Sometimes though it really does suck more than that. I say this as an accountant, though not a cost accountant/management accountant.

Perhaps there is a budget, and the "management" way of controlling life in the business is through these budgets. Afterall, they don't give a shit about what you do so long as it 1) works and 2) costs a reasonable amount. And yes, sometimes the $1.2K printer replaced 4 times sucks more than a 2K printer that lasts 4 times as long...but 3K isn't even a blip on the radar. So it's up to you to make that decision, and up to them to set a budget policy.

So really it comes down to having a really good budgeting policy that allows for someone to overextend themselves sometimes, in exchange for long run savings (for cost focused decisions). Or in revenue focused decisions, long run earned value over short term earned value. Budgeting policy can be complex though because the reality of it is "If IT was under budget by 50K, then really to get a return on our money we should SPEND that 50K now in order to increase our earnings potential" which is all fine and dandy until hard times hit, and then when IT comes knocking for that 50K later they're sitting there like "Oh, shit, we spent it...also...if you haven't heard..it's hard times now...the bank covenants are coming knocking a shit printer will help us at least survive"

So a good budgeting policy is really hard. Because a good one allows departments to be rewarded for coming under budget, but also allows management to use savings to support revenues, but also is not so short-sighted everyone feels the need to spend up to their budget...

I think that is why working together with the accountant is a really good idea. Afterall, 3K really doesn't matter so if YOU can do the work of justifying it, and turning it down really makes no sense, then why not?