[Technology] Hiked price for RING Doorbell plan

[Kosh]

We don’t even have an alarm… let alone an array of ridiculous cameras etc. absolutely pointless. The police wouldn’t respond ‘quickly’ to a report of of a burglary unless persons were under threat, they’d just let it run its course… they don’t want to get hurt, and if you’re insured… which you should be, it’s virtually guaranteed you’ll be okay.

How do people sleep at night? Such paranoia and fear… or do any work…? or enjoy a holiday? Constantly reviewing hours of banal back garden footage? Or is it more about getting a sly look at the neighbours hot daughter ? Hmmmm.

Obviously I could forgive someone who’s been unfortunate enough to have suffered something awful in relation to aggravated burglary… but, I’d tentatively suggest, that’s very rare. Also people living with a disability, such as mobility issues - then yes, a doorbell camera could be a life changer.

However…

I’m amazed at how many people are spending hundreds/thousands on home security… Christ, this obsession with material possessions and precious personal belongings in a world going to SHIT really grinds my gears…

If they want in, they’ll get in and the police won’t be responding quickly enough to rescue your grannies gaudy antique eternity ring… so let it go.

No Alexa for us, no flaming doorbell contract… no clinging to shit I don’t need like so many grains of sand… just to kneel and pray with the Amazon herd in the church with a rocket shaped spire… the names change, but the sheep continue to follow.

Not this f***ing sheep…

 

[abc]

I had an email yesterday to say the cost of my basic plan for Ring Doorbell is increasing by 40% in March from £34.99 to £49.99 - that’s the second big increase in 2 years representing 100% increase since I bought my Ring Doorbell a few years ago.

There is no upgrade of service with this either. Just another example of Amazon fleecing more and more money from those who subscribe to its services. (Amazon Prime recently introduced ads to all it’s streaming unless you paid a premium and fewer and fewer films are included in its free Prime video collection).

Does anyone know of any alternative technology to Ring, if so, how much it is?

Excuse my ignorance but I have also read this elsewhere but no explanation what Ring Doorbell is. Could you enlighten please?

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

Excuse my ignorance but I have also read this elsewhere but no explanation what Ring Doorbell is. Could you enlighten please?

Fishing?

Google will provide the info you require.

 

[Neil]

why not buy security cameras at a one off price and buy a doorbell for £10
Job done

 

[Zeberdi]

We don’t even have an alarm… let alone an array of ridiculous cameras etc. absolutely pointless. The police wouldn’t respond ‘quickly’ to a report of of a burglary unless persons were under threat, they’d just let it run its course… they don’t want to get hurt, and if you’re insured… which you should be, it’s virtually guaranteed you’ll be okay.

How do people sleep at night? Such paranoia and fear… or do any work…? or enjoy a holiday? Constantly reviewing hours of banal back garden footage? Or is it more about getting a sly look at the neighbours hot daughter ? Hmmmm.

Obviously I could forgive someone who’s been unfortunate enough to have suffered something awful in relation to aggravated burglary… but, I’d tentatively suggest, that’s very rare. Also people living with a disability, such as mobility issues - then yes, a doorbell camera could be a life changer.

However…

I’m amazed at how many people are spending hundreds/thousands on home security… Christ, this obsession with material possessions and precious personal belongings in a world going to SHIT really grinds my gears…

If they want in, they’ll get in and the police won’t be responding quickly enough to rescue your grannies gaudy antique eternity ring… so let it go.

No Alexa for us, no flaming doorbell contract… no clinging to shit I don’t need like so many grains of sand… just to kneel and pray with the Amazon herd in the church with a rocket shaped spire… the names change, but the sheep continue to follow.

Not this f***ing sheep…

Wow! That’s a bit OTT.

No one has come across on this thread as ‘suffering from paranoia’, or said they were spending hundreds and thousands on security to protect the family heirlooms - I think you have the wrong audience!

I, and many other users don’t get a Ring doorbell because we are ‘paranoid about security’ nor a
‘obsessed with material possessions’ but rely on deliveries and too often missed them before getting a Ring. I think the total outlay for me was £180 quid (which included two doorbell chimes) and it’s been a game changer for me.

Most people just have the video/doorbell paired with Amazon chime - and use it literally for the convenience of being able to answer the front door from anywhere in the house or from the other side of the world if necessary or alert them to when someone approaches the house.

Excuse my ignorance but I have also read this elsewhere but no explanation what Ring Doorbell is. Could you enlighten please?

What is the Ring Video Doorbell and how does it work?

Get incredible home security at an affordable price.

www.aboutamazon.co.uk

 

[chip]

I wonder how much they contribute to CO2 emissions. They must produce huge quantities of data traffic and server use.

 

[Justice]

All these posts and not one saying the biggest reason why you shouldn't have ring or the equivalent. It is because it always grasses you up to the Mrs when you lie about what time you got home from the pub. No one likes a grass.

Or get a Mrs who doesn’t have separation issues?

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Late to the ring party and only acquired one last year after our traditional doorbell packed up.

Paid the £36 and would pay the £50’nect time as under £1 a week I think it’s worth it.

