While “building my own” vehicle on the Saturn homepage, I was surprised to have a box pop up prompting me to enter into a live chat. I declined at the time wishing only to continue to get a rough estimate of what a 2008 Astra complete with all the extra features might cost me. However, as I get more serious in my car search, I am sure that I will return to this function to answer any of my questions before going to a car dealership. Let’s face it, most of us don’t enjoy that experience and want to be as prepared as possible.
We also utilize software at work through 4Team Corporation that always seems to be giving us little problems that I can’t quite figure out just from reading their FAQ’s or help section. When in need of a quick answer, I turned to the website for an 800 number but instead found an online support chat. Within a matter of minutes, a team member helped me troubleshoot and on several occasions has even connected to my computer to review the settings.
Finally, a classmate brought the Lands End website to my attention. Right under their main graphics on their homepage, they prompt customers to get “Live Help.” I think all of these examples are important because in this day and age we are constantly seeking instant gratification. If we cannot act on our impulses and learn about a new product or fix a problem right when we want to, we are disappointed. Gone are the days when we were content submitting our inquiry and perhaps waiting a few days, or, heaven forbid we wait on phone hold only to find we have to be redirected to several other people. The possibilities with this technology are endless and I look forward to encountering it much more in my everyday life.
