DoorBird Product Sample Program: How Hardware Samples and Evaluation Units Work

If you're specifying DoorBird video intercoms or access control hardware for a build, a multifamily property, or a commercial installation, you probably want to hold the unit in your hands before it goes on an order sheet. That's what a hardware sample program is for. This article walks through what to expect when you request finish samples or an evaluation unit from DB Store USA, and how the process typically fits into a considered B2B purchase.

What is a hardware sample program?

In B2B hardware purchasing — especially for products that get mounted permanently on a building facade, like a video intercom or an access control reader — it's standard practice to request a physical sample before committing to a larger order. A sample program generally serves two different purposes, and it helps to know which one you actually need:

• Finish and material samples. These let you check housing color, metal finish, weather sealing, and physical dimensions against your building's aesthetic and mounting constraints. Architects, property managers, and design-build contractors typically request these to confirm a product will look and feel right in context.
• Functional evaluation units. These are complete, working devices you can bench-test or install temporarily to validate integration behavior — things like app pairing, video and audio quality, IP network configuration, relay wiring, or compatibility with an existing access control or property management system.

Who typically requests samples?

Sample requests most commonly come from:

• Architects and specifiers building DoorBird into a project spec
• Security integrators and low-voltage contractors evaluating a product line before standardizing on it
• Property management companies and developers comparing intercom systems across multiple buildings
• IT and facilities teams who need to confirm network, PoE, and VoIP/SIP integration before a wider rollout

What information should you have ready?

Sample requests move faster when you can tell us the context up front. Useful details include:

• The specific model(s) you're evaluating (e.g., a video door station, an IP intercom sub-station, or an access control reader)
• The finish or housing material you want to see, if applicable
• Whether you need a functional unit for bench testing, or a physical sample purely for finish/fit review
• The project type and scale — a single-family install, a multi-tenant property, or a larger multi-building rollout — since this affects which unit makes sense to evaluate
• Your intended network environment (PoE availability, existing access control platform, VoIP/SIP phone system) if you're testing integration

What happens after you request a sample?

Once you submit a request, expect a follow-up conversation rather than an automatic shipment. Because DoorBird's product line spans multiple form factors, resolutions, and mounting options, our team typically confirms which specific model best fits your use case before anything goes out. This back-and-forth is normal for considered hardware purchases — it saves you from evaluating the wrong unit and having to start over.

What should you actually test with an evaluation unit?

Since a video intercom or access control reader lives at the intersection of your network, your building's electrical/PoE infrastructure, and (often) a third-party access control or property management platform, a useful evaluation typically checks:

• Video and audio quality in the lighting conditions and distance you'll actually use in production
• App and notification behavior on the phones and tablets your team or residents will use day to day
• Network requirements — confirm PoE power budget, port configuration, and any firewall or VLAN rules your IT team enforces
• Integration hooks — SIP/VoIP compatibility, relay outputs for door strikes or gates, and API or third-party platform support if you plan to connect it to existing access control or property software
• Physical mounting — box depth, surface vs. flush mount, and weatherproofing relevant to your installation site

For exact technical specifications — resolution, viewing angle, IP rating, power draw, and similar figures — always confirm against the specific product's datasheet, since specs vary by model and are updated by the manufacturer over time.

Is a sample the same as a return-eligible trial?

No. A sample or evaluation request is a pre-purchase step for a considered buying decision, not a try-before-you-buy return arrangement on a completed order. If you have questions about a specific request, our team can walk you through exactly what to expect for your situation.

Still need help? If you'd like to request a sample or evaluation unit, or you're not sure which DoorBird model fits your project, submit a support ticket and our team will help you scope the right request.