Ed Screws The Packaging House

'At the general managers' meeting I ask our GMs why the packaging people are giving us a hard time.'

'"Because we gave them a hard time", replies our manufacturing GM, "do you remember around Christmas time their contract came up for renewal and you insisted on nailing them down to rock-bottom prices".'

'"Yes", I tell him, "I thought that was a rather successful negotiation".'

'"Successful at that time, when the packaging people were begging for orders, but not successful now when they're turning away orders", replies the manufacturing GM, "they're bound to give priority to the people who pay the most. Your successful negotiation has come back to bite us in the ass".'

'"Can we offer to pay more?" I ask the manufacturing GM.'

'"Yes. That'll help in the longer term but not for the stuff we need in the next few months. We're already at the back of the queue for that".'

'"So we're going to go delinquent on more orders?"'

'"Looks like it".'

'Oh shit', Ed confides to his diary, 'still it's only 88 days till the IPO and I'll be in Sod-Off  Land with enough gravy to gag a gigantosaurus.'