Property owners united · Stand up to Amazon
Propietarios unidos · Enfréntese a Amazon
There may be an Amazon device wired into your building — without your permission.
Puede haber un dispositivo de Amazon conectado en su edificio — sin su permiso.
Property owners across the country have reported Amazon contractors entering basements and wiring small black boxes called “Key for Business” into intercom and door-release systems — in some cases reportedly damaging the locks and buzzers. The reported purpose: to use your lobby as a 24/7 retail drop-off and pickup point without paying you fees — even as other partners are said to pay for access through the system.
Propietarios en todo el país han reportado que contratistas de Amazon entran a sótanos e instalan pequeñas cajas negras llamadas “Key for Business” en los sistemas de intercomunicador y apertura de puertas — en algunos casos, según se reporta, dañando las cerraduras y timbres. El propósito reportado: usar su lobby como punto de entrega y recogida 24/7 sin pagarle tarifas — aun cuando, según se dice, otros socios pagan por el acceso a través del sistema.
You are not alone.
No está solo.
Thousands of small property owners are standing together against Amazon’s unauthorized use of their buildings. One owner is easy to ignore. Together, we’re not. Report your building, join the record, and help hold Amazon accountable.
Miles de pequeños propietarios se están uniendo contra el uso no autorizado de sus edificios por parte de Amazon. A un solo propietario es fácil ignorarlo. Juntos, no. Reporte su edificio, súmese al registro y ayude a responsabilizar a Amazon.
What this device actually does
It can let Amazon couriers unlock your lobby door — potentially bypassing your existing security.
The box is reported to wire into your door-release so Amazon drivers can open your building's front door on their own, without being buzzed in. Depending on how it is installed, it may bypass or impair the access-control and intercom systems you paid for.
Worse, it may leave no record of who came in. A smart intercom would normally photograph and log every visitor — but a courier entering through a separate device may never appear in your log, so you can lose the photo, the timestamp, and the proof.
Qué hace realmente este dispositivo
Puede permitir que los repartidores de Amazon abran la puerta de su lobby — posiblemente eludiendo su seguridad existente.
Según se reporta, la caja se conecta a la apertura de su puerta para que los conductores de Amazon puedan abrir la puerta principal por su cuenta, sin que nadie los deje pasar. Según cómo se instale, puede eludir o afectar el control de acceso y el intercomunicador que usted pagó.
Peor aún, puede no dejar registro de quién entró. Un intercomunicador inteligente normalmente fotografiaría y registraría a cada visitante — pero un repartidor que entra por un dispositivo aparte puede no aparecer en su registro, y usted puede perder la foto, la hora y la prueba.
1The evidenceLa evidencia
Dozens of landlords, property managers, and access-control professionals across the United States have reported the unauthorized installation of Amazon’s “Key for Business” or “Ring” devices — like the ones in these photos:
Many of these landlords have issued attorney letters and signed written statements attesting that they never gave Amazon permission to install these devices, and did not know they had been installed — often until the installation caused their expensive intercoms and access-control hardware to fail, or worse.
2What you're looking forQué está buscando
It's a small black box, roughly the size of a deck of cards or a TV remote, usually stuck near your intercom panel or buzzer wiring. Look for these brand names and a green light:
Es una caja negra pequeña, del tamaño aproximado de un mazo de cartas o un control remoto, normalmente pegada cerca del panel del intercomunicador o del cableado del timbre. Busque estas marcas y una luz verde:
3Where to lookDónde buscar
The basement / utility / electrical closet
Check near the phone block, the utility meter, or wherever the building's wiring comes together. Look up — devices are often mounted high on a wall or joist.
Inside the intercom
Amazon's contractors will often install directly into larger intercoms. You may notice a plastic antenna protruding — frequently installed in a way that damages the weatherproofing of your intercom.
A power supply near the intercom
Look at any panel in the lobby, the ceiling of the lobby, a light box, or wherever the lock or buzzer power pack lives. A small antenna or a second cable running off may signal the device is nearby.
El sótano / cloáset de servicios / eléctrico
Revise cerca del bloque telefónico, el medidor, o donde se junta el cableado del edificio. Mire hacia arriba — suelen estar montadas alto en la pared o una viga.
Dentro del intercomunicador
Los contratistas de Amazon a menudo instalan directamente dentro de intercomunicadores grandes. Puede notar una antena de plástico que sobresale — con frecuencia instalada de una forma que daña la impermeabilidad de su intercomunicador.
Una fuente de poder cerca del intercomunicador
Mire cualquier panel en el lobby, el techo del lobby, una caja de luz, o donde esté el power pack del timbre o la cerradura. Una antena pequeña o un segundo cable puede indicar que el dispositivo está cerca.
