Believe it or not? DJI rep says they pay all tariffs.

[mavic3usa]

When I mentioned "it's complicated" I wasn't joking. There's no way DHL is going to blindly pay the tariff and then work on getting someone else to pay them back especially when the tariffs are so high. Which means confiscating the package for non-payment might not even be profitable. DHL will help "facilitate" payment of the tariff so you can get your goods but end customer, you can be sure they will charge you are fee. And on top of that, I'm almost sure DHL requires some sort of deposit on file (like Visa/MC/AMEX) if you expect to do high volume business by launching a ton of your packages into the commercial delivery pipeline and expecting the common carrier to collect tariffs and duties for many packages that will go unclaimed or returned. Yeah, it's that complicated. I'm also positive that DJI has to pay a lot upfront as the shipper (in the form of deposits) to make sure these packages are handled since I think we can all agree none of this is free and DHL doesn't want to get stuck with the tariff as the middleman. Customs will not release the package to DHL until the government is paid so I don't know if either DHL or the importer is on the hook at all times but if DHL is on the hook, I can assure you it isn't free.

 

[Zbip57]

1) If I purchase a drone from the DJI store and DJI (the "importer") ships the drone directly from China to my house in the US, who pays the tariff?

If it's coming directly from China to your house, then you are are the importer. DJI-China is the exporter, and you are the importer.

You've muddied your sentence by inserting DJI (the "importer"), as though DJI-America and DJI-China are the exact same thing. They're not.

The American importer pays the import tariff, not the Chinese exporter.

DJI, the Chinese company pays the tariff, and then passes on whatever they want as a cost of doing business.

The Chinese exporter doesn't pay the American import tariff. It is always the American importer who pays the tariff.

You've made such a big deal about that, splitting hairs over whether or not the American consumer ends up paying for that.

The point is that it's the importer who pays the import tariff surcharge to your government. The importer then chooses whether to "absorb" that cost, or chooses how much of that cost to pass on to the consumer. All along you've been splitting hairs on definitions and insisting it is the importer, not the consumer who pays the tariff.

It works exactly the same way in the opposite direction. DJI-China is the exporter and DJI-America is the importer stocking products in American warehouses. Chinese-owned or not, DJI-America is an American company operating within America, and it is the American importer who pays the import tariff surcharge tax to your government. As you say, that importer can choose to "absorb" that cost, or pass that cost on to their consumers, or the importer can even accept money from its parent company to subsidize that cost.

You can't have it both ways. Exactly the same argument applies in both directions. If you keep insisting the end consumer isn't "paying the tariff", then neither is the parent company in China. The American company, DJI-America, is the importer who "pays the tariff".

Why is there such hesitation in acknowledging that some Chinese companies are, in fact, paying tariffs?

Because it sounds far too much like a repeat of all the misleading claims coming from your administration that it's somehow the exporting country, China, who pays the import tariff.

Your import tariffs are paid by American importers to your government. Import tariffs are a tax paid by Americans.

It is very simple indeed.

Simple indeed.

 

[msinger]

If it's coming directly from China to your house, then you are are the importer. DJI-China is the exporter, and you are the importer.

You've muddied your sentence by inserting DJI (the "importer"), as though DJI-America and DJI-China are the exact same thing. They're not.

The point is that it's the importer who pays the import tariff surcharge to your government.

That claim has clearly been disproven in this thread.

If you're suggesting that I'm the importer when DJI ships my order directly from China to my home, then it's evident that the importer isn't always the one paying the tariff to the US government. I don't have to pay any tariff to the US government when I purchase from the DJI store.

Is some or all of the tariff cost included in DJI's retail price? No doubt. That has also been covered in great detail above.

You're getting caught up in semantics about who holds what title in the transaction, while the real focus of this thread is who actually pays the tariff to the US government when buying from DJI directly. Let's stay on topic.

 

[Dave Pitman]

I doubt very many care who writes the check for the tariff. Everyone seems more interested that their toys, or tools, or cloths, or food, etc., cost a lot more for no particular good reason. Who initially writes the check is not really important as we have agreed it mostly lightens the consumer's purse rather than other countries as has been advertised.

 

[msinger]

I doubt very many care who writes the check for the tariff. Everyone seems more interested that their toys, or tools, or cloths, or food, etc., cost a lot more for no particular good reason.

Absolutely! But people do want to know whether they'll be hit with a tariff after making a retail purchase. That's important, especially if it could significantly add to an already higher retail price.

 

[Dave Pitman]

Absolutely! But people do want to know whether they'll be hit with a tariff after making a retail purchase. That's important, especially if it could significantly add to an already higher retail price.

