Microsoft DEFINES the standard of crap by which all tech support is judged.

Consumer tip: When dealing with any company's tech support, always try to escalate to a Second Tier technician. They are likely to be better trained as they get fed actual bacon.

Sprint!!!

@Darrone: How so? I would not call it fast, but I think Microsoft's technical support is actually top notch. What product did you have a bad experience with regarding technical support?

I have had issues with Intel's technical support, especially with their server platforms.

Netgear is on the list of "do not patronize" now after several bum support calls.

Targus is on the list of useless, misleading and uninformed.

How is Apple even an option? I've always had a great outcome with them. Microsoft was good as well, but then I was talking to someone from their business department dealing with our Exchange server, so maybe for the extra coin my company offered to pay (which I had them null once I got what I needed) they treat you better and you get someone who knows something.

I vote Dell for screwing my brother with a bad notebook. He had to call so many times about a dysfunctional notebook, was approached by a civil suit group and finally had to argue his way to get help. At one point he asked, "Ok you can't help me, who's next above you?" What was the response you ask?
"Um, that would be Michael Dell, sir"

Finally, he had to send his notebook away for two weeks for it to be fixed. It came back semi-functional and his wife bought him a new one. Eat one, Dell!

XM!

I had to return a laptop to HP under warranty. The multiple, long sessions on the phone to people obviously 15000 miles across the Ocean was nerve wracking. The worse aspect of it was that each subsequent call could have been 40% shorter if (1) they didn't ask me the same scripted questions over again; (2) they didn't make me go through the same, useless "procedure" to "isolate" the problem over and over; and (3) their representatives had at least a working knowledge of the English language. I like HP products, but the thought of ever having to go through another process like that has given me pause.

Netgear was the only real "problem case" I've ever had as far as hardware support.

I'm not trying to sound like a know-it-all, but when I call about a router and say "okay, before we start, I have the latest firmware and I've tried power-cycling both my modem and router, and confirmed it's not a problem with my modem or internet connection", please don't continue with your checklist as if I said...nothing. Ugh.

Sprint, Sprint, Sprint.

Q: "Which Company Has The Worst Computer Tech Support?"

A: The one you end up having to call.

The rest are subject to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle and are therefore neither good nor bad.

What's the worst kind of rape? The kind that actually happens. I rest my case.

@Darrone:
I'm not a Microsoft hater like a lot of people on this site, but their support does suck. I can't understand a damn word they're saying. I'm pretty sure I pressed '1' for English, so why the hell is the guy on the other line speaking Hindi. What the hell is Hindi anyway...

T-E-C-H S-U-P-P-O-R-T...what the hell is that?...is that like when I use the internet to find solutions to my problems?

or maybe when I actually get a book and READ about how to do something properly?

Where's the "All of them" option?

Microsoft is terrible. All they do is tell you its the hardware's fault.

On the flipside, ASUS has been the most pleasant manufacturer I've ever spoken too. Extremely helpful and even told me that people call them about Microsoft problems and they end up helping them more than M'soft did. Amazing.

I know we're talking about worst experience with tech support, but I would have to give best tech support to Nintendo. I was having problems trying to play online with my Wii and the guy walked me thourgh setting up my wireless router, even though he wasnt suppose to!

I say Bell Canada. They are useless, slow to take calls and they dont really care. There is no customer care part with them.
Escalating to Tier 2 might work but they think they were God.

@nutbastard:
Especially if the woman is wearing rape-x.. that's the worst kind of rape..

Always ask if she's packing rape-x before going any further.

@nutbastard: Many of us have called many different tech support companies (and could assign a "worst" through "best" rating) and some people even have incredibly positive experiences.

I sadly had to call tech support once. I was rather embarrassed. It was Dell. They sucked.

But, I've heard HP is supposed to be absolutely horrid and read in (I think) Consumer Reports that it was (followed by Dell).

- PR-0927

Actually, Im going to say the worst is me. I often dont have the right answer, and sometimes i tell me to just live without whatevers not working. Sometimes i'm even drunk when I call me! I mean, gawd, how unprofessional is that? Also i never listen to me when i tell me what ive already tried. and I've got an indian accent that i can't understand half the time.

Tech support? TECH SUPPORT?! We don't need no stinkin tech support!

Unfortunately, I'm my family's tech support. :(

I've found that Cingular / AT&T is completely ridiculous and incompetent. Unless you escalate a couple of tier's up, don't plan on getting anything resolved. CA (Computer Associates) and Symantec are pretty bad as well because they obviously outsource and you can't understand what they are telling you to do.

@Rabid Penguin:

nah man the worst kind of rape is when they dont even give the reach around. talk about adding insult to injury!

I don't even care about the question...

That picture had me ROFLLMAOLOLCOPTER!!!

Honestly, I think I just woke up my neighbor in the other cubicle with laughter. Great pic and caption Giz.

Dell has always been good with me. They've agreed to replace laptop keyboards, displays and casings within an hour of being on the phone, and that includes hold times.

