Piano Service Software

[Cy Shuster]

I tried out version 1 of Customer Manager (don't know if there's a newer 
version), and was very unimpressed.  You only had one or two custom fields; 
you couldn't search on anything but last name (not first name, not city, zip 
code, nuthin'); you couldn't *sort* on anything but last name.

I found it much less powerful than the Palm's contact manager.  And I don't 
bother putting every single customer into QuickBooks; for accounting, cash 
received on day of sale I enter as a sales receipt.

--Cy--

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Roy" <roy.peters@mindspring.com>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 11:42 PM
Subject: Re: Piano Service Software


> List:
>
> Quikbooks makes a Customer Manager program.  It's not too expensive..I 
> think it was $89.
>
> I made the switch from PTBiz at the start of the year.  I was able to 
> import names, addresses, and telephone numbers from my PTBiz customer 
> database via the process that John previously described...creating a CVS 
> file using the mailmerge function.
>
> QBCM can sync with data in both Outlook and Quikbooks.    So, any changes 
> you make in one program will change info in the other two.   You can set 
> QBCM so that it uses the Outlook calendar as it's primary calendar. 
> That's what I did.   So, my PocketPC syncs with Outlook on the desktop, 
> and then QBCM syncs with both Outlook and Quikbooks.   You can add a 
> customer in Quikbooks, for instance, and the info shows up on your 
> PocketPC, and vice-versa.
>
> There are two minor drawbacks.
> One) The syncing process with QBCM is a little bit "clunky".  You have to 
> have QBCM, Quikbooks, and Outlook all open to sync them.
> Two) Appointments don't appear in the QBCM customer history unless you 
> make them from QBCM.  Appointments made in Outlook (on the PocketPC, for 
> instance) do appear on the the Outlook calendar in QBCM, they just don't 
> show up in the customer info.
>
> Overall, the switch to Quikbooks and QBCM is one I've been happy with. 
> PTBiz really isn't an accounting program.  It keeps track of income, but 
> not expenses.  It's good, as far as it goes, but it's much nicer to have a 
> program which keeps track of both.  The whole goal is to have less work to 
> do come tax time.  Also, Quikbooks is putting out updates just about every 
> year, so I'm not stuck with an obsolete  program.  I expect they will 
> upgrade the QBCM program as well.  I've already recieved one update.
>
> Another thing about Quikbooks is that they offer seminars through 
> associated accounting firms so you can learn how to use the program.  I 
> went to one last fall, and it was well worth it.
>
> It sounds like others out there have found good solutions also.  I think 
> that we all have our own ways of operating, and just have to find what 
> works well for each of us.
>
> Roy Peters, RPT
> Cincinnati