Dunsmuir Hardware

The traditional hardware store of Dunsmuir - California's historic railroad town. Founded by Dunsmuir's first mayor - Alexander Levy - in 1894 and continuing today as a full service TRUE VALUE hardware store. This blog is simply intended to be a running commentary on operating a century old small town hardware store. Also please check our our website at www.dunsmuirhardware.com

My Photo
Name:
Location: Dunsmuir, California

Sunday, May 06, 2012

OK - so yes - it's better this year

We did whine a bit with the new Department of Fish and Game computerized licensing procedure a year ago but have to admit - now it's better.  When a customer comes in with a license issued on the system last year we simply scan the bar code and CLICK there he or she is on the screen with all the information shown and we just click a few commands to print their new license.  Nice!  And there is a tremendous improvement in the information available from scanning a drivers license.  I think there has been some increased communication between the Department of Motor Vehicles and Fish and Game.  Last year we could scan a license and sometimes it recognized the person and sometimes not.  When it was not then we had to manually input all the information - physical description, address, even phone number.  This year it almost always recognizes the customer and the few times when it doesn't then we key in their birthdate, last name and drivers license number and it pops up. So - yes - it's better and takes a lot less time.  We still grumble at the need for all the information for a one day fishing permit.  Can't understand the need for all the personal information for an out of state customer when they simply want to fish for an afternoon. Hunting licenses are also easier and as we get more and more familiar with it we can wade through the deer, bear and pig tags and zone hunts and party hunts ( that doesn't mean a party like with refreshments - it means when two or more hunters want to hunt together in a specific zone ) we can issue it all pretty efficiently.  Also Fish and Game seems to have backed off on their security procedures a bit.  A year ago we kept having to change passwords far too often which really slowed down the sale of licenses.  I guess they were concerned that terrorists would hack into our system and take control of folks' fishing licenses.  Now we seem to only change passwords once a month.  Bottom line - it's better.