Yeah. In circumstances like purchasing out of country off Ebay can probably get interesting.

 

[Zbip57]

I checked the price of a Matrice 4T Plus Combo as listed on the DJI Store.

Store.dji.com automatically detects that I'm connecting from Canada and displays the price at USD $7,270.



But if I use a VPN to connect via a server located in New York, the price jumps to USD $8,878.

 

[mavic3usa]

I checked the price of a Matrice 4T Plus Combo as listed on the DJI Store.

Store.dji.com automatically detects that I'm connecting from Canada and displays the price at USD $7,270.

View attachment 182306

But if I use a VPN to connect via a server located in New York, the price jumps to USD $8,878.

View attachment 182308

Is this the same drone from B&H for $12,958?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1884236-REG/dji_cp_en_00000546_01_matrice_4t_with_care.html

 

[Zbip57]

Is this the same drone from B&H for $12,958?

Who knows?

When accessing the DJI Store via VPN through New York, I see the US price listed as USD $8,878. But when I click on that model, it says, "Not available in your country/region."

Is DJI-America just out of old stock?

Not surprisingly, 12,958 / 8,878 = 146%.

What a remarkable coincidence that the B&H price is inflated by the same amount as the 145% tariff amount [+1%].

 

[mavic3usa]

Who knows?

When accessing the DJI Store via VPN through New York, I see the US price listed as USD $8,878. But when I click on that model, it says, "Not available in your country/region."

Is DJI-America just out of old stock?

Not surprisingly, 12,958 / 8,878 = 146%.

What a remarkable coincidence that the B&H price is inflated by the same amount as the 145% tariff amount [+1%].

Perhaps B&H is doing the basic math and simply adding 145% to the price which is no harm now because they don't have any of these drones to sell today.

So if I paid $8878 to DJI.com and it arrives, who's going to pay that tariff since it's not quite clear that a full "tariff amount" has been added to the price difference between CDN and USA prices at DJI.

Just so you know, DJI America operates as a subsidiary of the parent company, DJI aka DJI China. If you say DJI America pays the tariff (as the importer), that's no different than saying DJI or DJI China, or the CCP, or China paid the tariff because there's no such thing as DJI America pays the tariff in the broader conversation. B&H seems to be predicting that they will be stuck with paying the tariff should they import this drone model.

 

[MS Coast]

Not surprisingly, 12,958 / 8,878 = 146%.

12,958 is an increase of 46% over 8,878.

A 145% fee applied to a $8,878 price would result in a total cost of $21,751.

 

[Dave Pitman]

As noted, DJI is not currently selling any enterprise drones to the US market on their store. They are listed on dealers sites with increased pricing.

The consumer models were probably in-country before tariffs took effect. When that stock is gone, the tariffs will be added to them as well. And, of course, new models will reflect whatever the tariff is at that point.

 

[msinger]

12,958 is an increase of 46% over 8,878.

A 145% fee applied to a $8,878 price would result in a total cost of $21,751.

In addition, since tariffs aren't applied against retail prices consumers pay, that kind of math is not even possible.

 

[msinger]

Just so you know, DJI America operates as a subsidiary of the parent company, DJI aka DJI China

The "DJI North America" subsidiary was dissolved in 2014. Colin Guinn and several former DJI employees then joined 3D Robotics.

The idea that "DJI America" exists as a company today is incorrect. DJI remains entirely a Chinese owned company.

 

[Johnmcl7]

Leica have announced their price increases for the US which may be of interest to give an idea what the price increases for DJI may look like:

The tariff increases have arrived, as this popular compact camera nearly doubles in price

Leica's tariff-related price increases in North America begin today, giving our first glimpse at how much prices could be impacted

www.digitalcameraworld.com

What's also interesting is that the D-lux 8 (a rebranded Panasonic) is made in China while their other models are manufactured in Germany which is reflected in the price increases, the D-lux 8 increase is significantly higher than the other cameras.

A point mentioned a number of times is also highlighted:

Tariffs are charged on the declared value at import, however, not the retail cost.

Wahoo are releasing a new bike radar product and are adding a mandatory $50 shipping charge to cover the tariffs:

Wahoo Fitness Adds Tariff Surcharge to TRACKR Radar

Today, Wahoo Fitness opened up shipping on their three newest products: The Wahoo BOLT 3, Wahoo ROAM 3, and Wahoo TRACKR Radar. The BOLT 3 and ROAM 3 are meant to offer smaller-sized and more budget-friendly versions of their top-end

www.dcrainmaker.com

 

[flychicago]

I sent two drones Mavic 3 and Mavic 4 Pro Mini into DJI for repair last week. They both got shipped to Kentucky and arrived May 2.

