I don't usually rant, but...

The two fans in a Netgear FS 524 (fast ethernet switch) are going bad
-- they have been howling for months. I have finally gotten around to
*attempting* to order new fans.

Their website did not list fans or parts. I called the number given
for sales and the nice lady sounded like she did not know what I was
talking about. She transfered me to tech support.

Tech support says that they do not sell fans or parts. They said that
they would replace the entire unit if under warranty. But this unit
is, of course, just a bit too old to be under warranty. Thus he said
that I could buy a new one!!!!!

What tech support did not say is how I was supposed to SEND the unit to
them -- even if I wanted them to look at it, which I don't -- without
buying another one to keep the network running.

I was very polite and respectful.

I asked to speak with a tech support supervisor (partly because we were
having a "language problem" -- I only speak English and I don't know
what language this fellow usually speaks -- and partly because I could
not believe what I thought I was hearing); the first guy asked the
supervisor for permission to let me speak to him/her and the supervisor
*refused* to take the call. The first guy said I could send a
letter!!!

I called corporate headquarters at 408-907-8000 and asked to speak to
the product manager responsible for switches. The receptionist asked
why and I stated that it was about buying switches. (I do actually need
to buy some more and I don't want to buy from Netgear if this is really
their policy.) The receptionist *refused* to transfer the call and
stated that it was company policy to not transfer a call if I did not
know the person's name. She would only take a message -- and we know
which round file that was going to go in.

I know that WHEN we replace this switch, we should replace it with a
10/100/1000 (but this particular small network is still all 10/100 for
the moment). DUH! However, I would STILL like to have this 10/100 as
a BACKUP unit at the least. There is no reason to throw out a unit
that originally cost several hundred dollars when it just needs two $2
fans!

Will I buy Netgear again? Heck no!

Jay