After December 23rd will online store still be able to sell existing inventory?

[WildcatDave]

It just dawned on me that the ban looks like it specifically lists importing of new drones into the United States. Does that mean brick and mortars and places like Amazon will be able to continue to sell existing stock after December 23rd assuming the band goes into effect, which it looks pretty certain to do.

Trying to plan for what I will need over the next year plus if I have a drone failure. I really don't want to go to another company as nothing is even close in price and performance to the DJI products. I use my drone a couple times a month professionally. I would prefer not to have to buy too many backup drones that may never get used, but I also don't want to be stuck.

 

[msinger]

Does that mean brick and mortars and places like Amazon will be able to continue to sell existing stock after December 23rd assuming the band goes into effect, which it looks pretty certain to do.

Nobody knows at this point since a ban isn't guaranteed, and even if it happens, it's not clear what would be included. You'll probably have to wait until the 23rd to know for sure.

 

[Cafguy]

I Think, You will be able to purchase existing stock because the ban will only effect the importation of the Drone NOT the sell. If the stores "existing stock" is in a warehouse outside the country....Thats gonna be a problem.
If you are gonna want to use exclusively DJI then you are gonna need to purchase a backup.

 

[mavic3usa]

Nothing stopping you from making and executing your [backup] plans prior to Dec 23. I would hope for the best and plan for the worse and assume you can't get anything (easily) starting early next year. Like any new edict, the citizens will be slow to comply and there will always be those who practice "civil disobedience" so all is not lost immediately.

 

[Riptide]

It's important to note that eBay has a system already in place and active to block products from companies on the FCCs covered list. Currently one of the best ways to purchase is from South Korean sellers on eBay but that may no longer be possible after Dec 23rd. I'm not sure everyone realizes that.

 

[mavic3usa]

It's important to note that eBay has a system already in place and active to block products from companies on the FCCs covered list. Currently one of the best ways to purchase is from South Korean sellers on eBay but that may no longer be possible after Dec 23rd. I'm not sure everyone realizes that.

Yes, this is brought up earlier:

M

What might a FCC drone ban look like on eBay?

Nov 10, 2025

Good read on what has happened, is happening, and/or might happen should the FCC and eBay treat DJI drones the same way as other products that have come under FCC scrutiny.

EBAY NOW FLAGGING LISTINGS FOR FCC BANNED SECURITY CAMERAS DUE TO COMPLIANCE ISSUES​

EBay Now Flagging Listings For FCC Banned Security Cameras Due To Compliance Issues | Worldstar Security Cameras

eBay now flagging listings for FCC banned security cameras due to compliance issues | Worldstar Security Cameras

worldstarsecuritycameras.com

Gemini easily converts one of its own AI images to reflect drones instead of security cameras:

• mavic3usa
• Replies: 10
• Forum: General Discussions

• 
• 

 

[Occams Razor]

It just dawned on me that the ban looks like it specifically lists importing of new drones into the United States. Does that mean brick and mortars and places like Amazon will be able to continue to sell existing stock after December 23rd assuming the band goes into effect, which it looks pretty certain to do.

Trying to plan for what I will need over the next year plus if I have a drone failure. I really don't want to go to another company as nothing is even close in price and performance to the DJI products. I use my drone a couple times a month professionally. I would prefer not to have to buy too many backup drones that may never get used, but I also don't want to be stuck.

While you will be able to purchase existing US inventory after the ban, it is not clear how much inventory is available in the US market. Also, prices will greatly escalate after the ban so you need to consider that aspect. My personal opinion is to roll the dice and buy immediately if you can find a back up drone at a reasonable price. As others have mentioned, the Korean sellers on eBay are a great option. If you end up not needing the drone, you have a great chance of selling it at a profit down the road. I’ve been holding off on selling my Air 3 in anticipation of used prices going up next year.

 

[GadgetGuy]

It's important to note that eBay has a system already in place and active to block products from companies on the FCCs covered list. Currently one of the best ways to purchase is from South Korean sellers on eBay but that may no longer be possible after Dec 23rd. I'm not sure everyone realizes that.

The effectiveness of that eBay blocking system fully depends upon the accuracy of the listings. Many Korean eBay sellers have been defrauding Customs by falsely declaring the shipped drone contents as electric drill sets. Nothing to stop them from doing the same with eBay listings, using code words that sound nothing like DJI drones, say by calling them "aerial electric drill sets," but still shipping DJI drones. They could advertise the true details elsewhere like an underground fencing operation on the dark web.

 

[jaja6009]

I thought the December 23 deadline works as follows:

DJI will be placed on the Covered Entity list if a national security review is not conducted or it fails said review. This is from the 2025 NDAA.

Once added to this list, the FCC will not grant future licenses. Existing licenses are not affected meaning every drone already approved up to that date can still be imported and marketed in the US. And if this happens at least we have some new drones that made it like the Mavic 4 Pro, Matrice 4 series, Matrice 400 RTK, Neo 2 and most likely Avata 360 to keep us busy for a while.

Other Factors
There is still the Uyghurs Slave Labor problem that has DJI drones being blocked for import.
There is also still the FCC voting to give itself the ability to go back and revoke FCC licenses that were previously given.