The replacements shipped from Canada on the May 5th (Mavic 4 Pro Mini) and May 6th (Mavic 3)

The Mavic 4 Pro arrived yesterday with no issue. This morning UPS send me an email asking for $1,199.96 to release the Mavic 3. The driver arrived around 8am and ask for the same. I refused the package.

DJI service said this was an error and they would look into it.

 

[mavic3usa]

I sent two drones Mavic 3 and Mavic 4 Pro Mini into DJI for repair last week. They both got shipped to Kentucky and arrived May 2.

The replacements shipped from Canada on the May 5th (Mavic 4 Pro Mini) and May 6th (Mavic 3)

The Mavic 4 Pro arrived yesterday with no issue. This morning UPS send me an email asking for $1,199.96 to release the Mavic 3. The driver arrived around 8am and ask for the same. I refused the package.

DJI service said this was an error and they would look into it.

Looks like you joined the forum initially to report this issue. I have seen similar concerns reported all over various social media each with a little bit different concern and amount but all having to do with DJI care refresh so I believe it is a credible concern and not a scam. Since DJI appears to send out a "new" drone as replacement rather than a "repaired" drone then I can see where a mix-up could occur. Feel sorry for someone who gets caught up in this situation which is obviously linked to recent affairs. My only advice is if you intend to make a DJI care refresh claim, I would hold off for now until this problem is sorted.

 

[flychicago]

Looks like you joined the forum initially to report this issue. I have seen similar concerns reported all over various social media each with a little bit different concern and amount but all having to do with DJI care refresh so I believe it is a credible concern and not a scam. Since DJI appears to send out a "new" drone as replacement rather than a "repaired" drone then I can see where a mix-up could occur. Feel sorry for someone who gets caught up in this situation which is obviously linked to recent affairs. My only advice is if you intend to make a DJI care refresh claim, I would hold off for now until this problem is sorted.

Thanks, just wanted to share the experience. What's interesting is that the Mavic 4 Mini Pro which was still covered under DJI refresh came back with no issue.

The Mavic 3 which was not covered was a line item repair quote for ~$290. I assume DJI is charging me for the repair based on actual damages, but then sending me a refurbished drone. Interested to hear thoughts on this.

I'm confused though on why DJI is going through Canada for this, (no knock on Canada). There is likely at least 10X more drone sold in the US vs Canada. What's the advantage for them to repair/refurb these, or depot them in Canada?

 

[mavic3usa]

Thanks, just wanted to share the experience. What's interesting is that the Mavic 4 Mini Pro which was still covered under DJI refresh came back with no issue.

The Mavic 3 which was not covered was a line item repair quote for ~$290. I assume DJI is charging me for the repair based on actual damages, but then sending me a refurbished drone. Interested to hear thoughts on this.

I'm confused though on why DJI is going through Canada for this, (no knock on Canada). There is likely at least 10X more drone sold in the US vs Canada. What's the advantage for them to repair/refurb these, or depot them in Canada?

Yeah that right, my understanding is DJI rarely if ever repairs your drone to send the same one back to you. Instead new/refurb replacement is the model. Reports all over the internet have various outcomes and people are reporting these unexpected bills from doing business with DJI are highly disruptive. It's hard enough to do business with zero government involvement and this only complicates things.

DJI maintains a vast inventory of drones located all over the world so I'm sure they make their business decisions accordingly; however, it's easy to make mistakes and run into unexpected roadblocks when the government randomly gets involved. I'm sure it will be sorted out since DJI seems to be flexible and maneuverable; just going to take some time and patience. Maybe by this summer, the new normal will be the new way of doing business that we'll have to get used to and not take for granted what we have enjoyed for the last couple of decades.

 

[Johnmcl7]

I sent two drones Mavic 3 and Mavic 4 Pro Mini into DJI for repair last week. They both got shipped to Kentucky and arrived May 2.

The replacements shipped from Canada on the May 5th (Mavic 4 Pro Mini) and May 6th (Mavic 3)

The Mavic 4 Pro arrived yesterday with no issue. This morning UPS send me an email asking for $1,199.96 to release the Mavic 3. The driver arrived around 8am and ask for the same. I refused the package.

DJI service said this was an error and they would look into it.

I was reading the mega thread for this on the DJI reddit and seems there's a lot of people being caught by this and the advice is to contact DJI to sort it.

I really feel for people having to deal with UPS over this because I've had an import duty issue with them recently (not DJI or drone related) due to them making multiple mistakes and I'm still out of pocket at the moment while trying to resolve it.