Starring:
Me as Harried SysAdmin
Joe Jack@ss as Clueless Developer
Cool Cucumber as VP-Engineering
(I)
CD: Um, can you look at my Treo? It doesn't work.
HS: What's up?
CD: Well, it won't turn on.
HS: Hmm... battery is charged? Does it work when plugged in?
CD:(staring at feet, making circles with his toe) Uh, no.
HS: Ok, let me take a look (fiddles for a few minutes) hmm... (takes battery out of his Treo and puts it in CD's)Well, looks like it's dead alright. Is there a Verizon store on your way home? Just give them our corporate phone# and they should replace it under warranty. Let me know if you have a problem.
CD: Uh, well, umm, I already went by there and they won't replace it.
HS: What? Why not?
CD: They, uh, they said it got wet.
HS: ?!
CD: There's a dot under the battery that turns red if it get s wet, they said. It's red.
HS: ?!
CD: What?
HS: Did you get it wet?
CD: Well not really.
HS: ?!
CD: Well, I uh, had it in my shirt pocket and leaned over to pick up my bag and it fell into a mud puddle. Huhuh.
HS: And this is when the Treo mysteriously stopped working?
CD: Uh, I guess.
HS: Well, Verizon doesn't offer insurance on those. We'll just have to have you manager authorize a replacement.
CD: He, umm, he'll be pissed off. Don't we have spares?
HS: Just a couple of regular cell phones.
CD: That won't work. You don't have any extra Treo's?
HS: Gee, well let me just look in NO!!!
CD: Uptight Manager is going to be really pissed.
HS: Yup. Replacement is $499 I think.
CD: Can't you just give me yours? Your manager is cooler than mine.
HS: Walk away. Just walk away right now. I'll deal with it.
(II)
(HS relates story to VPE, trying to leave out the worst of CD's jack@ssery.)
VPE: Freaking idiot. OK, replace it out of your monthly discretionary budget. I'll call him in and make him squirm. I'm his boss's boss, after all. Too bad he's such a good programmer. I'm in a firing mood this week. Oh well, this will almost as fun.
Fin
