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I realize I haven't been here in over a year, but my present to you in return is a wonderfully-amusing story. In the time I've been away from the forums, I briefly worked as an IT support person (before bossman went off the rails and caused 99% of the company to quit...which is really unfortunate, because I loved that job). I've not only been a big nerd my entire life, but I've also spent the past 18 years working on both the ins and outs of computers. I build them, repair them, network them, virtualize them...basically, if it's something computer-related, I know what I'm doing.
One day, a very angry woman walked into our office. It's very important to note that her desktop computer was broken, but she didn't bring it into the office for me to look at it. Thus begins this interesting encounter.
Me: Hi! Welcome to <name of computer repair shop>. What can I help you with today?
Angry Lady: My computer's broken! Fix it!
Me: I see you didn't bring it in with you today. What seems to be the problem?
AL: It doesn't work!
Me: How is it not working? Can you turn it on, or does nothing happen when you hit the power button? Does it power up, but it might just be slow from a virus?
AL: You should know this! *thinks for a second* My monitor doesn't work! I bought a new monitor, but it doesn't work! Oh, and my computer is making a loud noise!
At this point, several diagnoses run through my head with one really being a standout as the likely problem--but as you might imagine, it's pretty hard to diagnose a piece of hardware you don't have. I ask more questions.
Me: I'm thinking it sounds like there may be one of three things wrong with your computer. If you could bring it in, I'll take a look at it.
From this point on, she screams at me every time she speaks to me. I'm surprised people in the doctor's office next door didn't run over to see what the problem was. It's not like she's trying to keep our conversation respectful--or at a reasonable volume--anymore.
AL: YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY COMPUTER! TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG!
Me: Ma'am, I honestly don't know what's wrong until you bring it in and let me look at it. Until then, I'm not going to be able to give you the answers you need.
AL: TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG!
Me: Well, ma'am, I think the most likely case is that your motherboard has failed. If that's true, you'll need to buy a new computer. My other two ideas? It also sounds like your power supply may have failed or you might need a new video card. If either of those two are the case, they're fixable problems.
AL: TELL ME HOW MUCH A VIDEO CARD COSTS!
Me: How old is your computer?
AL: IT'S AN ACER!
Me: Ma'am, first things first, I'm going to have to ask you to keep this conversation at a reasonable volume since there is a doctor's office full of sick patients next door. Secondly, you telling me the brand of your computer when I ask for the age doesn't help me. If you could just bring it in to me--
AL: YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT! I'M NEVER DOING BUSINESS WITH YOU AGAIN!
Angry Lady storms out of the office like a bat out of hell and nearly tears the plate-glass door off the hinges.
Me (as AL storms out, to myself): You never did business with us in the first place!
I tried to remain as calm as I could throughout the entire exchange, and I think I did a pretty good job given the situation. I mean, I could've used some of my trademark zingers in a few places, but I felt like pointing out the obvious to a person who would never get it would be a waste of zingers.
My boss, his wife, and my coworkers all sat down and had a discussion about this situation later that day. All of us agreed Angry Lady still wouldn't have been satisfied with my tech support services had she stormed out and came back with the computer later in the day.
For the record, I was pretty sure her motherboard was shot. Turns out a friend of mine works across town at our competition and had the (dis)pleasure of dealing with Angry Lady later that day. His diagnosis? Shot motherboard, unfixable computer. I would've loved to seen the look on Angry Lady's face!
Who says I have no idea what I'm talking about? Only the crazies among us, I guess.
One day, a very angry woman walked into our office. It's very important to note that her desktop computer was broken, but she didn't bring it into the office for me to look at it. Thus begins this interesting encounter.
Me: Hi! Welcome to <name of computer repair shop>. What can I help you with today?
Angry Lady: My computer's broken! Fix it!
Me: I see you didn't bring it in with you today. What seems to be the problem?
AL: It doesn't work!
Me: How is it not working? Can you turn it on, or does nothing happen when you hit the power button? Does it power up, but it might just be slow from a virus?
AL: You should know this! *thinks for a second* My monitor doesn't work! I bought a new monitor, but it doesn't work! Oh, and my computer is making a loud noise!
At this point, several diagnoses run through my head with one really being a standout as the likely problem--but as you might imagine, it's pretty hard to diagnose a piece of hardware you don't have. I ask more questions.
Me: I'm thinking it sounds like there may be one of three things wrong with your computer. If you could bring it in, I'll take a look at it.
From this point on, she screams at me every time she speaks to me. I'm surprised people in the doctor's office next door didn't run over to see what the problem was. It's not like she's trying to keep our conversation respectful--or at a reasonable volume--anymore.
AL: YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY COMPUTER! TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG!
Me: Ma'am, I honestly don't know what's wrong until you bring it in and let me look at it. Until then, I'm not going to be able to give you the answers you need.
AL: TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG!
Me: Well, ma'am, I think the most likely case is that your motherboard has failed. If that's true, you'll need to buy a new computer. My other two ideas? It also sounds like your power supply may have failed or you might need a new video card. If either of those two are the case, they're fixable problems.
AL: TELL ME HOW MUCH A VIDEO CARD COSTS!
Me: How old is your computer?
AL: IT'S AN ACER!
Me: Ma'am, first things first, I'm going to have to ask you to keep this conversation at a reasonable volume since there is a doctor's office full of sick patients next door. Secondly, you telling me the brand of your computer when I ask for the age doesn't help me. If you could just bring it in to me--
AL: YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT! I'M NEVER DOING BUSINESS WITH YOU AGAIN!
Angry Lady storms out of the office like a bat out of hell and nearly tears the plate-glass door off the hinges.
Me (as AL storms out, to myself): You never did business with us in the first place!
I tried to remain as calm as I could throughout the entire exchange, and I think I did a pretty good job given the situation. I mean, I could've used some of my trademark zingers in a few places, but I felt like pointing out the obvious to a person who would never get it would be a waste of zingers.
My boss, his wife, and my coworkers all sat down and had a discussion about this situation later that day. All of us agreed Angry Lady still wouldn't have been satisfied with my tech support services had she stormed out and came back with the computer later in the day.
For the record, I was pretty sure her motherboard was shot. Turns out a friend of mine works across town at our competition and had the (dis)pleasure of dealing with Angry Lady later that day. His diagnosis? Shot motherboard, unfixable computer. I would've loved to seen the look on Angry Lady's face!
Who says I have no idea what I'm talking about? Only the crazies among us, I guess.
At least that was something out of this fiasco all of us could laugh about!
I AM the evil bastard!
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