Hello,

Thank you for your order and for taking the time to share this detailed feedback—we truly appreciate it.

We're glad the Home Assistant Green arrived safely and that Ameridroid's handling of the order met your expectations. USPS Ground Advantage is indeed the most economical option, and it sounds like delivery was right within the typical 3-5 business day window (Sometimes USPS can take up to 14 business days).

We completely understand your surprise at the learning curve—Home Assistant is incredibly powerful and flexible precisely because it supports such a vast ecosystem of devices and protocols without relying on cloud services or manufacturer silos. That depth means there's often more upfront configuration than with polished commercial hubs (like those from big tech companies), especially when dealing with standards like Matter and Thread, which involve multiple layers (networks, border routers, credentials, etc.). Many users with strong IT backgrounds share similar early experiences: it can feel overwhelming at first with all the terminology (integrations, entities, etc.) and scattered setup steps. You're spot on that it's more of a 'programmer's dream' for deep customization, and it's not ideally suited for completely non-technical users without some ongoing support.

That said, the initial hurdles with adding devices—especially Matter/Thread ones—are some of the most common pain points we hear about, and they often stem from lingering credentials or conflicting border routers (e.g., from Apple Home, Google Home, or even a phone's previous setup).

Wi-Fi devices from supported brands usually auto-discover quickly once on the same network, while Zigbee/Z-Wave require a compatible USB stick and a quick 'add device' scan after setting up those protocols.

You're absolutely right that once the basics click and devices are integrated, things start to 'fall into place' much faster—the unified dashboard, local privacy, and automation power are what keep most users hooked long-term. It's the easiest open-source way to bring everything together securely without vendor lock-in.

If you're open to it, the Home Assistant community forums (community.home-assistant.io) are fantastic for beginner questions—search for your specific devices or post details, and folks often share step-by-step fixes. There are also great YouTube channels like 'Everything Smart Home' with beginner-friendly tutorials.

We hope you'll stick with it a bit longer and see the payoff—many reviewers echo your sentiments early on but end up loving it. If there's anything specific we can help with (e.g., device recommendations or setup questions), just let us know!

Best regards,
Brandon

Hello there,

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review about your experience with Home Assistant Green. We apologize for any confusion or frustration caused by the delay in receiving your order.

After looking into your order, we can confirm that it was shipped via Global Post DDP, which was the shipping method selected at checkout. We shipped your order on the same day it was placed and it has been in transit since then. As this is an international shipment, it is completely normal for it to take some time to reach its final destination.

We want to assure you that your order is still on its way and the tracking information provided to you has regular updates. The last update was on December 16th, just 3 days ago, showing that it is on its way from Los Angeles, California to Canada. Once it reaches Canada Post, it should be delivered within 3-7 business days.

We appreciate your patience and understanding in this matter. If you have any further concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We are always here to assist you.

Best regards,
Brandon