Woz two Austria nil

After what has seemed like a very long road, we've finally been kicking some goals lately. Woz has been working away slowly at what has turned out to be a very big job - registering the Fiat.

Registering the Fiat in Austria was always going to be a challenge. Basically, when it comes to any bureaucratic decisions, if something hasn't been done a million times before the same way, then it can't be done. Unfortunately our approach to just about everything in our life either hasn't been done before or at least hasn't been done in Austria. So importing an unregistered old-timer from Poland was always going to be a risk. Thankfully, we'd done it once before, with a newer car registered in Texas (that's a long story!) So we were able to approach the task with some confidence. But it was still going to be a challenge.

In a textbook exercise in cross-cultural relations, a job which could take a week or so, has taken months as Woz has had to make several visits into the testing centre to sweet talk the guys who work there into accepting the Fiat for registration.

The conversations go a bit like this ....

"Hello I would like to register my car."
"Okay we need Form XYZ from the previous owner."
"Actually it is from Poland so they don't have a Form XYZ. What information does the form contain?"
"We need Form XYZ from the previous owner."
"They don't have that form in Poland, can I give you a similar form?"
"We need Form XYZ from the previous owner."
"Okay then! Nice talking with you!"
 
Woz goes home, researches Form XYZ. Finds out what is needed and goes back in with the information.

"Hello I'd like to register my car!"
"Okay we need Form XYZ from the previous owner."
"Actually it is from Poland so they don't have a Form XYZ.... "
"We need Form XYZ from the previous owner."
"I don't have the form, I have all the information you need though. It is on these three documents, but if you look, all the information you require is there."
"We need Form XYZ from the previous owner."

Repeat this process during several visits with several different people until finally, (as of Wednesday this week) they agree to register the car!

Having registered two imported cars now, Woz has worked out a few tricks.

1. Don't take no for an answer.
2. Don't attempt to sway anyone in one single conversation. Chip away at it in bits. This is also connected with number three.
3. Become familiar to them. Strangers don't get to upset the status quo. Friendly familiar characters can just about get away with it.
4. Ensure the conversation ends on a good note. Distract them by steering the conversation towards something they are passionate about. In registering our last car Woz found out that the manager was a fellow Porsche fanatic and so they were immediately the best of friends.
5. If all else fails, say "But I was speaking to Herr Eisl and he said it was fine." (Crucially, Herr Eisl is the manager of the testing centre!)
6. Take the papers and run.