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Jul 26, 2016 4:02 pm
Jul 26, 2016 4:02 pm
Subject: Re: Everyday tools for journeys?
Colin,
I've a story about some of your fellow GPO guys. Not you of course.
Years ago there was a used tool stall in Gravesend market that had a special table which sold broken tools on it. One day I spotted a broken 5/16" spanner that was ideal for grinding down to reach a particularly inaccessible nut on my Norton. I asked how much it was expecting it be almost nothing but to my surprise he wanted £2.50 for it - a huge sum in 1979. When I protested (swore actually) he asked me if I worked for the GPO. When I said not he reduced the price to 20p!
I pushed him for an explanation and after a while he explained that he bought broken tools from the GPO stores to 'recycle' them. He then sold them back to GPO workers who took them to the stores to exchange for new ones. Ingenious bit of dishonesty.
Appalled I vowed never to work for a nationalised industry.
Colin,
I've a story about some of your fellow GPO guys. Not you of course.
Years ago there was a used tool stall in Gravesend market that had a special table which sold broken tools on it. One day I spotted a broken 5/16" spanner that was ideal for grinding down to reach a particularly inaccessible nut on my Norton. I asked how much it was expecting it be almost nothing but to my surprise he wanted £2.50 for it - a huge sum in 1979. When I protested (swore actually) he asked me if I worked for the GPO. When I said not he reduced the price to 20p!
I pushed him for an explanation and after a while he explained that he bought broken tools from the GPO stores to 'recycle' them. He then sold them back to GPO workers who took them to the stores to exchange for new ones. Ingenious bit of dishonesty.
Appalled I vowed never to work for a nationalised industry.