Netgear GEARHEAD is an absolutely horrible customer support service.

I was looking to buy NETGEAR WNR3500L from Amazon, but my experience with GEARHEAD made me very much less interested in Netgear. I’d rather not have 24/7 support, than have one that merely wastes my time and accomplishes nothing.

Here’s the review I’m posting on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RYYZZS

“horrible customer support experience: no documentation, their outsourced support line is below whisper quiet and incomprehensible”

«I’m looking for an IGMPv3-compatible router. This router has absolutely no documentation from which it can be determined what exact features it supports. Most routers support IGMPv1/v2, but not v3. I require v3 in order for my U-verse TV to work.

I called the tech support number listed on Netgear’s page, +1 888 939 9092. You are immediately connected with a live operator when you call this number. You can only wish it was an automated system instead, because the operator is pretty impossible to understand.

After more than 3 transfers, I ended up with someone on the other side whom I couldn’t hear at all whatsoever. I have T-Mobile, and my service is excellent and I could always hear the other side clearly; however, with Netgear support, the volume is so low that you can’t possibly hear them. If you actually do, it’s impossible to understand them anyways, their English is so monotone and lacks any kind of intonation whatsoever.

I then called back again, this time from my business-grade landline VoIP hardware SIP phone, which always delivers crystal clear sound and excellent volume levels. I still couldn’t hear a thing from Netgear GEARHEAD support line! They’ve transferred me several times again, where I ended up at an automated system in the end, where the volume was so low that it was impossible to distinguish any options. Yes, Netgear can make it so that you won’t even understand their automated system that speaks perfect English, due to ridiculously low volume levels!

Mind you, I’m fluent in technical English, but I’m not a native English speaker, so in general I’m pretty comfortable with talking to foreigners in English. But Netgear is like no other support line! If you have trouble with HSBC outsourced customer support, then you should not even attempt to call Netgear, you won’t understand a thing!»