We are in the seventies. Sheikh Mustafa Ben Ali of Arabia wishes to order a new car to add to his large collection. First, he decides to call Mercedes, after all, a widely praised, and reliable brand.
- Ja, ja, naturlich, but to get our car you have to wait half a year. We have a lot of orders of our luxury cars, he hears
Well, only half a year, it cannot be a luxury car – the sheikh thought.
He calls Rolls Royce.
- Yes of course indeed, but to get our car you have to wait a year. We need first to customize the car to you requirements.
- Hmmm - thinks the sheikh - in the end, maybe a German car would be a better choice. It's a bit too long to wait a year, and the German cars are very solid.
So, by coincidence he calls Trabant factory.
- Jawohl, ja, ja - says the factory’s director. But we have so many orders that our waiting queue is very long!!! We are sorry, but to get our car you have to wait at least two, if not three years!!!
- Such a long waiting list – thinks the sheikh. It must be an exceptional car, worth waiting for. And truly impressed he orders the car without further hesitation.
The entire Trabant factory workforce is completely shaken by the incredible news: A super rich sheikh has just ordered a Trabant! The director rushes to the first secretary of the factory’s communist party organization:
- Comrade first secretary!!! A rich Arab sheikh placed an order with us!!!
The first secretary’s reaction was immediate:
- Such a customer cannot wait such a long time. The car has to be delivered within a week!!! To our Party it is a matter of credibility and pride!!!
The car is ready in no time and delivered after three days by a special cargo airplane.
The sheikh, delighted and impressed, calls his friend:
- Listen, Mohammad, I have great news. I ordered a car at a German factory!!! It is so desirable that you have to wait two years to get this wonderful Trabant. However, to make it more bearable, a few days after placing my order they sent me its plastic model!!!