I read an #InterestingStory about a complaint regarding Vanilla Ice Cream that left #GeneralMotors
puzzled and found it to be #TooGoodNotToShare
Moral of the story being ... “Never underestimate your Customers' Complaint, no matter how funny it might seem!”
Here we go ...

Moral of the story being ... “Never underestimate your Customers' Complaint, no matter how funny it might seem!”
Here we go ...
A complaint was received by the Pontiac Division of General Motors:
'This is the second time I have written to you, and I don't blame you for not answering me, because I sounded crazy, but it is a fact..
'This is the second time I have written to you, and I don't blame you for not answering me, because I sounded crazy, but it is a fact..
You see, every time I buy a vanilla ice-cream, when I start back from the store my car won't start. If I get any other kind of ice cream, the car starts just fine.
I want you to know I'm serious about this question, no matter how silly it sounds "What is there about a Pontiac that makes it not start when I get vanilla ice cream, and easy to start whenever I get any other kind?"
The Pontiac President was understandably skeptical about the letter, but sent an Engineer to check it out anyway.
The latter was surprised to be greeted by a successful, obviously well educated man in a fine neighborhood.
The latter was surprised to be greeted by a successful, obviously well educated man in a fine neighborhood.
He had arranged to meet the man just after dinner time, so the two hopped into the car and drove to the ice cream store. It was vanilla ice cream that night and, sure enough, after they came back to the car, it wouldn't start.
The Engineer returned for three more nights.
The Engineer returned for three more nights.
The first night, they got chocolate. The car started.The second night, he got strawberry.The car started. The third night he ordered vanilla. The car failed to start.
Now the engineer, being a logical man, refused to believe that this man's car was allergic to vanilla ice cream.
Now the engineer, being a logical man, refused to believe that this man's car was allergic to vanilla ice cream.
He arranged, therefore, to continue his visits for as long as it took to solve the problem AND towards this end he began to take notes.
He jotted down all sorts of data such as
Time of day,
Type of gas used,
Time to drive back and forth, etc.
He jotted down all sorts of data such as
Time of day,
Type of gas used,
Time to drive back and forth, etc.
In a short time, he had a clue:
The man took less time to buy vanilla than any other flavor.
Why?
The answer was in the layout of the store.
Vanilla, being the most popular flavor, was in a separate case at the front of the store for quick pickup.
The man took less time to buy vanilla than any other flavor.
Why?
The answer was in the layout of the store.
Vanilla, being the most popular flavor, was in a separate case at the front of the store for quick pickup.
All the other flavors were kept in the back of the store at a different counter where it took considerably longer to check out the flavor.
Now, the question for the Engineer was why the car wouldn't start when it took less time.
Now, the question for the Engineer was why the car wouldn't start when it took less time.
Eureka - Time was now the problem - not the vanilla ice cream!!!
The engineer quickly came up with the answer: "vapor lock".
It was happening every night; but the extra time taken to get the other flavors allowed the engine to cool down sufficiently to start.
The engineer quickly came up with the answer: "vapor lock".
It was happening every night; but the extra time taken to get the other flavors allowed the engine to cool down sufficiently to start.
When the man got vanilla, the engine was still too hot for the vapor lock to dissipate.
Learnings from the story:
Even crazy looking problems are sometimes real
All problems seem to be simple only when we analyze them with logic and adopt a step by step approach.
Learnings from the story:





Thanks

#HappyWeekend
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