Navigating Equipment Returns After Leaving Big Firms: A Personal Experience
After spending nearly a decade in one of the Big Four firms, I made the decision to transition away from that chapter in my career about ten months ago. As part of this process, I found myself left with two laptops—one functional and one not—still in my possession.
When I formally exited the company, I completed a return survey, indicating that I had equipment to return and requested shipping labels along with boxes to facilitate the process. Given that I was primarily working from home, traveling 40 minutes to the office just to return some hardware didn’t seem practical, especially when parking costs are thrown into the mix.
Expecting a smooth resolution, I waited patiently for the shipping materials to arrive. However, days turned into weeks without any communication from my former employer. After some time, I resorted to calling their office. Unfortunately, my call was rerouted to a different location due to a lack of response at my designated office. The representative took my details and promised a callback—which, as you may have guessed, never materialized.
Fast forward several months; I am now faced with the realization that I need my home office space for my current job. The unwanted laptops are taking up valuable room that I desperately need.
While I know I should reach out to them once again, I can’t help but feel that this process should not be this frustrating. Returning company property shouldn’t require a degree in persistence!
For anyone in a similar position, my experience serves as a reminder of the importance of following up and keeping perseverance at the forefront. I hope my story sheds light on this often-overlooked aspect of transitioning out of large firms. If you ever decide to part ways, remember: the return process should be straightforward, but be prepared for potential hiccups along the way.
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