Is this the world's most expensive light switch?

 

 

My little hole-in-the-wall unit in Sydney is a good little renter, so when the property manager emailed me, "We recently performed a routine inspection and found the entrance light switch broken", I told her to get things fixed promptly; after all, it was just a simple light switch and how much could that cost?

A week later I knew how much: $347.80 - and it wasn't even gold-plated!

 

 

Writing up the invoice must have taken longer than installing the switch:

Attended site to investigate entrance light switch Carried out investigation and testing Isolation of power Disconnection and removal of faulty switch and switch plate Supply and installation of new switch and switch plate Reenergised circuit Test and commissioning ensuring all systems are operational Labour and necessary materials included Correct disposal of trade waste from site in line with waste management plan

I think "reenergised circuit" means they switched the power back on afterwards (really? I'm so glad they did!) and "correct disposal of trade waste from site in line with waste management plan" suggests they threw away the broken light switch.

There was a time when the description would have been, "Supplied and installed new light switch", but that wouldn't have warranted $347.80.