ramf42
join:2005-03-15
Redwood City, CA
| Class action against Netgear - WGT624 hangs /drops
If anybody has been experiencing serious reboots or hangs with their Netgear WGR614 WGT624 or WGT634. The problems seems to be hardware related (heating or power supply or both).
I had the problem and gave up on Netgear - bought a Linksys instead and it has been great.
The national law firm of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, is investigating consumer complaints concerning Netgear wireless routers. The complaints include allegations that the routers frequently drop connections, operate intermittently, and require frequent resetting and/or power cycling.
If you think this is happening to you, please go to »www.lieffcabraser.com/router-complaint.htm and provide more information.
You can get more information about the problems on Netgear support site at »forum1.netgear.com/support/viewt···tart=390 |
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codydog
join:2001-11-29
Newport, RI | How do you prove financial damages if a wireless router drops you? Just curious. |
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blohner
join:2002-06-26
Cortlandt Manor, NY
clubs:
 ·Vonage
 ·Optimum Online
| reply to ramf42
So this will be another 'lawfirm get's rich - customer get's a $5 coupon?'.
I am all for vendors fixing their stuff (I have a WGR614 collecting dust in the basement - I gave up on it a while back) - but Class Action Suits generally don't benefit the consumer much IMHO...
--
I am addicted to speed --- OOL speed that is ---
~Help find a cure for cancer~Proud Member Team Discovery |
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hansmuff
join:2004-02-20
Exton, PA
| Re: Class action against Netgear - WGT624 hangs /d
I fully agree with blohner. What do you hope to achieve? Get $5 back? And make Lawyers rich?
You won't get a better firmware or product from such a lawsuit. You will help drive Netgear into financial ruin. Great news for consumers, I guess.
You won't get my support. |
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ramf42
join:2005-03-15
Redwood City, CA
| I run software development for a company that develops embedded products. Mobile - cellular space - not competing with Netgear - but I know what it means to deliver software products on difficult environment. If my company ever released a product with the defects that Netgear has (Check out the Netgear BBS for details – it seems to be defective power supply and heating in those units, and Netgear completely ignores the consumer complaints here) we would have to recalled it instantly. We know we would have gotten sued for much less then the mistakes Netgear have done. And this mechanism holds us accountable.
"Lawyers get rich on, consumer get nothing"
What are you basing your statement on?
Lawyers typically get 1/3 of what you get as consumer. At the most. So if you get $5, they get $1.66 for doing all the work and research upfront without any guarntees.
So if you like letting companies take advantage of you - which Netgear has done and continues to do with these models - go ahead and stay quite. If you want to get your money back - which is probably what is going to happen – and verify that it does not happen with the next product you buy, speak up. |
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codydog
join:2001-11-29
Newport, RI | Since you feel so good about these lawyers, whats their hourly rate?
Personally, I would write to the judge and implore him/her to not include me in this lawsuit. |
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DaveNJ
No Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey | i would not buy another Netgear product after my experience with support, netgear creates products that have faults and doesnt support them. |
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ImpetusEra
join:2004-05-19
00000
| reply to ramf42
Re: Class action against Netgear - WGT624 hangs /drops
$1.66 x the amount of affected units. When it comes to electronics there's two things to do. First look for reviews on it before you buy. Second thing is make sure to use it a lot after you buy it. If it doesn't suit your needs return it and exchange for a different product. Try a generic power adapter to see if it's power supply related. I haven't had any problems with any of my equipment. Lots of problems arise from what the user does and the environment it's on. I'm sure plenty of people have these units sitting in a direct beam of sunlight for half the day plugged into a power strip shoved up next to the heat register. Plenty of people probably have routers sitting on the dusty floor in their room with 3 days worth of dirty clothes piled on top of it then call it junk cause it overheats and locks up. Maybe they got their 2.4GHz cordless phone next to the wireless router on their desk. Or the microwave is 5 feet away from it. There's lots of factors in what can make equipment seem like junk, every product and all the vendors have consumer complaints so go ahead and run, but you can't hide. |
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Gorn
join:2002-09-16
Campbell, CA
| Re: Class action against Netgear - WGT624 hangs /d
Yeah, but when a LinkSys with a stock adapter shoved under a pile of dirty clothes in a beam of sunlight with a power strip next to the heat register works great, then the apologists for Netgear start looking really bad.
