"What's that, Lassie? Timmy is having technical problems and can't reach a human? Bring him this list, girl."

Retailers
For the tech-savvy, many retailers offer help through email and online chat, and they will ask you to fill out the nature of your problem online before calling. But here are the numbers you should directly try regardless.

Amazon: Call 1-866-216-1072 and keep pressing 0.

Best Buy: Call 1-888-237-8289 or 1-888-BEST-BUY and keep pressing 0.

Costco: Call 1-800-955-2292 and keep pressing 0 (this one takes a while).

eBay: Call 1-866-877-3229. Enter your eBay account if you have one. Otherwise keep pressing # until you reach the main menu and then press 0.

Target: Call 1-800-440-0680, pick your language and keep pressing 0.

Wal-Mart: Call 1-800-925-6278. Press 2, then 1, then 1. Be careful, pressing 0 drops the call.

Wireless Networks

Wireless networks will typically want you to have your account or device information ready before being connected to a live representative.

AT&T: Call 1-800-331-0500 and keep pressing 0.

Boost: Call 1-888-266-7848. Press 5 then 2 then 4 then 0 then 2.

Metro PCS: Call 1-888-8METRO8 or 1-888-863-8768 and keep pressing #.

Sprint: Call 1-888-211-4727. Press 4 then 0.

Straight Talk: Call 1-877-430-2355. Press 1, then 4, then 4.

T-Mobile: Call 1-877-453-1304. Say the word "English," then "representative."

Verizon: Call 1-800-922-0204. Press 0 then # four times then 0.

Virgin Mobile: Call 1-888-322-1122 and keep pressing 0.

Manufacturers and Services

Acer: Call 1-866-621-2237 and keep pressing #.

Apple: For iPod/Mac, call 1-800-275-2237 and keep pressing 0. For iPhone/iPad, call 1-800-694-7466 and keep pressing #.

ASUS: Call 1-510-739-3777 and keep pressing 0.

Belkin: Call 1-800-223-5546. Dial 2263, then press 1, then press 0 three times.

Blackberry: Call 1-877-255-2377. Press 2 then 4.

Canon USA: Call 1-800-828-4040 and press # twice.

Dell: Call 1-800-624-9896. Press 3 then say the word "Agent."

Gateway: Call 1-949-471-7000 and keep pressing zero.

Google: Call Google HQ at 1-650-623-4000 during its regular hours. Press 5, then 3.

Hewlett-Packard: Call 1-800-474-6836 and press 0 four times.

HTC: Call 1-866-449-8358, and you'll be directly connected to be a live rep.

Lenovo: Call 1-866-968-4465 and press 0 twice.

LG: Call 1-800-243-0000. Press 1 twice and then pick your product.

Logitech: Call 1-646-454-3200. Press 1 then 0 four times.

Microsoft: Call 1-800-642-7676 and keep pressing 0.

Motorola: Call 1-866-289-6686 and press # three times.

Netflix: Call 1-888-638-3549 and keep pressing 0 if you don't get a live representative immediately.

Nikon: Call 1-800-645-6678. Press 1 then 4 then 1.

Nintendo: Call 1-800-255-3700 and keep pressing 0.

Nokia: Call 1-888-665-4228. Pick your language, then press 3 twice.

Olympus: Call 1-888-553-4448 and press 1.

Panasonic: Call 1-800-211-7262 and keep saying the word "Customer."

Philips: Call 1-888-744-5477 and keep pressing 0.

PlayStation: Call 1-800-345-7669 and keep pressing 0.

Samsung: Call 1-800-726-7864 and keep pressing 0.

Sharp:Call 1-800-237-4277. Pick your language, then press 1.

Sony: Call 1-800-222-7669 and keep pressing 0.

Toshiba: Call 1-800-457-7777. Pick your language, press 2 then 4.

Vizio: Call 1-888-849-4623 and press 2.

Xbox: Call 1-800-469-9269 and keep pressing 0.

Yahoo: Call 1-866-562-7219 and press 2.

Cable Providers
Like wireless networks, having your account information for your cable provider ready will get you to a live contact sooner.

AT&T U-verse: Call 1-800-288-2020. Wait through all of the messages, and you'll automatically be connected to live person.

Cablevision: Call 1-866-218-3025. Pick your language, press 1 or 2 depending on whether you're a subscriber or not, and wait to be connected.

Charter Communications: Call 1-866-472-2200 and keep pressing 0.

Comcast: Call 1-800-266-2278 and keep pressing #.

Cox Communications: Call 1-888-566-7751. Pick your language, press # twice, then 1.

DirecTV: Call 1-888-777-2454. Say the word "Yes" and then keep saying "Operator."

Dish Network: Call 1-888-284-7116. Press 1 and then keep pressing 0.

Time Warner Cable: Call 1-800-892-2253 and keep pressing 0.

Verizon FiOS: Call 1-888-553-1555 and keep pressing 0.

Thanks to PCMAG.COM