topic Re: End Of Life Policy in Arlo

End Of Life Policy

simonjf — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:49:36 GMT

I have just received an email about the End Of Life policy. If this is actually what is going to happen then I need to follow up with all my friends and family, social media connections to advocate against Arlo, and search for an alternative company and service, likely starting my own online storage service for them with appropriate security cameras.

Additionally, contacts at Arlo seem to be designed to prevent actual communication - which has the stink of a company that hates its customers.

United States

Archier123 — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 14:41:25 GMT

In order for my Arlo camera system to work am I needing to purchase a subscription now? Is this something new or used to be able to get one week of service for free?

Re: United States

StephenB — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 14:53:13 GMT

@Archier123 wrote:

In order for my Arlo camera system to work am I needing to purchase a subscription now? Is this something new or used to be able to get one week of service for free?

If you have Arlo Pro cameras, then you should be getting free 7-day cloud service.

Can you confirm the camera model? (newer models - Pro 3/Pro 4/Pro 5/Ultra/Essential - don't come with this).

If the camera has a removable battery, you will find a label inside the housing (remove the battery after you open the housing).

EOL Email

JD11111 — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 02:41:59 GMT

I have three Generation 3 (VMC3030) cameras, all working perfectly fine and have been this way for over 6 years. I recommend Arlo to anyone who has ears. I love them!

I received an email this morning from Arlo stating that they now have an End Of Life Policy on Generation 3 (VMC3030) model cameras and will no longer provide free 7 day cloud storage, any firmware updates and and email notifications as of 1/4/23. And that I can continue to use them with a subscription but they will most likely cease to work as there will be no firmware updates and support.

I thought I might have received a discount to purchase new Arlo cameras as a sorry but nothing! Not even any contact details to speak about the email. I went into chat but my model camera has no availability to live chat unless I pay for a subscription.
I can say that when my cameras stop recording on 1/4/23 I will be buying another brand wireless camera, as there are many more options on the market now then what there was 6+ years ago.

Thanks Arlo for the new years present and making completely fine and working cameras useless!

Re: EOL Email

MickyB3 — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 03:24:34 GMT

I’m in the same boat got 6 cameras with half of them bought in 2019 (4030 model) so only a few years old. The EOL letter stinks of greed especially the 7 day cloud cancellation unless you subscribe for additional cost. Very disappointed Arlo, loved your products but will be moving to another platform and recommending to all my IT friends to jump ship so they afford future dishonest practices. A real shame. Please also learn what or EOL means as it’s not money!!!!

Re: EOL Email

ccha243 — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 09:55:41 GMT

I have 3 camera, the third was bought in 2020 so not even 3 years old!

I agree the email was very poorly written. Many ways to say the same thing but it went the most brutal way.

Unclear what this will mean, paying for a subscription may not even work as cameras will not be updated... How ridiculous is this statement.

Totally unacceptable from a supposedly reputable company, left customers hanging without any clear directions or plans.

Re: EOL Email

-DLS- — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 10:32:38 GMT

Totally agree, these camera's were not cheap to start off with in my country now this?, never again will I bother with this bunch... Waste of a good setup I had going

Re: EOL Email

StephenB — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 11:21:57 GMT

@JD11111 wrote:

I can say that when my cameras stop recording on 1/4/23

FWIW, the KB article says that 7-day cloud recording stops on 1 January 2024, not 1 April 2023.

https://kb.arlo.com/000063018/Arlo-Legacy-Cameras-End-of-Life

If the KB article is correct, there is still quite a bit of time for Arlo to provide some options here (discounts, etc). And maybe improve local storage???

Re: EOL Email

auf4ever — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 12:13:30 GMT

If this is not an outright breach of contract then it's certainly a vile breach of faith = Arlo cannot be trusted; if we can't continue to see the videos via the cloud/internet function then the cameras instantly become useless = it would then be time to replace them with some alternative system with *guaranteed* permanent service. I intend to explore the 'refund on breach of contract = defective product' situation.

Re: End Of Life Policy

jguerdat — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 14:42:50 GMT

I recently received notifications that both Chrome and Edge won't be updated on my W7 home theater PC. Is there a global conspiracy going on here that old devices are being EOLed even though they're still working perfectly well?

