Buyer Beware Before purchasing YI Camera
Buyer Beware: YI Cameras and the YI Home App I own a number of YI cameras, and when I originally purchased them, the online service was excellent. The cameras were easy to access and I could quickly view what was happening when I needed to. Unfortunately, that has changed dramatically. The YI Home app is now overwhelmed with advertisements, including ads that can appear before you are able to access your camera. That is more than an inconvenience—it can become a safety concern. If you are using these cameras to monitor young children, elderly family members, pets, or your home, you may need to see what is happening immediately. Being forced to wait through an advertisement before accessing a live camera defeats one of the primary purposes of having a security or monitoring camera. I am not the only customer experiencing this. Recent App Store reviews describe similar problems, including lengthy ads before accessing cameras, interruptions while viewing footage, and frustration with customer service. YI’s responses to these reviews acknowledge the advertising and promote a paid subscription for an ad-free experience. (App Store) There are also numerous recent complaints about difficulty contacting customer service and dealing with subscription-related issues. (App Store) I believe Amazon should take a serious look at the recent customer reviews and the current YI user experience before continuing to promote these products. Customers purchase cameras expecting reliable access to their cameras—not to have that access interrupted by advertising. I have invested in multiple YI cameras over the years, which makes this change particularly disappointing. Do your research and read the recent reviews before buying YI cameras. Buyer beware.