r/talesfromtechsupport • u/hameater • Jul 13 '12
It's Beeping!
This story is a typical encounter I had with providing tech support at my first job. I was the only one at my work that had any understanding of computers, so by default, I was the go-to guy.
~ ~ ~ Wavy lines to indicate the backward journey in time ~ ~ ~
Many, many moons ago, I worked at a highway service center, in the fuel bar section. At the end of each shift, we would tally up the sales and count the cash, and enter all the data into an Excel spreadsheet. One of the glories of being a 'shift boss' was that it was your responsibility to balance the shift.
I had been a grunt for awhile pumping fuel; then a shift boss. I then worked my way up to managing the place. It was a 24-hour business, so there was always work to do. I would spend a fair bit of time in the office, preparing bank deposits, etc at the end of my shift.
One evening, I finished at 4, and wandered over to the office. I was deep into my deposit balancing, when I got a call on my cell phone. No one ever calls me on my cell phone unless its a work emergency. So I answer the phone, and the guy who was working in the fuel bar starts rattling in my ear. "The computer's broken ohmygodidon'tknowwhattodocan you heeeellp!"
I turned to the CCTV, and watched the poor chap as he begged for help.
"What's the problem?" I ask. I can hear a steady beeping sound in the background.
"I don't know what happened, but the shift end computer is beeping I think it's going to explode or something. Can you come back and help? I know you're probably at home relaxing and everything, but IDONTKNOWWHATTODOOOO!"
It dawns on me that he doesn't realise I'm still on site, tucked away in the office. I can also see, in the CCTV, exactly what's causing the issue.
"You're seriously going to make me come back to work? Is it really that big a deal?"
He was practically in tears. "Pleeeeeeease, come in!"
"I've already had a few beers, I would be drinking and driving, you know," I lied.
"Oh shit, whatamigunna dooooooo!"
"Relax, buddy," I say. "I'll be there as quick as I can." I add as much exasperation in to my voice as I can.
"Thanks buddy, I owe you one!" he sighed with obvious relief.
I decided I would let him sweat for a few minutes. I finished off my deposit homework, and closed the safe, and left the office, being careful to lock the door behind me.
I then strolled over to the fuel bar, until I got close, then I started sprinting - running as fast as I could into the fuel bar, panting heavily.
My colleague looked at me in shock - we had spoken only about three minutes ago, and I lived a half hour drive away.
"I broke the speed limit getting here. This better be good," I growled, as I ran up to the computer.
The computer was still howling away, in what did sound rather distressing.
Without breaking eye contact, I went to the computer, and gently lifted the book he had accidentally placed on the keyboard, which was holding down some buttons, which was making the computer beep because it didn't like the constant input from the keyboard.
The beeping stopped.
"Oh, shit" he said, in a very small voice.
"It's alright, dude. I was in the office when you rang and I could see the book in the camera."
He didn't think it was funny that I made him wait three minutes with the beeping, in utter panic.
EDIT: Wow, front page, and QOTD? Amazing! Thanks chaps! You have encouraged me to contribute more; my goal is to ENTERTAIN YOU.
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u/kennerly Jul 13 '12
Maybe he was telling the story from the past in the past. Pastception.