Dowel straightener

[bhskittykatt]

Or, part 654,489 of "I married a dolt". This is part sighting, part brain burp.

We're getting my parent's house ready to rent. The main bathroom had a wooden dowel towel rack that was warped, so we took out the dowel and went to the hardware store to replace it.

I was getting keys cut, so I did not witness this, but Hubby relayed it to me. He went to seek out assistance to find out where the dowels are. He found a very young employee who just had that look where they clearly a noob. And Hubs simply could not restrain himself.

Hubs: "Yeah, I need some dowel straightener." *holds up bent dowel*
Kid: "Uh...hmm...hang on...." *looks around and thinks about it*
Hubs: *gives him a few seconds* "I'm just messing with you. I need a brand new dowel to replace this one."
Kid: "Oh!"

Hubs said he only half expected the employee to actually fall for it. And I smacked him with the warped dowel.

[fireheart]

Poor guy has probably had people asking him for impossible requests, so it sounds like he was on automatic.

[HiddenMica]

My bf worked in a hardware store for a week, little temp job while someone was on vacation. Asian man came in with a handful of grass and couldn't speak English. Just kept jabbing his finger at the grass. Took him almost a half an hour to figure out what the guy wanted, Grub Killer. Yea you get some pretty messed up people with a "I know what I'm doing" attitude that haven't a clue. His friend has some horror stories from that place.

[Jay 2K Winger]

My friend Rick likes to do that at places like Radio Shack. As he immortalized in a sprite-comic.

[Teskeria]

At least he stopped right away. a real jerk would have run the kid ragged for 10 minutes or more.

[bhskittykatt]

At least he stopped right away. a real jerk would have run the kid ragged for 10 minutes or more.

Hubs wouldn't be that mean. When he was in a seamanship class, he got sent to find a gallon of prop wash. He's been on both sides now.

[El Pollo Guerrera]

My friend Rick likes to do that at places like Radio Shack. As he immortalized in a sprite-comic.

I've seen a DVD rewinder before... it was a gag gift, but it also cleaned the surface of the CD/DVD.

Has anyone been asked for white ink for their printers?

[Jay 2K Winger]

I've seen a DVD rewinder before... it was a gag gift, but it also cleaned the surface of the CD/DVD.

Has anyone been asked for white ink for their printers?

No, but I've seen guys get sent for headlight fluid.

[Crossbow]

Never had white ink, but I have heard of (and used-I'm evil) a dual analog bucket-brigade and a left-handed smoke shifter. Even better, go to a computer store and ask if a given PC has "LRF Support." It's pretty much a toss-up as to whether you'll get confusion, laughs, or smacked.

As for the OP's Hub's request for "dowel straightener," I'm afraid I have to say that I actually own one. Might want to warn hubby that if he's sending someone on a snipe hunt, make sure they don't have a trained snipe under the counter first.

[Mr Hero]

Hubs: "Yeah, I need some dowel straightener." *holds up bent dowel*
Kid: "Uh...hmm...hang on...." *looks around and thinks about it*

ED Drugs Aisle 5

[Mishi]

My favourites:
- A box of grinding sparks (Rugz's answer: "So, what colour did you want?")
- A tub of elbow grease
- Headlight fluid
- A left handed screwdriver/hammer/etc
- A long weight (wait).

[It's me]

Still one of my favourites:
http://dilbert.com/fast/1996-05-02/

[Spork4pedro]

My Dad once pulled something similar on my mom. She wanted to be nice and make him a pie. She asked what his favorite flavor was and went the the store to find the ingredients. She went to three different stores and couldn't find the main ingredient anywhere. In fact, every time she asked for help the produce guys laughed.

My Dad had told her that his favorite pie was a Dingleberry pie.

[RealUnimportant]

I had a brief flirtation with the mechanical & engineering sectors, as my Dad was a workshop engineer. Over the years I've been sent for:
a water pump for a classic VW
a glass hammer
"left handed" universal tools
skyhooks
tartan paint

And once I was asked to get something for styes in my manager's eyes; I thought this was a gag, the pharmacist thought it was a gag, but apparently it wasn't... Never did find out what it was supposed to be though.

[dalesys]

My Dad had told her that his favorite pie was a Dingleberry pie.

Utah Phillips had a similar recipe: Moose Turd Pie