I received a request recently for a power cord for a flat screen monitor. I asked if they needed a power cord, AC adapter, or both. They said they needed only a power cord. So I brought one up. It turns out that it indeed need an AC adapter as well. I was asked if I had one, I replied that I didn't. That's where the fun started
Upon seeing the monitor, I immediately saw that it isn't a model that the company buys, so I asked where it came from. The fellow employee responded that she brought it from home, that it was a gift from her old company. I asked her what was wrong with the monitor that was originally at her desk. She explained that she couldn't possibly return to using a CRT monitor when, for the last 2 years, she has been using LCD and besides, it's ugly. She then proceeded to let me know that I needed to find a AC adapter for her, and since I didn't have one for her, that I needed to order her one.
Since I'm the kind of guy that loves to be told what to do by someone who just started in a data processing role, I decided to ask why she brought it from home instead of having one supplied for her by the company. She said that she asked, but was told that it wouldn't be approved since it wasn't a justified need (apparently "because I'm used to LCDs" or "it's ugly" isn't a valid business need). I asked if her request was denied, why does she think that her request for an AC adapter will be approved? She replied since the LCD was already on company property and that the CRT had been moved, that it would be easier to just order an AC adapter. I asked why didn't she have one to begin with, and she replied that the company didn't give it to her and it was to much of a hassle to track one down. I told her that I agreed and said it would be far easier to just put the CRT monitor back on her desk. So I did.
She was unhappy with me to say the least and said she'd be sending an email to her boss. I told her to copy me on it and to make sure that she explained to her boss that she was trying to get me to do her legwork for her and to get the company to pay for a personal expense. So far, I haven't seen an email yet.
August 14, 2006 at 3:18 pm
[...] Description: This user is never happy. If his/her computer isn’t too slow, it’s too loud, too big or too small. If his/her screen isn’t too small, it’s too bright or it hurts their eyes and gives them a headache. The standard mouse isn’t good enough, they want a trackball/optical/wireless mouse. Their keyboard is noisy and stiff. It takes too long to boot up. Why are they getting spam? How come they aren’t allowed to change their wallpaper or listen to music? Why can’t they have an LCD instead of a CRT? Why can’t they have a CRT instead of an LCD? How come so and so’s department got brand new equipment and their’s didn’t? And so on. [...]