I’ve avoided being doorstepped on religious and political grounds at least 5 times now, that’s worth £5 a go at least.

I have noticed there’s an increase in delivery drivers who won’t use the door bell and will simply knock, which sometimes you don’t hear. I don’t know the motivation of this as they’re on film anyway (have motion detection on record but not alert)

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Ring is another device people have been convinced they need. They don’t.

I don't even have a functioning door bell.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Some people are very lucky but that's no reason to sneer at those who want to keep their house secure. My back garden has 13 steps down to the back door so a burglar or unwanted intruder could force the door without being seen by neighbours or passers-by. Where I lived previously, I was burgled three times, even with a deadlock on the back door. They just took a crowbar to it. I found one intruder in my kitchen at 04.30, luckily he ran away rather than assaulting me.
Neither the back door nor the front door camera face my next door neighbours garden, only the paths.
We bought it on Black Friday 15 months ago along with an Amazon show, for £89, and it has been well worth it.

Sneer away but I feel safe.

 

[abc]

What is the Ring Video Doorbell and how does it work?

Get incredible home security at an affordable price.

www.aboutamazon.co.uk

Thanks. Given I have just had a half hour video catch up with my cousin in New Zealand for free, I am a bit surprised that this set up requires a monthly cost after set up. Said out of total ignorance as to what tech is involved!

 

[chip]

FFS!

WOW WTF FFS

It's all extra energy use, don't you want CO2 levels to go down?

 

[abc]

Fishing?

Google will provide the info you require.

Fishing for what? Just asking, sorry for offending

 

[herecomesaregular]

We bought it on Black Friday 15 months ago along with an Amazon show, for £89, and it has been well worth it.

Sneer away but I feel safe.

This. If it gives more peace of mind (even if it won't really deter a determined intruder in reality) then it's worth it.

 

[Zeberdi]

Thanks. Given I have just had a half hour video catch up with my cousin in New Zealand for free, I am a bit surprised that this set up requires a monthly cost after set up. Said out of total ignorance as to what tech is involved!

It actually doesn’t - as @Bozza said way back, the video doorbell works perfectly well without the Ring Protect plan - it just won’t record any videos for you to playback. You just get the live view if someone rings or if you activate it yourself

.

Like this:

You access it all through a Ring Doorbell App on your devices - the camera is integrated into the doorbell device which can be hardwired or battery

If I try and play any of the historical events I now get this message as I cancelled my subscription so they are no longer available but everything else works fine without any ongoing fees:

 

[The Grockle]

We don’t even have an alarm… let alone an array of ridiculous cameras etc. absolutely pointless. The police wouldn’t respond ‘quickly’ to a report of of a burglary unless persons were under threat, they’d just let it run its course… they don’t want to get hurt, and if you’re insured… which you should be, it’s virtually guaranteed you’ll be okay.

How do people sleep at night? Such paranoia and fear… or do any work…? or enjoy a holiday? Constantly reviewing hours of banal back garden footage? Or is it more about getting a sly look at the neighbours hot daughter ? Hmmmm.

Obviously I could forgive someone who’s been unfortunate enough to have suffered something awful in relation to aggravated burglary… but, I’d tentatively suggest, that’s very rare. Also people living with a disability, such as mobility issues - then yes, a doorbell camera could be a life changer.

However…

I’m amazed at how many people are spending hundreds/thousands on home security… Christ, this obsession with material possessions and precious personal belongings in a world going to SHIT really grinds my gears…

If they want in, they’ll get in and the police won’t be responding quickly enough to rescue your grannies gaudy antique eternity ring… so let it go.

No Alexa for us, no flaming doorbell contract… no clinging to shit I don’t need like so many grains of sand… just to kneel and pray with the Amazon herd in the church with a rocket shaped spire… the names change, but the sheep continue to follow.

Not this f***ing sheep…

I understand your viewpoint and it will be shared by many but we have security measures in place for our personal safety not to protect material items, insurance would cover any loss.

As I said earlier in the thread we had someone try and force entry at 3am, when my terrified partner shouted at him through the door she was threatened. Thankfully he was disturbed and ran off. If panic alarms and cameras reduce the risk in the future then for me its worth the cost.

My partner is still affected by what happened two years later, now if she hears a noise she can check the cameras and alert the police via a panic button, we probably spent around £1000 all in but I don't think you can put a price on something that helps someone feel safe in their own home.

 

[Algernon]

Beat the price hike. MSE.

MSE link above.
I don't know whether it will help or not, or even if it's applicable to the OP's predicament.

 

[beorhthelm]

I wonder how much they contribute to CO2 emissions. They must produce huge quantities of data traffic and server use.

not much in the big picture, but a lot more than people think.

 

[chip]

not much in the big picture, but a lot more than people think.

If your "doorbell" and associated infrastructure consumes 5W, much lost to producing heat, and is on all the time then that's 5 x 24 x 365 = 43800Wh or ~44kWh per year. If there are a million of these in use that's 44GWh extra energy use.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

not much in the big picture, but a lot more than people think.

That's a good point. I've probably saved at least 2 penguins over the last couple of years by not fixing my doorbell.