The spare adapter is apparently delivered, just not to us

Done that, Yasmin. One fitted, zero loose, two ordered in total. They replied with a circle round the fitted one in my own photograph.

I'd ask which order line they think that photograph closes. There may be a counting mistake, though the circle is not much of an answer.

Or they are counting the installed adapter twice because the bundle and accessory list both mention it; ask for their item-by-item allocation.

Dan's explanation is plausible. Still their job to answer it. Theo shouldn't have to guess the packing list into existence.

Victor, also the fastener pack listed with the spare. Dan, they've now said they counted the fitted adapter under both lines. Finally an answer I can do something with.

Have they acknowledged both missing items, then? Adapter and the fasteners.

Yes, both. Offered to send them together and asked me to confirm the delivery address. I've confirmed it, no parcel details yet.

The corrected quantities are worth retaining with your order, especially if a different person handles the replacement parcel.

And ask for the adapter reference on the parcel paperwork. Helpful for whoever receives it if you are off shift.

Parcel reference has come through with a collection scan. Packing photo shows the separate adapter and a labelled fastener bag. I might actually get to stop explaining this.

Better than another circle.

Has it reached you yet, Theo? My spare-part delivery got handed to a neighbouring unit, which made our stores search unnecessarily entertaining.

Jane, did the delivery detail name the unit, or did you have to go looking?

Had to ask around. The photo showed a blue door. We have quite a collection of blue doors.

It's here, Jane, our own stores this time. Loose adapter matches the ordered reference, and the fastener pack is with it. Stores has corrected the received quantities against the missing lines.

Thank you for finishing the account. The double-count explanation will help me phrase a quantity query without another long argument over photographs.

That's this shortage closed. I'd tell anyone in the same mess to ask how each order line was counted much earlier. Not glamorous, but neither was staring at a circle round the thing we already had.