Bad Omen For Air 3S and Future US Sales

[Pappy]

I just received an email from B&H Photo -
DJI Air 3S Drone with RC 2 Fly More Combo
(B&H # DJA3SFMCRC2)

You are receiving this message because you asked to be notified when this item becomes available. We regret to inform you that this item is unfortunately no longer available at B&H. Please check back on our website for similar or possible replacement items.

This may also apply to other stores here in the US. It will be interesting to see if other DJI models will be affected as well once the existing stock runs out.

 

[Steelgtr]

Buy DJI Air 3S - Dual-Camera Drone for Travel Photography

Shop for DJI Air 3S (DJI RC-N3) on the official DJI Online Store. Find great deals and buy DJI products online with quick and convenient delivery!

store.dji.com

 

[parkgt]

That would mean existing US A3Ss are going to be collector items!!!

 

[GadgetGuy]

That would mean existing US A3Ss are going to be collector items!!!

or paperweights… LOL!
or retroactively recalled back to China!

It certainly doesn't bode well for receiving any needed future DJI Care replacements, nor tech support, if DJI's largest market has no Air 3S users to assist each other here with discovering and helping squash bugs and enhance the user experience with suggested improvements, that make it back to DJI, for implementation in future FW updates.

You are pretty much on your own, stuck with version 1.0, warts and all.
Those few Air 3S owners posting here on our forum will unfortunately have no one else to confirm bugs and distinguish them from user errors, or defective equipment that cannot now be replaced.

 

[mavic3usa]

That's too bad, I really didn't plan on getting the Air 3S but now....maybe.

 

[bkushner]

 

[bkushner]

Buy DJI Air 3S - Dual-Camera Drone for Travel Photography

Shop for DJI Air 3S (DJI RC-N3) on the official DJI Online Store. Find great deals and buy DJI products online with quick and convenient delivery!

store.dji.com

Order from China then your package never arrives because of customs...

 

[Bad Santa]

So, to summarize, B&H will no longer drop ship the 3s

It means nothing for the actual 3s availability in the US.

 

[GadgetGuy]

So, to summarize, B&H will no longer drop ship the 3s

It means nothing for the actual 3s availability in the US.

Actually, if B&H can't get any of them, and DJI can't get them past U.S. Customs, except temporarily through Canada, it means availability in the U.S. is severely restricted, if not nonexistent. Best Buy and Amazon and other U.S. resellers aren't be able to get them either.

Also B&H never drop shipped any Air 3S's. It is not "will no longer ship."
They never received any at all.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Order from China then your package never arrives because of customs...

Even if they manage to slip a new one through to you, any replacements under warranty and DJI Care will be impossible to receive, as well. Better hope it works perfectly and never crashes!

 

[mavic3usa]

So, to summarize, B&H will no longer drop ship the 3s

It means nothing for the actual 3s availability in the US.

Usually B&H gets their own shipment of drones from DJI....likely periodically. New launches are usually never available from B&H on day 1 and it probably takes a month later but loyal customers are able to wait because it's a pleasure to buy from them and they offer the Payboo incentive. I've always had same day shipping from B&H, if you order early afternoon, it goes out Fedex that day; no later than tomorrow unless it's their down time (which they are clear about). They don't play games with the Fedex delivery (from the East coast) so you can control the package and I'm going to miss them as my go-to DJI source leaving only dji.com for a tax-free experience. Also you could count on B&H to put together a package deal on included accessories when DJI did not.

Based on this notification, it sounds like they have been told (or chosen to discontinue) to not offer this particular drone and customers who are waiting (B&H keeps a healthy wait list) should begin to look elsewhere. Disappointing because once again, negative impact on the any part of the drone businesses and the community adds up and eventually takes a [costly] toll in the long run.

 

[mavic3usa]

Even if they manage to slip a new one through to you, any replacements under warranty and DJI Care will be impossible to receive, as well. Better hope it works perfectly and never crashes!

DJI will have to figure that out because a contract is a contract; not going to matter if you have company issues. I'm sure they have a plan.

 

[Starz]

or chosen to discontinue

I will think this is more the culprit. Not based on any real fact, just a feeling.

 

[GadgetGuy]

DJI will have to figure that out because a contract is a contract; not going to matter if you have company issues. I'm sure they have a plan.

Ever hear of force majeure exclusion clauses in insurance policies?
The best laid plans of mice and men are often impossible to complete.
Bottom line, warranty and DJI Care replacements are highly unlikely to be available, even if you manage to buy one and get it delivered. How DJI will handle that impossibility remains unknown. Likely a refund of DJI Care, and maybe a refund of the purchase price for warranty issues?

 

[GadgetGuy]

That's too bad, I really didn't plan on getting the Air 3S but now....maybe.

Good luck!

 

[Bad Santa]

Here's the real question.

What's slowing down the availability of the 3s?
Anyone have facts, not just speculation?

 

[davidarmenb]

You all are panicking.

 

[mavic3usa]

Ever hear of force majeure exclusion clauses in insurance policies?
The best laid plans of mice and men are often impossible to complete.
Bottom line, warranty and DJI Care replacements are highly unlikely to be available, even if you manage to buy one and get it delivered. How DJI will handle that impossibility remains unknown. Likely a refund of DJI Care, and maybe a refund of the purchase price for warranty issues?

You all are panicking.

Yeah but a few of their drones getting stopped in US customs doesn't exempt them from a service contract especially if they continue to service drones from the ROW. DJI should be able to see this coming from a mile away so it's hardly unforeseen or unexpected. Will gladly take a refund (or conversion) and we can get a service contract from Allstate, Asurian, or others.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Here's the real question.

What's slowing down the availability of the 3s?
Anyone have facts, not just speculation?

The facts, based upon our members reports here, are that Customs is placing holds on some or all of DJI aircraft currently being shipped into the U.S.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Yeah but a few of their drones getting stopped in US customs doesn't exempt them from a service contract especially if they continue to service drones from the ROW. DJI should be able to see this coming from a mile away so it's hardly unforeseen or unexpected. Will gladly take a refund (or conversion) and we can get a service contract from Allstate, Asurian, or others.

No exemption, but if Customs truly prohibits all DJI aircraft imports, DJI cannot fulfill their U.S. contracts, which is back to the impossible force majeure exclusion clauses. Time will tell whether the recent import issues are deliberate and permanent, or merely temporary and "just a misunderstanding," as DJI claims.