That's Not What I Meant

[EvilEmpryss]

From way back in my military days:

Guy from another shop needs an aircraft part repaired. He calls over and asks me how long it will take to get it fixed. He makes a big deal about how he needs it the next day. I say yes, if he brings the part to my shop that day (before shift change) I can have it ready the next day.

He brings the part in near the end of my shift the next day and then gets angry that I can't magically work a 9-hour repair in 45 minutes. He even tells my supervisor that *I* had told him I could fix the part if he brought it in that day. Fortunately for me, my supe knew I wouldn't make a stupid promise like that (we worked by the Montgomery Scott rule of project ETCs) and he backed me. Still it was a sucky thing to have to deal with.

[chainedbarista]

major cranial rot there; repairs always take time. i'm wondering what he does when his car needs work? drops it off at five to close and expects it done in four min.

[bainsidhe]

We get that too. I'll tell a customer that we can do a super expedite on something to ship in 2 days, but that I need the order ASAP. I'll talk to them at 10am and I won't see the order until it's almost closing time or until the next morning. By that point, production has lost a full day and all bets are off.

[hatori]

I'm guessing Air Force? IF so, what base was that at?

[MoonCat]

It's that Customer Standard Time again. It makes them incapable of understanding how time works.

Examples:

Customer phrase: I'll fax it to you in a couple of minutes.
Really means: I might send it in the next hour or so.

Customer phrase: I'll get that right to you.
Really means: I'll send it out next week.

Customer phrase: I'll send it well before the deadline.
Really means: You might get it 45 minutes after deadline. And it will be wrong or incomplete.

You get the idea.

[Argabarga]

major cranial rot there; repairs always take time. i'm wondering what he does when his car needs work? drops it off at five to close and expects it done in four min.

Oh rest assured they do that too

They also call us to the scene of their most recent fender-bender, and, with the whole front end smashed and a wheel knocked off, they honestly inquire if it will be fixed tomorrow.

When you point out repairs take time, and major repairs take major time, they usually will revise the demand to 48 hours....

Lady, if you're lucky, insurance will have at least had a chance to look it over and officially TOTAL it tomorrow.

[joe hx]

Not forgetting how long it takes to get parts.

[EvilEmpryss]

I'm guessing Air Force? IF so, what base was that at?

Dover AFB.

Long hours, cold weather, and the occasional rudeness when because of either my gender or my rank someone couldn't accept that I knew what I was talking about. But I didn't just fix things, I created new parts out of chunks of metal... it really worked for the creative side of me.

I miss that job.