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A couple came in to shop for a laptop last night with their daughter (who was probably about 19-21). She spoke English reasonably well. Her parents spoke Spanish and just a little English, so she did some translation. They picked out a laptop (that I actually had in stock and usually have a hard time getting rid of), and I retrieved the box. They mentioned they were going to be taking it back to Mexico with them, though I failed to see how that was relevant.
I asked if they needed anything else to go with it, like I usually do, and they said they only wanted the computer. Then I did my usual explanation of things that they, as computer purchasers, need to know about a new computer, including the necessity of some form of internet security. The daughter wanted a little more explanation, so I told her about viruses and spyware and the like and the easiest ways of protecting one's computer from them. I also told her we could set all that up and explained the different packages and their pricing. That's where the confusion began.
Daughter translated what I said to her parents, but she never mentioned viruses or anti-virus software ("virus" is one Spanish word I can recognize). Instead she started talking about Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. So I interrupted and asked if that was something they needed. She said yes but told me she thought we would be setting it up in one of the packages I mentioned. I shouldn't go into the big, complicated details. That's boring. Suffice it to say that we went around and around several times with me talking about online security while they heard Office and me talking about Office while they heard something else.
Finally the daughter pulls out her cell phone. She had me talk to a friend of theirs who spoke English better so she could do the translating of all this complicated technical stuff. Because it seemed more important, I mentioned MS Office first (it's a trial version on the computer; the customer can buy full versions at any time). That message was relayed clearly. Then...
Me: And I was explaining that they'll need some kind of internet security software before going online to protect both the computer and their own personal information.
Translator On Phone: What do you mean by internet security?
Me: I mean stuff like anti-virus and anti-spyware software, which we can set up for them if they'd like us to.
TOP: Oh, no, no, no, no, no. They don't need that. They're going to Mexico.
Me: I know. They explained that to me. It doesn't matter where they are. They'll still need that kind of software. Otherwise the computer will have problems that the warranty won't cover, and there's a chance they'll have passwords and credit card numbers and things like that stolen.
TOP: No, no, no. You don't understand. They're going to Mexico. They don't need that.
Me: Will they be using the internet?
TOP: Yes.
Me: Then they'll need that software. It doesn't matter whether we set it up or not. It is necessary. I mean, unless they like identity theft...
TOP: No. They're going to Mexico. They don't need that. There are no viruses in Mexico. Let me talk to (Mother).
I passed the phone to the mother. She listened for a moment, scowled at me as if I was trying to swindle her for every penny she had, and said something to the daughter. The daughter told me: "We just need the computer. NOTHING else." So I shrugged and took them up to the cashiers.
I learned something new about Mexico today. The internet there has no viruses. Anybody up for a vacation to the land of worry-free downloading of pirated movies and porn?
I asked if they needed anything else to go with it, like I usually do, and they said they only wanted the computer. Then I did my usual explanation of things that they, as computer purchasers, need to know about a new computer, including the necessity of some form of internet security. The daughter wanted a little more explanation, so I told her about viruses and spyware and the like and the easiest ways of protecting one's computer from them. I also told her we could set all that up and explained the different packages and their pricing. That's where the confusion began.
Daughter translated what I said to her parents, but she never mentioned viruses or anti-virus software ("virus" is one Spanish word I can recognize). Instead she started talking about Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. So I interrupted and asked if that was something they needed. She said yes but told me she thought we would be setting it up in one of the packages I mentioned. I shouldn't go into the big, complicated details. That's boring. Suffice it to say that we went around and around several times with me talking about online security while they heard Office and me talking about Office while they heard something else.
Finally the daughter pulls out her cell phone. She had me talk to a friend of theirs who spoke English better so she could do the translating of all this complicated technical stuff. Because it seemed more important, I mentioned MS Office first (it's a trial version on the computer; the customer can buy full versions at any time). That message was relayed clearly. Then...
Me: And I was explaining that they'll need some kind of internet security software before going online to protect both the computer and their own personal information.
Translator On Phone: What do you mean by internet security?
Me: I mean stuff like anti-virus and anti-spyware software, which we can set up for them if they'd like us to.
TOP: Oh, no, no, no, no, no. They don't need that. They're going to Mexico.
Me: I know. They explained that to me. It doesn't matter where they are. They'll still need that kind of software. Otherwise the computer will have problems that the warranty won't cover, and there's a chance they'll have passwords and credit card numbers and things like that stolen.
TOP: No, no, no. You don't understand. They're going to Mexico. They don't need that.
Me: Will they be using the internet?
TOP: Yes.
Me: Then they'll need that software. It doesn't matter whether we set it up or not. It is necessary. I mean, unless they like identity theft...
TOP: No. They're going to Mexico. They don't need that. There are no viruses in Mexico. Let me talk to (Mother).
I passed the phone to the mother. She listened for a moment, scowled at me as if I was trying to swindle her for every penny she had, and said something to the daughter. The daughter told me: "We just need the computer. NOTHING else." So I shrugged and took them up to the cashiers.
I learned something new about Mexico today. The internet there has no viruses. Anybody up for a vacation to the land of worry-free downloading of pirated movies and porn?
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