Amazon Busted Down My Gate and Refused to Pay. The Device Would Have Saved Me $500

I used to be at dwelling working in my workplace upstairs when what can solely be described as a loud clonk in my yard startled me and my terrier. I guessed it was an enthusiastically dropped bundle, however I could not have imagined the complete scope of the incident that originated the noise.I made my means downstairs to analyze, and located my double chain hyperlink gate had been kicked in by an Amazon supply particular person, who was seemingly unable to determine the flip-up lock. The brute power entry busted the gate’s picket body, rendering it unusable and necessitating a restore that may require carpentry that’s above my talent degree.  How I discovered my gate after an Amazon driver busted their means by way of it. David Watsky/CNETTwo damning items of proof — my Amazon packages — have been dropped few yards contained in the gate. To make issues worse, the driving force left each gates extensive open, leaving my yard inclined to a canine escape. Naturally, I reported the incident by way of the retailer’s on-line incident portal and contacted Amazon customer support by telephone. A well mannered girl instructed me to file a declare. I did so inside a day, together with the restore value estimate of $500 that I had secured from an area handyman, the Amazon bundle supply timestamp and several other images of the busted gate, additionally timestamped moments after the packages have been delivered. Extremely, the supply driver did not even hassle to shut the gate they’d simply then damaged down. David Watsky/CNETA week and one follow-up electronic mail later, Amazon replied and knowledgeable me that with out visible proof of the incident, they would not be reimbursing me for the harm.  With no video proof of the Amazon driver busting my gate to ship a bundle, I used to be by myself to have the damaged body fastened. David Watsky/CNETAfter a wholesome bout of cursing this choice from the two.37 trillion-dollar-company, I made a decision I might outfit each entry level of my yard and residential with a safety digital camera with video storage so I might pull footage if one thing like this occurred once more — although my canceled account ensures that it will not be by the hands of Amazon. An affordable video digital camera would have saved me $500 A safety digital camera can defend you in opposition to extra than simply bundle theft and break-ins. David Priest/CNETFor me, this was a no brainer. Safety cameras can value as little as $45 for the bottom unit and $5 or much less monthly for storage. Past security for your self, household, pets and packages, these reasonably priced sensible dwelling gadgets could save me a headache in any variety of eventualities from overzealous supply staff with gate latch ineptitude to falling timber planted in a neighbor’s yard.I grew up in a no-lock dwelling, and to today do not concern violent breaking and getting into, naive as that is likely to be. However the expertise of a possible underpaid and overworked supply particular person inflicting (most likely) unintentional, however important, harm to my lower than one-year outdated dwelling was motive sufficient to cowl my bases. I’ve since ordered a video digital camera to level on the facet gate entry, along with the Roku video doorbell already mounted to my entrance door (which was of no use on this scenario).So the place to search out the very best dwelling safety at a worth I might abdomen? Our dwelling safety professional Tyler Lacoma has examined all the highest video doorbells and residential safety cameras accessible in 2025. He recommends the versatile Arlo Professional 5S as the very best total, so I promptly ordered it. Finest Purchase dropped it gently on my steps just a few days later.