It makes me pretty mad when one of my users brings me a $3000 PowerBook G4 all dented and mangled. I received such a computer yesterday. Actually, the user called me to tell me that his laptop case was cracked and the CD/DVD drive was making funny noises when it spun. It isn't too uncommon for a user to bring me a laptop that has seen better days. And to tell you the truth, I've gotten pretty used to it.
But yesterday's case was worse than I've ever seen. I really had to hold myself back from going off on this guy after inspecting his mangled laptop for a few minutes. My question is: Why can't these people realize that even though something doesn't belong to THEM that they indeed are responsible for it and need to treat it with care??? Instead of probing the user as to why he doesn't have any respect for stuff that doesn't belong to him, I kindly reminded him that these are $3000 laptops and that repairing his computer will cost the company M-O-N-E-Y. Gosh, I so wanted to just smack this guy around a little.
Looking closer at the laptop after he left, we discovered more and more damage and indications of where this PowerBook had been dropped at least twice.
Folks, this is why you come out to your car in the shopping mall parking lot to find a ding in your door. It's because people could care less about taking care of stuff that doesn't belong to them.
I think it all stems from poor parenting. I'm proud that I was brought up to respect other people and other people's stuff. Why is it so hard for other parents teach their kids these same values?
Posted by Jeff at March 11, 2003 11:18 AMIt is exactly that, poor parenting. The parents themselves had poor parents or the parents made up for their short comings by giving the child everthing they wanted so if the child broke something the parents just would go them a new one. I call it "Give me money" parenting, just give me money & I will leave you alone. Plus if you don't have to earn it then it doesn't mean as much to you.
Posted by: Mark at March 11, 2003 12:18 PMI'm smiling right now!
Posted by: Mom at March 11, 2003 12:48 PMExactly Mark, too many people today had eveything just handed to them. Not too long ago I am out the bank to find a hole, not just a dent in my door. I want to invent a car alarm just just smacks people for being dumb.
Posted by: Eric at March 11, 2003 02:34 PMThat's just awful.
The worst thing we saw (damage wise) back in my Blockbuster days was a guy who'd left his rented copy of It Takes Two on his trunk, then drove off. Realizing that he might have left the tape behind, he backed up (over the tape) then pulled forward to get it out from under his tires.
He brought a towel into the store. Now, at the time, the movie was only in rental stores. (When videos first hit the rental stores, even a VHS version is worth at least $100). He spilled out the tape on the counter and told his story.
...at least he had the guts to admit he made a mistake. Your powerbook guy ought to be reprimanded.
Posted by: Brian at March 11, 2003 02:44 PM