Anyone bought from Canada and had it sent to US?

[Paulark]

So a week before launch, my Mavic 3 dropped into the river (not really sure why but I suspect the reflective nature of the river -it was glass that day- had something to do with it). But since the 4 was about to launch, I wasn't too torn up over it. It had had a good life. But on launch day, I discovered that it wasn't happening thanks to the one and only Donny Jerome Trump (what a guy, am I right?!)

So I find myself sans drone during event season when I need to be shooting stuff. And there is no substitute for the mavic series image quality. So I'm trying to figure out the best way to get my hands on one. I know people in both Canada and Mexico, so I could potentially purchase one somehow, have it shipped to their address, then they could forward it on to me? I've never had anything sent to me like that before so has anyone gone thru this process and could you walk me thru it? I realize that DJI won't be honoring warranties for 4's imported, but since State Farm offers such a great deal on their personal articles insurance, that's not much of a concern for me. What happens when the package gets to the border?

Thanks, I just wanna have my ducks in a row before contacting my peeps.

 

[Suren]

I have seen some posts about this happening, but the concern was just around warranty as you would need to take it back to Canada for the warranty to be valid with an address somewhere there.

 

[Paulark]

Yeah, copy that. Something else I forgot to mention is I want to make sure it's not range limited and I'm making an assumption that 4's sold in Canada are not. I mean....all that room for activities....

 

[mavic3usa]

Yeah, copy that. Something else I forgot to mention is I want to make sure it's not range limited and I'm making an assumption that 4's sold in Canada are not. I mean....all that room for activities....

FCC mod for DJI Fly for Android | Drone Tweaks

DJI drones operate under two major sets of regulations: FCC (for US, Canada and a few other places) CE (for Europe and most other places). Because CE regulations are much stricter, the drone needs to turn its radios way down, from an FCC allowed noise of 26dB on 5.8Ghz all the way down to 14dB...

www.drone-tweaks.com

 

[Suren]

Yeah, copy that. Something else I forgot to mention is I want to make sure it's not range limited and I'm making an assumption that 4's sold in Canada are not. I mean....all that room for activities....

It won't be range limited because both Canada and the US are FCC so range would be the same. The drone changes from CE to FCC based on homeport location and not where you purchase it from.

 

[Bad Santa]

Let us know how it goes.
I don't know if customs is checking packages from Canada private parties or not.

I used to have a friend who went to Canada every May. I should have asked her how the customs declaration was when coming back to the states.

 

[Calson]

BH Photo Video has them in stock from time to time and the best approach is to order one by phone which puts you at the top of the list when ones arrive. In the past they have taken phone orders for items that could not be ordered from their website without inventory on hand.

They also have a special credit card that allows buyers to avoid sales tax and save 9% or more and that along with free express shipping is why they get most of my business. They are also very easy to deal with for returns for any reason.

 

[GadgetGuy]

BH Photo Video has them in stock from time to time and the best approach is to order one by phone which puts you at the top of the list when ones arrive. In the past they have taken phone orders for items that could not be ordered from their website without inventory on hand.

They also have a special credit card that allows buyers to avoid sales tax and save 9% or more and that along with free express shipping is why they get most of my business. They are also very easy to deal with for returns for any reason.

What you are talking about is a pre-order, not a purchase, and there is no guarantee that any will ever become available, which is why no order can be placed online.

All drone returns at B&H go through a separate 3rd party drone company for certification of return eligibility, not B&H. B&H will not directly accept drone returns for any reason, and has no control over the third party's determination of whether or not you qualify for a refund after returning the drone. Most do not.

The PayBoo credit card is also through a bank, not B&H, and the sales tax is not avoided, but is paid by you and rebated by the bank, if you qualify for the tax rebate, from the profits the bank makes off the exorbitant finance charges (36% plus late payment fees of $39) paid by those who can't afford to pay the bill when they receive it.

There is no free lunch!

 

[Paulark]

Yeah, the highest prices I've seen have been on B&H and Adorama. Trying to avoid the ol' bend over/break off deal.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Yeah, the highest prices I've seen have been on B&H and Adorama. Trying to avoid the ol' bend over/break off deal.

It's not that they are profiteering on the price. Assuming they can get any gray market ones, it likely reflects their costs of importing them and paying any necessary tariffs.

