(In
multiple offices, a teleconference takes place with a vendor and managers –
they all can view the vendor’s computer screen)
Vendor:
Welcome, everyone – is everyone here?
(Silence)
Caller
1: I think so?
Caller
2: Hi!
Caller
3: Someone’s missing from the queue.
Vendor:
All righty, I’ll just start and they can catch up. Soooooo…. how’s everybody doin’ today?
Caller
3: This is an hour and a half demo: just cut to the chase.
Vendor:
All righty. Can you all see my screen on your end?
Caller
3: Yes.
Caller
2: Yes.
Caller
1: No.
Caller
4: Yes.
Vendor:
Good. I’m going to demo how to run that
report you had requested the other day.
Caller
2: I don’t have it.
Vendor:
Pardon me?
Caller
2: No, I don’t have it, I’ll even check my inbox – (A voice is heard saying
something unintelligible) You never said anything about needing it for today!
Caller
3: Turn off your mic!
Caller
2: Hold on a second – what?
Caller
1: We all can hear you!
Caller
2: Right, sorry. (Clicks off)
Caller
3: Sorry about that – you were saying?
Vendor:
Thank you – oh, I see the last caller has just joined us.
Caller
1: Hi!
(Silence)
Caller
3: Turn on your mic!
Caller
5: (Clicks on) Oh, there it is, hello!
Callers
1 and 4, and Vendor: Hi!
Caller
5: I was stuck in a meeting – how far did you get?
Caller
3: We’re losing precious paid seconds here that we’ll never get back! Keep it going!
Vendor:
Right. OK, so you’d open the window
here, and select “File”. Everybody see
how I did that?
Caller
3: Not for nothing, but we all got computer basics down pat decades ago. Just advance to the part we don’t
know, please!
Caller
1: Can I leave early? I forgot that I
have to go to H.R. soon.
Caller
3: Do whatever you want.
Vendor:
OK, I ran the report and this is what it will look like for you.
Caller
3: Looks good. What does everybody
think?
Caller
5: That should work.
Caller
1: Yeah.
Caller
4: (Sound of a page turning)
Caller
3: Are you reading a book?!
Caller
4: Noooo…..?
Caller
3: Get off the line!
Caller
4: You told me to call in!
Caller
3: And you’re supposed to pay attention!
You’re going to have to run this thing on your own soon, so you’re gonna
have to know how to run it!
Caller
4: But this demo’s sooooo boooooring!
Vendor:
Um, would you like me to call back later?
Caller
3: No! We paid for one session, and we
need it done now! Continue, please.
Vendor:
OK, so if this report has what you need, I can show you what else you can do
with the program.
Caller
1: Does this demo really need to be an hour and a half long? Can’t you just send us a slide show and we’ll
call if we have questions?
Vendor:
Uh….
Caller
3: Our package includes this, so we’re doing it! Why are you wasting even more time questioning
it?!
Caller
1: `Cause it’s wasting my time! I
have to go to H.R. soon!
Caller
3: Then go already! We don’t need
you! You’re all useless!
Caller
5: Hey, I didn’t do anything! I was
stuck in a meeting!
Caller
2: (Clicks on) OK, I’m back – what’d I miss?
Caller
3: Everything! You people have ruined the
demo, and we’re never getting that money back, never!
Vendor:
Actually, that slide show suggestion was a good idea –
Caller
3: No it wasn’t! We are doing this demo
if it kills us all!
(Sounds
of clicking)
Vendor:
Everybody else just disconnected.
Caller
3: Finally – I can never get anything done with them around.
Conference calls can be confusing and nothing gets done at the time. Eventually, it does get going.
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