topic Re: stolen camera in Arlo Pro 2

stolen camera

Gardenut — Sun, 20 Feb 2022 00:18:31 GMT

I want to buy used cameras, but how can I check to make sure they weren't stolen if I can't contact Arlo? The "chat" says I have to pay $99 to talk to someone. If that's the case, WHY BUY ARLO?!?!

Re: stolen camera

TomMac — Sun, 20 Feb 2022 14:12:41 GMT

Well since you say you have the Pro2 cameras, you prob don't have a subscription. (?)

You can get help here if it's a question others can answer, but without a subscription you are past the 3 month free tech help direct from Arlo.

As to stolen cameras, it is unknown but since the cameras date back a few years, there are many for sale now...

I would just be careful with the return policy from whoever you purchase from ( like ebay ).

Re: stolen camera

StephenB — Sun, 20 Feb 2022 15:09:56 GMT

@TomMac wrote:
I would just be careful with the return policy from whoever you purchase from ( like ebay ).

Of course, used kit doesn't always work - so even if it isn't stolen, you need to be careful with the return policy.

@Gardenut - from your point of view, a camera you can't onboard (for whatever reason) doesn't work - so it's not really different from the camera being defective.

Re: stolen camera

Gardenut — Sun, 20 Feb 2022 15:21:50 GMT

Thanks, but individual sellers don't offer a return policy. Do you know if there is a way to contact a live person at Arlo without having a "subscription"? I want to check the serial numbers against those that are stolen before I buy the cameras. I have the original Arlo cameras that used to include customer service, but they have apparently changed their business model.

Re: stolen camera

StephenB — Sun, 20 Feb 2022 15:26:46 GMT

@Gardenut wrote:

Do you know if there is a way to contact a live person at Arlo without having a "subscription"?

Perhaps one of the mods can help - @JamesC or @ShayneS.

Note that you can't onboard them unless the original owner removed them from the account. So stolen isn't the only scenario - the owner might simply not realized that removing them from the account was needed.

Re: stolen camera

Gardenut — Sun, 27 Feb 2022 15:26:47 GMT

Can anyone tell me how I can tell if I'm about to buy a stolen camera? There's NO warranty with Ebay, Offerup, Craigslist, etc.... I WISH I could contact the Company - IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET CUSTOMER SERVICE WITHOUT FIRST PAYING THEM $100?

Re: stolen camera

Gardenut — Sun, 27 Feb 2022 15:45:28 GMT

Why wouldn't I be able to onboard?

Re: stolen camera

StephenB — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 01:31:40 GMT

@Gardenut wrote:

Why wouldn't I be able to onboard?

Because the Arlo Cloud won't onboard a device that is already in another account.

It won't tell you why the onboarding is failing - it just doesn't work.

Re: stolen camera

Gardenut — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 01:56:30 GMT

Hmmm, didn't know that. Thanks. I've purchased used cameras from sellers before (before stealing cameras was so popular) and never had an issue linking to the base (which I assume is the same as "onboarding"). ~guess I was lucky.