*beep* *beep* *beep*
Cynic: (mutters) freaking interruptions... (wanders up front to meet customer)
Customer is a man in his late 50s with worn clothing and disheveled hair.
Customer: What do y'all do?
Cynic: Well, Sir, we build, upgrade and repair computers and provide IT support for businesses and home users.
Customer (confused): So y'all could look at my Compaq and fix it.
Cynic: Yes I could and I'd be happy to do so.
Customer: Could y'all look at my computer then?
Cynic: Uh... sure.
Customer exits and Cynic goes back to grab a couple of tools. After waiting for a minute or two for the customer to return, the Cynic notes that the customer appears to be fooling with something in his truck. He then notices the customer approaching the door with a large CRT monitor as a middle-aged woman comically stumbles along behind with a tower that is still attached to the monitor by several cables. This parade continues into the store until the man sets the monitor mid-floor to catch his breath.
Cynic: Sir, I really don't need your monitor. Cynic makes sweeping gesture at several monitors. I have some of my own.
Customer: Well, I need ya to test mine and make sure it works.
Cynic: "Ok..." Cynic attaches monitor to computer and indicates to Customer that it does, indeed, work.
Customer: You sure you don't want to keep it to test my computer... it ain't never really worked right.
Cynic: Sir, your monitor is large, bulky and unnecessary. For all intents and purposes, one monitor is exactly the same as another... please take your monitor.
Customer: But I'll need you to show me how to hook it up when I come back and I don't want to take it home and bring it all the way back.
Cynic: Sir, like I said, one monitor is essentially the same as another. Here, I'll show you now with your monitor and when you come back, I can show you again with one of mine. The connection is color-coded and everything and this is the only 25-pin connection on the back of your computer that matches this connector on your monitor. See? It's very simple.
Customer: What about them two knobs there?
Cynic: Knobs?
Customer indicates screws on either side of the cable
Cynic: Oh... those tighten in to hold the cable in place.
Customer: How do I use them?
Cynic (giving the customer a strange look): You tighten them in to hold the cable in and you loosen them to pull the cable out. They're just little screws to makes sure the cable doesn't come out accidentally.
At this point, having slipped out unobtrusively a minute earlier, Customer's Wife returns with a keyboard, mouse, and two speakers, along with a fax machine.
Customer: Oh yeah, could you make sure all of that stuff works too?
Cynic: Listen sir, I'll be happy to make sure that your fax machine works with your computer, but as for the rest of this stuff, I'll be happy to show you how it hooks up and assure you that it works when you come back to get it.
Customer: But I don't know how to hook it...
Cynic (interrupting): Yes, I know, and I"ll show you when you come to pick it up. after I know that the computer works properly. Now, let me help you guys out with this monitor.
Cynic promptly picks up The Giant CRT and lugs it out the door, leaving Customer to follow along.
Posted by Vengeful Cynic at March 23, 2007 12:27 PM | TrackBack