So what's your solution to the fact that they are currently sucking?
They're fighters.They could dig deeper, there may be a plot hook involved here that will lead them to a solution. Knowledge checks and Gather Information could help.
They are struggling with a problem the DM placed in front of them. Isn't that the whole point of the game??
And it would probably look something... like... this.
Yes, and so did Thomas Jefferson. The only two important people to ever work as patent clerks.