You filed an FCC complaint about WHAT?

[protege]

Especially once the end users have gotten their hands on them.

...or because they're cheaply-built pieces of shit to begin with. When my boss was still somewhat involved with the company, he'd buy equipment solely based on price. He didn't seem to care about if it could actually handle the load we'd put on it. Naturally, whatever he bought, was crap. Then he'd scream at me when it failed, and it took "too long" to fix it.

He actually backed off after I snapped at him. I was in the server room, server is apart (panels and doors off the case), and I'm trying to run tests. As expected, the hard drives (which were too close together--not ideal for heat transfer!) had overheated, and crashed. I'm trying to get some space between them, to increase the airflow, and he just wouldn't bugger off. So I lost it--something like "what the FUCK do you want now?" Surprisingly, I kept my job. He just turned at left. But at the time...

At least he left me alone after that, unlike J. After several hours of moving drives around, trying to test the data's integrity, backing it up onto disc, etc. I had the entire thing ported onto one of the other less-shitty machines and ran it like that until the server could be replaced.

[Sparklyturtle]

Not just customers. Years ago, when I still handled about 99.9% of my employer's IT needs, I'd get that sort of crap from fellow employees. For example, if the server (which was a piece of crap) decided to overheat and lunch its hard drive, I'd have to head downstairs and deal with it. Most times, it was possible to run a few tests to check the data's integrity, port the entire thing over onto one of the other computers, and re-map the network drives, and then putting everything back later. Pain in the ass, and it's not great. But, it works.

As I'm trying to get the drives up and running, I got a never-ending litany of bullshit about how the company was losing "thousands of dollars." I mean, every 5 minutes, I'd have to stop what I was doing, and answer the *same* question from now-former-coworker J about the server. He finally left me alone when I said something along the lines of "look asshole, the more you pester me with these stupid questions, the longer this is going to take, and the more money you're going to "lose." Right now, the entire company is offline. Nobody can trade, nobody's making money. Fuck off and let me fix this..."

So yes, I know *exactly* what that's like. Quite a few people have the idea that they're worth more than they really are, and will pad their "estimate" accordingly.

One night I was working at transcription by myself since my partner had been hospitalized. A doctor called in a stat dictation, then, after that, called every fifteen minutes to find out if I was finished yet. The dictation was quite lengthy and was going to take a couple of hours to finish, and his calling didn't help. Finally he asked me if there was anything he could do to speed things up, and I told him, "Yes! Stop calling me! I'm the only one up here, and every time you call I have to stop what I'm doing and answer the phone." To his credit he apologized and stopped calling, and I managed to get his summary done within 90 minutes. Considering that his dictation was almost 30 minutes in length and it would take me an hour to type 15 minutes of dictation (on average) my fingers were flying.

[Jay 2K Winger]

"You know if we had a better server, this would never happen less often. Go bitch to management."

FTFY. Never say "never" when it comes to computers. Especially once the end users have gotten their hands on them.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

As I'm trying to get the drives up and running, I got a never-ending litany of bullshit about how the company was losing "thousands of dollars." I mean, every 5 minutes, I'd have to stop what I was doing, and answer the *same* question from now-former-coworker J about the server.

"You know if we had a better server, this would never happen. Go bitch to management."

[protege]

A lot of customers I deal with have a ridiculously inflated notion of how much their time is worth.

Not just customers. Years ago, when I still handled about 99.9% of my employer's IT needs, I'd get that sort of crap from fellow employees. For example, if the server (which was a piece of crap) decided to overheat and lunch its hard drive, I'd have to head downstairs and deal with it. Most times, it was possible to run a few tests to check the data's integrity, port the entire thing over onto one of the other computers, and re-map the network drives, and then putting everything back later. Pain in the ass, and it's not great. But, it works.

As I'm trying to get the drives up and running, I got a never-ending litany of bullshit about how the company was losing "thousands of dollars." I mean, every 5 minutes, I'd have to stop what I was doing, and answer the *same* question from now-former-coworker J about the server. He finally left me alone when I said something along the lines of "look asshole, the more you pester me with these stupid questions, the longer this is going to take, and the more money you're going to "lose." Right now, the entire company is offline. Nobody can trade, nobody's making money. Fuck off and let me fix this..."

So yes, I know *exactly* what that's like. Quite a few people have the idea that they're worth more than they really are, and will pad their "estimate" accordingly.

[notalwaysright]

That last one was very satisfying. I remember one time waaay back when a manager got paged because of an odd return at the fabric counter. As soon as the manager turned the corner and saw the SC she called her out "remember when you bought that, I told you it was not returnable!" (paraphrased, can't remember exact words) It's just so nice when you see and idiot get denied.

[ladyjaneinmd]

The six dollar lady reminds me of one of my most irritating customers from my years at Borders. She held up the entire queue on Christmas Eve because she’d been overcharged by two cents, and refused to move until we refunded it.

Actually, I would do that. It's *my* 2 cents and nobody takes it from me!
Of course, if I could go to Customer Service and get my refund, I'd do that, so I didn't hold up the whole line.
But I'm not giving away 2 cents!

[greek_jester]

A lot of customers I deal with have a ridiculously inflated notion of how much their time is worth.

I know exactly how much my time is worth. I have a charge-out rate. This gives me a ball-park figure to threaten cold callers with if they don't take the hint after the first couple of attempts (only instead of "per hour" I use "per minute"). There's even legal precedent:

Cold calling: the victim who fought back - and won

[taeraresh]

The six dollar lady reminds me of one of my most irritating customers from my years at Borders. She held up the entire queue on Christmas Eve because she’d been overcharged by two cents, and refused to move until we refunded it.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

A lot of customers I deal with have a ridiculously inflated notion of how much their time is worth.

[Nunavut Pants]

If not then how can he be out $250, much less $2000?

Well, you see, he had to take a whole DAY to deal with this, and HIS TIME is SOOOOOOOOOO VERY VALUABLE, must be at least $250/hour....

Or maybe his time is "only" worth $125/hour, but he is doubling it for "penalties".

Who knows what breezes blow through the minds of SCs like this? (I'm pretty sure they go in one ear and out the other, without encountering anything between.)

[taxguykarl]

Wow! I see that Gravekeeper's crazies found their way to you.

[Rosco the Iroc]

4th time,
the banker is reducing his offer, now it's $200
5th-150
100
50
You get NOTHING GOOD DAY SIR!

[earl colby pottinger]

Last one

Is that a business account?

If not then how can he be out $250, much less $2000?

Also if he claims that he lost business and this is not a business account, then point out that he is breaking the terms of his agreement and he needs to be moved to a more expensive business account that guarantees up-time.

[Kittykat]

Some people are just nuts.