⭐☆☆☆☆ Extremely Disappointed – Forced Obsolescence and Subscription Push

[ZachEtringer]

I am extremely disappointed with Arlo and how they have handled existing customers. A firmware update was pushed to my base station that effectively made my existing cameras unusable. This was not a hardware failure on my end—my equipment worked fine until Arlo changed the firmware.

Now, instead of supporting the products I already own, Arlo’s solution is to sell me an entirely new system that requires a paid subscription. One of the main reasons I chose Arlo in the first place was that I did not need a subscription to use core features. That value proposition is now gone.

This feels like forced obsolescence. I invested in Arlo hardware in good faith, only to have functionality removed through a software update and replaced with pressure to buy new products and ongoing subscriptions. That’s not customer-focused, and it’s not how loyal users should be treated.

I can no longer recommend Arlo to anyone looking for a reliable, long-term security solution. If you’re considering Arlo, be aware that features you rely on today may be taken away tomorrow unless you’re willing to keep paying more.

[Mitzu]

I feel that if your going to pay for a security system, might as well pay a local company because any issues occur, they are local and come right out and fix the issue...  and that is true, as that is how my neighbor has their security camera system.    Arlo can't do that!   Its been weeks since the new update and so many issues!   I USED to LOVE ARLO!   I am a senior citizen on a fixed budget, and saved for a while to afford arlo, first because if you do have a base, you didn;'t need to pay for a subscription, and now when you go to your feed, there are 3, ADVERTISEMENTS, 3 of them REALLY ARLO?!,    ONE SCREEN AND 3 ADVERTISEMENTS?  VERY UNNECESSARY!     SOME DON'T NEED ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES THAT YOU OFFER!  I REGRET RECOMMENDING ARLO TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY!   NOT ONLY AM I DISGUSTED WITH THIS NEW UPDATE, I'M GETTING HEAT FROM THE PEOPLE I RECOMMENDED ARLO TO!   WE HAVE ALL DECIDED TO SWITCH COMPANIES!   AS FOR ME, I AM STUCK WITH ARLO UNTIL I SAVE UP FOR DIFFERENT CAMERA'S SO I HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT, BUT IT IS NOT RIGHT ARLO!  SO SICK OF COMPANIES TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS!   PEOPLE KNOW YOU OFFER A PAID SUBSCRIPTION WHEN YOU SET UP YOUR SYSTEM, SO STOP PUSHING IT FREAKING DAILY IN THE APP!  I KNOW COMPANIES WANT TO MAKE MONEY, AND THAT IS FINE, FOR THE ORDINARY POOR PEOPLE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ACTUALLY PAYING ALL THE WAY AROUND!,   I CAN'T WAIT TO GET A NEW SYSTEM!  GONNA BE SAD TO LEAVE ARLO, BUT MY FEELINGS ARE BASED ON THE  OLD VERSION AND NOT SUCH A PUSHY COMPANY ARLO USED TO BE!    JUST HORRIBLE AND RIDICULOUS!  3 advertisements on feed page.  ughhhhhh.   I DON'T NEED TO EXPLORE PLANS!   I DON'T CARE TO KNOW IF NOTIFICATION WAS A PERSON OR ANIMAL!   DO YOU REALLY THINK I AM GOIN TO DEPEND ON AI?!!!!! HELL NO!!!!!!!!   I RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION, I WILL CHECK THE NOTIFICATION!   I DON'T NEED AI TO TELL ME WHAT TRIGGERED MY CAMERA!   IF CAN STILL SEE WITH MY OWN EYES!   MY NOTIFICATIONS, ARE FROM TODAY ONLY, AND YOU HAVE 3 ADVERTISEMENTS, ONE TO CHECK PLAN OUT FOR PERSON DETECTION, THE 2ND IS FOR "KNOW WHOSE IN YOUR SPACE" - EXPLORE PLANS, 3RD SAYS YOUR VIDEO'S WITH AI CAPTIONS - EXPLORE PLANS!     I DON'T NEED NOR DO I WANT ANY OF THOSE!!!!!!!   HORRIBLE, SO PISSED IT ISN'T EVEN FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!    DAMN YOU ARLO FOR PUTTING US IN THIS POSITION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    SECONDLY, WHY DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO PAY, WHEN YOU CAN'T EVEN FIX THE APP ISSUES?!      I NEVER EVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH MY CAMERAS UNTIL  A FEW WEEKS AGO AND TO ME, THATS WAY TO LONG TO FIX ISSUES ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SECURITY !  

[BrookeN]

You can still have the free 7 days storage if you have the Pro or Pro 2. And there is basestations that have local storage that you use a USB for local storage. If you have any questions, I would be more than happy to help. 

[Mitzu]

Thank you for responding, but that wasn't my gripe.  First:  Arlo forced users to use the free trial.  We were not given a choice to make our own decision. But that here nor there.   2nd: there were alot of issues with the update wherein cameras were taking time to load, there was a bubble in left cornere of each camera  and when the did load, they were blurry.  3rd: then same issue with the feed.  4th: all the select plan windows on feed page.   I had notifications for 1 day only n feed had 3 advertisements throughtout 1 day of recording.  At one point, i had 7 advertisements to exlpore plans on 1 day of feed.   That's a bit much, don't you think?   Well I'm now on version 6.17, and the dashboard loads like it used to.  The feed page, it like flickers with grey and white lines scrolling diagonally from top to bottom.  It does this about 3 times before the feed actually shows..  I did notice though, the advertisements are gone throught the feed and only 1 appears on the top of page.  I can deal with that.   I maybe back in love with my arlo with the exception of the grey and white lines that scoll on feed before feed shows.  Hopefully that gets fixed.   Sorry I lost my cool, but its very scary for senior citizens to have issues like there were the past 2 weeks.  I'm glad arlo did fix and hope the feed gets fixed.   Thank you for removing the ads and placing only one on top of each tab....  hope it stays that way.  I am still searching for other cameras, just in case, but hoping I keep my arlo.  All depends.   

[BrookeN]

@Mitzu thank you for providing that information. I will let the team know you are seeing the lines now , but the other behavior was resolved. I will update you on the original thread that this issue was posted in. 

[Mitzu]

Thank you.  Yes, the others issues are fixed, but I notice all the ads are back in feed again...  asumming arlo pushing plans again but is it really necessary to have them all spread out in one days feed????.   For todays feed only, i see 2 recordings, then an ad for plan, then 5 more of my recordings, then another ad for plan purchase, and then 6 more recordings n another ad.    I liked that the ad was at top of page yesterday.  Why is it back to showing all the ads on one screen, n 1 day of recordings?    Please revert back to it being on the top!!!! Please!!!!

[LoneGateKeeper]

How do we set it up to get the recording and notifications of general motion like the past? I have a pro2

[Mitzu]

I didn't have to change any of my settings when they did new updates.   Apparently they have been working on fixing the issues people were experiencing, from the new updates, so settings should be same as before.   My settings are, anytime camera picks up motion, i receive a notification and it records a clip.  I've had that set up since day one.   Is that what you mean?

[BrookeN · Accepted solution]

@LoneGateKeeper please see steps here:

https://kb.arlo.com/000062817/How-do-I-view-Arlo-videos-saved-on-local-storage-Arlo-Secure-4-0