On Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:44:48 +0100, "Clot"
wrote:

aemeijers wrote:
Winston wrote:
Lee Michaels wrote:
"stan" wrote

But number of times have been asked to assist people assemble some
items, who don't even have a hammer or screwdriver in the house! So
one ends up using a dinner knife to take out a screw or going home
to get one's own tools!
==================



I've probably shared this story on here before- one summer, as a kid,
I was stuck with the duty of being the key-keeper for the tool crib
on a apartment complex construction site. 'Borrowed' tools never
seemed to come back. After about the 3rd time replacing missing
shovels, chains, 12-lb sledges, and such, the next time I made a run
to the supply house, I also got a couple cans of dayglo pink spray
paint, like they mark pipe locations with. I put big splashes of pink
on all the tools, and the MIA rate went WAY down. It also made it a
lot easier to spot orphan tools left laying around the site by the
casual labor temp crews, most of who vanished after their first
payday.
I may be a lazy slob of questionable ethics, but I always return
borrowed tools, and if I lose it or break it, I replace it. Too bad my
office mates aren't like that. I only take cheap tools in there, to
keep in the briefcase under the cubicle 'desk'.

Different context, but one day many moons ago, folk in my office were
horrified when I deliberately use a coin to destroy the paint on a stapler I
had recieved that day. I kept it in use in the office until it broke about
19 years later!

Remember Tippex? I used that to similar good effect.


I used to send crews to trade shows to man a booth. They had various
forms and cards to be filled out by visitors. Pens disappeared almost
as soon as they were put out. I think it was mostly a case of absent
mindedness. My solution was to have them use stick pens, like the
cheap bics, and put them out without the caps. People were less absent
minded about putting a pen in their pocket or purse if it had no cap.
It worked very well. I've recommended this to chashiers at the grocery
store who have a similar problem losing pens when people sign credit
card slips. They seem to like it, too.