Unplug

[Technoid]

Customer: If I buy a router can I still unplug it?

Me: unplug?

C: yes, we unplug the broadband cable and move it when we want to surf on the other computer.

Me: uhm…isn’t the reason you want a router to be able to have more than one computer plugged in at the same time?

C: no, I meant; can I unplug the router from the broadband cable?

Me: yes, but then you won’t be able to use the internet.

C: so the router always has to be plugged in?

Me: to function, yes but it won’t break if you unplug it.

C: But if I go on vacation?

Me: as a precaution against electric storms, yes otherwise it’s like any other electrical device.

C: hm… thanks.

And the customer leaves the store still looking somewhat confused.

[Nowhere]

It's simply "box that connects to the Internet = modem" mindset, I guess...

[VJ]

Me: to function, yes but it won’t break if you unplug it.

Am I the only one who expects him to come back:
-
Customer: I unplugged it, and now it is broken.
You: Have you plugged it back in?
Customer: Yes.
You: And?
Customer: I have no internet connection.
You: WHERE did you plug the broadband connection?
Customer: Does it matter? The box has 5 identical looking ports...
-

Jörg

[Claymonkey]

I do NOT miss this kind of BS. I'm also extremely happy that my biggest Tech support caller, my dad, is savvy. I was actually able to talk him through with just a couple of URL's how to flash DD-WRT to his routers and configure a bridged network.

This is obviously outweighed by all my artsy friends that know I know what I'm doing

[UtwigMU]

Couple of weeks ago during storms I had 3 Linksys WRT54__ routers go down.

[Claymonkey]

were they on surge protectors? Both power and data?

I lost my first 14.4 modem due to lovin' that a lightning storm can give electronics.

[Technoid]

Am I the only one who expects him to come back:
-
Customer: I unplugged it, and now it is broken.
You: Have you plugged it back in?
Customer: Yes.
You: And?
Customer: I have no internet connection.
You: WHERE did you plug the broadband connection?
Customer: Does it matter? The box has 5 identical looking ports...
-

Jörg

Actually, most routers have 4 ports numbered 1-4 and a another port separated with a few mm from the switched ports and nowdays it's usually in a slightly different style with a bright colored border and the word WAN underneath it.

So those problems are mostly gone now.