M1 gives away free Asus RT-N56U routers with a new internet subscription or renewal. The routers are really cheap if you pay cash, but they say the router has a value of $189 (Singapore). 
I seem to remember the cash price is about $55-75 (Singapore).
I received my free router promptly. I was in the middle of the setup, using the web app, when a window popped up asking me for permission to update the firmware. I clicked yes. The router “bricked”. Needless to say I was not happy. I dialed the support number. The guy, in India, told me I had to get Windows to run thier tool, and recover the router. They do not support recovery mode on non-Windows systems. I refuse to own a Windows box, so I hung up.
I tried email support the next day. The email support guy told me where to take the router. A few days later, I did so. It was about 11:00 when I arrived. There was a very long queue of other people exchanging their routers. The lady told me the wait is about 90 min. I was not about to wait to get something exchanged that cost me nothing to start with. I ate lunch, then went to SimLim mall. I tossed the router in the rubbish (box, receipt and all), and bought a functional router for about $60 (Singapore). The new router was up and running in a matter of moments. It has worked flawlessly for months now. I figure if I replace it in three years, the cost is only $20 a year. That is much better than a "problem device" (even a free one).
A few days after tossing the router, the email customer support sent me a follow up message. I told them that I did not want to wait in a 90 min queue, so I tossed it in the rubbish. It took them just over two weeks to respond with, “Let us know if you need any more assistance”.
I wonder what the customer service manager thought of their encounter with me? I suppose they are used to being cussed at, but I just cheerfully told them that their product was rubbish and not worth the time it takes to make it work, even for free.
I seem to remember the cash price is about $55-75 (Singapore).
I received my free router promptly. I was in the middle of the setup, using the web app, when a window popped up asking me for permission to update the firmware. I clicked yes. The router “bricked”. Needless to say I was not happy. I dialed the support number. The guy, in India, told me I had to get Windows to run thier tool, and recover the router. They do not support recovery mode on non-Windows systems. I refuse to own a Windows box, so I hung up.
I tried email support the next day. The email support guy told me where to take the router. A few days later, I did so. It was about 11:00 when I arrived. There was a very long queue of other people exchanging their routers. The lady told me the wait is about 90 min. I was not about to wait to get something exchanged that cost me nothing to start with. I ate lunch, then went to SimLim mall. I tossed the router in the rubbish (box, receipt and all), and bought a functional router for about $60 (Singapore). The new router was up and running in a matter of moments. It has worked flawlessly for months now. I figure if I replace it in three years, the cost is only $20 a year. That is much better than a "problem device" (even a free one).
A few days after tossing the router, the email customer support sent me a follow up message. I told them that I did not want to wait in a 90 min queue, so I tossed it in the rubbish. It took them just over two weeks to respond with, “Let us know if you need any more assistance”.
I wonder what the customer service manager thought of their encounter with me? I suppose they are used to being cussed at, but I just cheerfully told them that their product was rubbish and not worth the time it takes to make it work, even for free.
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