• Netgear

    From metalhead@VERT/CYBERIA to All on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 21:47:00
    Many of you probably already know this, but don't buy any Netgear products! I have a router that was still under warranty, and they denied my request for replacement because they said it needed a software upgrade. They offered me
    the software upgrade, but for $199.00!

    It was a $40 router! I was humiliated with how dumb they thought I was!

    In my 25 years of computing, I've never had any company try to sell me a software update! Imagine if Windows charged each time there was an update.
    They would have been out of business long ago!

    I also have a Netgear USB wireless receiver, which is about 6 months old, and starting to fail. It says WARRANTY all over the packaging it came in, but I won't waste my breath. What a company!?

    --- Mystic BBS v1.10 (Linux)
    * Origin: Cyberia BBS | Cyberia.Darktech.Org | Kingwood, TX
  • From Deuce@VERT/SYNCNIX to metalhead on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 03:09:03
    Re: Netgear
    By: metalhead to All on Tue Aug 25 2015 09:47 pm

    Many of you probably already know this, but don't buy any Netgear products! I have a router that was still under warranty, and they denied my request for replacement because they said it needed a software upgrade. They offered me the software upgrade, but for $199.00!

    What was the problem?

    In my 25 years of computing, I've never had any company try to sell me a software update! Imagine if Windows charged each time there was an update. They would have been out of business long ago!

    Every time I've upgraded Windows, they've charged me. You said that Netgear stated it needed an "upgrade", not an "update". If the problem was that the one you bought didn't have a specific feature, and the upgraded version does, it seems completely reasonable.

    If the problem was that the router actually didn't work, that's a different story.

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  • From Hustler@VERT/DMINE to metalhead on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 10:27:14
    Re: Netgear
    By: metalhead to All on Tue Aug 25 2015 09:47 pm

    Many of you probably already know this, but don't buy any Netgear products! I have a router that was still under warranty, and they denied my request for replacement because they said it needed a software upgrade. They offered me the software upgrade, but for $199.00!
    It was a $40 router! I was humiliated with how dumb they thought I was!

    I'm sure you don't want to hear this but We get what we pay for right?

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Diamond Mine Online - bbs.dmine.net - Fredericksburg, VA USA
  • From Hylian@VERT to metalhead on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 08:52:39
    Re: Netgear
    By: metalhead to All on Tue Aug 25 2015 09:47 pm

    Many of you probably already know this, but don't buy any Netgear products! have a router that was still under warranty, and they denied my request for replacement because they said it needed a software upgrade. They offered me the software upgrade, but for $199.00!

    It was a $40 router! I was humiliated with how dumb they thought I was!

    In my 25 years of computing, I've never had any company try to sell me a software update! Imagine if Windows charged each time there was an update. They would have been out of business long ago!

    I also have a Netgear USB wireless receiver, which is about 6 months old, an starting to fail. It says WARRANTY all over the packaging it came in, but I won't waste my breath. What a company!?


    wow, never had any issues with netgear, it's my preferred router... I havenever dealt directly with the company though.. Sounds pretty stupid to me. I would have told them I'll take my 200 bucks and go buy 5 other routers.

    -Denny
    Denny's Computers - "Not profit seeking" PC Repair - http://dpccom.blogspot.com

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net
  • From Mro@VERT/BBSESINF to metalhead on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 16:31:39
    Re: Netgear
    By: metalhead to All on Tue Aug 25 2015 09:47 pm

    Many of you probably already know this, but don't buy any Netgear products! I have a router that was still under warranty, and they denied my request for replacement because they said it needed a software upgrade. They
    offered me the software upgrade, but for $199.00!


    are you talking about a rom to flash the thing?
    ---
    þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::
  • From Mro@VERT/BBSESINF to Hustler on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 16:32:32
    Re: Netgear
    By: Hustler to metalhead on Wed Aug 26 2015 10:27 am

    Re: Netgear
    By: metalhead to All on Tue Aug 25 2015 09:47 pm

    Many of you probably already know this, but don't buy any Netgear products! I have a router that was still under warranty, and they denied my request for replacement because they said it needed a software upgrade. They offered me the software upgrade, but for $199.00!
    It was a $40 router! I was humiliated with how dumb they thought I
    was!

    I'm sure you don't want to hear this but We get what we pay for right?


    sometimes you pay a lot an get shit. i have a refurb gigabit netgear router that i didnt pay much for and it's lasted six years.
    ---
    þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::
  • From metalhead@VERT/CYBERIA to Deuce on Friday, August 28, 2015 09:14:00
    If the problem was that the router actually didn't work, that's a different story.

    I think they said update. They were talking about the router's firmware. I'm
    a non-commercial user, if that helps.

    The router worked fine for 2 years, then it just stopped working. It would no longer route. Maybe I trip too much. Buying a new router every 2 years isn't that big of a deal, but how can someone justify them trying to suck $199 out
    of me, for a firmware update, when it's a $40 router which is still under
    their imaginary warranty?

