Some Blink CS reps are copy/pasting the wording they gave out last time there was an interruption. Looks like its really dead this time.
Wow…top notch customer service
Yes, the main issue with IFTTT is that the only trigger is motion detected. I can do most of what I need, but I don’t want to deal with IFTTT. At least I have security monitoring again.
Hi, I like the blink camera, are great solution to my needs, I like the battery powered and IFTTT support, I never have use RBoy app, I have added the IFTT code to my SmartAlarm app from statusbits and works great to arm/disarm, I have read some concerns about blink cameras, and some want to change to other system.
If some one have a good price to sell his cameras I need 2 more.
Receved this reply to my Blink support ticket. Their lack of acknowledging any of my concerns about why they failed to give notice of this change and whether this was as a result of a security breach or not confirms they are seriously out of touch with their customers. I for one want confirmation that they were not forced to make this change due to a security breach of my personal details. I can’t think why any company would fail to give a minimum of 7 days notice for the removal of a service unless they had an emergency situation to deal with which couldn’t wait 7 days. Their previous conflicting message to someone here where they said “…while we investigate sustainable & secure alternatives for the SmartThings community using Blink” makes me deeply suspicious they may not be telling us something! 
DEC 20, 2017 | 05:02PM EST
Jeymark replied:
Hi Richard,Thank you for contacting Blink.
With the release of our IFTTT integration we have decided to disable third party integrations including all available SmartThings integrations. Blink users that would like to integrate their SmartThings hub with Blink can now use IFTTT. To use the Blink IFTTT service login to your IFTTT account and search for Blink in the list of available services, or visit the following link. The Blink IFTTT integration currently supports arming and disarming your Blink system and also triggering other IFTTT devices/actions when motion is detected on any of your Blink cameras. We may add more services (such as arming or disarming individual or groups of cameras) in future.
Blink Integrations - Connect Your Apps with IFTTT
When we announce/release new features and improvements, we’ll post about them to our Updates page linked below.http://support.blinkforhome.com/customer/en/portal/topics/881964-updates/articles
Thanks,Jeymark
Blink Customer Service
The response you received is the exact same response sent out this past January, which was the last time they cut off ST integration.
So they’re definitely covering something up then! Why would they terminate SmartThings integration twice for the same reason in 12 months? And why would they do it without giving us at least a few days notice? I’m happy to use IFTTT for now, it’s better than nothing, but I’m more concerned why they’ve done this so abruptly without any explanation other than a repeat of the same excuse they used 12 months ago. And why did they start off saying to some people on this forum “…while we investigate sustainable & secure alternatives for the SmartThings community using Blink” and then change their response to the one they used 12 months ago? It’s like they hadn’t quite decided how to respond to the inevitable complaints. Something doesn’t smell right lol. I love these Blink cameras, but this incident has raised real concerns about the quality of their customer service.
I think we have our answer.
Per the dated comments on the Article, it was first published in Jan or Feb 2017. I don’t know what has changed since the original publication date. … Oh… Here’s an archival record. The monthly premium features were already common knowledge in January:
It is not surprising for a company to deprecate integrations or features with minimal notice.
SmartThings’s own “Terms of Service” state that they will give as little as 10 days notice if they suddenly decide to charge fees (including mandatory fees just to keep your Hub running):
Does SmartThings cost anything?
SmartThings reserves the right to require payment of fees for certain features of the Services. Should you elect to subscribe to such features, you shall pay all applicable fees, as described on the Services in connection with such features. Subject to any subscription agreement or other restrictions, SmartThings reserves the right to change its price list and to institute new charges at any time, upon ten (10) days prior notice to you, which may be sent by email or posted on the Services. Use of the Services by you following such notification constitutes your acceptance of any new or increased charges.
Consumer pressure is the only possible way to influence Blink’s strategic decision, as there reputation is critical for future sales. Who’s to say that they won’t suddenly change their $19.99/month offering to be $39.99/month? I presume their Terms of Service are similar to SmartThings.
