We’ve all been there.  The dreaded call to tech support.  Heck, at one time in the not so distant past I might have been the person on the other end of the line.  The big difference to me is that every time I find myself having to place a call for support the tech takes me through the same old boring set of things under “let’s try a few things first” column of time wasting activities.  I hate asking for assistance only to learn the solution was on page 20 of the manual.  I scour the internet (thank you Google) for answers long before I try the 800 number.

Today as an exception because I already knew what I needed.   Seems the family PC in the kitchen didn’t survive the short power outage last Monday and needs a new power supply.  I always give the OEM the first try but their site was completely useless when it came to parts replacement.  Sure they offered tons in the way of upgrades and peripherals but a simple 350 Watt power supply was nowhere to be found.  So I bite the bullet and gave their online chat a try.  I knew whoever was on the other end would start off with a battery of questions on our journey through their Flowchart of Doom.  I was very disappointed that after giving them the same info I used to search for the part they asked me info which should have been readily accessible to them as tech support.  I mean, why ask me what power supply came with the computer?  Your company makes the computer for goodness sake.

The best was soon to come for as my tech excused herself from our chat while she looked up the power supply info for my computer she asked me one of her pre-canned questions used to pretend the tech is truly engaging with you, the caller and wants to form a “connection”.  Unfortunately it didn’t go over as planned.  Take a look and have a good laugh.  I know I did.

Perhaps on the next call or chat it’ll be best to stick with questions about the weather.  That or go with, “How about them National’s, right!!”