Forwarded from a friend.  The names have been changed to protect the 
innocent.

ps: IT'S ALL TRUE!

[forwards deleted]


A West Coast computer company has implemented an interesting
approach to raising "customer awareness" in their organization.
They have put cardboard cut-outs of customers (with accompanying
bios) in all of their conference rooms.

It is reported that Engineering has dished out a fair amount
of grief to Product Marketing over this particular program.

Enclosed is the  "engineering enhanced" version as to why 
these cardboard cut-out customers were put in place ...


      "TOP TEN REASONS THERE ARE CARDBOARD CUT-OUT CUSTOMERS
       IN OUR CONFERENCE ROOMS:

	10. Real Customers are getting kind of hard to find.

	 9. Animatronic version from Disney too expensive.

	 8. Cardboard versions won't complain when we jerk
            them around.

	 7. Revenue enhancement: tourists will pay
	    big bucks to have pictures taken with these
            "real customers".

	 6. Idle hands are the devil's workshop.

	 5. Too much nose candy.

	 4. Need to meet EEOC goal for the three-dimensionally
	    challenged.

	 3. Replacement for receptionist in lobby: scary form
            visible from window frightens off thieves and toner
	    salesmen.

	 2. Ideal meeting participant:doesn't snore or ask 
            difficult questions.

	 1. "If you squint really hard, it looks like they're
            smiling!".


Ahhhhhh, another example of the proverbial Engineering / Marketing 
relationship !