Mike Lay

Review of Allied Security Links

I contracted with them to install 3 exterior camer...

I contracted with them to install 3 exterior cameras at my self-storage facility 2 years ago. I thought that they knew what they were doing, as I had provided them with a very specific list of items that I expected the system to be able to do; cover the two driveways and the gate with good quality cameras that have good night vision, license plate capture, have motion detection so that when someone drove in it would start recording, allow me to remote monitor the system, and get email or text alerts any time the motion went off, and allow for offsite storage of the video.
They assured me they could handle all of these items, and we settled on a price just short of $5k to install the cameras (a little driveway cutting was also involved). They were very punctual and got the cameras installed in a very timely fashion. But from there, it went downhill.
I wanted motion detection alerts -- my home security camera senses motion and immediately sends a text to my phone with 3 photos -- but they could not figure out how to do this. Eventually they were able to send a text or email with no photos so I could at least look at the mobile app (real time, not when the motion detector went off, so not much help). They may have eventually figured out how to send an email with some video, but it wasn't the type of video you could see on an Apple phone -- a different format.
I will say that the installers and techs were all very nice and tried to be helpful. But aside from the basics of installing the cameras and some basic configuration, they spent all of their time online with the camera and recorder's tech support department -- they didn't seem to know much detail about configuring the products they were selling.
I kept calling back trying to get them to configure my system the way I had originally asked for it, and eventually someone would show up, fiddle around with it, tell me it was fixed, and leave. But it never really did work correctly.
After about a year and a half, two of the three $800 cameras that they had recommended are now worthless at night (despite them coming back in April to "fix" them), and of course you can't find anyone else to service this brand or get in contact with the manufacturer in China.
I think they just got tired of hearing from me, since they haven't responded to the last few messages I've sent. I've now gone with another vendor to replace the bad cameras and add some more.
So in summary they are nice enough guys, and the install was quick. But what I got sold did not meet my needs, turned out not to have lasted very long, and they -- at least in my opinion -- were not overly technically competent.
I would not call them again (they don't call back anyway) or recommend them to anyone else.