Hi all !
Just saw your message. If you think tech support is bad in the Balkans, you should try working in India!
Tech support can be a nightmare in India. I've been on both sides of the instrumentation business - I've sold some, I've used some. So I know just how bad it can get.
A week's wait for tech support is normal here - and that's if you're in the major cities. If you're in the smaller cities or in the hinterland, well, you wait ad nauseum. When, and if, the engineer turns up, you'll be lucky if he knows more about your instrument than you do. If he does diagnose the problem, you'll be real lucky if he's got the spare parts. And woe betide you if you have to import any spares. A month's delay at least.
Spares are always grossly overpriced by many vendors here. Plus there's a stiff import duty on spares. Insult to injury.
That's the story with most of the instrument vendors here. There's just a handful of them who provide decent tech support. Just two or three vendors that I can think of.
To be fair, it's not their fault all the time. India is a country that poses multiple challenges - difficult geography, bad transportation, tough import laws and some awful urban infrastructure.
So - count your blessings !
Work for a month in India, and you'll thank your lucky stars you work in the Balkans.
Cheers !