This happened last week:
I was at the bank, picking up some new cash.
I slide my card into the first machine…
[You did not enter a valid number]
“Huh? I swear I have money in the account. I just checked the balance 2 seconds ago on this exact machine,” I scratched my head puzzledly.
I tried again.
[You did not enter a valid number]
“AHHHH. That’s why I hate the tradition where you have to use new paper money for the Chinese New Year Red Envelopes.”
I stomped to the second machine—which had grown from 2 to 6 people in line since I arrived. But there’s not much I can do. So…
I pulled out my phone, checked my client’s account status, and waited.
*ding*
The door swung open, and a 60-ish guy strolled into the room.
He saw the long line at the second atm, looked back at the empty first one, and asked, “Can I use this one?”
*silent*
…
…
I looked up. Everyone was busy on their FB.
“I think that one ran out of cash,” I answered out of courtesy.
“No, that doesn’t make sense,” he argued, “You should be able to use this.”
I shrugged and decided it was not my business if he wanted to try.
But the guy walked up to my face and asked again:
“You can use the first machine, right? I need 100 new thousand bills.”
*sigh*
“I tried. It didn’t work. Also, it’s only allowing you to do 20 new bills at a time.”
I can see the guy getting riled up.
“NO, THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. I’ve always been able to use atm… and I should be able to get 100 at once.”
Luckily…
The one in front of me finished at this very moment. So, I shrugged and walked past the angry guy. (I can still hear him arguing in the background)
This behavior is typical in marketing, too.
Clients will ask you a question… refuse to listen to your advice… and get angry when the result isn’t good.
Look, it’s your business.
You can do whatever you want.
But take responsibility when it doesn’t work.
Don’t Ask Questions You Don’t Want Answers To
Talk soon,
– WYH