I consider myself a semi bright individual and I at times almost intelligent enough to put a basketball hoop together. With the directions that came with the Reebok Basketball hoop yo0u need a PhD to figure out how to set it up. Wait a minute, I have one of those and yet I still cannot figure it out. Even with the directions that come in six different languages they do not make any sense. Five hundred dollars for a setup that cannot be setup.
Who writes the manuals for toys or kerosene heaters that go in your garage? Even the pictures do not make any sense. Put rod in slot A means absolutely nothing if you cannot find a slot A in the product or the picture.
When you buy a product that needs setup it generally is not made in America any more. My guess is that the product writers of directions are not Americans either. That would solve one aspect of the problem, but clearly that would not solve why the diagrams are always wrong. Pictures are a universal language are they not?
Maybe I should invent a company that will put items bought that need to be put together. There is already a Geek Squad for computers maybe there should be a Dr. Cris Squad to help with everything non computer related. The only thing I will not be doing is working as an engineer for the Dr. Cris Squad because I cannot follow directions.
When I teach, I always teach my students to write as if Grandma is trying to learn the task at hand. If you can teach Grandma how to do it, you can teach anyone. Trust me it works as a great teaching tool.
When you call the800 number on the directions booklet you generally get a call center. I have never understood the point of creating a huge call center and staffing it with uneducated, unprepared, incomprehensible people with absolutely no authority to make any changes, fix anything, or do anything.
Most of these call centers are “off shore” with a majority in India. I truly having nothing against the Indian people and have several Indian friends. However, I cringe when I call a company for support and hear what appears to be an Indian accent from the representative, a often less then perfect connection for the call (since my call is being transferred across the damn Globe!) and a greeting such as "Hi, my name is Sally, how may I help you" (Because they are not allowed to use their own Indian names and it's clear the rep is NOT "Sally" or "Bob").
I have no idea what is accomplished here. My experience is the reps at these call centers can't understand any problem that varies from one of the several scripts they have been given to read, can't make any decisions and are often curt when you are unhappy that they can't do a thing for you.
I have so often stopped doing business with a company after experiencing one of these call centers, I am surprised US companies have not shut them all down by now. If you want my business from now on please make directions and call centers that actually help.
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