Profile

His name is Adrian, he is no Mr Fixit

1 October 2006, around 1.30pm… Adrian busily rushes into the small, white house. He coolly scans the half-unpacked lounge-room, moves towards the non-working computer and opens his black bag of computer-fixing tricks.

 

A few minutes later the busy Mr Fixit has already hooked-up the new power box ($110) into the ailing computer. The ailing computer does not start. Adrian collects the computer and scurries out the door. It will take just a day or two to fix, he promises.

 

One, two, three, perhaps even four days and calls later to the Mr Fixit head office reveals that the ailing computer also requires a new motherboard ($195) with two hours of labour ($240) to be ship-shape and running again. “He’ll be there between 6-7pm tonight,” the voice on the other end of the Mr Fixit helpline says.

 

Adrian rushes his small Asian frame into the small, white house at 6.58pm. With a scowl on his face and annoyance occupying his heavy, dark brow he announces that it has been a busy, busy day at the Mr Fixit head office. He has not yet installed the ailing computer’s new motherboard. 

 

The big ginger cat darts from its comfortable evening position on the couch and into the nearby bedroom as Adrian abruptly sets up a mobile Mr Fixit workshop in the small, previously cosy lounge-room. He removes the computer’s outer-casing, and sighs. He announces that the motherboard is in fact too big, therefore requires a new outer-casing ($110).

 

“Are you trying to take advantage of me?” the helpless woman finally stammers. “This is my livelihood you’re messing with.”

 

Adrian stands and lists a number of blame-shifting excuses. The woman starts to cry. He sighs loudly - it is impossible to talk to her now. He grabs the computer and rushes out the door.

 

Around 9.30pm, Adrian re-enters the small, white house with less scowl, annoyance and busy-ness. With a look of expectant gratitude on his face, he announces that Mr Fixit will not charge the woman for the new outer-casing, or the additional video card he discovered that the new motherboard also needed.

 

He starts the computer. It whirs, clunks and groans. “It has four fans now instead of one, to keep it cool!” Adrian says just before heading out the door.

 

A few days later the woman calls to inform Mr Fixit that the computer now has a new range of hiccups and problems, including the increasingly load groaning. “Not a problem,” says the voice on the other end of the Mr Fixit helpline. “It’ll eventually become white noise.”

Back