dog

Big Hairy Dog offers consumable products for your Retail Pro system at a competitive price. We offer our customers a full 10% DISCOUNT ON:

First Orders
Online Orders
Auto-Renewal Orders

The BHD website offers a list of Consumables that can be ordered online, including stock and custom tags, receipt paper, fasteners and labels.

View a variety of sample stock tags online. Custom tags are also available, and may be ordered by phone. Lead time for custom tag orders are 8-10 weeks and must be ordered in case quantity.

Big Hairy Dog offers an automatic re-order process for your convenience. Never again be caught by surprise without the supplies you need! One-Stop Shopping for all your retail supply needs is another way Big Hairy Dog makes service our Number ONE Priority. Increase your inventory by shopping online and save money at the same time. If you have questions or would like additional information, please call April at 800-377-7776.

BHD shares Customer Stories

Every Big Hairy Dog customer has its own story to tell. We are amazed at the history, success and generosity of so many of them. We have recently developed some marketing flyers which feature customers whose stories we'd like to share. BHD takes pride in the way Retail Pro and the support of Big Hairy Dog have benefited their retail operations. Here are a few of our flyers.

BHD is Available for Support 363 Days a Year

BHD is open and available to its customers on traditional holidays when most service providers are closed. That's right, on New Years Day, Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day, BHD is here to support you from 8am to 5pm. When you call us, you will be answered by a person, not a machine - every time!

There are only 2 days a year we close our doors - Thanksgiving and Christmas, the same days most retailers are closed.

Our regular business hours are:
Monday - Friday: 6am to 6pm
Weekends - 9am to 2pm

Now that is service you just can't beat!

Another Day In Tech

One of our remote techs was walking his backyard in Eastern Washington, when he came upon a neighbor.

Hard Drive Partitioning and Data Storage

Like most computer companies, Big Hairy Dog uses a restoration disk in order to get their customers computers back up and running in case of a major failure, i.e., corruption in the OS, infection by a virus, etc. Most computer companies supply a restore disk that will completely restore the computer to the way that it looked from their factory.

BHD uses a software program called Ghost that allows us to restore ONLY the partition where the operating system is located. This allows us to retain one of the partitions in the PC as it was before the restoration, KEEPING THE CUSTOMERS DATA THOROUGHLY INTACT. The hard drives in our machines are partitioned in the following manner:

1. The C: drive (20 GB) is where the operating system is located, and where all of the critical programs for Windows are located.



2. The Q: drive (10 GB) serves a dual purpose.


• It stores the page file for Windows, helping to reduce the used space on the C: drive, and speeds up the operating system.


• It is used as the location for the Ghost File, which BHD uses to make a complete backup of the C: drive.



3. The Data Drive (50GB) is given two different monikers.


• Either the D: drive if RPRO is NOT installed locally on that PC, but rather the PC is being used as a workstation.


• Or the R: drive if RPRO IS installed locally on that PC, and is acting as a server on a peer-to- peer network

In either case, this drive is where all data should be saved, and non-essential programs (to the operation of the PC) installed.

Creating the ghost image allows us to restore the operating system very quickly without touching the data located on the D: or R: drive. In the event the PC needs to be restored to its ghost image, any data or programs installed on the C: drive will be lost. Therefore to prevent the potential loss of your data, PLEASE INSTALL ALL PROGRAMS ON THE D: OR R: DRIVE.

NOTE: While any programs or data on these two drives will not be affected by restoration, any programs installed after the restoration will need to be re-installed in order to run correctly. This is due to the way that the PC registers installed programs.

In the event restoration is required, it is the responsibility of BHD to wipe any computer clean and reinstall the Operating System on the C: drive. This assures both BHD and the customer know that the system is setup correctly and also guarantees that no conflicts exist with software that may have been preloaded on the system prior to restoration.

It is important to schedule a backup of any data and installed programs on a daily basis. It is CRITICAL to backup your data before you send a PC into BHD for restoration. BHD will not be held responsible for any lost data.

Demonstration Videos are available to step you through the following tasks:
1. How to install programs to the correct drive
2. How to move My Documents to a larger drive
3. How to move your emails to the correct drive
4. How to move your temporary internet files
5. How to schedule a disk cleanup

Big Hairy Dog wants to provide every opportunity to educate our customers not just on Retail Pro software, but also on our hardware components. We know the importance of preventing a problem BEFORE it occurs, and hope this information and the demonstration videos above will be helpful in keeping your company running smoothly.

Retail Pro Offers Customized Plug-Ins

Big Hairy Dog has a number of customers who, due to their distinctive business needs, require specialized functionality. Big Hairy Dog makes an ongoing effort to provide each customer with the customized software that is essential to the technological needs of their business.

If Retail Pro does not currently provide functionality in an area of your operation that would increase your productivity, please let us know. In most instances, we are able to write customized plug-ins for a perfect fit to your company’s needs. All plug-ins are available in Retail Pro v8 and some in v9. Below is a list of some of the customized plug-ins that we have developed for our customers:

Agilysys, Lodging Management System (LMS)
IntegrationAgilysys LMS is recognized as one of the hospitality industry’s premier property management software solutions. Retail Pro provides integration with Agilysys LMS and supports most available LMS transactions.

Customer Loyalty Program
This integration gives the retailer the ability to accumulate and track loyalty points for their customers. Points are redeemed at the POS station based a configurable percentage (single and multi-store versions available).

Shipper Integration
This plug-in provides a 2-in-1 package.
Ship-it works with UPS WorldShip and Fed-Ex. Track-it includes USPS and DSL.

Multiple Price Level Management
Integration provides an automatic calculation of prices for all price levels in an item, based on the first input price level of the item.

Multiple ‘Ship-To’ Customer Addresses
This plug-in allows a user to set up multiple shipping addresses for any selected customer with Retail Pro.

Sales Order Extract Tool
This tool can run as a plug-in or a standalone and gives the retailer the ability to extract all sales orders either new or with changes since the last time the process ran. Orders are extracted into a Microsoft Access database or text file.

Auto-create Serial numbers during Voucher
For stores that sell unique items requiring a serial number per item, this plug-in will auto-generate the serial number for them.

Please contact your Big Hairy Dog Sales Rep for more information on any of these customized plug-ins. And don't forget to call us if you have an idea for a plug-in that would improve your business operation. Meeting EVERY need of our customers is our Number One priority.

On The Other Side Of The Pond

BHD sales rep Pam Elliot took these photos while assisting customers in France. During her stay in Paris she had an opportunity to visit many historical places including the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower (shown).

Buried

These pics just in from BHD Senior Tech Paul "Srappy" Jones. Paul's home base is Eastern Washington.

Georgia tax rate changing

Effective January 1st, 2008

Georgia tax rate is changing from 6.0 to 7.0

There is a video about changing tax areas:

http://www.bighairydog.com/vip/files/CW/videos/
CartridgeWorld_Adding_a_Tax_Area.html