Has anybody ordered the Mavic 4 from Ebay? Shipped from Korea.

[FlierX]

Ok it sounds like the South Koreans are stumbling (probably due to the much increased volume) and it looks like the Japanese sellers are on the rise since there are so many more new sellers from Japan but their prices are a bit higher.

This is exactly what is happening. I made a post in another thread earlier eluding to this. I purchased on July 30th from K-Wave while they were still offering a 10% discount. Their eBay listing indicated that they had 7 left. I received a message from K-Wave later that evening stating that they had a surge of orders and that it would take about a week to get them in stock and that it would arrive some time between August 12th - 19th. I then checked every Mavic 4 Pro Creator Combo listing, including sellers from Japan, and they ALL had the exact same shipping time frame.

I sent a message to K-Wave telling them that I really need to know when I should realistically expect to receive it and they said no later than August 13th. I just received a message from K-Wave again stating the following.

We expect to ship the product by this week, at the latest by next week. Once dispatched, the product will take about 3–4 days to arrive.

This is still within the time frame that they originally stated.

 

[YorksPhotos]

The 15% becomes effective August 29.
South Korea is still 10% from now until then, but the US Customs tariffs are based off the country of ORIGIN (theoretically China for DJI) rather than the country from which it is shipped, such that a U.S. based origin should have no tariffs, regardless of when shipped from S. Korea. What a country, eh? LOL!

Previously mentioned in this thread, the trade deal with Korea set the tariff to 15% effective Aug 1. On Aug 29th the $800 minimum exemption that was eliminated for China on May 2 will apply to all countries.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Previously mentioned in this thread, the trade deal with Korea set the tariff to 15% effective Aug 1. On Aug 29th the $800 minimum exemption that was eliminated for China on May 2 will apply to all countries.

Thank you for the correction.

The Korean eBay sellers of the Mavic 4 Pro are still able to ship duty free, incurring no tariffs to the U.S. until August 28th by:
1. Claiming country of origin is KA and
2. Claiming declared value is under $800.
That's how mine is arriving, based upon seeing the shipping label attached to the box. Hence, unless fraud is suspected, the package sails through Customs uninspected, based upon the submitted paperwork.

However, after August 29th, the delivered price will have to be increased by a minimum of 15%, even if they still fraudulently claim the country of origin is KA, when it is actually China, as country of origin for tariff purposes is defined as where it is manufactured, not where it is shipped from! The correct tariff for a Chinese drone over $800 imported from Korea is 30%, even today!

They can still minimize the dollar amount of the 15% tariffs by still claiming a value of under $800, where it would be $120 instead of $$525.

Note that Adorama has continued to increase their Mavic 4 Pro CC price for delivery in October, which is now $5500! Previously, it was $4650.

https://www.adorama.com/djimavic4pcc.html

 

[GadgetGuy]

DrDrone.CA is now charging $6060 for a backorder, which includes $2,260 in tariffs from Canada!

DJI Mavic 4 Pro 512GB Creator Combo (DJI RC Pro 2)

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro sets a new benchmark in drone technology, pushing imaging and flight performance to unparalleled levels. As DJI’s flagship model, it introduces a revolutionary triple-camera system, transforming how you capture and explore the skies. Unlock endless creative possibilities with...

drdrone.com

 

[Bussty]

That's starting to match what I paid as if it were NZD. So that would work out now as $10185 New Zealand Dollars. That is a horrendous amount of money to pay for a drone.

 

[FlierX]

These tariffs are going to crush the US economy. I am a small business owner and our costs for products has skyrocketed. I am sick of the indecision from our current administration which has already begun to affect supply chains for the next 2 years. Even if they drop every single tariff that has been implemented costs will still remain at current levels or worse. I am especially annoyed that none of this is even necessary.

 

[FlierX]

Here are the latest status updates from K-Wave in South Korea. I ordered the M4 Pro Creator Combo on July 30th. Earlier this week, Sunday I believe, they told me it would ship by the end of this week. The updates below are both from today.

Update from this morning...

