Laptop Flop, Part 6
(I work at a computer repair center downtown. There is a crosswalk leading from our door across the street, with two parking spaces adjacent to it.)
Me: “If there are any other problems, please feel free to call or drop by; we are more than happy to help.”
(The customer takes his newly refurbished laptop and a brand new case from me.)
Customer: “Thank you so much. I really appreciate this. Do you guys happen to work on smart phones?”
Me: “Yes, we do. Just bring the phone in anytime, and we will take a look at it.”
Customer: “It’s in my car, actually. I’ll be right back.”
(The customer walks out the door to their car, and momentarily sets the laptop in its case down in the crosswalk while he looks for his keys. I have spent several long and frustrating hours working on the laptop, but because the customer is so kind and polite I don’t really mind. Unfortunately, a driver in a black pickup suddenly drives into the crosswalk and parks his truck on top of the laptop, damaging it.)
Me: “Well, f***.”
(The customer and the driver argue for a moment, before the driver comes in with the customer on his heels.)
Customer: “Look at what he did!”
(I quickly examine his laptop, and make an estimate on how much it will cost to repair it. Thankfully the damage isn’t too terrible.)
Driver: “Hey! I was here first! Quit helping him and help me! I need to pick up my [smart phone]!”
Customer #1: *to the driver* “And what exactly do you plan on doing about my laptop!”
Driver: “Nothing! It’s your own d*** fault for leaving it in a parking spot.”
Customer: “It cost me $275 to have it refurbished!”
Driver: “Sorry for you! Maybe you wont be such a moron next time and put it in your car instead of leaving it in a parking space!”
Me: *to the driver* “That will be a total of $291.57.”
Driver: “What! Why the h*** does it cost that much? This is outrageous! You’re just trying to rip me off! Give me my phone back NOW!”
Me: “It is $49.99 to replace the screen on your phone, and the repairs for this laptop will approximately cost $219.99. Including tax, your total comes to $291.57. Will that be cash or card?”
Driver: “What!? I am not paying for this a**hole’s laptop. It’s his own f****** fault for leaving it in the parking space!”
Me: “So, let me get this straight: you park in the clearly marked crosswalk, which is a no-parking zone. You whip into the space and nearly hit him because you weren’t paying attention to where you were going, and run over his laptop. The same laptop I have spent the last two days working on, which was sitting in, again, a clearly marked no-parking zone, and you’re not going to take responsibility for your actions?”
Driver: “Exactly! I am not paying for this little s***’s stupidity.”
Me: *to the customer* “It looks like your repairs will be on me.”
Customer: “Thank you, but you don’t have to do that.”
Driver: “Yeah, you have to pay for it because you’re a dumba** that left his computer in a parking space.” *turns to me* “Now give me my d*** phone.”
Me: “Get out.”
Driver: “No, I want my phone. Now hand it over.”
Me: “No. Either you pay for all of it, or you get nothing.”
Driver: “I’ll sue!”
Me: *pointing* “There are a total of one, two, three security cameras that have caught everything on tape. Do you really think you could justify refusing to pay damages in front of a judge?”
(The driver looks crestfallen, and finally pays for all of it. The customer gives me a $20 tip!)
