Just Google it
What a wonderful option in this age of technological wonders. Confused about the lyrics of your favorite song? Just Google it. Looking for a simple recipe for lasagna? Just Google it. Am I the right weight for my height? Oh, skip that one.
I probably Google for information at least 20 times a day. And I have to admit, coming from the generation of the Dewey Decimal System and card catalogs, IT IS SWEET! I think back to winter evenings at college, needing to go out in the freezing weather to research for my next paper. Wow, it would have been nice to stay in my toasty warm dorm room to use online search engines instead of traipsing over to the Augie library in the snow and face-numbing cold to hit the card catalog.
What a cool convenience, the Internet. But where do we draw the line with “just Google it?”
Earlier this week, I bought a new phone. Where and with whom shall remain nameless, but there was one part of the process that has me looking back and thinking, was that the way that question should have been handled?
We were nearing the end of my time with the salesperson, going over the details I would need to see to on my own. One task was to register for the warranty on my screen protector. Granted, I should have remembered that I went online to do that 3 years ago when I bought my last phone, but instead I asked, “How do I do that?” And the salesperson said, “Just Google it.”
Oh, ok, which I did the next day, and it was simple. But I’ve come back to that conversation and thought to myself, is this what our sales and service industries are becoming? "Figure it out yourself” industries?
When I think about my own profession, I couldn’t imagine telling somebody to just Google it. True, buying a phone isn’t the same as buying a home. Just the dollar amount alone is light-years different, but if I’m not here to answer ALL of my clients’ questions, then what am I here for?
In the end, whether we’re buying a new phone, a new home, or dinner at a favorite restaurant, we all want to feel valued and that our patronage means something. Every now and then, it’s a good idea to be on the other end of things, and remember what my goals should be as I serve my clients. I hope, at least the majority of the time, I’m delivering anything but a “just Google it” experience to the wonderful people who grace me with their business.
In the meantime, if you need me, feel free to Google me. Or just look for me right here. I’m never too far away.