What's the most expensive mistake you've made at work?

Question

What was the end result? Bonus answer.

Answer 1

Back in 1996, I accidently plugged in a 486-DX4 CPU the wrong way into a motherboard socket and killed it on the spot. Back then, it was a pretty expensive CPU, worth maybe $200 or so.

I was a computer technician working for my company, but I wouldn't admit it I did anything wrong. Instead, I just said that the CPU must have been defective and we sent it back to the retailer. :)

Answer 2

The Most expensive mistake was i have taken the offer letter, Joined the work place got Confirmation and staying back at the same place for almost 2years.

I am getting moulded in to that culture and learning the Politics and tact's to handle the subordinates as my Boss

Answer 3

I work at hotels at the front desk. Once on my last job a guy came in and waited in line behind a few other guest and when he got to the counter he told me that his daughter had just checked in to room 223 and that he needed to borrow $60 in cash to pay their mover and that i could just charge it to the room until he was able to stop by a atm. he was like i'll even leave you my watch and ring just for proof that i will return. Turns put that wasnt his daughter and she didnt know who he was. Well he never returned and my boss cussed me out but he got a new ring and watch out of the deal so he wasnt too mad.

Answer 4

Ahhhh.. I am a PA for an interior design firm. Actually my brother is my boss but he damm strict during work. N u know woman really blurr & quite forgetful therefore i almost every single day will forget to arrange something. (Eg. Appt to be double confirm, wash his cup, arrange new sample cotalogue... etc.) There's once i mis-used our drawings for raft paper usage & i scribble words all over. That day i really thought GOSH... dead some-more the client was those mean type. But she thought that was design on the wall & compliment my brother. hahaha (if not i sure in hot soup.) =P

Answer 5

As a cashier, I gave someone change for a $20, and then he distracted me and slipped the $10 into his pocket and claimed I only gave him change for $10. I was so nervous I didn't challenge him, but felt better a few weeks later when I saw the Dearborn Police escorting him out in handcuffs (Fairlane Mall in Dearborn).

Answer 6

oh no! ok this is weird..

i was working in the cosmetics department in Walgreens, and this woman came up and said that she wanted to buy cologne for her professors. She started to make me nervous b/c she picked out like 8 expensive ones! i was ringing them up on the register and then she told me she only wanted to buy 3. So when she went to pay for it, she handed me a check that was already written out. Then she scratched the numbers out and re-wrote it! i dont know what the hell i was thinking! she left ad came back 2 minutes later and tried to buy more... i started catching on b/c she tried to write another check.. a completely different check with more writing on it! i told her that i cant take it b/c it's already written on. she told me she'd go get a new one, but never came back.

Well I opened up the cash register and looked at the check, it turned out that it was my NEIGHBORS check written for a charity.. my neighbor lives 20 miles away from this store!

It costed the store about $160 and I didn't get in too much trouble b/c I was good in the company.. they just kinda fussed and then laughed

Answer 7

$1 Million.

There was a computer that needed to be installed, so the boss told me to put it to one side.

The installers never came to ask about it for two years.

When they did, it was discovered that the computer had been damaged by water and was no longer of any use.

it cost $1M to buy.

I said, no one ever asked about it (as the invoice for said item was STILL on the package, showing the send-out date.

Nothing happened. EVER!

Answer 8

I gave the wrong lawyer's ad to the printer. The only difference in the ad was the copyright year on the bottom but we had to pay for it.. Thousands of dollars.

Answer 9

I don't work but if i did i would probably be fired for making a huge mistake!

Answer 10

i dropped an antique bowl and it shattered...the boss said it was worth hundreds of dollars....but nothing happened to me, i work for a place that gets donations and sells them, no out-of-pocket expense for the company....all is well.