Chapter 12

           MYBOSSSTANDStooclosetomydeskwithhislittlesmile,hislipstogetherandstretchedthin,hiscrotchatmyelbow. Ilookupfromwritingthecoverletterforarecallcampaign. Theselettersalwaysbeginthesameway: 

           "ThisnoticeissenttoyouinaccordancewiththerequirementsoftheNationalMotorVehicleSafetyAct. Wehavedeterminedthatadefectexists..." 

           ThisweekIrantheliabilityformula,andforonceAtimesBtimesCequaledmorethanthecostofarecall. 

           Thisweek,it’sthelittleplasticclipthatholdstherubberbladeonyourwindshieldwipers. Athrowawayitem. Onlytwohundredvehiclesaffected. Nexttonothingforthelaborcost. 

           Lastweekwasmoretypical. Lastweektheissuewassomeleathercuredwithaknownteratogenicsubstance,syntheticNirretorsomethingjustasillegalthat’sstillusedinthirdworldtanning. Somethingsostrongthatitcouldcausebirthdefectsinthefetusofanypregnantwomanwhocomesacrossit. Lastweek,nobodycalledtheDepartmentofTransportation. Nobodyinitiatedarecall. 

           Newleathermultipliedbylaborcostmultipliedbyadministrationcostwouldequalmorethanourfirst-quarterprofits. Ifanyoneeverdiscoversourmistake,wecanstillpayoffalotofgrievingfamiliesbeforewecomeclosetothecostofretrofittingsixty-fivehundredleatherinteriors. 

           Butthisweek,we’redoingarecallcampaign. Andthisweektheinsomniaisback.