mdwest
AH ambassador
There are plenty of companies out there that routinely disappoint us with poor products, poor customer service, and general assclownery.. and we're usually pretty quick to make sure everyone knows when a product fails or a company treats us in less than an exemplary fashion..
I think its equally important to make sure we let people know when a company does something right.. or treats us exceptionally well..
with that said... I've got a HUGE shout out for SpyPoint..
A bit of backstory.. Ive got an old SpyPoint LINK EVO trail cam (manufacture date is 2016 I believe).. I spent a couple of hours screwing with it last night trying to get it ready to deploy, and determined it had likely finally given up the ghost and died on me..
At the time it was made it was one of SpyPoint's top of the line cameras with all of the bells and whistles offered back then (best quality camera, fast speed, great range, good cellular connectivity, etc).. and was a pretty expensive camera (I think they retailed about $230 when it was purchased).. but compared to a typical $80 cellular (basic) 2023 camera, honestly its not much more than "average"..
Anyway.. after fiddling around with the camera for a couple of hours last night and not being able to get it to catch a cell signal or connect to the SpyPoint app, I gave up and just decided it was time to go buy a replacement..
This morning I thought I'd give it one more try and call SpyPoint customer service and see if there was anything they could do for me.. Wait time was a bit long (probably 20 minutes to get a tech on the phone).. but after that it was nothing but 5 star treatment..
The tech was polite, professional, and easy to talk to (understand I am no techie.. we have to dumb camera conversations down to caveman speak).. we walked through several steps of trouble shooting.. none of which solved the problem..
I was planning to just pitch the camera into the trash and head to Scheels this afternoon... I gave it my best, and SpyPoint did all they could to help me..
But then the tech said "can you wait on the line for me for 2 or 3 minutes.. I want to try one more thing to see if I can resolve this"...
about 3 minutes later he came back and told me "I'd like to confirm your address.. are you still living at XXXXXXX?"... I replied "yes".. he then said.. ok.. well.. the bad news is, we discontinued the LINK EVO a few years ago, so I cant send you a replacement in that model.. but... I did just receive approval to send you two Link Micro cameras at no cost to you... these are lessor cameras, but with newer technology, they should do almost everything your EVO did, and do a few things even better... is this ok with you?"...
I was completely blown away... SpyPoint's warranty is not only a "limited" warranty (like most trail cams).. its also just a 2 year warranty.. and my camera was purchased in either late 2016 or early 2017 (cant remember).. they had ZERO obligation to do this.. and certainly didnt need to replace my 1 camera with 2 cameras..
but that is indeed what they did (got the shipping confirmation in email just a few minutes ago)..
Prior to today Ive been pretty indifferent about trail cams.. not loyal to any particular brand.. and not really all that concerned about features honestly.. as long as it will take some sort of a pic and send it to my phone to let me know if its a buck, or a pig, or a raccoon raiding my feeders, Im happy.. I dont care about much else..
I am now a SpyPoint loyalist though..
I already planned on picking up 2 additional cameras for this year to add to the fleet (thought I was going to have to add 3 since I couldnt get the EVO working).. every camera I add from this point forward will be SpyPoints..
I think its equally important to make sure we let people know when a company does something right.. or treats us exceptionally well..
with that said... I've got a HUGE shout out for SpyPoint..
A bit of backstory.. Ive got an old SpyPoint LINK EVO trail cam (manufacture date is 2016 I believe).. I spent a couple of hours screwing with it last night trying to get it ready to deploy, and determined it had likely finally given up the ghost and died on me..
At the time it was made it was one of SpyPoint's top of the line cameras with all of the bells and whistles offered back then (best quality camera, fast speed, great range, good cellular connectivity, etc).. and was a pretty expensive camera (I think they retailed about $230 when it was purchased).. but compared to a typical $80 cellular (basic) 2023 camera, honestly its not much more than "average"..
Anyway.. after fiddling around with the camera for a couple of hours last night and not being able to get it to catch a cell signal or connect to the SpyPoint app, I gave up and just decided it was time to go buy a replacement..
This morning I thought I'd give it one more try and call SpyPoint customer service and see if there was anything they could do for me.. Wait time was a bit long (probably 20 minutes to get a tech on the phone).. but after that it was nothing but 5 star treatment..
The tech was polite, professional, and easy to talk to (understand I am no techie.. we have to dumb camera conversations down to caveman speak).. we walked through several steps of trouble shooting.. none of which solved the problem..
I was planning to just pitch the camera into the trash and head to Scheels this afternoon... I gave it my best, and SpyPoint did all they could to help me..
But then the tech said "can you wait on the line for me for 2 or 3 minutes.. I want to try one more thing to see if I can resolve this"...
about 3 minutes later he came back and told me "I'd like to confirm your address.. are you still living at XXXXXXX?"... I replied "yes".. he then said.. ok.. well.. the bad news is, we discontinued the LINK EVO a few years ago, so I cant send you a replacement in that model.. but... I did just receive approval to send you two Link Micro cameras at no cost to you... these are lessor cameras, but with newer technology, they should do almost everything your EVO did, and do a few things even better... is this ok with you?"...
I was completely blown away... SpyPoint's warranty is not only a "limited" warranty (like most trail cams).. its also just a 2 year warranty.. and my camera was purchased in either late 2016 or early 2017 (cant remember).. they had ZERO obligation to do this.. and certainly didnt need to replace my 1 camera with 2 cameras..
but that is indeed what they did (got the shipping confirmation in email just a few minutes ago)..
Prior to today Ive been pretty indifferent about trail cams.. not loyal to any particular brand.. and not really all that concerned about features honestly.. as long as it will take some sort of a pic and send it to my phone to let me know if its a buck, or a pig, or a raccoon raiding my feeders, Im happy.. I dont care about much else..
I am now a SpyPoint loyalist though..
I already planned on picking up 2 additional cameras for this year to add to the fleet (thought I was going to have to add 3 since I couldnt get the EVO working).. every camera I add from this point forward will be SpyPoints..