Dear Customer,

I’m truly sorry — your order was scheduled to ship within this week, but Korea will have a holiday from Friday through the weekend. In line with this, domestic courier companies have halted deliveries as a form of strike, which has caused a shipping backlog. Since your item is already packed, it is scheduled to be shipped out on Monday. My sincere apologies for the delay.

I then responded with the following questions.

Thank you for the update. I do have a couple more questions. If I understand correctly, you guys have a drone packed for me with my name on it, correct? If there is a strike among domestic courier companies, how can you be sure it will ship out on Monday? Lastly, if it ships on Monday, how long should it take to receive it? I truly appreciate how responsive you have been. I look forward to your reply.

K-Wave's response...

Dear Customer,

In Korea, courier strikes usually don’t last long. .I know it might sound strange from an overseas perspective, but here, such strikes are often more like “let’s all take a break.” This particular strike is happening right after many courier companies began offering competitive early morning and Sunday deliveries, and it coincides with a short holiday. They have already committed to resuming work next Monday. In Korea, most strikes in this sector work like this — courier services have become such an everyday public service that when workers stop, public complaints rise quickly. Companies often don’t negotiate, assuming the workers will return after public pressure, and the couriers themselves set a return date in advance to avoid prolonged backlash. That’s why it’s often called a “No Delivery Day” here rather than a full-scale strike. Once shipping begins, delivery to the U.S. generally takes about 5–7 business days.

In the first response they did indicate that my unit is already packed and ready for shipment. It seems as though they, and other South Korean sellers are getting deliveries in batches and they are fulfilling orders based on where you are in the pre-order queue. I assume if you ordered one from South Korea around the end of July, it will ship early next week. I keep checking all listings for the M4 Pro Creator Combo for sellers in South Korea and every one of them seems to list the same shipping time frame which appears to be 2 to 3 weeks after you place the order.

Does anyone know if there if there is any truth to the rumor that it appears several of the South Korean sellers are actually the same company? Someone mentioned earlier that they ordered one from a company other than K-Wave but it appears to be shipping from K-Wave's address. This might be true because late last week, I received an offer to buy a unit from Mido-Shop at the exact discounted price I paid for the one I ordered from K-Wave before they raised their prices by 10% before August 1st. How would Mido-Shop have known what I paid if it was not the same company as K-Wave?

Fingers crossed!

 

[GadgetGuy]

That's starting to match what I paid as if it were NZD. So that would work out now as $10185 New Zealand Dollars. That is a horrendous amount of money to pay for a drone.

Only if your last drone cost under $1,000. The Mavic 3 Pro Cine Combo Pro version, which is the Mavic 4 Pro Creator Combo equivalent predecessor, was $5,000 USD at release. At $3500 MSRP, the CC is a comparative bargain. None of the amounts over $3500 go to DJI. It's various government entities, profiteering off the worldwide demand for DJI products.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Here are the latest status updates from K-Wave in South Korea. I ordered the M4 Pro Creator Combo on July 30th. Earlier this week, Sunday I believe, they told me it would ship by the end of this week. The updates below are both from today.

Update from this morning...

Dear Customer,

I’m truly sorry — your order was scheduled to ship within this week, but Korea will have a holiday from Friday through the weekend. In line with this, domestic courier companies have halted deliveries as a form of strike, which has caused a shipping backlog. Since your item is already packed, it is scheduled to be shipped out on Monday. My sincere apologies for the delay.

I then responded with the following questions.

Thank you for the update. I do have a couple more questions. If I understand correctly, you guys have a drone packed for me with my name on it, correct? If there is a strike among domestic courier companies, how can you be sure it will ship out on Monday? Lastly, if it ships on Monday, how long should it take to receive it? I truly appreciate how responsive you have been. I look forward to your reply.

K-Wave's response...

