I have a similar sense of frustration to Johnthemann about the difficulty of getting a
Smart Controller.
I ordered and fully paid for one from an authorized DJI dealer -- wellbots.com -- in April, when the price was still $649. I already owned a
Mavic 2 Pro with the standard controller.
After several communications about increasing delays in delivery (I agreed to keep waiting), wellbots unilaterally canceled my order today, indicating that they'd never get any and that DJI had stopped making them.
Too bad, right? I'd been counting on not having to pay the now-higher cost. At least I got the $649 back.
This evening, I contacted DJI directly. Here's what happened:
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Livechat with “Patrick” at DJI, 5:00 pm CDT on 05-Aug-2019:
Thank you for contacting DJI Pre-sales Customer Support. This is Patrick. How may I help you today?
Hello there.
Hello. Is DJI discontinuing the “Smart Controller"? I ordered one from one of DJI's authorized dealers in April and fully paid for it. Shortly afterward, they said there'd be a delay in delivery because the item was out of stock.
Today, they said they would never get any and refunded my money.
They indicated that DJI was not making them anymore. Is this true?
Kindly stay on the line while I am checking it on my resources.
Ok
Thank you.
17:01
We really do apologize for the delayed on the delivery of your order. However we do experienced globally high demand and unveilling for the item DJI Smart Controller, which disrupted our normal shipping schedule. And we do experience some shortage on the prior warehouse where your order was assigned since we do received high volume of orders. But our logistics team are now fixing these shortcomings in order for us to supply all of the stocks for the orders of our customer like.
17:03
Interesting. Does that only apply for purchases made directly from DJI? The dealer definitely indicated that they would *never* get any.
17:05
We do really apologies for the shortage of stock.
Apologies but we haven't receive any details on when will be the product will be back in stock. I would suggest for you to submit an in stock reminder and we will notify you via email upon product availability.
Is the Smart Controller still being made?
[ed: removed screenshot of DJI button for In Stock Reminder.]
I see the "in stock reminder." But that does not answer my question: is the Smart Controller still being made?
DJI still producing smart controller.
17:08
Thank you.
17:10
You're most welcome. It's my pleasure to assist you.
17:11
I am not unhappy with *you*, but DJI is doing a bad job of communicating between Manufacturing and Sales Support. They should be able to give you a very good idea of when items will actually be in stock for delivery!
We do really apologies about that.
But please be advised that DJI still producing the DJI Smart Controller, but we don't have the information when it will be replenished on the market.
Apologies are good. Effective communication is better. Support should tell that to Manufacturing.
17:14
Thank you for your kind understanding.
17:16
Of course. It is unfair that you have to bear the burden of unhappy customers, while Manufacturing and Senior Management get to hide.
17:17
We also hope that the DJI Smart Controller will be available soon as possible on the market. In order for a customer like you to have ease to use their drone.
17:18
Again, thank you. I recommend that you send a copy of this livechat to your superiors, for them to discuss with more senior Management.
17:19
I will tell this on my supervisor. Thank you for suggestion. Appreciate it. We hope that we improve more on our end.
I do, too. Best wishes and good luck for better days.
Appreciate it Sir! Have a wonderful day!
Thank you for contacting DJI Pre-sales Customer Support. Please contact us again if you have any questions.
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So. Lost the benefit of my bargain, but at least I got a long wait! /s
Question for djidroneservice: Do you still have any more at the forum price mentioned in your Tuesday 10:25 AM post? I'm interested.
Thanks.