This is driving me nuts, I can't crack it or find the information I need to crack it....

INSERT INTO tbl_product_production
(sku,[cost del exc],distributor)
SELECT LTRIM(RTRIM(LOWER(sku))), MIN([cost del exc]),distributor
FROM tbl_product_stage T1
WHERE (NOT EXISTS (SELECT LOWER(RTRIM(LTRIM(sku)))
FROM tbl_product_production T2
WHERE (lower(rtrim(ltrim(T1.sku)))) = (LOWER(RTRIM(LTRIM(T2.sku))))))GROUP BY LTRIM(RTRIM(LOWER(sku))), distributor

This works, however if I have a part number (6677), which is available from three different distribution houses, I want it to insert into the table the lowest price, the sku part number and the distributor which has the lowest price.... BUT it inserts three records, one for each distributor, not just one...

INSERT INTO tbl_product_production
(sku,[cost del exc])
SELECT LTRIM(RTRIM(LOWER(sku))), MIN([cost del exc]),distributor
FROM tbl_product_stage T1
WHERE (NOT EXISTS (SELECT LOWER(RTRIM(LTRIM(sku)))
FROM tbl_product_production T2
WHERE (lower(rtrim(ltrim(T1.sku)))) = (LOWER(RTRIM(LTRIM(T2.sku))))))GROUP BY LTRIM(RTRIM(LOWER(sku)))

If I run this it works as it should... but I dont get the distributor detail.

I thought of running an insert only inserting the sku, then running an update afterwards, however it is SOOOOO slow and I should have to right?

I'm sure I am missing something fundemental....... Any help greatfully received... Stuart.

Also, in addition, I need to select the lowest price that has stock. but take into account that none of them might not have stock so display the lowest price anyway if this is the case.

[sku],(min([cost del exc])),[stock level],[distributor]

Thought it important to point it out now.

Try running your original query as a select into a temp table. Then do a MIN(price) from there.