Copy that.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

9:30 a.m. – Begin making photocopies.

9:33 a.m. – Jam photocopier.

9:33 to 9:40 a.m. – Open and close random doors and drawers of photocopier, trying to make sense of useless diagram telling me where it’s jammed, while muttering angrily under my breath.

9:45 a.m. – Call photocopier company and request a service call (the sign on the copier specifically says don’t try to fix it yourself).

9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Do other work, eat lunch, etc.

1 p.m. – Pass by photocopier. It’s fixed! Try again to make copies.

1:01 p.m.– Jam photocopier.

1:01 to 1:02 p.m. – Half-heartedly open and close photocopier doors and drawers quickly, vow never to use photocopier again, then go back to my office. I’m not calling the service guy again. Too embarrassing. I’ll just leave it alone (apologies to the next user).

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

11:30 a.m. (after returning from morning meeting): On my chair are several mangled papers. Someone has found me out. They have removed my offending papers (which had my name on them) from the copier and left them for me.

11:35 a.m. Check voicemails. “This is Rob from Ricoh Photocopier Service calling. I can’t come by today to fix your photocopier today, but will come tomorrow. If you need to reach me, call me at (mumble, mumble) 460-36099 (eight digits?).” I listen to the message three times, and still can’t decipher the number.

11:38 a.m. Try calling 460-3609 (it’s as good a guess as any). Voicemail answers: “Hi. This is Drew.” Ooops. Wrong number. Hang up.

11:40 a.m. Cory, my co-worker, says, “Oh by the way, the photocopier guy was looking for you this morning.”

Me: He was? This morning?

Cory: Yes.

Me: Ohhhh…he must have left that message yesterday, not today.

Cory: Maybe. By the way, I fixed the photocopier.

Me: YOU fixed the photocopier?

Cory: Yeah. I went to use it and it was jammed so I looked in all the doors and pulled out the jammed paper. I saw your name on it and figured you might want it, so put it on your chair.

Me: Oops. I guess the photocopier guy came for nothing. (PS How did Cory find the papers when I couldn't?)

11:45 a.m. Phone rings. It’s 460-3609. “Ah, photocopier guy!” I think, recognizing the number. I pick up the receiver and don’t even bother with the usual formalities:

Me: “Hi. I’m really sorry. I requested a service call yesterday because the photocopier was broken but now it’s fixed so you don’t need to come anymore. I’m sorry for the confusion.”

Voice on other end of phone: “Who is this?”

Me: “It’s Margaret Angus. You’re the Ricoh photocopier service guy, right?”

Voice: “No. You called my number.”

Me: “Oh right! Sorry! I was trying to reach the photocopier guy and he left me a voicemail but he mumbled the number and I couldn’t make it out but it sounded kind of like this number. But obviously it wasn’t, and you’re not the photocopier guy and I’m really sorry. I’m going to let you get on with your day now.”

Voice, laughing: “OK.”

11:55 a.m. (notice red light flashing on phone, indicating another voicemail. Was it there this whole time?) “Hi. This is Rob from Ricoh Photocopier Service. I came and fixed your photocopier. The stapling feature wasn’t working so I cleaned that out and now it doesn’t seem to be a problem.”

11:56 a.m. I knew that photocopier was broken.