Monday, June 9, 2008

My business.

In the early 2000's I was almost put out of business by cheap foreign labor doing technical work. They were undercutting my rate by 50-70% and it was very tough to compete. Many of my friends were put out of business.

Fortunately most employers/customers figured out in pretty short order that you do indeed get what you pay for. I was able to weather the storm and stay in business but sadly many were not. So I put all of this forward just to say up front, why yes, I am bitter! I am so glad you asked. :)

Anyway I ask you to ponder the thoughts that follow as you gaze upon the following miracles of efficient and thoughtful design:







So, the same culture that builds infrastructure like this is who most of you entrust your hi-tech computer support too.

Remember that as you are installing that printer driver for the 5th time and are asking "Say again" for the 27th time.

(A tip o' the hat to Major Tom for the photo's)

13 comments:

Fire Byrd said...

So have you got on the plane yet to whisk me and my bum off somewhere exotic?
Which I appreciate has bugger all to do with those wires, but they just look like the ones in youngest with attitudes bedroom, so weren't worth commenting on!
bbx

AutoSysGene said...

And I thought the mess of cables under my desk was bad, sheesh!! Were those cable run by AT&T? ;)

kay said...

so THAT'S what make them so hard to understand!!!

oh my gosh i was laughing out loud!! it's crazy! how can they function with that mess?

Crazymamaof6 said...

yup! tech support will never be the same. LAME!

blog author said...

aw man! that's AWESOME!! and yes, you totally get what you pay for...suckers!

Erika said...

And that's what keeps us in the burn unit in business! (thanks Ameren)
-Erika

tammy said...

Yay! You're back! How dare you act like you have a life.

SuperCoolMom said...

What a mess!

NerdyRedneck Rob said...

Bollinger- Conversations go where they will so I never have been a topic cop yet. Besides, from my perspective your bum is far more interesting than wires anyway. :)

Melissa- What? Joe allows messy wires? I thought you said he was a geek? :)

Kay- LOL! You killed me! Yes, you are right! They are not really speaking poor English it’s just voice distortion from passing through those tangles of wires! LOL!

CrazyMomma- I don’t know. The worm is turning. One big computer company that starts with a D (one of Melek’s and Erica’s favorites!) have moved all their commercial support BACK to the US. Of course home users are still stuck with it.

Melek- Yep, I knew you (and probably Jules) know my former pain first hand!

Erica- LOL! Yeah, can you even imagine having to work on that rats nest? “So are you sure K-423 is off. Yep. K-423, are you SURE? Yep. Ok here goes…. AHHHHHHH! The good news is since they believe in re-incarnation the guy who thought K-423 was off would just look at the smoking body and say “Ooooo- Better luck next time pal!” :)

Tammy- I am finding this whole “life” thing is all an illusion! I think I want to come back to the safety of talking to unknown people all over the world. :) On that note, as long as it has been since I posted I am a little surprised you guys are still checking in!

SuperCoolMom- yeah, I bet that looks like something your kids would do huh? 

Moooooog35 said...

Ah...outsourced Indian support.

I actually spoke with "Ryan" this past weekend from Dell.

Prior to that, it was John.

Ah..yes...

I run into SO MANY people from Bangalore named "Ryan" and "John."

I'm guessing it's more like:

Ryanameasheesh and Johnawhanesh...

..Smith.

Angel said...

You're finally back!!! I was starting to worry you ran off to some un-charted island or something...sounds tempting, huh? :)

I have my own computer guru in my house, so he does all my "tech support"...nd as soon as possible, I'll have HIM make me a computer!!!

Hope all is well with you....miss you.

NerdyRedneck Rob said...

Moooog35- A brilliant observation!

Beth- No exotic trips for me. It was close though!

My little adventure in “real life” reminded me once again why I LIKE being a computer geek and not having to mess with real people! ;) I mean there are these icky emotions and stuff involved in real life! OOOoooOOOO.

If I can get past the uh, pain, I might blog about my adventures in real life someday. Long story short though, I got stood up two times in one weekend! {sigh}

You guys never leave me hanging! :) So I missed y'all too!

Sauntering Soul said...

You got stood up twice in one weekend? I'm so sorry. They just don't know what a great guy they missed out on!

I'm glad you're back too by the way.