    --- Mystic BBS v1.10 (Linux)
    * Origin: Cyberia BBS | Cyberia.Darktech.Org | Kingwood, TX
  • From metalhead@VERT/CYBERIA to Hustler on Friday, August 28, 2015 09:17:00
    I'm sure you don't want to hear this but We get what we pay for right?

    Yes. I'm sure there was a fine print that I didn't read that probably said something like "If your router stops working, then so does the warranty!"

    --- Mystic BBS v1.10 (Linux)
    * Origin: Cyberia BBS | Cyberia.Darktech.Org | Kingwood, TX
  • From Deuce@VERT/SYNCNIX to metalhead on Friday, August 28, 2015 18:46:04
    Re: Re: Netgear
    By: metalhead to Deuce on Fri Aug 28 2015 09:14 am

    If the problem was that the router actually didn't work, that's a different story.

    I think they said update. They were talking about the router's firmware. I'm a non-commercial user, if that helps.

    It's possible that there's no way to update the firmware built into the router, thought that would be a bit off these days.

    The router worked fine for 2 years, then it just stopped working. It would no longer route.

    Assuming everything you said is accurate, this is clearly Netgear dropping the ball on their warranty. I've never heard a bad story like this before about them though, mostly just the "six hours on hold over eight days" type ones.

    ---
    http://DuckDuckGo.com/ a better search engine that respects your privacy.
    Mro is an idiot. Please ignore him, we keep hoping he'll go away.
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  • From metalhead@VERT/CYBERIA to Deuce on Saturday, August 29, 2015 10:47:00
    Assuming everything you said is accurate, this is clearly Netgear
    dropping the ball on their warranty. I've never heard a bad story like

    I was confident that it happened to others, and I found other people complaining about the same thing after doing a broad bing search.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.10 (Linux)
    * Origin: Cyberia BBS | Cyberia.Darktech.Org | Kingwood, TX
  • From Poindexter Fortran@VERT/REALITY to metalhead on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 09:48:00
    metalhead wrote to All <=-

    Many of you probably already know this, but don't buy any Netgear products! I have a router that was still under warranty, and they
    denied my request for replacement because they said it needed a
    software upgrade. They offered me the software upgrade, but for
    $199.00!


    What model router? Is this a home unit?

    After my experiences this weekend renting a truck, I've realized that
    level 1 customer service is a hurdle to be overcome before talking to
    someone even barely capable of resolving your problem.




    ... From nothing to more than nothing
    --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
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  • From Poindexter Fortran@VERT/REALITY to Hylian on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 09:55:00
    Hylian wrote to metalhead <=-

    wow, never had any issues with netgear, it's my preferred router... I havenever dealt directly with the company though.. Sounds pretty stupid
    to me. I would have told them I'll take my 200 bucks and go buy 5 other routers.

    I loved Netopia back in the day. They made a modular router, you could
    swap out the WAN interface for an onboard CSU/DSU, Ethernet or ISDN.
    Great customer service, and much cheaper than Cisco.

    It looks like Motorola bought Netopia, Google bought Motorola and now
    Arris bought Motorola from Google. Don't see any of their products on
    Arris's site, though. Shame.



    ... From nothing to more than nothing
    --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
    þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org
  • From metalhead@VERT/CYBERIA to Poindexter Fortran on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 15:21:00
    What model router? Is this a home unit?

    I already tossed it in the trash. But a home unit.

    level 1 customer service is a hurdle to be overcome before talking to someone even barely capable of resolving your problem.

    I know what you mean. But since I've seen their rude business angle, I don't want to talk to them anymore. They have ruined thier warranty reputation for me. Like Mro said, get good quality and don't stress over it in the first place.


    --- Mystic BBS v1.10 (Linux)
    * Origin: Cyberia BBS | Cyberia.Darktech.Org | Kingwood, TX
  • From Hylian@VERT to Poindexter Fortran on Wednesday, September 02, 2015 19:12:48
    Re: Re: Netgear
    By: Poindexter Fortran to Hylian on Wed Aug 26 2015 09:55 am

    Hylian wrote to metalhead <=-

    wow, never had any issues with netgear, it's my preferred router... I havenever dealt directly with the company though.. Sounds pretty stupid to me. I would have told them I'll take my 200 bucks and go buy 5 other routers.

    I loved Netopia back in the day. They made a modular router, you could
    swap out the WAN interface for an onboard CSU/DSU, Ethernet or ISDN.
    Great customer service, and much cheaper than Cisco.

    It looks like Motorola bought Netopia, Google bought Motorola and now
    Arris bought Motorola from Google. Don't see any of their products on Arris's site, though. Shame.



    ... From nothing to more than nothing

    wow, i wasn't paying attention, when did motorola get bought out?

    It feels strange.. motorola was always such a huge name in the biz,

    it would be like the taco truck buying out McDonald's.. but i guess they werent that big afterall...

