I am beginning to think that I can no longer communicate with my fellow American. Sure, you expect this kind of thing when calling 'customer service' or some kind of 'call center'. But that is because you are calling India.
Lately I have been drowning while playing email ping-pong with car salesmen. Yes...the great day of replacing my 1995 Ford Econoline van, with 292,000 miles on it, is approaching. But the ping-pong is driving me crazy.
It is understandable that we could all stand some improvement in our email style -- after all, none of us was taught in grade school how to write useful email. But car salesmen are professionals, so they should be good at writing emails.
Now, I needn't reiterate my rant against pronouns, acronyms, and abbreviations. What these guys need to learn how to do is write a self-contained message, because only then is it actionable.
For instance, they start off saying, "But that car is not..." Which car is "that" car? The conversational thread has broken into a dozen dealerships and motor vehicles. He should refer to a stock number on the vehicle, or give a link to the advertisement in question. I simply can't act on his partial message.
The other vice in their style of communication is the use of vague adjectives or nomenclature. "Locking differential" or "differential locker" or "limited slip differential." They use different jargon for the same object. I need them to use a unique alphanumeric code, such as the "G80" differential on General Motors van and trucks. These "RPO codes" are unambiguously listed on the sticker in the glove box or the passenger side door jamb. And why not just show a photo of the RPO sticker in the advertisement, and spare the customer all that confusing verbiage?!
Nevertheless, my pulse is picking up these days as I get closer and closer to making the kill.
Lately I have been drowning while playing email ping-pong with car salesmen. Yes...the great day of replacing my 1995 Ford Econoline van, with 292,000 miles on it, is approaching. But the ping-pong is driving me crazy.
It is understandable that we could all stand some improvement in our email style -- after all, none of us was taught in grade school how to write useful email. But car salesmen are professionals, so they should be good at writing emails.
Now, I needn't reiterate my rant against pronouns, acronyms, and abbreviations. What these guys need to learn how to do is write a self-contained message, because only then is it actionable.
For instance, they start off saying, "But that car is not..." Which car is "that" car? The conversational thread has broken into a dozen dealerships and motor vehicles. He should refer to a stock number on the vehicle, or give a link to the advertisement in question. I simply can't act on his partial message.
The other vice in their style of communication is the use of vague adjectives or nomenclature. "Locking differential" or "differential locker" or "limited slip differential." They use different jargon for the same object. I need them to use a unique alphanumeric code, such as the "G80" differential on General Motors van and trucks. These "RPO codes" are unambiguously listed on the sticker in the glove box or the passenger side door jamb. And why not just show a photo of the RPO sticker in the advertisement, and spare the customer all that confusing verbiage?!
- Stop telling me that the vehicle has a CD player and intermittent windshield wipers.
- Give the powertrain facts at the beginning of the writeup. Don't tell me it has a V8 engine, when the manufacturer makes three different V8 engines for that model. Don't describe it as a "gas" engine when you mean "gasoline," and then waste my time by talking about a compressed natural gas engine that nobody wants to buy.
- Push all the bells & whistles to the end.
- Stop hiding the $1100 dealer preparation or destination fee in the fine print.
Nevertheless, my pulse is picking up these days as I get closer and closer to making the kill.
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| from cloakinginequity.com |
Comments
My prediction is that by 2100 the vast majority of the people in the United States will not know how to read and write it will once again be an oral society.
But I wouldn't bother communicating with the salesmen at all if they would just put a photo of the RPO code sticker in the advertisement.
Chris
This is pretty boring, since there isn't much that will be new, other than air conditioning and a 6 speed transmission (instead of 4).
But there is one thing I can get excited about: if I manage to find a van with the G80 locking differential in the rear. I doubt I will ever spring for the $13,000 aftermarket upgrade to four wheel drive.
Of course, your's has a Triton engine in it, doesn't it? My 1995 has the Windsor generation engine, which pre-dates the Triton. I don't much about the Triton, except for the controversies it got into the first couple years when spitting out spark plugs.