Inquiry Handoff Validation
Sales now owns the full inquiry handoff to CN Production. This tool runs every check your inquiry needs to pass before it goes — validate here, fix here, submit here.
Before You Upload
📋 New in v8.2 — Buy Sheet Bypass
If your division does not use a buy sheet for style/price approval, you can now bypass the buy sheet check when validating. Click "This inquiry does not have a buy sheet" on the upload page and confirm. All other validation rules still run. The bypass is logged with your name and flagged in the submission email to CN Production so they know the buy sheet was not checked. Only use this if your division genuinely does not have a buy sheet. If your division uses buy sheets, connect to SharePoint as usual.
If your division does not use a buy sheet for style/price approval, you can now bypass the buy sheet check when validating. Click "This inquiry does not have a buy sheet" on the upload page and confirm. All other validation rules still run. The bypass is logged with your name and flagged in the submission email to CN Production so they know the buy sheet was not checked. Only use this if your division genuinely does not have a buy sheet. If your division uses buy sheets, connect to SharePoint as usual.
🚢 New in v8.3 — FOB Order Validation
If your order ships FOB, check the "FOB Order" box on the upload page before running validation. When checked, the tool verifies that your IN LA Date falls within the ship window — it must be on or after the Start Date and on or before the Cancel Date. If the IN LA Date is outside that window, the inquiry is blocked.
Leave it unchecked for non-FOB orders — the regular IN LA Date rules apply as usual.
If your order ships FOB, check the "FOB Order" box on the upload page before running validation. When checked, the tool verifies that your IN LA Date falls within the ship window — it must be on or after the Start Date and on or before the Cancel Date. If the IN LA Date is outside that window, the inquiry is blocked.
Leave it unchecked for non-FOB orders — the regular IN LA Date rules apply as usual.
Before you open a file, make sure you can answer yes to all of these:
- ☐ Is every style in a buy sheet and approved (Merch + Finance sign-off)?
- ☐ Is the sell price confirmed against the buy sheet — the exact number, not what you think it is?
- ☐ Are your IN LA dates set with enough lead time for the customer?
- ☐ Is your salesperson code correct and active?
- ☐ Are all required fields filled in — season, description, fabric, color, fit, size range, order type, units?
If any answer is no, your inquiry is not ready. Finish it first, then come back.
How It Works
1
Sign In
Sign in with your NYC Alliance Microsoft account. This is required — the app connects to buy sheets on SharePoint to verify approval and pricing.
2
Upload Your Inquiry File
Drop your .xlsx inquiry file into the upload area. Use the standard template — do not rename, delete, or move columns. The system reads column headers automatically.
3
Review Validation Report
The system checks 15 rules instantly. You will see:
🔴 Hard blocks = must fix before submitting
🟡 Warnings = review, may need attention
🔵 Info = FYI only, no action required
4
Submit to CN Production
If the inquiry passes with 0 hard blocks, you approve and submit directly. The file goes to SharePoint, a Teams notification posts to the Inquiry channel, and the submission is logged. No middleman — it goes straight to production. If it fails, fix the issues in your file and re-upload.
What Makes an Inquiry Pass or Fail
✅ PASS — Ready to Submit
- ✓ Used the standard inquiry template without changes
- ✓ All required fields filled: Season, Description, Fabric, Color, Fit, Size Range, Order Type, Sell Price, Units
- ✓ Salesperson code is valid and active
- ✓ Division is valid (NY1, NY5, NY8, or FRY)
- ✓ IN LA Date meets the lead-time requirement before Start Date
- ✓ Cancel Date is after Start Date
- ✓ Every style is in the buy sheet AND approved
- ✓ Sell price matches the buy sheet approved price exactly
- ✓ PPK units are divisible by prepack size
- ✓ Each Inquiry # is unique per IN LA Date
❌ FAIL — Must Fix Before Submitting
- ✗ Template was modified — columns renamed, deleted, or reordered (system can't read the file)
- ✗ Salesperson Code blank or not in system
- ✗ Division blank or not valid
- ✗ Required fields missing (Season, Description, Fabric, etc.)
- ✗ IN LA Date too close to Start Date (lead time varies by customer)
- ✗ Cancel Date is before or same as Start Date
- ✗ Cancel Date is clearly wrong (shows a date before 2020)
- ✗ Style not found in any buy sheet
- ✗ Style found but NOT approved (needs Merch + Finance, or CEO override)
- ✗ Sell price doesn't match buy sheet — even $0.01 off = blocked
- ✗ PPK units not divisible by prepack size
- ✗ Same Inquiry # reused across different IN LA dates
- ✗ Cut-to-order customer (Burlington, Ross, TJ Maxx, etc.) missing Price Ticket = YES
Common Mistakes
⚠️ "Style not approved yet"
Every style must be in a buy sheet AND approved before you upload. If approval is still pending, your inquiry is not ready. Get the sign-off first, then validate.
⚠️ "Sell price mismatch"
Your sell price must exactly match the buy sheet approved price — not what you recall, not a rounded number. Even $0.01 off will block you. Check which customer price line you're reading: INVENTORY, STOCK, and named-customer lines have different prices.
⚠️ "Unit mismatch (Upfront/ATS)"
Your inquiry units must match the buy sheet's Upfront or ATS column — whichever you selected in the Order Type dropdown. If the numbers don't match, the inquiry is blocked. Double-check the buy sheet for the correct unit count for each style.
⚠️ "Style not found in buy sheet"
The style doesn't exist in any buy sheet on SharePoint. If it's a new style, it needs to be added and approved before you can include it in an inquiry.
⚠️ "IN LA Date too close to Start Date"
Each customer has different lead-time rules. Most need at least 2 weeks. MABD-based customers (Burlington, Ross, TJ Maxx, etc.) need 30 days. Check the gap between your IN LA Date and Start Date.
⚠️ "Salesperson code not recognized"
Use the code exactly as it appears in the system (e.g. 01AB1). Common issues: using a name instead of the code, typos, or using an old/inactive code.
🚫 "0 data rows detected" or template can't be read
The template structure was changed — columns renamed, deleted, or moved. The system reads by column header. Get a fresh copy of the standard template and re-enter your data. Do not modify the template layout.
Step 1 of 3
Upload Inquiry
Drop the inquiry file and enter the submitter name. The system reads the file automatically — no manual field selection required.
Drop inquiry file here
or click to browse your files
.xlsx · .xls · .xlsb
Upload a file and enter your name to continue
Step 2 of 3
Validation Report
Supporting Files (optional)
Drop files here or click to browse
Attach any additional documents that need to go with this inquiry
Step 3 of 3
Review & Approve