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How to become an unpaid technical support worker for Google

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Re: How to become an unpaid technical support worker for Google

#21

Post by adam-f »

jakobegger wrote: post #16

This is what made me ditch Gmail. After using it for several years, I stumbled across a serious bug that removed all email from my inbox. I tried contacting support, but there was none; all I got were replies from top contributors pointing me to other people with the same issue. It becsme clear that there was no way to escalate the issue or get help from someone who could actually investigate the bug or help restorin…

Perhaps google should open up additional channels of communication for "top contributors" to escalate problems?

Re: How to become an unpaid technical support worker for Google

#22

Post by [deleted] »

jakobegger wrote: post #16

This is what made me ditch Gmail. After using it for several years, I stumbled across a serious bug that removed all email from my inbox. I tried contacting support, but there was none; all I got were replies from top contributors pointing me to other people with the same issue. It becsme clear that there was no way to escalate the issue or get help from someone who could actually investigate the bug or help restorin…

[deleted]

Re: How to become an unpaid technical support worker for Google

#23

Post by mickle00 »

gk1 wrote: post #18

Reminds me of a SaaS company (I won't name) solved the problem of "too much support time wasted on non-enterprise clients" by funneling all non-enterprise support questions to a community forum and encouraging contributors to answer those questions. I answered dozens of questions for many days, thinking it will help build credibility (as suggested by another commenter). Then I realized I'm just volunteering as level…

if they sold beer it might be named ales-force? :)

Re: How to become an unpaid technical support worker for Google

#24

Post by Zathman »

jakobegger wrote: post #16

This is what made me ditch Gmail. After using it for several years, I stumbled across a serious bug that removed all email from my inbox. I tried contacting support, but there was none; all I got were replies from top contributors pointing me to other people with the same issue. It becsme clear that there was no way to escalate the issue or get help from someone who could actually investigate the bug or help restorin…

Google provides paid email (which includes support) under the service of Google Apps for Work. You can call or email an actual Google tech support employee 24/7 for core services when you need help (number will be in the admin panel).

But when you're getting a product for free, especially email (Hotmail/Live Mail, Yahoo, AOL, Gmail, etc) you really can't expect any provider to provide comprehensive one-on-one support as it is rather pricey. So you're right to go to a paid plan somewhere.

Re: How to become an unpaid technical support worker for Google

#26

Post by [deleted] »

bduerst wrote: post #12
gmisra wrote: post #9

One of the most beautiful things about the internet is that it enables platforms for individuals to create value and then receive no share of that value. We see much lamenting about lack of innovation in "business plans" around here, and yet we have an historic opportunity to examine the relationship between value creation and compensation. Why is the Etsy IPO plan so exceptional? Why do so menu community members of…

Or Stackoverflow? They are monetizing free support from thousands of developers, and it's arguably made the internet a better place.

[deleted]

Re: How to become an unpaid technical support worker for Google

#28

Post by rc4algorithm »

benten10 wrote: post #5
msoad wrote: post #2

People do anything for points on StackOverflow. It's pretty much the same thing

Exactly. Is it me or has there been a noticeable increase in Google gate-brigade posting on HN recently? Things like these, very integral part of the existing internet framework are used for pointless 'big scary Google, Google is the new Microsoft ' imagery. Anyone with data care to do a sentiment analysis/ vote-brigading analysis?

In this instance, people are angry about the fact that Google makes a ton of money from these services but feels no obligation to provide support for them.

More generally, welcome to the new normal. The money-spewing circleparty is fizzling out, thankfully. People increasingly feel safe and confident in challenging the morality and societal value of these corporations. Blasé compliance is no longer expected in tech and many of us (those of us that upvote these things) are working to keep it that way.

Google is big, scary, and the new Microsoft, whether or not that's fiscally or professionally convenient for you.

Re: How to become an unpaid technical support worker for Google

#30

Post by lukaslalinsky »

Spivak wrote: post #17
benten10 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My college professor used to (still does I bet) proudly put the stack overflow 25karma point sticker and a letter of thanks from the admins on the door to his office. And this was a man with tenure etcetera.

It's entirely possible that the support he received from others outweighed the time he put in supporting others. I know for sure that's the case for me.

In my experience, SO is only useful for trivial questions, or maybe questions that ask for a better explanation of some basic concept. If you have a question you can't find answer for by searching on the internet, it won't be answered on SO either. I still occasionally help people there, but it was never a useful resource to me personally.
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