What if people bought 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 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: "I see an 'E' but no 'F'." Helpline: "You see the 'E' and just to the right is the 'F'." Customer: "No, just to the right of the first 'E' is a 'V'." Helpline: "A 'V'?!?" Customer: "Yeah, there's a 'C', an 'H', the first 'E', then a 'V', followed by 'R', 'O', 'L' ..." Helpline: "No, no, no sir! That's the front of the car. When you sit behind the steering wheel, that's the panel I'm talking about." Customer: "That steering wheel thingy-Is that the round thing that honks the horn?" Helpline: "Yes, among other things." Customer: "The needle'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: "It crashed, that's what went 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 for a while, and then it crashed-and now it won't even start up!" Helpline: "I'm sorry, sir, but it's your responsibility if you misuse the product." Customer: "Misuse it? I was just following this damned manual of yours. It said to make the car go to put the transmission in 'D' and press the accelerator pedal. That's exactly what I did-now the damn thing's crashed." Helpline: "Did you read the entire operator's manual before operating the car sir?" Customer: "What? Of course I did! I told you I did EVERYTHING the manual said and it didn't work!" Helpline: "Didn't you attempt to slow down so you wouldn't crash?" Customer: "How do you do THAT?" Helpline: "You said you read the entire manual, sir. It's on page 14. The pedal next to the accelerator." Customer: "Well, I don't have all day to sit around and read this manual you know." Helpline: "Of course not. What do you expect us to do about it?" Customer: "I want you to send me one of the latest versions that goes fast and won'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!"