When Gateway (or Gateway 2000 back then) were the only real alternative in the IBM PC clone market they were the darlings of tech and business publications. They were very much like Dell in that they were the victims of their own success.
In 1993-94 timeframe we phoned for tech support on one of the standard multi-line AT&T phone systems (speakerphone). We were put on hold....for 1 and one-half days. We muted the speakerphone, went home, returned the next day and waited and waited until we were finally put through to a tech.
That’s totally amazing... It’s gotta be the longest hold-time that I’ve ever heard about (or, at least, that anyone has had the patience to wait for...). LOL