Hypothetical question

[Imzadi]

I'm sure they feel bad but that wasn't the question asked.


The question was which person is responsible and the answer is the secretary.

I agree, You are changing questions mid-thread. Feeling bad is not the same as financial responsibility. Since she didn't pay the movers any money, as any sort of professional obligation, she should eat the expense.

If the movers really felt badly, they might chip in some money, since it was in their hands while the accident happened. But, not being professional movers, they didn't guarantee it would arrive in one piece. It was an "in good faith" type of situation.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm sure they feel bad but that wasn't the question asked.


The question was which person is responsible and the answer is the secretary.

Holly, you replied to someone saying "So you don't think the movers or boss feel bad about it?", which was said in response to "No, not really. Just a bad situation for the secretary that, honestly, she brought on herself. She bought something without authorization and didn't hire bonded professionals.", which was said in response to "What a terrible situation for everyone involved huh?".

The person wondering about them feeling bad wasn't responding to the OP's question, but a separate bit.



I think it is, or could be, a terrible situation for all.

I do think the secretary is out the money, and that's terrible for her.

The guys helping her move probably feel awful about it; I sure would!

And the boss will probably feel sad that he doesn't get a 4K printer for 300, and he might feel bad for the secretary being out the money, and not getting to do a nice thing by getting it.

So I definitely it is, or could be, a terrible situation for all, no matter whose responsibility it is.

 

[nile455]

I agree, You are changing questions mid-thread. Feeling bad is not the same as financial responsibility. Since she didn't pay the movers any money, as any sort of professional obligation, she should eat the expense.

If the movers really felt badly, they might chip in some money, since it was in their hands while the accident happened. But, not being professional movers, they didn't guarantee it would arrive in one piece. It was an "in good faith" type of situation.

Huh???

I commented that it was just a terrible situation for everyone involved (secretary wasting money, movers feeling terrible about breaking a $300 item, boss feeling guilty).

Someone responded that it was only bad for the secretary, to which I asked her why she didn't feel bad for the movers and boss.

Not changing the original question, just responding to a rather curious comment.

 

[autumnpalm]

I'm not really sure why the boss would feel guilty- he/she told the secretary they could not afford a new copier and had no knowledge of the purchase. IMO the boss didn't do anything wrong.

 

[dejr_8]

Professor Plum?

 

[Ceila]

So you don't think the movers or boss feel bad about it?

I was responding to this comment:

What a terrible situation for everyone involved huh?

in context of your original question, which was:

The question is, which of the three people should eat the money? The secretary, the movers, or the boss?

That has nothing to do with "feeling bad." You are asking who should be out the $300, and the answer is clearly the secretary.

 

[Holly]

Professor Plum?

In the library.

 

[Art 1]

Not the boss.

 

[Magic Mom]

Huh???

I commented that it was just a terrible situation for everyone involved (secretary wasting money, movers feeling terrible about breaking a $300 item, boss feeling guilty).

Someone responded that it was only bad for the secretary, to which I asked her why she didn't feel bad for the movers and boss.

Not changing the original question, just responding to a rather curious comment.

Why would the boss feel guilty? He was clear that he wouldn't buy a copier right now, but the employee went out and bought one anyway. It doesn't matter if it was cheap or not.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

The movers could feel bad, they were there when it happened and at fault. But I mean really, what is it that they have experience moving and did they have the proper equipment to move it?
I don't see how the boss could feel bad or guilty because the boss didn't even know about it so asking him to feel bad about something he had little to do with is unreasonable. He did tell her no. How should he feel that she went behind his back and bought it anyway expecting him to reimburse her.
It was a nice thought for the secretary, but really the secretary is totally at fault. If she couldn't get in touch with him, she should have just kept calling and wait for an answer. If it's not there, then it's not meant to be, which it obviously wasn't after all. She bought it behind his back after he said no. She expected him to pay her back and then she got people to help move it. She didn't even sign a contract with. She was wrong all the way around.
Hopefully she still has a job to help pay for it. If i had a secretary that went behind my back and bought something that i specifically said no to, I would think about hiring someone else.

 

[bballmom56]

In the library.

With the candlestick.


