Ali came to me the other day in a highly agitated state. He was just out of SR8,000 and felt mighty upset about it. He had enrolled for computer courses at one of those institutes that seemed to be popping out in every neighborhood a year ago, and had just found out that his enrollment had been terminated.
Settling in the now familiar role of Dear Abby‚ I encouraged him to continue. He went on to describe how he had felt some shortcomings in his PC skills at work, and seeing an ad in the paper on how computer skills can turn one from rags to riches, decided to sign up himself and his son for a Windows and Microsoft Office course.
Just before the signing, each applicant at the institute was given the royal treatment on how this was the generation of PCs and how isolated one would be without such training. This particular center located at the Jeddah Marriott Hotel also extolled the virtues and qualifications of its highly trained staff, and how each student would be provided with individualized attention.
The stated goal of this institute being the complete satisfaction of the student was the sales pitch, and those with work obligations could learn and train at their leisure during off-duty hours. There was scant mention of a beginning or an end to the training program. This institute was also certified by Microsoft Corp. to issue authentic diplomas, screamed out their sales brochures!
Well, Ali being Ali fell for it. He was quickly presented with two contracts, one for himself and the other for his son. There was a an abundance of fine print, but the salesman just brushed things off swiftly, and taking Ali into his confidence, told him, "Hey, this is all mumbo jumbo for headquarters. The important thing is that we know each other. You are a Saudi and nice guy, and I trust you enough to give you my personal mobile phone number. Any problem no matter how small and you just call me immediately."
With that he secured Ali’s signature on both contractual documents and SR8,000 which he immediately sent off to another department at the center, and walked Ali to the door. "Now remember, you have my number. Any problems, and," he snapped his fingers for added emphasis.
Well, Ali and his son began attending the training institute at their leisure. A year later, with only three of the nine modules completed, he found himself unwelcome at the same center.
When he inquired as to the reason, a rotund secretary told him cheerfully that his one-year membership had expired, and that to maintain his training status, he would have to fork out an additional SR8,000.
Ali was furious. All efforts to get in touch with the finger snapping salesman failed. He was either out of town, attending to his ailing mother, or building a house and kept odd hours, depending on whom was telling Ali all of this. Even the institute manager seemed to be forever traveling to the headquarters in Riyadh for one meeting or the other.
Finally after a few days of getting nowhere, the secretary took him to the side and told him in confidence that he would try and negotiate with the manager to get Ali a 50 percent discount on the renewed membership. He felt this way because Ali was a nice guy, and knowledge of computers was the future of human civilization, he added sympathetically. If Ali would agree, all he had to do was bring in SR4,000 the next day, and get a whole year’s training for half the price! What could be a better deal? Ali came to me instead.
If you want to educate yourselves on computer programs, I recommend you stay away from these so called training centers. They are in the business of getting your money first, and again, and again! And some charge up to SR23,000 for such training programs. All under the guise of a Microsoft Corporation diploma that carries very little weight with most employment bureaus.
Rather, look for an individual who has abundant PC know-how, offer him up to SR100 an hour, and if you are of average intelligence you should be able to grasp the workings of Windows and most Office programs within 5 to 10 hours of such instruction. Save the money you would have spent at a training institute for your child’s college education instead.
Remember the old saying, "There’s a sucker born every minute"? But should you be the one?
***
On a sportier note, the Jeddah Youth Baseball League (JYBL) is set to kick off its new season pretty soon and is looking for volunteer head coaches or assistants. Now this is the same league that wiped out the Kingdomwide opposition in last year’s finale at Aramco in the Eastern Province. If you have it in you to coach kids, or know of somebody who does, do give Chris a call on 662-4000 ext. 2074 or 657-2222.
Don’t be content just to be a spectator. Get out there and do something worthwhile!
— Tariq A. Al-Maeena, [email protected]
