Skip to main content

Ding-dong ditch: Arlo is offering $50 trade-in value for video doorbells

After a series of Ring hacks, the company has been the target of a lot of negative publicity. Now other companies are cashing in on the public’s wariness of Ring to try and bring more customers to their side of the fence. Arlo has launched a new promotion unironically called “Ding Dong Ditch” that promises to give customers $50 credit if they drop their existing smart video doorbell and move over to an Arlo doorbell instead.

The idea holds a lot of appeal to customers. Although Ring has made strides to improve its security, many people are still on edge about their home’s safety. The Arlo Video Doorbell has a lot going for it. It has a 180-degree viewing angle that shows a huge area around your door, two-way audio to speak with visitors, and it has HDR that provides a clear picture even in high-contrast areas. The Arlo Video Doorbell will send an alert when it detects motion or when someone rings the doorbell. The Arlo Video Doorbell also has a high-powered siren that will trigger if someone tampers with it, but you can also activate it remotely to scare off any uninvited visitors.

The Arlo Video Doorbell is the first true “video doorbell” the company has introduced. In the past, their smart cameras and the Arlo Audio Doorbell could work together to provide the same functionality as a video doorbell, but with less convenience.

If you’re interested in taking advantage of the deal, use the code “doorbell50” at checkout to receive your credit and indicate that you’re trading in an old doorbell. Your doorbell has to be on the list of eligible models, but most modern video doorbells have a place on the list. Arlo will send a prepaid shipping box for you to return your old doorbell in. The offer takes Arlo’s video doorbell down from $150 to just $100.

Arlo’s app allows you to set automated schedules around the times you leave and come home each day. You can also set it to deactivate when your phone comes in range thanks to its geofencing capabilities.

If you want to upgrade to a better video doorbell, this offer is a great way to cut costs.

Editors' Recommendations

Patrick Hearn
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…
When time is critical, Arlo’s emergency response feature can be the difference
arlo adds new one touch emergency response feature

Professionally monitored home security systems allow authorities to respond quickly to situations in your home, but DIY systems without professional monitoring require a more hands-on approach. Arlo offers limited monitoring and gives you the ability to keep an eye on your home yourself, but a new feature means you can send emergency responders to the location where your camera is installed with the press of a button.

As long as you are subscribed to the Arlo Secure subscription plan, you receive emergency response services, unlimited device support, and 30 days of cloud recording. You can also record video in up to 4K resolution. Most importantly, you receive the option to send fire, police, or medical responders to your camera's location with a single touch. This removes the need to speak with a dispatcher and saves time.

Read more
Ring’s three new outdoor home security accessories offer greater peace of mind
The Ring Outdoor Smart Plug installed outside.

In a continuation of its campaign to take over the entire smart home security market, Ring has released three new accessories to bring even more peace of mind to customers. The Ring Outdoor Smart Plug, the Ring Wall Light Solar, and the Ring Alarm Outdoor Siren are all available for pre-order today.
Ring Outdoor Smart Plug

The Ring Outdoor Smart Plug retails for $30. The device functions like most other smart plugs and features two separate outlets that operate independently of one another. The weather-resistant design means the smart plug can stand up to most weather without concern. You can set schedules or control the lights from the Ring App, or through Alexa with the addition of the Ring Bridge.

Read more
Arlo’s Essential Indoor Camera is the anti-Big Brother
Arlo Essential indoor camera sitting on a shelf.

The thought of an interior security camera often makes people uncomfortable. While you want a reliable security system, you also want to be sure that system isn't watching you while you're at home. In many instances, you just have to trust the camera isn't recording -- but with the new Arlo Essential Indoor Camera, you can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it isn't recording.

That's because a physical privacy shield (with a different design and color) snaps into place when the camera is disarmed. This disables motion and audio detection as well as recording, and these features won't be reenabled until you open the shield through the Arlo app. You can trigger the camera to begin recording simply by switching it back to armed mode. The ability to disable recording through a physical privacy shield provides more peace of mind to users and gives more control over the camera itself.

Read more