People don't buy cars like they buy computers
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 the battery and turns over the
engine.
Customer: Ignition? Motor? Battery? Engine? How come I have to
know all 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 would I know?
Helpline: There's a little gauge on the front panel
with a needle and some 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 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: I crashed, that's what's wrong!
Helpline:
What were you doing?
Customer: I wanted to go faster, so I pushed the
accelerator pedal all the way to the floor. It worked fine for a while and then
it crashed and it won't start now!
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 the 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.