At the company where this IT pilot fish works, support techs have to supply a price quote and get it approved before replacing any computer hardware.

"After having five quotes for new equipment previously rejected as too expensive, I realized this would be the same in this case," fish says. "So I decided to get a quote for secondhand equipment to save time.

"My manager went out for a meeting and came back in a rage."

Never quote for secondhand equipment again, manager tells fish. Do you think we are paupers? If we want new equipment, we'll buy it.

He also instructs fish to delete all his secondhand equipment quotes — and then gives him a verbal warning.

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