I'm a material scientist, so there!
I once bought a very large picture frame from Ikea: one of those where it's just a large sheet of glass with a backboard, no actual frame round the outside.

I put it on my trolley, paid for it, took it to my car, and then noticed that it had a big crack across it, probably caused by me loading it or lifting it inexpertly. I immediately took it round to the customer service desk and asked for a refund.

The customer service lady said no, I must have cracked it putting it in my car, so they wouldn't give me a refund. So I, to my shame, put on a pompous voice and said "I've got a degree in material science and I can tell from the crack that it's clearly been initiated by damage to the edge, which must have been caused before I bought it. The stresses caused by moving it may well have caused the crack to lengthen, but the initiation site is your fault, not mine."

The lady stared at me for a moment, then sighed, shook her head, and handed over the money. I felt a momentary thrill of success at getting my 15 quid back, and then realised what a tosser I was.
(Smale is stuffed, Fri 3 Sep 2010, 15:14, 9 replies)

Nowt wrong with being a tosser now and again.
But I liked your argument therefore you get a click.
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Fri 3 Sep 2010, 15:18, closed)

But...
How many times in life do you get to start a sentance with the words"As a material scientist" (to paraphrase)?

Enjoy it!
( Uncle Tom I command thee to wibble, Fri 3 Sep 2010, 15:53, closed)

Well actually,
since I worked as a materials scientist for about 5 years, quite often!
(Smale is stuffed, Fri 3 Sep 2010, 16:01, closed)

Ah
at least you got good value out of it then
( Uncle Tom I command thee to wibble, Fri 3 Sep 2010, 16:10, closed)

and there I was thinking you were just a material woman!

(waxdart hello., Fri 3 Sep 2010, 17:27, closed)

Ba-dum tish!

(Smale is stuffed, Fri 3 Sep 2010, 18:57, closed)

Nothing wrong with playing the 'expert' card
Regardless of the nature of the complaint, when I want to get my point across, I write letters that end with the ridiculously long stream of post nominals I am entitled to use as a chartered marine engineer and naval architect. Normally works a treat. Normal people fear geeks.

Unless of course you are not a materials expert - in which case shame on you, go and give the nice Swedes their £15 quid back.
(Juan - King of Donkeys shut the fuck up on, Sat 4 Sep 2010, 1:02, closed)

oooh, a materials scientist
Me too, altho doing just metallurgy these days :)
(Deligrams, Mon 6 Sep 2010, 13:09, closed)

Well...
I haven't worked in Materials Science for years, and I was always more of a metallurgist. There's not very many of us around!
(Smale is stuffed, Mon 6 Sep 2010, 14:20, closed)