"The thing isn't working!"

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Newell Steamer

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2014
6,894
8
0
I was in a conference room once and the PC wasn't working. I called tech "support".

Some guy shows up, stands in front of the PC, with the screen and states; "Well, you need to turn it on." I point to the desktop which shows its light was on, hard drive spinning, etc. "Well, you need to turn on the screen." I then point to the screen and it is on as well - bouncing around the company logo. "Well, you need to wake it up by moving the mouse around." I move the mouse around, the screen shows the pointer moving around but it isn't waking the PC up. "Well, you need to hard boot." I then point to the sign in the room that is in bold and states; Do NOT Turn Off The PC - Please Call Tech Support.

Yes, there are dumbass end users. But, they are easily trumped by shit head tech support douche bags.
 

squirrel dog

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
5,564
48
91
I would say a shit head tech support douche bag is easily trumped by a dumbass end user . Hands down in a caged wrestling match .
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
I can fix both dumb end users and arrogant tech support overnight. Simply have individual departments pay for tech support with checks from their own budgets rather than the company pay for tech support directly. This forces the departments to manage their own resources and it forces tech support to treat end users like the customers they are.
 

SketchMaster

Diamond Member
Feb 23, 2005
3,100
149
116
I can fix both dumb end users and arrogant tech support overnight. Simply have individual departments pay for tech support with checks from their own budgets rather than the company pay for tech support directly. This forces the departments to manage their own resources and it forces tech support to treat end users like the customers they are.

That's more or less what ITIL aims to do. without the whole check writing part.
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
That's more or less what ITIL aims to do. without the whole check writing part.

The check writing part is important because industry has already proven over and over again that it only takes a few lazy people to let 'best practices' fall by the wayside. However, if an IT department's livelihood depends on the monies from the departments they support, I guarantee there will be greater accountability all the way around. It's a difficult concept for most corporations to get their head around because their entire focus has always been centralization and one size fits all. However, smaller customers, notably internal ones, require greater flexibility and individual solutions.
 

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,134
2,450
126
Did they try powering it off and back on again?

You think that I'm being sarcastic, but you would be amazed how often the customer doesn't bother to try that before asking for help. It probably fixes the issue (at least temporarily) about 75% of the time.
 

AznAnarchy99

Lifer
Dec 6, 2004
14,695
117
106
Did they try powering it off and back on again?

You think that I'm being sarcastic, but you would be amazed how often the customer doesn't bother to try that before asking for help. It probably fixes the issue (at least temporarily) about 75% of the time.

I use that line all the time but you'd be amazed how many people don't know "how" to turn it on and off. They press the power button on the computer for a second and it just goes to sleep then they press it again to wake it up.

I've resorted to telling people just pull the plug.