Netgear Support Be Aware

For those who may not be aware, Netgear has instituted a policy of refusing
technical support of any kind unless all private information is completed
via registration. This information includes name, address, phone, email
etc.

This is not intended as a public flame. On the other hand, creating a
policy which institutes mandatory registration is clearly wrong, It leaves
us with no choice but to sign up for every spam and junk mail list known to
man. That's a blatant invasion of our privacy, and people should have the
right to know before the purchase. More importantly this is a message that
revealing our private information should simply remain our choice.

The following is is a letter I sent to Netgear regarding their service
policy. Not that I believe it will make much difference, but every voice
helps.


To whom this should concern,

As I look around my server room and count numerous Netgear products, I'm sad
to say that as much as I feel your products are generally good quality,
these will positively be my last purchases from your company. Your policy of
extorting personal information from your customers by refusing support
unless personal information is provided is absolutely reprehensible. If, as
a corporation you feel that filling your mailing list is more important than
serving your paying customers, then I will under no circumstances continue
to serve you with my dollars.

Let me understand this train of thought. I purchase devices from your
company to secure my privacy, yet you feel I should relinquish my privacy as
a requirement to receive support on a product I've paid for. Not in this
lifetime! How arrogant? Someone over there must be prepping for a career in
politics. Every company touts the same story, "We Don't Sell Your Personal
Information". You know as well as I, that many do exactly that. Registration
information is a huge market. Our information is sold in direct conflict
with Privacy Statements every day. After all, who's to know? Certainly not
the consumer! We, of course are left to pay the price with annoying spam and
junk mail or worse. Since as a consumer I have no control over this
information once it has been transmitted, the only safe course of action for
me is no action. KEEP IT PRIVATE! This is a rule to which I strictly adhere
and I'm pleased to say that after 20 years in the computer industry my tech
related junk mail is ZERO. I've performed my part and paid for your product.
What gives Netgear the right to my personal information? Are you that out of
touch with privacy issues today?

So Here it is. You value my name, address, and phone number. Like many
others, I value my privacy enough to include it in my daily purchasing
decisons as should all of us. I hold posession of my finances and as a
consequence your router has gone back to the retailer and has been exchanged
for a Linksys of similar features and price. I'm happy to say that my
support questions to them were answered without incident and I'm more than
pleased with that purchase and the service which followed.

Finally, let me be up front. This letter will be cross posted to every
relevent usenet tech forum, not as a flame but as a pre-sale public service
notice. If you don't wish to give up your privacy, don't purchase Netgear.
Those who feel as I do may be spared the lost hours of a second trip to the
store for refund or exchange. If only a small percentage of the thousands of
people who will read this document walk up to a person in a store holding a
netgear box and relay these concerns, maybe you'll get the message. You
spent good money in marketing to bring us to your products. It's a shame to
waste it with policies that serve little purpose but to alienate us as
consumers.


Sincerely
RSF
Former Netgear Customer