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For the second time in the last two weeks, I’ve had to refer to the internet for information about how to use technology on my new Chevrolet Equinox. It’s my first new car in nearly a decade and the advancements are incredible, but there’s something lacking. Nobody showed me how to use the teen driver system and I couldn’t get my phone connected. I understand many people already understand how to use such technologies, but I’m not embarrassed to admit I’m not one of them.
The internet showed me I wasn’t alone, but it brought up the question of why I wasn’t shown this at the dealership the first time? How was I allowed to drive off with my major expenditure without being shown exactly how all these cool features work? So, I turned to the internet to complain but found out not all dealerships are like this.
Apparently, Bob Johnson Chevrolet in Rochester, NY, does exactly what I hoped someone did with me. They actually show all of their new vehicle buyers how their new vehicles work.
“Our mission is to help our customers learn how to use the technology in their vehicles so they get the most from it,” said Dylan Love, NERD station manager.
Their team of five works with customers to give them as much technical information as they need. Some can get in and out quickly because they are already familiar with the technology. Others, like me, would need a lot more assistance and this NERD team would have given it to me if I had bought my vehicle there.
Never assume knowledge
My aforementioned daughter has a knack for technology, but she grew up in a different time. She was immersed in technology before she could ride a bike. My youngest are already so adept at using their various devices that I often turn to them for assistance on my iPad. But automotive technology is different. It may be intuitive for some to connect a device that will play on the vehicle’s speakers, but there are many of us who are “old school” and still want to be shown how to do things by an actual human being.
YouTube videos are fine, but it’s not the same.
Businesses need to understand that there are still millions of Americans who are not tech savvy. It may be hard to believe since we all play around all day on our smart phones and tablets, but that’s pretty much the extent of my modern technological know-how. This is why Bob Johnson Chevrolet’s team makes so much sense to me.
It should make sense to anyone who has ever run into technological roadblocks.
The sad part is that it would be so easy. Perhaps it hearkens to a time past when customer service was as important as low prices. Making certain customers completely understand what they’re buying and how to operate it may be a notion that’s old school like me, but it shouldn’t be. It should be standard operating procedure across the board.
Advancements aren’t going to slow down any time soon. The quest to make things easier leads to knowledge gaps that must be overcome. The NERD team at Bob Johnson Chevrolet is an example that every dealership (and most businesses) should follow.
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