First off, the other reviews all over the internet are pretty scary bad, so I predicted this would probably get returned. Surprise! It actually works pretty well for my needs.
I wanted a medium/large box that 1) kept my amazon packages out of the rain, 2) provided at least the "appearance" of security. 3) Looks pretty decent when you notice it peaking out from behind the bushes from the sidewalk. It does these 3 things pretty darn well. As a bonus, it sends a message to my phone within a few seconds each time someone opens AND closes it. So, my phone vibrates within a 5-20 seconds of a delivery driver pushing the open button. It also lets me know if a delivery driver doesn't close the lid. I like this more than Amazon emails telling me my package has arrived because it applies to all deliveries to the house...not just my Amazon packages.
Other:
The camera: I disabled it within 2 weeks because without cloud or local storage, I thought it was useless. My box is on battery power (not connected to an outlet), and the camera drains the little battery within a couple weeks (instead of 1+ month without it) even with only occasional useage. If you're gonna use the camera, you probably need to plug the box into at outlet. I don't really care about the camera because my video doorbell catches everything. I don't want to pay for Eufy camera cloud storage, and I don't have any local Eufy device storage in my home. So, I have no idea if the cloud or local storage works well. When I had my camera enabled, it would only provide LIVE video which I found pretty much useless because delivery drives spend no more than about 5-10 seconds at the box and the driver would already be gone by the time I was notified of the video, logged onto my phone, etc.
Battery: My box is not plugged into the wall. So, surprise! The box requires the battery to OPEN the box.
You close the boax manually just by pushing the lid down. If your battery is dead, there is no way for the delivery driver to open the box place anything in it. You have to go find your key to manually open the box, take battery out from inside the box, and go charge it for at least a few hours. To reiterate, if the battery is dead, the OPEN button does not work. Make sure you charge the battery before you go out of town for a couple weeks, especially if you're using the camera function. I get at least a month out of the battery by completely disabling the camera but keeping the motion sensor enabled. The motion sensor is kind of pointless too though so feels free to disable that for probably much longer battery life. In summary, I just recharge the battery about ounce a month overnight and don't let it die so it's never a problem.
Motion sensor: I find it pointless for my purposes. It has about 10-15 second lag time for some reason and only activates a message over the speaker that instructs the driver to push the open button to open box. The driver is usually half-way back to his truck before this message goes off and causes the driver stop, look back at the box confusingly, shake his head, and then continue back to his truck and drive away.
Security codes: When I set up the box, I played with it for while. It seems to work fine. It's only 4 buttons plus an open button. You can program NO codes (i.e. just push the open button), one code, or multiple codes for each delivery service. It all seemed to work fine. I just disabled the codes completely and everyone just pushed the open button. I recommend you set up no code (like me) for the first few weeks because most delivery drivers have not encountered one of these and stare at it for a few moments when they first encounter it. Even though I have no security code and all they have to do is push the big OPEN button, some still are baffled and just put the package on the sidewalk or on top if the box anyway. However, most have figured it out and would probably continue to use it if it had a basic code programmed at this point because they are familiar with it. I think this feature probably works well if you can get your delivery guys to use it. Pro-tip: go on Amazon and pay $10 for one of the metal "Amazon, UPS, FedEx, and all other packages: place inside box" and tape or screw it onto the top of the lid so drivers know it's ok to use it. Overall, I think drivers prefer using the box because it lowers the chance of stuff getting stolen which probably helps their metrics somehow.
Set-up: Overall, it wasn't hard. Probably took an hour including screwing everything together. Some reviews complained that it was hard to connect to wifi. I had maybe 10 minutes difficulty during initial setup. I think I just uninstalled the app and started over at it worked. I wonder if maybe it auto-downloaded a firmware update or something. It works fine now. No issues connecting to wifi ever. I've actually never had to mess with the box at all except to recharge the battery occasionally.
Eufy Security SmartDrop - 24/7 Package Protection, Delivery Drop Box with Built-in 1080P Camera, Epic Size, 2-Way Audio, Remo
3.9
| 11 ratingsPrice: 139.99
Last update: 10-25-2024
About this item
24/7 Secure Package Delivery: Enjoy peace of mind knowing that SmartDrop is always ready to receive your packages, whether you're at home, out and about, or on vacation. Say goodbye to weather-damaged and missing packages with round-the-clock protection.
Real-Time Delivery Notifications: Get a notification and watch every package delivery with a 1080p HD camera right from your phone in real-time, or watch the recording later. You can even talk to the courier via two-way audio or check how many deliveries you’ve received while you’ve been gone.
Epic Size for All Couriers: SmartDrop works with all couriers and guides them to leave packages quickly and easily. The courier can press the open button to leave a package if SmartDrop is empty or use the PIN you’ve generated if there's already a package inside.
Sturdy and Weather-Resistant: Built with an all-metal body, SmartDrop ensures your parcels are safe from porch pirates and the elements, providing you with a reliable and durable package drop box solution.
Easy Installation and App Integration: Assemble SmartDrop quickly and connect it to the eufy Security app in minutes. For added security, bolt SmartDrop down to the floor on your porch, ensuring your packages remain safe and sound.
Real-Time Delivery Notifications: Get a notification and watch every package delivery with a 1080p HD camera right from your phone in real-time, or watch the recording later. You can even talk to the courier via two-way audio or check how many deliveries you’ve received while you’ve been gone.
Epic Size for All Couriers: SmartDrop works with all couriers and guides them to leave packages quickly and easily. The courier can press the open button to leave a package if SmartDrop is empty or use the PIN you’ve generated if there's already a package inside.
Sturdy and Weather-Resistant: Built with an all-metal body, SmartDrop ensures your parcels are safe from porch pirates and the elements, providing you with a reliable and durable package drop box solution.
Easy Installation and App Integration: Assemble SmartDrop quickly and connect it to the eufy Security app in minutes. For added security, bolt SmartDrop down to the floor on your porch, ensuring your packages remain safe and sound.
Product information
Connectivity Protocol | Wi-Fi |
---|---|
Mounting Type | Wall Mount |
Video Capture Resolution | 1080p |
Color | Black |
Number of Items | 1 |
Included Components | SmartDrop, Battery Pack, 2???? Gas Struts, 2x Backup Keys, USB Charging Cable |
Number of Channels | 2 |
Wireless Communication Technology | Wi-Fi |
Material | Metal |
Item dimensions L x W x H | 27.5 x 21.6 x 21.6 inches |
Batteries Required? | Yes |
Item Weight | 44.3 Pounds |
Video Capture Format | MPEG-4 |
Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
International Protection Rating | IP65 |
UPC | 194644168285 |
Product Dimensions | 27.5 x 21.6 x 21.6 inches |
Item Weight | 44.2 pounds |
ASIN | B0CH9NLLZ7 |
Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) |
Customer Reviews |
3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars
11 ratings
3.9 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #17,672 in Amazon Renewed (See Top 100 in Amazon Renewed) #358 in Renewed Tools & Home Improvement #1,214 in Renewed Camera & Photo #2,267 in Home Security Systems |
Date First Available | September 5, 2023 |
Manufacturer | Eufy |