(At the bank where I work, every Christmas our department collects toys for a charity drive. I’m the one who calls building maintenance to get recycle barrels to decorate for donations.)

Me: “Hi, we need three recycle barrels to collect toys for our drive.”

Building Maintenance: “I don’t think we can recycle toys.”

Me: “No, it’s for the charity drive. We just need the barrels to store the toys in until we can take them to [charity].”

Building Maintenance: “I understand, but we still can’t recycle toys.”

Me: “No, it’s a charity drive, to collect for the kids who don’t have much for Christmas.”

Building Maintenance: “I don’t think we can recycle toys.”

(I try several time to explain what we need these for and how they’ll be used, but all I get is, “We can’t recycle toys.”)

Me: “Okay, then… thanks.”

(I hang up, wait a minute, and dial him back.)

Me: “Hi! We need three recycle barrels for our floor.”

Building Maintenance: “All right! What department and what floor?”