Another Day, Another "NO!"

What arrived at work today?

36 100 ml graduated cylinders
40 vials of capillary tubes
1 case of small nitrile gloves
1 case of medium nitrile gloves
1 case of large nitrile gloves
1 case of extra-large nitrile gloves
2 medium-large boxes of assorted supplies that I have not unpacked yet.

What didn't?

2 20 liter drums of acetonitrile. It seem there is a WORLDWIDE SHORTAGE of the solvent and only "preferred customers" can get any. To make matters weirder, "preferred customer" refers to those who frequently order acetonitrile, not those who order lots of other goodies on a regular basis, with an occasional order of acetonitrile. I guess the world has discovered the joys of acetonitrile, and refuse to call it Methyl Cyanide. That would simply scare many users away and leave more for us. I get the fun of telling researchers they probably can't get any, but I will keep searching for a vendor who will see things my way. There are grad students who have work to finish, and the supplier's attitude of "you don't order enough of it." flies as well as a rock swims. Let's hope the vendor rep can intervene. Oh, I'm not paying more than $20.00/liter either.