Journal entries should be the exception when using QB, they often do not work as you think they should, and  when you use inventory type items they never work for inventory. It is much better to use the forms on the home page the way QB is designed to be used.    Journal entries also bypass accrual/cash reporting, and will not show on many reports.

The vendor transaction listing only shows bills entered, if you pay a vendor without entering a bill that payment does not show there.  A purchases report by vendor will show it all though