Yeah, can't speak about Hetzner, but I've also noticed that compared to UK, NL and EE at least, post-sale German customer support is a joke in most cases, it's basically non-existent, especially at the traditional German companies who's attitude is a rude: "the customer is always at fault". Once your signature is dry on the contract and they have your money, they don't give a damn. Especially since many contracts and subscriptions for especial services are nearly impossible to cancel without huge penalties for the customer. Real estate, gyms and Telcos are probably the most infamous anti consumer businesses in Germany.
German businesses are also notoriously litigious: One time, I went to a bicycle shop to have a snapped derailleur cable fixed, and when I picked up my bike and paid, I noticed the chain kept rubbing on the derailleur. So when I showed it to the shop owner he kept pretending that's not an issue and telling me that that's how it's supposed to be and that if I don't like it, I should pay him another >€95 for a full service so he can look into that. I stopped trying to argue with him and took my bike to another service that fixed it for €5, and left a one star review on their google maps explaining the issues they left my bike saddled with and the cheek and audacity the owner had in shifting the blame. After a few weeks I get a letter from the bike shop's lawyer telling me to take down the comment as it's libel without proof and I will have to pay them the cost of the business opportunities they lost due to my negative comment, so I had to spend more money and lawyer up as well to defend myself against that fraudulent bike shop. That's how that shop and many other business in Germany only have positive reviews: they get the negative ones removed under some archaic libel law.
Even my German friend confirmed to me that that's the modus-operandi of many German businesses, basically constantly screwing over thier customer base and hoping you're not gonna bother to fight them in court (especially if you're a foreigner who doesn't know the laws and doesn't have time and money for lawyers).
You can stop drawing straw men now. I never said that's a "German only thing", I'm sure it happens in other places as well.
I just chipped in with my anecdotal experiences and said that compared to other countries, even Eastern European ones, my customer support experiences in Germany have been noticeably worse across the board and even Germans who've been abroad have agreed and pointed it out as an issue.
Not the person you're replying to, but just wanted to chime in and say I appreciated your anecdote. It's nice to hear about things on the other side of the ocean from time to time.
German businesses are also notoriously litigious: One time, I went to a bicycle shop to have a snapped derailleur cable fixed, and when I picked up my bike and paid, I noticed the chain kept rubbing on the derailleur. So when I showed it to the shop owner he kept pretending that's not an issue and telling me that that's how it's supposed to be and that if I don't like it, I should pay him another >€95 for a full service so he can look into that. I stopped trying to argue with him and took my bike to another service that fixed it for €5, and left a one star review on their google maps explaining the issues they left my bike saddled with and the cheek and audacity the owner had in shifting the blame. After a few weeks I get a letter from the bike shop's lawyer telling me to take down the comment as it's libel without proof and I will have to pay them the cost of the business opportunities they lost due to my negative comment, so I had to spend more money and lawyer up as well to defend myself against that fraudulent bike shop. That's how that shop and many other business in Germany only have positive reviews: they get the negative ones removed under some archaic libel law.
Even my German friend confirmed to me that that's the modus-operandi of many German businesses, basically constantly screwing over thier customer base and hoping you're not gonna bother to fight them in court (especially if you're a foreigner who doesn't know the laws and doesn't have time and money for lawyers).
Awful place to be a customer in.