|
If Buying Computers was Like Buying a Car |
|
|
|
|
Saturday, 06 May 1995 |
|
General Motors doesn't have a "help line" for people who don't know
how to drive, because people don't buy cars like they buy
computers.
... but imagine if they did ...
- Helpline: "General Motors Helpline, how can I
help you?"
- Customer: "I got in my car and closed the
door, and nothing happened!"
- Helpline: "Did you put the key in the ignition
slot and turn it?"
- Customer: "What's an ignition?"
- Helpline: "It's a starter motor that draws
current from your battery and turns over the engine."
- Customer: "Ignition? Motor? Battery?
Engine? How come I have to know all of these technical terms just
to use my car?"
- Helpline: "General Motors Helpline, how can I
help you?"
- Customer: "My car ran fine for a week, and now
it won't go anywhere!"
- Helpline: "Is the gas tank empty?"
- Customer: "Huh? How do I know!?"
- Helpline: "There's a little gauge on the front
panel, with a needle, and markings from 'E' to 'F.' Where is the
needle pointing?"
- Customer: "It's pointing to 'E.' What does
that mean?"
- Helpline: "It means that you have to visit a
gasoline vendor, and purchase some more gasoline. You can install
it yourself, or pay the vendor to install it for you."
- Customer: "What!? I paid $12,000.00 for this
car! Now you tell me that I have to keep buying more components? I
want a car that comes with everything built in!"
- Helpline: "General Motors Helpline, how can I
help you?"
- Customer: "Your cars suck!"
- Helpline: "What's wrong?"
- Customer: "It crashed, that's what went
wrong!"
- Helpline: "What were you doing?"
- Customer: "I wanted to run faster, so I pushed
the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor. It worked for a
while, and then it crashed and now it won't start!"
- Helpline: "It's your responsibility if you
misuse the product. What do you expect us to do about it?"
- Customer: "I want you to send me one of your
latest versions that doesn't crash anymore!"
- Helpline: "General Motors Helpline, how can I
help you?"
- Customer: "Hi! I just bought my first car,
and I chose your car because it has automatic transmission, cruise
control, power steering, power brakes, and power door locks."
- Helpline: "Thanks for buying our car. How can
I help you?"
- Customer: "How do I work it?"
- Helpline: "Do you know how to drive?"
- Customer: "Do I know how to what?"
- Helpline: "Do you know how to DRIVE?"
- Customer: "I'm not a technical person! I just
want to go places in my car!"
|