    I still remember using motorola chipsets..
    -Denny

    Denny's Computers - "Not profit seeking" PC Repair - http://dpccom.blogspot.com

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net
  • From physalis17@VERT/DECKHEVN to metalhead on Friday, September 25, 2015 17:16:49
    Re: Netgear
    By: metalhead to All on Tue Aug 25 2015 09:47 pm

    Many of you probably already know this, but don't buy any Netgear products!
    I
    have a router that was still under warranty, and they denied my request for replacement because they said it needed a software upgrade. They offered me the software upgrade, but for $199.00!

    It was a $40 router! I was humiliated with how dumb they thought I was!

    In my 25 years of computing, I've never had any company try to sell me a software update! Imagine if Windows charged each time there was an update. They would have been out of business long ago!

    I also have a Netgear USB wireless receiver, which is about 6 months old, an
    d
    starting to fail. It says WARRANTY all over the packaging it came in, but I won't waste my breath. What a company!?

    --- Mystic BBS v1.10 (Linux)
    * Origin: Cyberia BBS | Cyberia.Darktech.Org | Kingwood, TX
    That is insane. I have never heard of a company wanting to charge for a firmware upgrade. There is open source firmware that you can use that is better than the stuff the companies try and push on you.

    Look into ddwrt. We have a Linksys router and it works well.

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Decker's Heaven -//- bbs.deckersheaven.com
  • From Nightfox@VERT/DIGDIST to physalis17 on Friday, September 25, 2015 16:49:21
    Many of you probably already know this, but don't buy any Netgear products!
    I
    have a router that was still under warranty, and they denied my request for replacement because they said it needed a software upgrade. They offered me the software upgrade, but for $199.00!

    It was a $40 router! I was humiliated with how dumb they thought I was!

    In my 25 years of computing, I've never had any company try to sell me a software update! Imagine if Windows charged each time there was an update. They would have been out of business long ago!

    I also have a Netgear USB wireless receiver, which is about 6 months old, an
    d
    starting to fail. It says WARRANTY all over the packaging it came in, but I won't waste my breath. What a company!?

    That is insane. I have never heard of a company wanting to charge for a firmware upgrade. There is open source firmware that you can use that is better than the stuff the companies try and push on you.

    The stock firmware I've seen on certain routers (i.e., Asus) actually seems fairly
    good. That said, I have an Asus router and I put Tomato on it - but there really
    isn't that much that Tomato adds that the stock firmware already did.

    Look into ddwrt. We have a Linksys router and it works well.

    How well is DD-WRT supported these days? The last time I checked, it sounded like
    my router (an Asus RT-N66U) wasn't able to run DD-WRT (hence why I installed Tomato
    on it).

    Nightfox

    ---
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  • From Mro@VERT/BBSESINF to physalis17 on Saturday, September 26, 2015 06:00:51
    Re: Netgear
    By: physalis17 to metalhead on Fri Sep 25 2015 05:16 pm

    That is insane. I have never heard of a company wanting to charge for a firmware upgrade. There is open source firmware that you can use that is better than the stuff the companies try and push on you.


    he never elaborated on this, but i dont know what he was talking about.
    you can get their firmware for free on the website.
    ---
    þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::
  • From metalhead@VERT/CYBERIA to physalis17 on Saturday, September 26, 2015 08:14:00
    That is insane. I have never heard of a company wanting to charge for a firmware upgrade. There is open source firmware that you can use that is

    I don't believe their story about the firmware upgrade, because what if more routers, identical to mine, are still on the store shelf? Does that mean they will not work fresh out of the box, and the user will need to do a firmware update before they can even use their brand new product?

    I can only assume that the customer service reps get beaten mercilessly with a shovel whenever they approve a warranty claim, so they were only trying to
    stop the hurtin.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.10 (Linux)
    * Origin: Cyberia BBS | Cyberia.Darktech.Org | Kingwood, TX
  • From Mro@VERT/BBSESINF to metalhead on Saturday, September 26, 2015 09:14:20
    Re: Re: Netgear
    By: metalhead to physalis17 on Sat Sep 26 2015 08:14 am

    I don't believe their story about the firmware upgrade, because what if
    more routers, identical to mine, are still on the store shelf? Does that mean they will not work fresh out of the box, and the user will need to do
    a firmware update before they can even use their brand new product?

    I can only assume that the customer service reps get beaten mercilessly
    with a shovel whenever they approve a warranty claim, so they were only trying to stop the hurtin.


    i'm sure they wanted money from him for shipping costs. you can do an rma but they usually make you pay for shipping. and it's not cheap either.
    with my seagate drive it was 15 bucks shipping to me, and then the shipping cost of me sending them the old drive. they were nice and waived it.

    they did however put a 90 dollar hold on my CC to make sure i wasnt ripping them off.
    ---
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  • From Poindexter Fortran@VERT/REALITY to physalis17 on Monday, September 28, 2015 06:30:40
    Re: Netgear
    By: physalis17 to metalhead on Fri Sep 25 2015 05:16 pm

    Look into ddwrt. We have a Linksys router and it works well.


    heck, Buffalo sells their routers with DD-WRT now. I have an old Linksys router upstairs and the main router is a Buffalo AirStation, both running DD-WRT.

    ---
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