For several years, it was my privilege to supervise the technical support (applications engineering) group at Warner Electric, helping our customers achieve their goals and solve problems.

But sometimes, we'd have one of those days when it seemed like customers and salespeople all got together to purposely frustrate us. On those days, you look for the hidden camera or check the calendar to see if it is April 1.

Here is our list of the best ways to frustrate those who are trying to help you. Just give them a call and use one of these:

1. "It has your logo on it, but there are no part numbers. I didn't get any dimensions. What part number should I order?"
2. "My customer called me and says they have a question on one of your parts. Can you call them? I'm too busy."
3. "No, I don't have your catalog at my desk. Can't you just fax me the information so I don't have to walk across the room?"
4. "I know your catalog says this product can't be used for this function, but that's what I want to do. Tell me how to make it work."
5. "I'm faxing you four pages with my customer's specs. I was on vacation last week and they need a quote within an hour.... Oh, and it needs to be a really low price."
6. "I'm at my customer's plant. We sold them a unit that isn't working and they are really mad. If it was a bad application, don't tell them it was my fault."
7. "I'm....cell ph 315 need it badlyello ... call me back at 8 4993. IT'S EALLY IMPORTAN..."
8. Leave a message that says: "This is wurffleturrfle," (make sure to muffle your voice so that the name is not understandable), "call me at 555-555-1111," (make sure you read the phone number as fast as you can so that the person has to replay it at least 9 times to get all of the numbers).

A supplier's technical support group truly wants to help you. But you also have the responsibility to meet us halfway.

We get as many as 60–70 calls per day, per person. The more information you can give us, the more likely it will be that we can help you.

We plan to be able to handle same-day requests, but you need to be clear about what is needed and when. Make sure you have all the information you can get. And be reasonable. Yelling and cursing does not further your cause.

We expect to meet every request to the best of our abilities. But there will be times when need and capability don't match. In those cases, be open to alternative solutions. Choice A may not be in stock, but choice B may solve the problem while Choice A is being built.

A person who wants to be part of the solution will get our attention to a much greater degree than those who want to stand on the sidelines while we do the work.