@Riley_S 

Reference TpDP LV1's entry of 2023-04-08 17:48:09.

First, thank you for your candid responses to the various comments concerns.  I appreciate it.  However, I am in total agreement with TpDP's comments.  I currently own (and am very pleased with) a Deco x60 v1 that I purchased from Costco.  Wanting to make my network environment even better, I recently purchased a TPLink Deco AXE5300, again from Costco.  As of this writing, I have not yet even opened the box because I became aware of the HomeCare Vs HomeShield debate and started reading up on it.  

This is where TpDP's comment come into play.  As there are two adults in my household, parental controls are not as critically important for me as for others.  However, the HomeCare "package" suited my needs perfectly.  I especially appreciated the Custom Profile, Site Blocking, Content filtering, Device Blocking, Log Insight, and Usage Monitor, and I monitored each routinely.   I also appreciated the monthly reports.  All of those features were made available to me as part of the overall product purchase.  So imagine my disappointment to make this purchase at substantial cost only to find that some of those very useful and desirable features will now require additional (and unwanted) expense.  In the end I feel that I have paid for a "degraded" service when those same, more robust features were part of the original purchase.

TpDP said it best:  "...but the idea of upgrading to newer Deco hardware, only to lose the features that I already have and love...?

It's a deal-breaker for me."

I didn't buy the Deco Mesh Routers (either the X60, or the AXE5300) for the software package.  But the X60 came with it and I found it very helpful.  I really would like to install the AXE5300 mesh router as an upgrade to my existing network, but the HomeShield "package" is way lacking and in my view, unwanted.  I know TPLink has contracted with another company, but including the SAME features that HomeCare offered for free should have been included in that new contract agreement!  With the HomeShield package, I feel like I am being taken advantage of.  In the old days, we'd use a phrase that said "I'm getting "nickel and dimed."  Meaning I was being charged more and more beyond the original cost of whatever it was that I wanted to buy.  This HomeShield product feels the same way.  Buy the router, then pay $5.99 per month more for the IoT security, Malicious Content filtering, DDoS Protection, and...I think you get my point.  Consequently, I will reluctantly pass on the network upgrade until TP-Link can sort things out in favor of their customers.  

On a positive note, I have been 100% satisfied with my Deco X60 and the associated HomeCare package.  It has been the most efficient and useful router I've ever owned.  I love the ability to control my network via my phone app.  The information is useful and the app is very easy to use.  I have no reason to believe that the AXE5300 would be any less satisfying to use...except for the HomeShield package with fewer free features, and the additional out of pocket expense required to continue using those features.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my concerns.    

  @Riley_S 

I'm absolutely gutted.

I was very happy with my M5 network and then I upgraded to 1Gbps optical fiber. I upgraded the router only to find out that my new *expensive* fast router offered *less* protection than the routers I bought 3 years ago.

it is an insult to your clients' intelligence. So many useful functions have been removed! Speed test, antivirus, reports! I will not pay, and I will look at another solution. You lost me there, trying to make a quick buck is going to cost you in the long run. Such an obvious corporate bean counter decision. And trying to upsell the new "improved" features! SMH... 

  @Riley_S Well, you've come across a rock and hard place, at least the way I see it.  TP-Link is a Chinese corporation and privacy concerns such as with Huawei have come to light...

I personally see a benefit in having a paid subscription to a third party for those considering moving to TP-Link from a different router manufacturer.  They would be less suspicious of protection they have to pay for.

It wasn't mentioned as an option, but MAYBE for loyal customers trying to upgrade to make at least those HomeCare inclusive features free, or outright the cost of HomeShield Pro.  Then have the tiered HomeShield for new TP-Link users?.....

  @Riley_S 

I am extremely upset by this. I solely bought an X60 system due to it supposedly coming with lifetime HomeCare Parental Controls included per the info provided by TPLink on Costco's website. I demand to be given the free parental controls for the lifetime of this product that I was promised upon purchase. I don't care if it is HomeCare or HomeShield. I was promised these controls and TPLink did not deliver.

Riley_S wrote

  @jzchen,

... I will reach out to the team to see if there are any plans to provide upgrade paths for HomeCare users, however I have not heard of anything yet.

  @Riley_S It seems I did not make clear my concern regarding HomeCare users.  It appears that HomeCare was included before with older router models.  Owners of these models may want to upgrade to newer models, but lose some built in HomeCare features when upgrading their router as they'd need to pay for the corresponding HomeShield feature.  You asked which features are important to those legacy users, and my suggestion is to include all HomeCare features to these loyal customers.  For example if parental controls was included in HomeCare, then when those who have old TP-Link routers upgrade to a new, that they get HomeShield parental controls for free.  Those who never had a HomeCare router will be charged the standard HomeShield fee for features...

  @Riley_S  you can add me to the list of customers that will not upgrade because we would lose the homecare services. i bought 3 m9 plus and was going to upgrade to the XE75 but then i learned i would lose my homecare services and that on the homeshield i would have to pay for what i have right now. Cyber security on these days is really important and that was one of the reason i choose to buy the m9 plus. now that i want to upgrade the fact that would lose this service was a deal breaker for me, i would rather keep the setting that i have already, which is working pretty good. if you ask me i would share all the services on the homecare on the homshield for free and work on top of that adding new services that require payment, that would help with the population of your costumers that want to upgrade but wont because of this situation.

  @TpDP thank you for the community to provide so many valuable comments and opinon.

I have recently upgraded my m9plus network to BE85 network without much research.  To my surprise many customers already have this uproar about the home care vs home shield debate

Fortunately or Unfortunately .. i have option as tplink has all deco compatible.  If they remove this feature.. its dooms day

Configuration

1. BE85 as main router + M9plus as a mesh note.  this you get HomeShield

2. M9plus as main router + M9Plus as note and BE85 as note.  this you get HomeCare.

3. BE85 as main Router with M9Plus Router and creating 2 network.

each configuration has its own benefits but i want to mention that TPLink as a product develop need to provide option for consumers to choose.  If TPLink role out the state of art router at a expensive price tag with feature that is paid only, they will start losing customers.

I hope option can be provided to choose homecare or homesheild or whatever new feature add on as a paid service and let customer choose.

Best Regards