After having three Dell laptops, I got too good of a deal on a Sony to pass up. I should have. The tech support is hard to get ahold of and useless with any questions above "How do I turn this on?".

Linksys, though it has been a while since I called, had equally useless tech support. Dlink, though, is pretty good on the phone. I called about a router arriving with a cracked configuration CD. The guy (outsourced, but competent) pointed me to an FTP site for an .iso download within five minutes.

HP tech support phone calls are always dreaded. Dell is pretty bad too, but I think a recent situation from HP might bump them over the edge for me:

I called HP Tech support to purchase their Total Care package for my HP TV. The HP Plasma TVs (made by LG) were less than reliable, but cheap and their coverage allowed you to purchase plans 1 year from purchase date. I called to purchase this, they needed my serial number (no mention to this on the website). Called back and they told me my TV was recorded as over a year old and I would have to fax or email a valid less-than-one-year-old receipt. I did this, and received an email back saying the date wasn't circled (i wasn't instructed to do this). I emailed it back with the date circled. I called back the enxt day (as instructed) and found out there was a scheduled server upgrade, and the agent who told me to call back certainly knew about it. Now I am waiting to see if they will find my purchase valid. The entire process has taken well over two weeks, just to validate a receipt.

I have never had a problem with MS until my Vista installation reverted to un-activated due to a hardware change. I had to explain to an agent with a heavy accent why I switched audio cards. I didn't know I needed a reason.

@nutbastard:
I suppose guys could wear rape-x too, but then you've already lost... :c /

psystar?

TiVo for best - even better than Apple. Worst? A tie between Dell, Microsoft (XBox) and HP.

I don't mind speaking to someone with an accent or with someone on a script. But damn it, I don't accept having to sit on hold for nearly an hour before I finally talk to a human being. And I don't accept listening to a script about rebooting and making sure it is plugged in when I start out by saying - the device is dead - when I turned it on sparks flew, smoke bellowed, and the room now smells like the depths of hell. And yes, I've actually had 3 devices die like that and in each case the drones ignored my initial description and began reading their script.

I don't know, I've had some fan issues with my Wii for several months now, and Nintendo has yet to help me. One agent actually told me to smack it!

time warner cable... along with the worst internet provider in the entire world

After MPC got Gateway's business line, the support and parts replacement went straight into the toilet.

@Rabid Penguin:
the trick for guys is a series of special exercises. at this point my sphincter has a six-pack and you couldn't get a greased golf tee in the door.

A discussion of tech support turns into a discussion on rape and things that fit in your butt.

There's a deeper meaning here, I know it.

The only two I've dealt personally with are Lenovo and Acer, and the difference is night and day. Lenovo's always been awesome to me, while Acer has denied warranty coverage, kept me on hold forever, and just generally screwed me around. And I was calling for my job (which involves taking care of about 300 Lenovo systems with Acer monitors). Needless to say, we're now buying our replacement monitors from Lenovo, as well.

@nutbastard: So then it's strictly nothing in, garbage out.

cyberpowerpc!

@bosskev:

Very good tip. I usually find that I am more informed than the first person I talk to on a support call, and have usually tried the basic trouble shooting tips that they offer prior to talking with them.

Although tech support for most companies' is about the same, I would have to say that Apple has been the best for me.

Wouldn't the company with the 'best tech support' be the company on this list that you own their products and have never had to call? The goal is to not have to call tech support, and if you had to, then the situation is already pear-shaped, IMHO.

@nutbastard:
You know... I'm curious how to do those exercises... but at the same time I'm not...

Oh, by the way, PipeRifle, you made me laugh.

From my experience, Belkin has the worst tech support.

@PipeRifle:

"A discussion of tech support turns into a discussion on rape and things that fit in your butt.

There's a deeper meaning here, I know it. "

well, ok, as long as that meaning isn't deeper than the second knuckle...

Tech Support's for Grandmas.

HP enterprise support is horrible! We call and are told the documentation you need that will explain how to do everything is on this site - but the login page is broken. Oh, the login page works, but the web server crashed.
Oops, forums are down. oops, we lied there is no documentation.

The worst tech support of any company in the world is Sprint. If anyone has called them then you know. I have been on the phone with sprint to many times to count to clear up bogus charges (at least 4-6 a year) and they are overpriced. >:( I would switch to any other company but my for my job my company will only pay for a corporate sprint account (that I have to itemize every month and justify every charge) thats why I have to dispute with them a lot over data charges that can be upwards of $50 when i have the lock on my data on my phone so i don't use it. I sit for hours while I'm on hold and if Im on the phone with them past their hours the person picks up and says "call back" or says "I can't help you" and slams the phone on me. SO AVOID SPRINT AT ALL COSTS!

The tech support in that photo looks pretty "RUFF" xD

CyberPower PC, with a difference.

Those guys are clueless rude morons. Never experienced such a horrible customer service as theirs.