This is about principle, and about training companies to never.do.this.again. |
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Stoofa
join:2004-02-18
England
| Oh look - a call to sue from the US.
Please shoot me if we ever get as bad as this in the UK.
What ever happened to simply returning an item if it doesn't work.
Then, vowing never to buy anything by that company again?
But no....there must be some suing going on which will make the end customer no money at all.
*Sigh* |
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Anav
Sarcastic Llama? Naw, Just Acerbic
Premium
join:2001-07-16
Dartmouth, NS
| reply to ramf42
Re: Class action against Netgear - WGT624 hangs /drops
Another example of NA eagerness to absolve oneself of any responsibility. Who did what research before buying. Which store sold you the product. Lots of ppl to look at before the marketer (and they dont really design and make their own to begin with ' perhaps you should look at the parts vendors!!) Suggest the answer is clear, better research before buying, if you want to boycott their products and tell your friends likewise, also viable. Sueing.....thats a cowardly act.
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Ain't nuthin but the blues! "Albert Collins". Leave your troubles at the door! "Pepe Peregil" De Sevilla. Just Don't Wifi without WPA, "Yul Brenner" - (Llama Works Equipment ) - |
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Shad0wlore
Premium
join:2004-06-15
USA
 ·AT&T Midwest
| reply to ramf42
Re: Class action against Netgear - WGT624 hangs /d
Ok.. I'm a bit miffed about this whole deal. Let me get this straight.. something doesn't operate the way *YOU* feel it does... and as such, you are now looking into legal action... welcome to the good ole USA... The place where you can spill hot coffee on your crotch and sue for it.
As someone who has a number of contacts at Netgear, (and who has helped quite a number of people here fix their glitches from time to time) I'm really offended.
I can safely say that 75-90% of all the 'complaints' I've seen are nothing more than misinformed individuals, trying to use a product improperly.
The other thing to keep in mind, is the people here on BBR are the miniority of individuals using the products. For every 1 person here, there are probably 100 that aren't here.
Please don't waste the court system, the taxpayers, and these attorney's time.
Shadowlore |
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codydog
join:2001-11-29
Newport, RI
| It sounds more like a "green mail" lawsuit - where the plaintiff sues the defendant for some large sum, gets headlines and then agrees to settle for some other number.
It ends up being cheaper for the defendant to settle than to pay lawyer fees, lose worktime etc.
I'm just curious, as a question to the original poster, why not sue every router maker / pc builder as they all have had problems from time to time. In fact, based on your premise, why not sue every company alphabetically in the phonebook? |
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egou
join:2003-03-17
Sterling, VA | reply to ramf42
For all of you sceptical about this law suit - what a consumer like myself to do when a product - in this case Netgear 614v4 - locks up every other day and its manufacturer is totally ignorant to it? |
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codydog
join:2001-11-29
Newport, RI
| I use a 614 v1 and it has been rock-solid for at least 12-15 months or so. All I ever did was upgrade the firmware since I bought it for $20 after rebate.
I've read all the endless trashing of netgear and honestly dont see it. I'm thinking of buying the 538 now cause this 614 has worked so well. |
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WiMStang
Not just another brick in the wall
Premium
join:2000-10-22
·Charter Pipeline
| reply to ramf42
Re: Class action against Netgear - WGT624 hangs /drops
I just bought the WGT624 from my local Staples and it has been up and running flawlessly for the last 3 days. I upgraded immediately and it now says Ver. 3. Had been running a Belkin Pre-N and this unit is every bit as strong in range. Returned the Belkin as it constantly reset itself and lost all settings. I hope I don't have to go through that BS again. So far, so good. Anyway a law suit is not the way to gain improved products as it sucks the life out of good companies. No, the best way is to return the product and register your complaint with the company so they can resolve the issue.
--
Life is a treasure hunt...you just have to know where to look. |
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jrollo
join:2005-03-17
San Diego, CA
| reply to ramf42
Re: Class action against Netgear - WGT624 hangs /d
Personally, I would be happy to see Netgear pay a large sum for producing this router, even if I don't see a dime.