 

[mavic3usa]

It's not that they are profiteering on the price. Assuming they can get any gray market ones, it likely reflects their costs of importing them and paying any necessary tariffs.

What is your definition of a grey market item? Where do you believe Adorama and NYC and covertdrones are getting the M4P drone kits they are selling?

 

[tstr14]

Quite simply, a grey market item is something being sold in a country it was not originally intended to be sold in. And for what it's worth, both companies, especially Adorama, have sold grey market items in the past, in particular, cameras and related equipment such as lenses.

 

[MikeReidPhotography]

I got mine in Hong Kong and flew back to YVR and then across the border. No issues.

 

[mavic3usa]

Quite simply, a grey market item is something being sold in a country it was not originally intended to be sold in. And for what it's worth, both companies, especially Adorama, have sold grey market items in the past, in particular, cameras and related equipment such as lenses.

Not originally intended to be sold in a country.

You honestly believe the M4P is not intended to be sold in America?

Or do you believe there was a quick, last minute decision to delay the M4P in America and not all the authorized sellers got the message? I find it hard to believe the M4P was not intended to be sold in America when they shipped product to their authorized resellers, they shipped product to the American influencers, and they have yet to officially publish notification to Americans that the M4P is not intended for use in America.

These are at least 10 good reasons to claim the product is not intended to be sold in country:

1. Product not compatible with infrastructure in that country
2. Product does not conform with the laws in that country
3. Product does not have government authorization approval documents in that country
4. Product does not have the proper support network in that country
5. Product particular model or brand is not sold in that country
6. Product price cannot be sustained in that country
7. Product does not have the language of that country
8. Product does not have any authorized sellers in that country and/or is being re-sold.
9. Product warranty is not valid in that country
10. Product image is contrary and incompatible with that country or is infringing.

Personally, I don't think launch strategy, timing, mistakes, sloppy work, etc play into the whole grey market / black market item designation. I'm thinking from a customer/consumer perspective.

 

[tstr14]

Until such time as dji decides to export to the US, then yes, the M4P is not intended to be sold in the US. It doesn't matter why, it just matters that is the way it is.

 

[mavic3usa]

Until such time as dji decides to export to the US, then yes, the M4P is not intended to be sold in the US. It doesn't matter why, it just matters that is the way it is.

DJI already exported M4P drones to the US; how else did they get here?

Read DJI comments here:

How to (Maybe) Get a DJI Mavic 4 Pro in the U.S.

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro isn’t officially available in the U.S.—but you might still be able to get one. Find out how in this article.

uavcoach.com

 

[tstr14]

I don't see anything confirming dji exported drones here. How else could they get here? Seriously??? Never mind. I withdraw my comments. Believe whatever you want.

 

[mavic3usa]

I don't see anything confirming dji exported drones here. How else could they get here? Seriously??? Never mind. I withdraw my comments. Believe whatever you want.

DJI shipped the drones to the official resellers and influences (call it "export" or whatever) who are supposed to hang onto them until launch day which was delayed several times and then when launch day came around, DJI decided to launch everywhere except the US and they either did a lousy job of letting the official US resellers know ahead of time or they were "ignored." Happens all the time, miscommunication; mistakes. Best Buy sometimes sells drone too early. If DJI didn't want those drones to be sold, they would have blocked the activation. Either way, it has nothing to do with the end customer; doesn't change the consumer's rights. We have consumer laws in this country even DJI has to abide by them. These are not grey market drones and these drones have US warranty (unless you agree with DJI and agree to give up your warranty....because they say so). IMHO

 

[mavicmod]

Be cautious about making a claim with well fargo cause it'll increase your rates if you have a home

 

[GadgetGuy]

What is your definition of a grey market item? Where do you believe Adorama and NYC and covertdrones are getting the M4P drone kits they are selling?

It's gray market, not grey market.

Adorama and DJI NY got their original stock from DJI in China. All subsequent stock will be through gray market sources, after DJI decided not to sell the Mavic 4 Pro in the United States, making the original units shipped to Adorama and DJI NYC gray market stock as well. No U.S. warranty and no Care Refresh available.

Canada is the most likely source of the gray market, but they could come from anywhere internationally. CovertDrones is getting them from somewhere outside the U.S. and priced them according to Luke's costs of importing them.