Lost in translation
 

Stores at bus company workshop's didn't have a certain bolt that was urgently required so asked the machine shop to make a new one and gave him the old broken one. On returning the new bolt was ready but he had cut it in half, asked him why he cut it, he said you wanted one like the old one and that was in two pieces.

I had a similar experience with a Lucas wholesaler.
I had an old car with a festoon bulb illuminating a clock in the rear-view mirror. I couldn't get a replacement bulb anywhere, so I took a trip out of town to the Lucas factors.
"Can I help you?"
"Have you got a bulb like this?"
He holds the bulb up to the light then returns it to me and says:-
"I'm sorry . . . no."
"Oh dear." says I
"All ours have intact filaments." came the reply.


And:-
I drew out some nuts and bolts from the stores. One nut had missed the thread-forming operation so I returned to the stores and asked the storeman for a bolt to fit that nut. Quick as a flash he reached to one side and slapped a bolt onto the counter - that had missed the thread-forming process so had a plain shank.

Ha ha ah...I like it! Good storeman that

It is said that a certain Japanese company were given a contract to supply a large quantity of components (call them widgits if you like!). The contract allowed for a very small percentage of defective items. When delivery was made, everything was neatly packaged including a small parcel to which was attached a note which said, "We do not understand your English way of business. However we have enclosed 1.5% of defective parts as requested, and have packed these separately for your convenience. Hoping this will meet with your approval."

Council gets it wrong -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7702913.stm