Dear Customer,

In Korea, courier strikes usually don’t last long. .I know it might sound strange from an overseas perspective, but here, such strikes are often more like “let’s all take a break.” This particular strike is happening right after many courier companies began offering competitive early morning and Sunday deliveries, and it coincides with a short holiday. They have already committed to resuming work next Monday. In Korea, most strikes in this sector work like this — courier services have become such an everyday public service that when workers stop, public complaints rise quickly. Companies often don’t negotiate, assuming the workers will return after public pressure, and the couriers themselves set a return date in advance to avoid prolonged backlash. That’s why it’s often called a “No Delivery Day” here rather than a full-scale strike. Once shipping begins, delivery to the U.S. generally takes about 5–7 business days.

In the first response they did indicate that my unit is already packed and ready for shipment. It seems as though they, and other South Korean sellers are getting deliveries in batches and they are fulfilling orders based on where you are in the pre-order queue. I assume if you ordered one from South Korea around the end of July, it will ship early next week. I keep checking all listings for the M4 Pro Creator Combo for sellers in South Korea and every one of them seems to list the same shipping time frame which appears to be 2 to 3 weeks after you place the order.

Does anyone know if there if there is any truth to the rumor that it appears several of the South Korean sellers are actually the same company? Someone mentioned earlier that they ordered one from a company other than K-Wave but it appears to be shipping from K-Wave's address. This might be true because late last week, I received an offer to buy a unit from Mido-Shop at the exact discounted price I paid for the one I ordered from K-Wave before they raised their prices by 10% before August 1st. How would Mido-Shop have known what I paid if it was not the same company as K-Wave?

Fingers crossed!

As long as your unit ships out on Monday, you'll be fine. Expect an obscure EMS Korean Postal tracking number ending in KR until it is actually handed off to FedEx or UPS a few days later. They do appear to be batch shipping and receiving in batches, while promising delivery within 2 to 3 weeks, so they can usually "over deliver" on their promise, preventing eBay problems of not delivering on time. It also appears that several of the sellers are just divisions of one company, or franchisees of one company. Mido-Shop is notorious for canceling orders if you ask too many questions. She cancelled my order, too! All the prices seem to rise and fall together. Toward the end of a batch of drones, they drop prices by 6-10%, and place pre-orders for the next batch, while still shipping out a few from the last batch. However, usually, it's "Sorry, we ran out. You’re now in the next batch." The mystery is what happens to shipments after August 29 when the $800 de minimus exception expires for Korea, which will invite closer scrutiny of all Korean packages, even when under $800 in declared value. Hence the by August 28 delivery promises.

My 3rd order (I cancelled the first when K-Wave said 4-6 weeks for delivery, and the second, Mido-Shop, unilaterally cancelled the second, over my protest), placed August 3rd, departed Alaska today with UPS and is scheduled for delivery tomorrow afternoon, and was promised August 11 to August 16. I placed a 4th order with yet another seller, and they claim it will ship out within a week, arriving no later than August 28, but realistically, 4-5 days after shipment. We'll see.

 

[migfigdmd]

I ordered three from overseas and had no issues with tariffs. They arrived last week. If anyone is interested in acquiring a Mavic 4 Pro, message me.

 

[GadgetGuy]

I ordered three from overseas and had no issues with tariffs. They arrived last week. If anyone is interested in acquiring a Mavic 4 Pro, message me.

Whom did you purchase from? Did you order three to get the discount offered? I was tempted. Did they ship them separately or together?

 

[migfigdmd]

Whom did you purchase from? Did you order three to get the discount offered? I was tempted. Did they ship them separately or together?

I ordered directly from a distributor in Japan that I've dealt with before in the past. No discounts. Just ordered three in case I had issues with any of them clearing customs. All three were shipped individually.

 

[GadgetGuy]

I ordered directly from a distributor in Japan that I've dealt with before in the past. No discounts. Just ordered three in case I had issues with any of them clearing customs. All three were shipped individually.

Thanks for the info. The one Japanese seller I contacted (who had the best prices) played dumb about tariff avoidance and said to contact Customs because it was a fluid situation. Since no one I knew of (until you) had successfully ordered from Japan (without any tariffs), instead of Korea, I stuck with Korea.

 

[TheGroove]

I ordered directly from a distributor in Japan that I've dealt with before in the past. No discounts. Just ordered three in case I had issues with any of them clearing customs. All three were shipped individually.

