Some colleagues had a bit of a panic when they attempted to connect a card programmer to their PC via a USB lead. The connector broke off and was rattling about inside the programmer's case. They had no spare programmer, and when they'd previously priced up getting another, it had been at least £500.

By pure coincidence, I'd found four such connectors in a cupboard upstairs in one of the labs yesterday, and brought them back to the workshop. Had to buy a minimum of five a while back, when needing one to repair something else... that was even more expensive.

Removed the remnants; cleaned the board up; fitted a new connector (about 60 pence worth); reassembled; and tested. They had it back in less than hour. Much relief. Wish they were all so easy.