Story from the WordPerfect Helpline, which was transcribed from a recording monitoring the customer care department. The Help Desk employee was fired; however, he/she is currently suing the WordPerfect organization for “Termination without Cause”. He/she should have been promoted!
Actual dialogue of a former WordPerfect Customer Support employee. (Now I know why they record these conversations!):
Operator: “Ridge Hall, computer assistance; may I help you?”
Caller: “Yes, well, I’m having trouble with WordPerfect.”
Operator: “What sort of trouble??”
Caller: “Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away.”
Operator: “Went away?”
Caller: “They disappeared.”
Operator: “Hmm. So what does your screen look like now?”
Caller: “Nothing.”
Operator: “Nothing??”
Caller: “It’s blank; it won’t accept anything when I type.”
Operator: “Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out??”
Caller: “How do I tell?”
Operator: “Can you see the C: prompt on the screen??”
Caller: “What’s a sea-prompt?”
Operator: “Never mind, can you move your cursor around thescreen?”
Caller: “There isn’t any cursor: I told you, it won’t accept anything I type.”
Operator: “Does your monitor have a power indicator??”
Ca ller: “What’s a monitor?”
Operator: “It’s the thing with the screen on it that looks likea TV.
Does it have a little light that tells you when it’s on??”
Caller: “I don’t know.”
Operator: “Well, then look on the back of the monitor and
findwherethe power cord goes into it. Can you see that??”
Caller: “Yes, I think so.”
Operator: “Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me ifit’splugged into the wall.
Caller: “Yes, it is.”
Operator: “When you were behind the monitor, did you notice thatthere were two cables plugged into the back of it, not
justone??”
Caller: “No.”
Operator: “Well, there are. I need you to look back there againandfind the other cable.”
Caller: “Okay, here it is.”
Operator: “Follow it for me, and tell me if it’s pluggedsecurelyinto the back of your computer.”
Caller: “I can’t reach.”
Operator: “Uh huh. Well, can you see if it is??”
Caller: “No.”
Operator: “Even if you maybe put your knee on something andleanwayover??”
Caller: “Oh, it’s not because I don’t have the right angle it‘sbecause it’s dark.”
Operator: “Dark??”
Caller: “Yes – the office light is off, and the only light Ihaveiscoming in from the window.”
Operator: “Well, turn on the office light then.”
Caller: “I can’t.”
Operator: “No? Why not??”
Caller: “Because there’s a power failure.”
Operator: “A power… A power failure? Aha, Okay, we’ve got itlicked now. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuffyour computer came in??”
Caller: “Well, yes, I keep them in the closet.”
Operator: “Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and packitupjust like it was when you got it. Then take it back to thestore you bought it from.”Caller: “Really? Is it that bad?”
Operator: “Yes, I’m afraid it is.”
Caller: “Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tellthem??”
Operator: “Tell them you’re too bl***y stupid to own a computer.