[cjensen]

Many people would like to be able to record snippets of people approaching their door. Good to know what's going on when you're not there so you can calibrate your fears with reality. Now you need to send the recording somewhere.

You have two choices: maintain your own recording equipment, or upload. The former is a major hassle. Ring smartly found an opportunity to make a simple service people want.

You say the "US is such a bizarre place" but that is simply untrue. Petty theft is a part of many cultures. For example, petty theft in the UK is far more common than the US.

[prower]

Cameras are everywhere.

Cameras linked to the database of a grocery store are not. This is Douglas Adams level bizarro world.

Like Amazon Keys (can't remember the exact product name) to receive packages when you're not in, by letting total strangers inside your house with their own key.

Which is such an hysterical solution to a such a simple problem (retrieve undelivered packages at the post office) that makes me wonder if I'm the one taking crazy pills.

[cjensen]

Simple problem? Not sure what you mean. In my neighborhood, the chance of an Amazon package being stolen is very high. The post office is not involved in many of the deliveries.

Because of my house's location, I have not yet lost a package. But I'd like a camera to see if anyone is checking out my porch when there are no packages just to see if I should worry. Previously, the idea that the police could just grab my video made me personally concerned about privacy. Ring providing logs alleviates that concern for me.

[prower]

Why don't just require a signature on delivery? If you're not home, retrieve it to the local post/courier office. Or use amazon lockers.

Why leave packages in the open when you're not home? How's that not hysterical?

[cjensen]

Your position is that it is "hysterical" that people don't want to be deeply inconvenienced by petty theft. I cannot fathom such an outlook on life, so I won't address this point.

On the facts though, you again misunderstand. I'm frequently not home to sign for things. I live near the Silicon Valley, yet my post office is a six mile round trip. My UPS delivery office is a 40 mile round trip. Amazon lockers do not accept large packages.

I feel that at this point you are clutching for straws to justify your original position.