Wyze: Difference between revisions
Added section describing their product abandonment behavior based on my experience with the Wyze Lock. |
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{{CompanyCargo | {{CompanyCargo | ||
|Founded=2017 | |Founded=2017 | ||
|Industry=Technology | |Industry=Technology | ||
| Line 7: | Line 6: | ||
|Type=Private | |Type=Private | ||
|Website=https://wyze.com/ | |Website=https://wyze.com/ | ||
|Description=American technology company known for smart home devices. | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''{{Wplink|Wyze Labs|Wyze Labs, Inc.}}''' (formerly '''Wyzecam'''), also known as '''Wyze''', is an American technology company that was incorporated on 19 July 2017. It specializes in smart home products and wireless cameras. | '''{{Wplink|Wyze Labs|Wyze Labs, Inc.}}''' (formerly '''Wyzecam'''), also known as '''Wyze''', is an American technology company that was incorporated on 19 July 2017. It specializes in smart home products and wireless cameras. | ||
==Consumer impact summary== | ==Consumer impact summary== | ||
{{Ph-C-CIS}} | {{Ph-C-CIS}} | ||
===Terms of use=== | ===Terms of use=== | ||
*Wyze's [[terms of service]] include [[forced arbitration]], and a waiver of | *Wyze's [[terms of service]] include [[forced arbitration]], and a waiver of {{Wplink|class action}} and jury trial.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Dec 2024 |title=Wyze Terms of Service: Section 12 |url=https://www.wyze.com/policies/terms-of-service#l |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120114344/https://www.wyze.com/policies/terms-of-service#l |archive-date=20 Jan 2025 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Wyze}}</ref> | ||
*Wyze may suspend or terminate your use of the product at any time and claim they are not responsible if this causes financial loss. | *Wyze may suspend or terminate your use of the product at any time and claim they are not responsible if this causes financial loss. | ||
*Wyze can both stop providing software updates and do automatic software updates without consent. The only alternative is to cease using the product. | *Wyze can both stop providing software updates and do automatic software updates without consent. The only alternative is to cease using the product. | ||
==Incidents== | ==Incidents== | ||
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]]. | |||
===Security-camera breach=== | ===Security-camera breach=== | ||
On two separate occasions from September 2023 to February 2024, Wyze personal security cameras were able to be accessed by other owners because of security failures. | On two separate occasions from September 2023 to February 2024, Wyze personal security cameras were able to be accessed by other owners because of security failures. | ||
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|date= |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250602145533/https://www.wyze.com/pages/cam-plus-lite |archive-date=2 Jun 2025}}</ref> but enabling this feature is buried in menus and sub-menus in the website. To date, there is no way to enable this feature in the phone app, which is the primary way users access their cameras. Users can, however, use the phone app to pay monthly for the same or similar service. | |date= |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250602145533/https://www.wyze.com/pages/cam-plus-lite |archive-date=2 Jun 2025}}</ref> but enabling this feature is buried in menus and sub-menus in the website. To date, there is no way to enable this feature in the phone app, which is the primary way users access their cameras. Users can, however, use the phone app to pay monthly for the same or similar service. | ||
=== Product | ===Product abandonment=== | ||
Wyze has regular product updates with new lines getting launched and old lines retired. Their standard warranty is 18 months for products purchased after January, 2026. They commit to no additional support and no further repair service is offered once beyond that warranty, paid or otherwise. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-12 |title=Returns & Warranty Policy |url=https://support.wyze.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032077272-Returns-Warranty-Policy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260403111635/https://support.wyze.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032077272-Returns-Warranty-Policy |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=Wyze}}</ref> When a product is abandoned, Wyze may not retain any inventory or offer any support for that product. For example, users reported the Wyze Lock was discontinued some time before 2025<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-31 |title=Has the Wyze Lock Been Discountinued |url=https://forums.wyze.com/t/has-the-wyze-lock-been-discountinued/335164 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251207011255/https://forums.wyze.com/t/has-the-wyze-lock-been-discountinued/335164 |archive-date=2025-12-07 |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=Wyze Forums}}</ref> (Wyze still does not include it on their official End of Life page, which has not been updated since 2021 as of writing<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-26 |title=Wyze End of Life Policy |url=https://www.wyze.com/pages/end-of-life-policy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260403030239/https://www.wyze.com/pages/end-of-life-policy |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=Wyze}}</ref>) and replacement gateways, necessary to use all lock features, were reported as already unavailable for more than 7 months that same year<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-28 |title=Wyze Door Lock Gateway - Unavailable for 7 months |url=https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-door-lock-gateway-unavailable-for-7-months/339835 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260118074712/https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-door-lock-gateway-unavailable-for-7-months/339835 |archive-date=2026-01-18 |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=Wyze Forums}}</ref>. While gateways were a fairly inexpensive replacement part when available (kits including this gateway were originally stocked for just $20<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wyze Lock Replacement Part Kit |url=https://www.wyze.com/products/wyze-lock-replacement-part-kit?variant=44236627869858 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260403204747/https://www.wyze.com/products/wyze-lock-replacement-part-kit?variant=44236627869858 |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=Wyze Store}}</ref>), Wyze has not stocked this part in over a year and thus otherwise-working lock sets have permanently disabled features. | Wyze has regular product updates with new lines getting launched and old lines retired. Their standard warranty is 18 months for products purchased after January, 2026. They commit to no additional support and no further repair service is offered once beyond that warranty, paid or otherwise. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-12 |title=Returns & Warranty Policy |url=https://support.wyze.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032077272-Returns-Warranty-Policy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260403111635/https://support.wyze.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032077272-Returns-Warranty-Policy |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=Wyze}}</ref> When a product is abandoned, Wyze may not retain any inventory or offer any support for that product. For example, users reported the Wyze Lock was discontinued some time before 2025<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-31 |title=Has the Wyze Lock Been Discountinued |url=https://forums.wyze.com/t/has-the-wyze-lock-been-discountinued/335164 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251207011255/https://forums.wyze.com/t/has-the-wyze-lock-been-discountinued/335164 |archive-date=2025-12-07 |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=Wyze Forums}}</ref> (Wyze still does not include it on their official End of Life page, which has not been updated since 2021 as of writing<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-26 |title=Wyze End of Life Policy |url=https://www.wyze.com/pages/end-of-life-policy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260403030239/https://www.wyze.com/pages/end-of-life-policy |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=Wyze}}</ref>) and replacement gateways, necessary to use all lock features, were reported as already unavailable for more than 7 months that same year<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-28 |title=Wyze Door Lock Gateway - Unavailable for 7 months |url=https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-door-lock-gateway-unavailable-for-7-months/339835 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260118074712/https://forums.wyze.com/t/wyze-door-lock-gateway-unavailable-for-7-months/339835 |archive-date=2026-01-18 |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=Wyze Forums}}</ref>. While gateways were a fairly inexpensive replacement part when available (kits including this gateway were originally stocked for just $20<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wyze Lock Replacement Part Kit |url=https://www.wyze.com/products/wyze-lock-replacement-part-kit?variant=44236627869858 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260403204747/https://www.wyze.com/products/wyze-lock-replacement-part-kit?variant=44236627869858 |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=Wyze Store}}</ref>), Wyze has not stocked this part in over a year and thus otherwise-working lock sets have permanently disabled features. | ||