Shark Tank: Right where you can't miss it

This company is in the process of replacing CRT monitors with new flat-panel displays, reports a pilot fish on the project.

"I got sent to check out one of our old CRT monitors that was having problems," fish says. "A quick look confirmed this monitor was dying fast, and this worker was about to get a new 22-inch LCD flat panel, complete with an ergonomic, adjustable base."

No problem -- the user will just get the new screen a little early.

But before installing the new flat panel, fish opens the box to make sure the office management department has put an inventory tag on the monitor. Sure enough, it's right on the top.

And since it's there, fish knows the inventory number will also be written somewhere else on the unit with permanent marker, just in case the tag is removed.

"I carried the new monitor up and installed it," says fish. "When I turned it on, I had a bit of a surprise -- in large, clear print they had written the inventory number in permanent marker on the LCD screen itself.

"I then brought up our help desk manager, who confirmed my suspicion that stupidity is not covered under the manufacturer's warranty."

Sharky covers stupidity -- as well as heroism, dumb luck and strokes of genius. Send me your true tale of IT life at sharky@computerworld.com. If I use it, I'll send you a Shark shirt that should cover your situation too. You can also add comments by using the form at the bottom of this page.

See more Shark Tank stories at the Sharkives.

Join Shark Bait

Now you can post your own stories of IT ridiculousness. Join Shark Bait today and vent your IT frustrations to people who've been there.
Go to the
Shark Bait homepage
or
Post a story now