Do you keep the supply cabinet full?

[susan silva]

Is it your job to order and keep the supply cabinet full?  If so, what do you end up ordering the most?  Do you go through pens fast or maybe post-its?  How do you decide what to order?  Price, green, what the company lists, or personal choice.  What are some of the "unique," "strangest," or "coolest" thing you have had to order?

[emwright]

I am working on my supply order as I read this.  I order supplies weekly.  I think the item we order the most is re writeable dvds.   I have just started to order a few flash drives, I will see if people like them.   If I had to say what normal supply, 3x3 post its.   I like to order different colors and it is the standard yellow people use the most.

How do I decide?  Well we have a set list of standard supplies negotiated by our purchasing department but I tend to step out of the box.  It is good for some items but really it is my choice.   For example, we have a box of pens for $1 (cheap stick pens).  I totally stay away from them, because I have found most don't work well or run out fast.  The staplers they list are horrible, jam, jam jam, but the staples they have on their list work well.   I do like to go for quality over just straight price.   

Strangest item I have ordered... don't remember or nothing stands out, oh wait I had to order a car booster seat for someone's chair (not sure why they didn't adjust the chair or get a new one).  Unique?  Many, we have order some pretty unique desk lamps, software packages. plants for the office, sculpture for the lobby.   Coolest thing I had to order?  Glass art that was given to each and every member of our department.  They cost about $150 each so not cheap trinkets.  I still have mine on my desk right now.

[jennika]

We order supplies when we need them, not on a schedule sometimes we can order twice a week, others once a month.  Usually once a week.  We order pens the most, like emwright, we go for quality pens over cheap stick pens.  Ordering supplies and what to pick is my decision unless someone specifically asks me for a brand.  I pick from past experience with companies, learning about product from the internet (DeskDemon) and research I try to pick the best product for the best price.

Strangest thing I have ordered, nothing really strange.  Coolest thing? The first time I ordered my own headset for the phone, most unique, hmm  I get special orders all the time, I guess it was one special order for a "pink" mouse for the computer.

[Atlanta Z3]

I just ordered supplies yesterday.  I usually order as we need items.  My company has best buy items with Staples so we get discounts.  I always try to order $50 min for free shipping.  But one toner cartridge fills that request.  My department are pen snobs, they like a particular kind of pen, so I always try to have a spare box of a dozen around.  My predecesor loved to order supplies, I have been trying to make do and use up, I've been in my current position over a year and just recently ordered file folder labels!  I probably order every 4-6 weeks.  I will also share with other departments for supplies as I know I have the tabs and labels for everything, so if I need to borrow it's not a cost center issue!

[gee4]

I usually replenish stock every 2-4 weeks, depending on how low stocks are or what individuals require.

We have standard stock items that are housed in a central store, however for non-stock items we have to request these from an outside supplier.

I usually re-order many of the same items so it's an easy task.  However, I find the more I stock, the more people want!

[rose.winter1980]

It isn't my remit to order items for our central store.  We have free access to our central store and can order things for our own offices within reason.  I'm quite frugal with supplies (am using intrays which I understand were in use 15 years ago) and only order/use what I need.  Some of my colleagues are very particular about the colours they have on their desks - one person has all items in pink, for instance.  Possibly "cool" if you like pink, but certainly costly.

I was responsible for ordering supplies for my entire company in my last post and kept a tight rein on what was ordered.  I tended to order, as I request nowadays, things that work well and last a long time because cheaper things can sometimes be a false economy.  Pens and post-it notes were the things that people got through most. 

[peaches2160]

Due to cost containment we have created a central supply.  After collecting all of the left over supplies after the reorganization we have 3 rooms of "stuff". 

File folders are the most in demand as are a spital bound notebook which is the journal of choice for many in our department.  Have not really had any weird things really. 

We order from central supply first.  If the item, new or used, is not in stock, they place the order for the most cost effective item available and comparible.  There a few items that have to be ordered like the journals.  Our new supply vendor sort of undermines our efforts by requiring a $50 min. order to avoid shipping charges.  Our staff completes the supply order form themselves and submits to central supply.  I set it up so I am out of the loop unelss I have to order for me or my boss.

[gee4]

Q: For those of you who are female PAs/Admins, how many are responsible for carrying or have been seen to carry a box of photocopying paper to the photocopier?

I literally have too far to carry a full box even though I am in the same building as our paper supplies.  However I have just literally passed a manager who said, how degrading, I've just had to go and get that myself!  As you can imagine there was steam coming out of my ears as I walked passed and said nothing.

Does he assume it's less degrading for me?  Should I as a female be seen to carry such supplies while the men stand and watch?  I bet he has trouble putting the bins out at home....

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference, because soo help me...

[JessW]

 

Gee Hold it.

Breaths in, breaths out, repeats until is calm

You only have to carry one box?  I get crazy looks if I canny only 1 box - am expected to carry one in each hand (the plastic binder! helps!).

[gee4]

Oh Jess that's awful!  It was on the tip of my tongue to say, oh well can't help, haven't done the manual handling course!  I was so proud of myself for walking passed and saying nothing.

Do they see those tasks as female??  I have been in shock as men have watched me struggle and then actually held the door open for me - 

[rose.winter1980]

Gee,

I don't think those tasks are seen by that manager of yours as specifically being female, but for support staff only.  And most support staff may be female.

The person who orders our office supplies happens to be female and she is happy to carry things around (we have a little truck on wheels for anything heavy).  For anything that is very heavy, we commandeer any man who happens to be passing or standing still near us - including Directors.  No-one ever refuses, probably because they've been house-trained.  Mind you, my company is relatively small and we have no time for egos.  Egos have to stay outside or are hung up with the coats.

[gee4]

Rose,

I thought that of my company too but obviously there are some who think it's beneath them to help out.

[msmarieh]

I think I would have called out that passing manager. Degrading??? Exactly what do you mean, sir???

That's ridiculous and a very inappropriate comment to say.

In our company though, it would be strongly frowned upon for me to carry a box of copy paper a long distance, for fear of back injuries. Safety is taken very seriously here. They would want one of the trained guys to do it and use the proper equipment as well (those dollies/hand trucks). If a guy did see me carrying it, they would absolutely step forward and offer to take it.

[gee4]

Marie, I couldn't agree more.  In my previous company if you hadn't completed a manual handling course you were not allowed to do any heavy lifting.

The thing is our stores guy is so rude and unhelpful, he won't even deliver a box.

[jennika]

Gee I would have been fuming as well.  That is audacity.  My company is like Marie' s. The don't want me carrying heave boxes.  We actually have the paper supply boxes delivered and stacked next to the main printer. There are a few people here that do think it is below them to change the toner or unjam the copier.