How is it OK to produce a defective router, and then not revise the hardware and issue replacement equipment? I have the WGT634U, and it has been sitting collecting dust for months. I had to finally give up on using it.
And if this does make it to court, and we end up getting a winning verdict, it seems to me like the appropriate compensation would be a replacement router. That would be fine by me. |
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ramf42
join:2005-03-15
Redwood City, CA
| reply to ramf42
Re: Class action against Netgear - WGT624 hangs /drops
As the original poster, I was asked to comment on some of the anti-class-actions comments. I don’t like the dogmatic tone of some of the comments - I prefer fact based, rationale concrete discussions and would be glad to continue to participate if that is what we will have.
First - about myself - I am a software executive in the mobile space. I know first hand what it takes - business and engineering wise - to develop and launch mass market embedded devices. The schedule pressures, the testing and QA process and the compromises made along the way. I make those decisions when it comes to my product line and I know what it means to think about liability. And just to verify – I am in the mobile space (Cellular) – not competing with Netgear in any way.
I have dealt with faulty products in the past - and have NEVER even got clause to the point that I thought I needed to sue to the manufacturer. Returned them. Found a workaround. Buried them in the basement.
This time, with Netgear, it was different. Three reasons:
1. The router problem is significant and many people experience it.
After two months of struggling with the unit and researching online forums, it became evident that this was a serious, recurring problem. And that Netgear must know about it. If you follow the discussions in the Netgear webs site (»forum1.netgear.com/support/viewt···tart=390) you will see the details. This is not a glitch that only I experienced, but a consistent problem that a significant portion (yes, not all – a few lucky fellows) of the customers are experiencing. It also seems to be related to either power supply or heating problem. I.e. not only software glitch, but bad hardware design.
2. Netgear fails to support the product properly
I have talked to Netgear support a few times total of a few hours. Customer support was in India, and they were useless. The discussions forums had much more info. A responsible company would have informed their support staff, and offered to replace the routers or refund the money. Instead, they wasted my time with the standard questions 'did you upgrade the firmware?' (Yes, I have and have also switched back to try the older version just in case it is bug you introduced in the latest version). Wouldn’t it be nice to have a notice on the website that they are aware of the problem and working on a fix? Special number to call if you have experienced the specific disconnect problems and need a new unit? No. Netgear has done nothing.
3. Netgear continues to sell the failing product. Netgear continues to sell the product as if it is perfect. They never acknowledge the problem and just continue to sell the product as if it is working great. This is dishonest.
So these three reasons led me to decide that in this case, investigating a class action against Netgear is justifiable. An irresponsible company that refuses to be accountable to a product they put out in the market - and for which me and many of you paid for and didn’t get the any value out of.
Hope this helps people understand why I took the step of starting a complaint. And just like somebody else said – all I am looking for is to get my money back. If enough of us insist on this, Netgear will learn the lesson.
R |
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Anav
Sarcastic Llama? Naw, Just Acerbic
Premium
join:2001-07-16
Dartmouth, NS
| Sounds like you made many mistakes for someone of such lofty position.
Crappy research of both product and support available BEFORE the purchase. (did you listen to some pimply faced expert at circuit city??)
Failed to return/switch faulty router in a timely manner, for a refund. Sounds like you can still get an RMA replacment and others seem to have reasonable results.
Heck you wouldn't cut it as the photocopy guy in some places, except if you used FedEx 
I suggest you RMA it, when you get one that works, give it as a gift to an employee and then do your homework properly.
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Ain't nuthin but the blues! "Albert Collins". Leave your troubles at the door! "Pepe Peregil" De Sevilla. Just Don't Wifi without WPA, "Yul Brenner" - (Llama Works Equipment ) - |
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BonezX
Basement Dweller
Premium
join:2004-04-13
Canada
| reply to DaveNJ
Re: Class action against Netgear - WGT624 hangs /d
said by DaveNJ  :i would not buy another Netgear product after my experience with support, netgear creates products that have faults and doesnt support them. look at dlink and say that netgear does not support anything. |
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