Sorry, as I was reading, I could see part of what was going to happen. When the movers came into the story, I just thought "bad idea". She was trying to do a great thing and it backfired. I would know never to do that without my boss's consent, because I know how she is . But that comes with experience. I'm afraid the secretary is out the money, although it would be nice if the movers offered her something. But they have no obligation to do so.

 

[Magic Mom]

It was a nice thought for the secretary, but really the secretary is totally at fault. If she couldn't get in touch with him, she should have just kept calling and wait for an answer. If it's not there, then it's not meant to be, which it obviously wasn't after all. She bought it behind his back after he said no. She expected him to pay her back and then she got people to help move it. She didn't even sign a contract with. Yes they She was wrong all the way around.
Hopefully she still has a job to help pay for it. If i had a secretary that went behind my back and bought something that i specifically said no to, I would think about hiring someone else.

I agree. Even if they had delivered the copier intact, the boss might not have been happy. There was probably no warranty or service plan since it was priced so cheap and he would have been forced to pay out 300.00 for something he didn't ask for or want.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

what's a "fire sale"

 

[luvmy3]

I agree. Even if they had delivered the copier intact, the boss might not have been happy. There was probably no warranty or service plan since it was priced so cheap and he would have been forced to pay out 300.00 for something he didn't ask for or want.

ITA, the cost of repair could easily be much more than the $300 deal the secretary found it for. Also is there a strict policy on how things for the office are purchased? My dh has to have all purchases approved before, if he decides to just pick something up without prior approval he is liable for it.

 

[nile455]

I was responding to this comment:

"What a terrible situation for everyone involved huh?"

in context of your original question, which was...

Well then you misunderstood or I should have been more specific on what I meant. I was referring to what a crappy and awkward feeling for everyone involved.

 

[nile455]

I agree. Even if they had delivered the copier intact, the boss might not have been happy. There was probably no warranty or service plan since it was priced so cheap and he would have been forced to pay out 300.00 for something he didn't ask for or want.

Maybe I wasn't clear. The boss DID want the copy machine, that exact model too. That was the one they were planning on getting anyway. And everything she buys is always reimbursed. In a way, I don't blame her for going out and buying something that someone thinks will cost $4,000 and paying only $300 for it. It was a reasonable assumption that he would been absolutely giddy over the deal she found and more than happy to pay her back.

 

[Magic Mom]

I probably should have clarified. The boss DID want the copy machine, that exact model too. That was the one they were planning on getting anyway. And everything she buys is always reimbursed. In a way, I don't blame her for going out and buying something that someone thinks will cost $4,000 and paying only $300 for it. It was a reasonable assumption that he would been absolutely giddy over the deal she found and more than happy to pay her back.

I don't agree. If she were so sure he wanted that one and would have been giddy, she wouldn't have called him to ask him.
Do you work at the office?

 

[scrapbookworm]

I don't agree. If she were so sure he wanted that one and would have been giddy, she wouldn't have called him to ask him.

Why not? Of course she should have called to ask him. After all, it is the company's money and not hers, unless she has more buying power than most secretaries I know. I *still* ask my boss before purchasing something, even when I'm 100% sure that he's okay. It's a respect and chain-of-command thing. Her boss could have very well said 'no, we're putting a brand new one in the budget'.

 

[Magic Mom]

Why not? Of course she should have called to ask him. After all, it is the company's money and not hers, unless she has more buying power than most secretaries I know. I *still* ask my boss before purchasing something, even when I'm 100% sure that he's okay. It's a respect and chain-of-command thing. Her boss could have very well said 'no, we're putting a brand new one in the budget'.

If you are authorized to make large purchases, then there is no reason to call and ask permission.

 

[nile455]

I don't agree. If she were so sure he wanted that one and would have been giddy, she wouldn't have called him to ask him.
Do you work at the office?

No, but she told me it was the one they definitely agreed on. It's a small-ish business with around 15 employees.

She called him because that is the natural thing to do, get authorization. But the way it sounds, there is no way he would have said no.

I think many people are misunderstanding me in thinking the boss didn't want this machine. He wanted it, the exact model, and planned on getting it and everything. Just not "today". But then again, when he said "No" to her, he said it thinking it was going to cost $4,000.