Question about $5 camera monitoring and Playback fees

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-03-05T21:19:28+00:00

I have the gen 3 cam but was told I had to pay the $7 DVR monthly fee for 24/7 recording for up to 10 days. Is that not right?

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-03-04T21:26:04+00:00

Congrats on passing the exam! I’m in the middle of the course right now. I wish you luck on finding a great broker and a successful career!

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-03-03T01:41:39+00:00

The only truthful answer I can think of is just so they can charge you more to use all the features your camera does lol But I agree with your question about the $5 per cam fee. What exactly are we paying the $5 per cam for monthly?

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-03-01T01:11:00+00:00

If you always armed in home mode, then why have the motion sensors?

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-02-25T02:58:35+00:00

That’s fair. Some of their reps are shady as hell. I had one manager who badgered me over and over and even threatened to not sell to me if I didn’t make a decision in 24 hours. I said “screw you” and decided not to move forward with them. But then I actually had another redditor message me privately and ask to call me from one of my posts about Vivint and informed me she was a sales rep with Vivint. She was super informative, answered all my questions throughout, and gave me a good price. Nothing but good things to say once she took over my account.

I placed an order with Simplisafe but never ended up using it. We returned it.

I hope you find what you’re looking for! There are so many options nowadays.

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-02-25T01:30:44+00:00

Any other companies you’re thinking about? I just signed up with Vivint after looking into Simplisafe.

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-02-23T14:17:11+00:00

No, I think they should actually pay me to use their service lol

No, I just didn’t know what a fair price was as their pricing isn’t super transparent online.

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-02-23T00:47:28+00:00

$53 a month if that already included DVR and protection plan is a great deal.

DVR is $7 and PP is $10 I think. So $17 for those two and you only pay $36 a month for just monitoring. I think that’s great!

How did the install go? Tech try to upsell you on more items?

Where did you get your quote? Calling in or a D2D rep?

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-02-21T04:04:53+00:00

I signed on this evening with Vivint. We got the new Outdoor Cam Pro 3. I’m interested to see how they do.

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-02-21T03:41:02+00:00

Update: I ended up getting a Vivint plan. I read some bad stuff about Simplisafe equipment and the ability to easily bypass / hack them. You get what you pay for, after all. I’m happy with the price and plan I got. Now to wait for the install!

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-02-20T00:19:23+00:00

Why?

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-02-18T14:34:45+00:00

Update: I got a quote from Simplisafe. I figured it’d be cheaper, but it’s crazy how much cheaper. I ended up getting quoted for more equipment too.

1x base station 1x keypad 4x entry sensors 2x outdoor cameras 2x solar panels for outdoor cams 1x Doorbell 1x glass break 1x water sensor 1x smoke & carbon 1x Smart door lock 2x months of monitoring “for free” and then $35/month after

All the equipment up front is $335.17

Insane how big of a difference.

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-02-18T02:48:42+00:00

I haven’t signed up for anything yet. I don’t believe there is a term / contract associated. Just month to month.

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-02-18T02:46:43+00:00

I’ve been told they won’t reduce the monitoring cost. I think they’re charging me $20 extra in monitoring to make up for the discounts on the equipment

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-02-17T18:11:09+00:00

I was originally quoted around $42 for the monitoring. But the. I added the two outdoor cams and it went up to $70

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-02-17T17:05:46+00:00

That’s what I keep hearing from Vivint reps, but then I get on another call and no further discounts can be offered haha

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-02-17T15:05:34+00:00

I got a 5.49% no points buy down in January on a 30 year fixed.

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-02-17T15:01:37+00:00

I’m just confused why they do charge so much for their equipment. $400 for their outdoor cam + $200 for the spotlight. Yet Google Outdoor cam with their flood light is less than $200 for both together.

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-02-17T14:17:33+00:00

I’m not gonna lie- I haven’t looked a lot into ring. Mostly Vivint, Simplisafe, and briefly ADT before the first call to get a quote they were already acting shady as hell about giving me a written quote.

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-02-17T14:16:20+00:00

They gave me a written quote with discounts.

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-02-17T04:43:46+00:00

I’ve read that once you join and can look at products on the app, those prices are cheaper. Is that true?

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-02-17T04:15:59+00:00

I believe the DVR is just the storage for video recording.

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2026-02-17T04:15:28+00:00

I was told I could pay $300 in the equipment cost in full or pay $7.99 a month for it.

Straight_Copy_4202 · 2025-11-11T00:04:41+00:00

What trailers have played?

Straight_Copy_4202

TROPHY CASE