Am I wrong on this?

 

[Riptide]

I thought the December 23 deadline works as follows:

DJI will be placed on the Covered Entity list if a national security review is not conducted or it fails said review. This is from the 2025 NDAA.

Once added to this list, the FCC will not grant future licenses. Existing licenses are not affected meaning every drone already approved up to that date can still be imported and marketed in the US. And if this happens at least we have some new drones that made it like the Mavic 4 Pro, Matrice 4 series, Matrice 400 RTK, Neo 2 and most likely Avata 360 to keep us busy for a while.

Other Factors
There is still the Uyghurs Slave Labor problem that has DJI drones being blocked for import.
There is also still the FCC voting to give itself the ability to go back and revoke FCC licenses that were previously given.


Am I wrong on this?

Theyre already stopping imports of already FCC approved drones. If there is great difficulty importing Mavic 4 Pros now, I don't think it'll get better for some reason after the 23rd.

 

[jaja6009]

Theyre already stopping imports of already FCC approved drones. If there is great difficulty importing Mavic 4 Pros now, I don't think it'll get better for some reason after the 23rd.

I also do not think it will get easier to get the drones I listed. I was just mentioning that they are FCC approved and so is the Avata 360.

There are a lot of moving parts here in terms of why DJI drones are not making it here for sale.

 

[Cafguy]

There is still the Uyghurs Slave Labor problem that has DJI drones being blocked for import.

DJI has time and again submitted paperwork to refute these claims, even to go as far as to produce paperwork for the plastic DJI uses in its Drone production.
DJI does not purchase plastic from the Xinjiang region!

 

[wco81]

There is still the Uyghurs Slave Labor problem that has DJI drones being blocked for import.

DJI has time and again submitted paperwork to refute these claims, even to go as far as to produce paperwork for the plastic DJI uses in its Drone production.
DJI does not purchase plastic from the Xinjiang region!

Given that this ban would be based on claims of spying, which nobody believes, you have to question the claims of using political prisoner labor to manufacture.

It's not like China has some shortage of workers.

 

[jaja6009]

Did my reply somehow state that I believe they are using slave labor?
I was listing issues on blocked importation.

 

[Droning on and on...]

I thought the December 23 deadline works as follows:

DJI will be placed on the Covered Entity list if a national security review is not conducted or it fails said review. This is from the 2025 NDAA.

Once added to this list, the FCC will not grant future licenses. Existing licenses are not affected meaning every drone already approved up to that date can still be imported and marketed in the US. And if this happens at least we have some new drones that made it like the Mavic 4 Pro, Matrice 4 series, Matrice 400 RTK, Neo 2 and most likely Avata 360 to keep us busy for a while.

Other Factors
There is still the Uyghurs Slave Labor problem that has DJI drones being blocked for import.
There is also still the FCC voting to give itself the ability to go back and revoke FCC licenses that were previously given.


Am I wrong on this?

That's nearly 100% my understanding. Shouldn't affect eBay sellers of currently approved DJI products.

 

[Riptide]

That's nearly 100% my understanding. Shouldn't affect eBay sellers of currently approved DJI products.

This is the part I don't think is true. See if you can find a Huawei phone on ebay that was made before they were put on the covered list in 2021... there aren't any.

 

[Droning on and on...]

Given that this ban would be based on claims of spying, which nobody believes, you have to question the claims of using political prisoner labor to manufacture.

It's not like China has some shortage of workers.

Separate from DJI, the Uyghur slave labor issue is real.

 

[Occams Razor]

That's nearly 100% my understanding. Shouldn't affect eBay sellers of currently approved DJI products.

eBay sellers of currently approved products may potential be impacted. In October the FCC essentially gave itself the power to retroactively ban previously licensed DJI drones in the US if no audit occurs by December 23, 2025 and they are put on the Covered List. The FCC also believes the Secure and Trusted Communications Act gives them the authority to ultimately ground all DJI drones although they have communicated that they are currently not pursuing this. Here's an article that describes the potential ban for DJI drones and other products that use radio frequency :

FCC grants itself retroactive ban powers targeting DJI drones

 

[wco81]

Separate from DJI, the Uyghur slave labor issue is real.

Yes it is.

But does the US federal government care or is it using it as an alibi to target the products of a certain company?

What else has it done to address the issue?

Not like they're not importing a lot of other goods from China.

 

[Droning on and on...]

eBay sellers of currently approved products may potential be impacted. In October the FCC essentially gave itself the power to retroactively ban previously licensed DJI drones in the US if no audit occurs by December 23, 2025 and they are put on the Covered List. The FCC also believes the Secure and Trusted Communications Act gives them the authority to ultimately ground all DJI drones although they have communicated that they are currently not pursuing this. Here's an article that describes the potential ban for DJI drones and other products that use radio frequency :

FCC grants itself retroactive ban powers targeting DJI drones

Yup, well aware of this, completely ignoring it as it will never happen. It would be far too big a "taking" under the constitution, and the headache and cost for the US government would be enormous. Matter of days after such a decision before a court puts a stay on the it, requiring the FCC to prove how DJI is a security risk, something we've been asking for for a long time.

My opinion, of course, but I'm very certain of it.