Michael Dell, president and CEO of the US-based computer company Dell, was overwhelmed by questions, comments and criticisms about his computers and the growth of his firm when speaking to students Oct. 31 at Shanghai's Fudan University.
-- "Mr. Dell, your American service center said I can receive after-sales service for free, but the Chinese center said no. Why have I got two different responses?"
-- "I called technicians to examine a problem on my Dell computer, but nobody came. Does Dell pursue the principle of direct customer relations?"
-- "I brought my Dell computer with me today. Can you examine it for me?"
In a one-hour question and answer session with 12 students from Fudan University, Dell responded to a number of questions concerning the quality, prices and functions of Dell computers. Other queries were about Dell's rivals and development strategy. Nobody was interested in Dell's success.
Dell, the richest man under 40 in the world, built up his career from nothing. His success had been a legend for college students. Nevertheless, students at Fudan University did not admire him blindly.
A student from the Computer Department of Fudan said that she would not seek employment with the Dell company upon graduation. Instead, she said, Dell is more like a computer sales firm which does not need advanced technicians as she aims to be.
Though Dell kept promoting the high value of his computers over the low price, many students still held that low price was the biggest advantage for Dell to compete in the computer market.
Chen Yinzhang, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Fudan University, said: "College students in China have more access to world celebrities now and the widening of the horizon makes them less star-struck when faced with such celebrities."
(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2002)