- Your front-door buzzer or intercom recently started acting up
- Delivery drivers are getting in without being buzzed
- A blue “key for business” sticker appeared by your door
- Even if someone called to ask if they could install the device and you said no, they may have installed anyway
- Su timbre o intercomunicador empezó a fallar recientemente
- Los repartidores entran sin que nadie los deje pasar
- Apareció una calcomania azul “key for business” junto a la puerta
- Aunque alguien haya llamado para preguntar si podía instalar el dispositivo y usted dijo que no, es posible que lo instalaran de todas formas
4Inspection checklistLista de inspección
If you want to document it yourself before reporting, here's a safe order. You may unplug the power supply to the device, but do not remove any wires unless you are an experienced low-voltage technician.
Si desea documentarlo usted mismo antes de reportar, este es un orden seguro. Puede desconectar la fuente de poder del dispositivo, pero no retire ningún cable a menos que sea un técnico de bajo voltaje con experiencia.
- Locate the intercom / buzzer panel
- Photograph the wiring
- Photograph any labels (amazon, key, ring)
- You may unplug the device's power supply
- Do not remove wires unless you're an experienced low-voltage technician — we can help you find one nearby
- Contact us with what you found
You may be owed money
Building owners may have claims worth thousands of dollars per property.
This isn't just a safety problem. If Amazon installed this without your consent, you may have real claims for what they did to your building and how they're using it:
Document everything now. Your photos are the evidence that protects your building and your claim.
Le podrían deber dinero
Los propietarios pueden tener reclamos por miles de dólares por propiedad.
Esto no es solo un problema de seguridad. Si Amazon instaló esto sin su consentimiento, usted puede tener reclamos reales por lo que hicieron a su edificio y por cómo lo usan:
Documente todo ahora. Sus fotos son la evidencia que protege su edificio y su reclamo.
5Report it — we'll take it from hereRepórtelo — nosotros nos encargamos
Tell us who you are and one building address to start. On the next step we'll confirm your properties and guide your superintendent to find and document the device — and remove it at no cost to you.
Díganos quién es usted y una dirección para empezar. En el siguiente paso confirmaremos sus propiedades y guiaremos a su superintendente para encontrar y documentar el dispositivo — y lo retiraremos sin costo para usted.
6Your detailsSus datos
Enter your first name.
Enter a valid email.
Enter a valid mobile.
9Frequently asked questionsPreguntas frecuentes
Can Amazon sue me?
No. You are allowed to remove devices from your property that you did not authorize anyone to install.
Can I unplug it?
Yes, usually. Unplug the “Amazon Key” or “Ring” device and test your existing intercom and access control. If they keep working, you can leave the device unplugged and even remove the power supply from the basement or utility room. If your access control stops working, it means the wiring was changed so your system depends on their device — call a reputable technician to remove it. If you can’t find one, we can give you or your maintenance person a simple guide on how to bypass their system.
Will deliveries stop?
No. Deliveries actually become safer — couriers go directly to residents during normal hours, or enter through an access-control system that logs the faces of those who come to deliver.
Do I have to remove it?
To protect your access-control systems from being shorted or otherwise disabled, we recommend removing all Amazon devices.
What if I own 300 buildings?
If you own many buildings, we can arrange a team to inspect each one, or guide your superintendents by WhatsApp or SMS to inspect them. Inspection and removal are simple and usually take a few minutes per building.
Is there a deadline?
The sooner you remove the Amazon device, the less likely it is to cause a short or disruption in your access control — and the sooner you stop unauthorized entry into your properties where you don’t get a photo of the person who enters.
Does this cost money?
It is free to report an unauthorized device, and you are not required to pay us for any services or to assign us any claims. If we help you find an unauthorized device and you wish to sue Amazon and its affiliates on your own, you can use the information we helped you gather as you wish.
10About this resourceAcerca de este recurso
PropertyOwnersUnited.org is a service bringing small property owners together to stand up to Amazon’s unauthorized use of their buildings. It is a service provided by 12gurus and is not related to Amazon or its subcontractors. Images of allegedly unauthorized Amazon installations were provided by independent third-party technicians sent to identify why access-control systems had stopped functioning, who discovered Amazon had recently installed their device. We are an independent corporation and do not represent any other entity or organization. You can learn more in our Terms.
PropertyOwnersUnited.org es un servicio que une a los pequeños propietarios para enfrentar el uso no autorizado de sus edificios por parte de Amazon. Es un servicio proporcionado por 12gurus y no está relacionado con Amazon ni con sus subcontratistas. Las imágenes de instalaciones presuntamente no autorizadas de Amazon fueron proporcionadas por técnicos independientes externos enviados para identificar por qué los sistemas de control de acceso habían dejado de funcionar, quienes descubrieron que Amazon había instalado recientemente su dispositivo. Somos una corporación independiente y no representamos a ninguna otra entidad u organización. Puede obtener más información en nuestros Términos.
11Contact usContáctenos
Questions, or want to tell us something that doesn't fit the report above? Send us a message.
¿Preguntas, o desea decirnos algo que no encaja en el reporte de arriba? Envíenos un mensaje.
Enter a valid email.