Any device or software being considered end-of-life isn't new. It's just a matter of time before it happens. If you read the FAQ (https://kb.arlo.com/000063018/Arlo-Legacy-Cameras-End-of-Life) you can still use the devices and there are suggestions for (mostly) maintaining the status quo.

No, people, the sky is not falling...

Re: End Of Life Policy

Sbne — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 15:23:28 GMT

What a waste of money for all of the cameras I’ve been happily using without issue over the years. This is a money grab to force us into subscription plans that we don’t need. I feel bad because I’ve recommended these cameras to my family and now they’re gonna be screwed too. Good bye Arlo. Way to burn your bridges.

Arlo 4030 camera EOL? Wtf?

AshTray900 — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 18:25:07 GMT

I have had my cameras working flawlessly for years, I get this ridiculous email stating functions will stop working? Are you f’n serious! This was a 1000 camera system!

I get it no more firmware, fine, but what else does this mean??

am I still going to be able to use the Arlo app? I pay for 30 day storage and animal package detection etc, is this going to still work. What exactly are you trying to tell me will no longer work??

email was poorly written to explain the exact details. I will NOT buy a new camera system from Arlo just due to age, and their is no excuse to phase these out, outdated firmware would NOT stop the cameras from functioning so are you telling me your just going to drop the usability of my system? That’s totally unacceptable!

are you just telling me new features might be not available to me? Fine

if you are just tired of giving the system free 7 day storage, just state that, I pay for 30 day storage.

so what exactly is going on here? I need the app to be able to access my cameras, I would like to retain my 30 dollar PAID for storage, I want package detection etc, there is no reason to turn it off just because you think the cameras are “old”.

Re: End Of Life Policy

RyanT82 — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 18:26:50 GMT

I agree. Requiring a subscription for new models because it is the industry modle is one thing, but to change for legacy products/customers that were promised free storage is scummy. All under the guise of cybersecurity. But don't worry if you pay them a monthly fee, then the issue goes away. Lost a customer for life.

Re: End Of Life Policy

Mark85 — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 18:27:46 GMT

Yup I agree. I loved (past tense) my ARLO Pro cameras and never felt the need to update because they worked so well, and having a rolling 7 day cloud storage for free was awesome… but I guess I’m not the perpetual customer that ARLO is interested in having.

Re: Arlo 4030 camera EOL? Wtf?

userpnw — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 18:38:03 GMT

According to their policy on April 1 all Arlo Pro and Pro 2 products will no longer get firmware and will no longer be able to store video in the cloud.

This is extremely not cool and a good reason for anyone using Arlo to never do business with them again.

Re: EOL Email

edawson23 — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 18:38:22 GMT

Hopefully room for a class action in this notice

Re: End Of Life Policy

Anon123456 — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 18:39:33 GMT

Fully agree. I just got the email and I am pissed.

2 Bases, 12 cameras.

Don't tell me that in order to keep using my product and get Clips in the cloud that I have to now subscribe to an additional service. Complete bull**bleep** and I am livid.

Fine if you want to tell me I won't get any support and there's no replacement or whatever, that's totally understandable. But don't tell me clips will not go up in the cloud because when I have to replace the system I will now NOT be looking at Arlo

Re: EOL Email

userpnw — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 18:40:58 GMT

Do yourself a favor get Ring or another brand and avoid most Arlo issues and this BS EOL policy

Re: End Of Life Policy

userpnw — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 18:42:10 GMT

It actually says your product may not even be able to use subscriptions too

Re: Arlo 4030 camera EOL? Wtf?

pc2k17 — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 18:42:32 GMT

I agree 1,000,000 percent. WTF, are you kidding me. Happy New Year from Arlo, in order to keep using our service that you pay for, you need to spend another $1000. I have 4 Pro and 1 Pro 2 camera. (plus, I have the video doorbell and three Pro 4 cameras). I now have to replace 5 cameras.

End of life security and/or home automation equipment should be FREE or HIGHLY DISCOUNTED.

I have Arlo cameras, Reolink Cameras, SmartThings Home Automation, and SimpliSafe for my alarm company. So far Reolink and SimpliSafe both have had end of life products and both companies replaced the equipment for FREE!

In fact, SimpliSafe not only replaced all my equipment, but they also let me get a water leak sensor, Temp sensor, and a Wifi lock all for FREE.

We need answers on this.... it appears to be a money grab!

What functions are we losing?

Will we have to pay full price to upgrade the EOL cameras?