Congrats on your success. I ordered a Fly More Combo out of South Korea and even though it said it could take up to 2 weeks it was at my house in CA in 3 days, excellent experience overall.

Now I have two for the same reason you mention here and I'm carrying hull insurance for both through Skywatch.AI as well as my Mavic 3 Pro Cine. At least we'll get monetary coverage if something happens.

 

[migfigdmd]

Congrats on your success. I ordered a Fly More Combo out of South Korea and even though it said it could take up to 2 weeks it was at my house in CA in 3 days, excellent experience overall.

Now I have two for the same reason you mention here and I'm carrying hull insurance for both through Skywatch.AI as well as my Mavic 3 Pro Cine. At least we'll get monetary coverage if something happens.

Definitely. Having it insured gives me peace of mind. So used to having Care Refresh and turns out that State Farm has great coverage.

 

[GadgetGuy]

I'm carrying hull insurance for both through Skywatch.AI as well as my Mavic 3 Pro Cine. At least we'll get monetary coverage if something happens.

Found this on the Skywatch.AI website when checking out their hull coverage:

"If your drone or equipment experiences unexpected electrical damage, such as GPS malfunction, connection error, due to deterioration, or manufacture malfunction, this will not be covered. "

 

[FlierX]

My Mavic 4 Pro shipped from South Korea during the wee hours of Tuesday morning and it should arrive tomorrow. It traveled to Anchorage and arrived in Memphis this morning a few states away. It is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow.

I have say K-Wave was incredibly responsive and very patient when I would ping them to ask when it would ship. It was supposed to have shipped last Friday and they proactively reached out to let me know it would not ship until this past Tuesday. This has been a great experience.

Of course I may be speaking too soon since I have not received it yet to inspect but I believe all will be in order.

 

[aksdroneworld]

Well, I caved and I bought the M4P CC, mostly due to this post where the 10% off from a prominent South Korean seller did it for me. I had some other eBay discounts and a few eBay gift cards so I pulled the trigger and today (4 days later) the FedEx package arrived. Final price for me OTD (tax included) was US$3768. I checked the serial number online at DJI.com and all is good.

The drone world is not getting any better, new tariffs might arrive on August 1st, prices in general are rising, lots of anti-drone activity on the legislative front at both the state and federal level, DJI is launching a few new models shortly with destination USA unknown (we may not even see the M5P), DJI Care refresh and related supplies dwindling or non-existent, and most importantly I am convinced the South Korean merchants have found a solid process to get M4P drones into the States with relative ease and no-hassle; a loophole that could close at any point.

After getting my package delivered plus the shipping details from the seller, I know more about how they are doing this and it's not going to last forever. Sorry about the pic but I intend to keep the M4P under wraps until I truly need it later. Plus I will have the option to sell it as New, right here in the Classified. Summer is almost over and I still have a fairly new M3P (the only thing that bugs me about it is the limited O3 range) and I fly FPV 75% of the time. So unless things really change, I hope to activate it next spring 2026 and hopefully by then, DJI Care Refresh will be restored (likely under a new scheme) and the promised M4P accessories will be available.

View attachment 184036

Is your Korean drone in FCC mode or CE mode? I have one arriving tomorrow and it is my understanding it should auto switch between the two but there is a warning on the description that says Korean models are CE only?

 

[GadgetGuy]

Is your Korean drone in FCC mode or CE mode? I have one arriving tomorrow and it is my understanding it should auto switch between the two but there is a warning on the description that says Korean models are CE only?

Got a link to that warning in the description?
Mode should be based upon GPS location, and not the country it was originally manufactured for, which should only affect the AC plug adapter included and the default screen at first boot up, for language preferences in the menus.

 

[aksdroneworld]

Got a link to that warning in the description?
Mode should be based upon GPS location, and not the country it was originally manufactured for, which should only affect the AC plug adapter included and the default screen at first boot up, for language preferences in the menus.

That was also my understanding but here is a link (in the “item description from the seller” under video transmission) DJI Mavic 4 Pro Creator Combo (DJI RC Pro 2) Camera Drone (3 Batteries)_ | eBay