On this page: Prerequisites | Getting
Help | Restricted and Blocked Items |
Tips for Navigating Vendor Catalogs | Office
Depot | Airgas | | VWR |
GovConnection | Dell | Grainger
| Apple
Before you can access the Office Depot, VWR Scientific, Airgas, GovConnection, Dell, Grainger, and Apple catalogs you need the following:
If you find you need help with purchasing from vendor partners using ECAT, first check the ECAT Stock Answers and Other Information for frequently asked questions. If you need further help, try to determine what the problem or question is and refer to the following table for where to get help.
|
Type of Problem or Question |
Where to Get Help |
|
Computer or technical About the Web or Netscape |
IS Business Liaison Team |
|
Vendor related Check availability of items |
Office Depot VWR Airgas GovConnection Dell Grainger Apple |
All purchases made using ECAT are subject to the same Institute policies and procedures regarding appropriateness and allowableness as purchases using any other method. The following regulated or otherwise restricted items may not be purchased using ECAT:
Note: Information about restricted needles, syringes, and alcohol is displayed in VWR's ECAT on-line catalog. This information is displayed as a convenience to the user, to show model numbers and prices to be used in preparing an SAP or SAPweb requisition. However, ECAT does not permit ordering of restricted items.
Only requisitioners approved by the MIT Central Procurement Office may order restricted items; the Central Procurement Office maintains a list of authorized requisitioners. A user may check whether they are authorized by calling the VWR Stockroom at x3-1881 or MIT Central Procurement at x3-7241.
Note: The MIT Safety Office reviews protective eyeglasses and other protective devices for use at MIT. Protective devices that have been approved by the Safety Office may be purchased via ECAT. For information on other types of protective devices, contact the Safety Office, x3-4736.
When you access the ECAT catalogs, you are accessing the vendors' standard catalogs with MIT-specific products and pricing. This ensures that requisitioners see the most up-to-date product and pricing information available. However, this also means that the look and feel of the catalogs will differ from vendor to vendor. This section is intended to provide you with some tips for navigating each vendor's catalog and placing orders.
Specify Ship-To Name and Location
When you first enter the Office Depot catalog, you are asked to
specify the name and MIT campus address of the person to whom the
order should be delivered. The name defaults from the name on your
personal Web certificate; however, you may change it. You must enter
the delivery location each time. It is important that you enter the
delivery location in the correct format; for example, E19-370. It is
also important to note that, at this time, it is not possible to
change the delivery information once the shopping cart is submitted
to SAPweb.
Find MIT Items in the Office Depot Catalog
To find MIT-specific items handled by Office Depot, such as
letterhead, pre-printed envelopes, pink memo pads, exam books, etc.,
type mit in the Search for box and click Find.
If you know the item number for an MIT item, you may enter it in the
Search for box.
Accessing the Office Depot Shopping Cart
You may review or submit your current shopping cart at any time by
clicking on the "Go To Cart" button at the top of each Office Depot
page. If the cart is not submitted to SAPweb, the items in your
shopping cart are saved and can be accessed the next time you visit
the catalog.
Office Depot's QuickFind Feature
When you need help finding the right laser cartridge for your printer, or other
supplies for your business machines, use Office Depot's Web site tool, Supplies
Quick Find. It appears as a button, labelled Toner/Ink Quick Find on
the red bar at the top of Office Depot pages. After you click the button, select
the supply type, manufacturer, and model from a series of drop-down menus. QuickFind
then lists products that fit your machine. You can add an item to your shopping
cart or click on the item name for more information.
Faster Ordering Using Order By Item Number
If you know the item numbers of the products you want to purchase, you can
save time by using the Order By Item Number feature. Click on Order By Item
# on the red bar at the top of Office Depot's catalog pages. Here, you can
add up to twenty products to your shopping cart by simply keying in the item
numbers and quantities, then clicking "Add All Items."
Accessing the Product List
From the BOC home page, click on the "Main Catalog" link or
button; this takes you to the page BOC Gases and Supplies Main
Catalog. From that page, click on the link "Order from catalog",
which takes you to the Product Categories page with links to specific
gas and gear products.
Returns
You may specify cylinder returns on your ECAT order. Specify return
quantities under the "Ret" column of the order form. Because of
current limitations in SAP requisitioning, returns must be associated
with a purchase for the same item. For cylinder returns not
associated with a purchase for the same item, coordinate pickups with
the BOC on-site representative at x3-4761 or boc@mit.edu.
Placing Reorders
You may easily duplicate previous orders by using BOC's order
history. To display a list of your past orders, click on "Check Order
History" found on most BOC catalog pages. Select a previous order and
click "Display" to see the line items on the order. To add an item
from the previous order to your current order, click on the
"Retrieve" checkbox and then click "Add to Order". Return to your
current order form by clicking "Open Order Form". On the current
order form you may change the purchase quantity, return quantity, and
comments for the reordered item.
Accessing the BOC Shopping Cart
You may access your current order by clicking on the "Open Order Form" button
on the bottom of most BOC catalog pages. At this time, it is not possible to
save an unsubmitted order form from one session to the next.
For complete information on navigating the GovConnection catalog and placing ECAT orders, refer to the Guide for Purchasing Computer Equipment at MIT.
Go to the VWR information and connection page.
Finding Products
Click on "Full Catalog" to access a complete listing of all products
available on the Dell catalog. Click on a system type or product line to view
a list of all products available for this category. After selecting a specific
system type, you may configure your system by changing and adding options. Some
options will add to the cost of your system. After you have finished configuring
options, click on "Update Price." You may then add the item to your
shopping cart by clicking on "Add to Orderform" or save it as an electronic
quote (E-Quote) by clicking on the "Save E-quote" button.
Specify Building and Room Address
When entering your Shipping Information, be sure to specify your MIT building
and room number on the first line of the Address field.
Using E-Quotes
If you do not wish to complete your order immediately, you may save it as an
E-Quote. E-Quotes will let you configure a system and save the configuration
for editing and processing at a later date. E-Quotes will also let you share
product information with your colleagues. E-Quotes are valid for 30 days.
Once you have selected and configured a product, click the "Save E-Quote"
button. You will then be asked to provide your name, your email address, email
addresses of any other people who should receive a copy of the E-Quote (optional),
and a desired name and description for the E-Quote. Click on the "Continue"
button to save your E-Quote. You will receive an email message confirming your
E-Quote.
To access your E-Quote, click on the "Retrieve E-Quote" link at the top and bottom of most Dell catalog pages. Enter your email address and click "apply." You will see a list of all of your saved, valid E-Quotes. Select the E-Quote using the radio buttons to the left of the E-Quote number and click "Retrieve E-Quote." You may then add the item to your shopping cart by clicking on "Create Order Requisition" or you may edit an item, update quantities, or delete items. Note that if you edit anitem, you will have to save a new E-Quote before you can add it to your shopping cart.
Searching for Products
To find products, you may browse product categories or conduct a Product Search.
Both methods will allow you to further refine the results by drilling down on
brand name, detailed product categories, or availability. You will see the number
of matches found in red at the top of the page. Click on the "View Results"
button to display the products matching the criteria.
Quick Item Entry
If you know the Grainger part numbers of the items you want to purchase, you
may enter them and the quantities in Quick Item Entry located on the catalog
home page.Quick Item Entry allows you to add three items at a time to your requisition.
To enter more than three items at a time, click on the Bulk Requisition Pad
link. From the Bulk Requisition Pad, you may enter up to 20 items to either
your shopping cart or to a Personal List.
Go to the Apple information and connection page (certificates required).
MIT ECAT is restricted to MIT internal use.
Last modified: September 7, 2004