However, if Blink is offering full refunds for purchases as far as a year back, then they are obviously confident and resolute in this week’s strategic changes.
my Amazon Review:
DO NOT BUY> HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. The camera’s themselves are very very good. But the way Blink has treated their customers is horrible. They pull options the cameras had with less than a day’s notice. Those of us using these in our smart homes as part of our security setup are shot in the foot. Blink… if you read this, please answer this for me: OK BLINK… tell me how to do this… you offer IFFTT so how do I AUTOMATICALLY turn on my 3 outside camera’s when I go to bed at night? Turn off AUTOMATICALLY when I get up in the morning? Turn all 9 camera’s on AUTOMATICALLY when BOTH my husband and I leave? Turn all 9 camera’s off AUTOMATICALLY when I open the front door from having been gone. Just let me know … LIKE TODAY. I feel a one day window is sufficient since that is what you gave me and all your customers who had bought these cameras to integrate with SmartTHings. Please respond.
I agree with this. I think this decision was based on something that none of us have knowledge of that makes them very confident they can afford to essentially say “sucks to be you guys, sure you can have your money back.”
Maybe they’re right, maybe they’re wrong.
Yes, you can use IFTTT, webCoRE, simulated switches, and simulated motion sensors to have the Blink cameras act as motion sensors:
- Connect Blink and ST to IFTTT.
- For each camera, create a simulated switch and simulated motion sensor in ST.
- In IFTTT, set a trigger for each camera that when motion is detected, the corresponding simulated switch you created in ST will turn on.
- Create a webCoRE piston that when the simulated switch turns on, the simulated motion sensor is set to active. As a last step in the piston, set the switch and motion sensor back to off and inactive after a few second delay.
You can then treat the simulated motion sensors as physical ones and add them to things like SHM.
Or one Virtual device and no webcore with this
I think they are looking at the fact that most of their customers are not ST users. Most will buy from Amazon or straight from Blink. For Blink, a few refunds is nothing. The non-ST users will have the same service as before. There are even a few commenters on here that say they will just use IFTTT like it’s no big deal.
Blink might be getting ready to roll out a price plan similar to Ring or others. Blink just announced a camera doorbell like Ring.
When companies only see dollar signs floating in front of them, they forget the customer base that helped them grow.
For them to offer refunds to customers going back an entire year, there is definitely some sort of plan in place. Is it a good plan? Time will tell. They could be ramping up for some sort of major acquisition that conflicts with ST. There could have been some sort of major breach in security and they are somehow doing this to avoid a lawsuit or create one.
It was just kind of amusing to watch people losing their minds and screaming and posting the emails they sent and wanting to send those emails to the CEO with every other word misspelled and swearing at customer support. That’s going to get the point across, or change the end result. Was like community Road Rage. 
I’m curious about that too, specifically whether Blink’s current or future customer base has a huge overlap with ST’s, or practically none?
I think @JDRoberts’ previous comments in other threads about the millions of homes that Comcast reaches with their xfinity home automation services, and the very different nature of their home automation interests compared to (a few thousand?) ST power users, could be relevant here as well.
Agreed, the meltdowns here and in the blink forum have been pretty amusing to watch.
It’s also interesting to note that most commenters seem to take it as a self-evident fact that without the support of home automation enthusiasts, Blink is dead in the water.
Perfect example of this from the other thread a few minutes ago:
I read one earlier today that said if we yell loud enough and send them a barrage of emails and poor reviews, we might be able to change their minds. Just couldn’t help but laugh. I feel everyone’s pain, but at the end of the day, there’s is absolutely nada that you can do about it. Be thankful they are refunding your money for the product.
That is the only part of this catastrophe moderately annoying situation that I was genuinely surprised by.
That’s not something done as common practice. Maybe purchased within the last 30 days, but an entire year. There’s definitely something big in store that they are planning.
I would be curious to know what small percentage of Blink cameras sold are SmartThings customers. I’m guessing it’s a pretty small fraction of their total with as many different platforms that there are and the many different reasons and uses for all customers.
Also the total they take in as part of the refund process would be interesting to know.
