chaircanery

one morning i came in to find that my chair had been replaced by one that leaned back too far, as though it had once been owned by the guy next to me who ruins chairs all the time (al).

so i asked, 'hey, did you guys steal my chair for your meeting yesterday, and then give me the wrong one?'

al told me to ask diane about that. she told me that the old man took it so all of the chairs in the conference room matched (apparently the backs are slightly different sizes). she made me sit in her chair for a minute, and it was awesome. i said it was possibly the best chair ever and that it didn't hurt my back. she wound up getting irritated on my behalf and getting the old man to say he'd get me a new chair that didn't cause me back problems.

she and tom went to some place that sells used office furniture from businesses that closed and found several $400 chairs for $50. it seemed like a done deal.

except the next day, the old man went over there to haggle.

the old man is big on trying to get things free or cheap when he doesn't deserve them and there is no logical reason for the other party to lower their prices for him. this was no exception, and the guy selling the chairs said he wouldn't go any lower.

so the old man walked, saying he was giving the guy 'time to think about it.'

when diane pointed out that the chairs would be gone before he went back, the old man said, 'that's a risk i'm willing to take.'

this was only two days after saying my back was worth a brand new chair. way to inspire confidence, chief.