Lost another drone

[Rchawks]

I’ve have two mishaps with planes and trees in my lifetime. First time was in a tree on the Blvd and I noticed that someone who looked like he was in his 20’s watching from a rest area when it happened. So I found a tie down strap from the back of my car and threw it up and over the bottom branch which was about 15 ft from the ground. I doubled it over and pulled myself up hand over hand until I could grab the branch to pull myself up. I climbed up the tree to the point where I could shake the branch and it dropped to the ground. While climbing back down to lower myself to the ground was the scariest thing you could imagine for someone in their early 40’s. The risk of falling is very high with something like that but it was all adrenaline at the time.
The second time was on Christmas day and bitter cold. I’d just launched and was gaining altitude when it caught the top of a tree (I was at the bottom of a hill). I was messing with my gloves when it happened. I tried for hours to get it down. I tried everything I could to reach it to no avail. This was on Christmas day and needless to say my wife wasn’t very happy about spending the day without me while I was doing all this.
I ran into the Director of the parks dept. and told him what happened and the next week he got it back for me, great guy.
Long story short DON’T RISK YOUR LIFE OR HEALTH trying to retrieve something that can be replaced! One mishap could change your life forever.

 

[fatback68]

The lord never takes more drones than you can afford.

But seriously, it happens. Sorry man.

What does a man do when his drones are taken what I have figured out there hitting my drones 3 now so far with jammer spoofer whatever it sends them adrift in attitude mode leaving you with a last known gps position at altitude of the flight smh sorry for this man I feel your pain plus some anger

 

[jwilson]

I'm trying to get a replacement Mavic 3 Pro. I started out using email, but they weren't replying. So I switched to chat. I've chatted 3 days now. Yesterday they said they would send me an email. I didn't get one. So chatting today, the women said maybe my inbox is full. Well, I get 10 emails a day, so I don't think it's full. They must think we're stupid. Every time I say something, it takes 3 or more minutes for her to reply. Yesterday I was chatting for almost an hour. They say I'm talking to a human, but it sure doesn't sound like it. They always use the same phrases, like we understand your concern. I booked marked their chat site but now everything I said is gone.

 

[Droning on and on...]

Understand that if a real human, they're managing several conversations at the same time... they're not just sitting there waiting for your next response.

However I'm pretty sure it's an AI bot, no matter what they say.

 

[jwilson]

Understand that if a real human, they're managing several conversations at the same time... they're not just sitting there waiting for your next response.

However I'm pretty sure it's an AI bot, no matter what they say.

I agree. It's interesting. They said I was talking to a women, and showed a picture of a women. But when the switched me to a man, Danny, they still showed the picture of a woman!

 

[jwilson]

So after three days of chatting with them, I've more less given up on getting a replacement drone while I'm here in Siargao. The last guy I chatted with, Danny, said I would get an email within 24 hours on the cost of the replacement drone, and a link to pay. But no such email has arrived. I just found out that that drones warranty is till June 2026. But I'm confused about what the warranty covers. When I lost my drone in April, they gave me a new one for free, even though the loss was totally my fault. I also lost a drone on a waypoint mission which they replaced for free. I would think if you lost your drone through pilot error, it wouldn't be covered by warranty. DJI is a strange company. Also there's supposedly no global warranty.
I've now flown my mini 3 pro over surf for 5 days with no problems. So if I had just paid attention to the wave height on the first day, I wouldn't have lost my Mavic 3 pro. It's also been raining a lot, and on the internet it says you shouldn't fly your Mini in the rain. It's not waterproof, unlike the Mavic.

 

[Daniel NZDF]

So after three days of chatting with them, I've more less given up on getting a replacement drone while I'm here in Siargao. The last guy I chatted with, Danny, said I would get an email within 24 hours on the cost of the replacement drone, and a link to pay. But no such email has arrived. I just found out that that drones warranty is till June 2026. But I'm confused about what the warranty covers. When I lost my drone in April, they gave me a new one for free, even though the loss was totally my fault. I also lost a drone on a waypoint mission which they replaced for free. I would think if you lost your drone through pilot error, it wouldn't be covered by warranty. DJI is a strange company. Also there's supposedly no global warranty.
I've now flown my mini 3 pro over surf for 5 days with no problems. So if I had just paid attention to the wave height on the first day, I wouldn't have lost my Mavic 3 pro. It's also been raining a lot, and on the internet it says you shouldn't fly your Mini in the rain. It's not waterproof, unlike the Mavic.

I'm sorry for your loss

 

[PINEBARON]

It's not waterproof, unlike the Mavic.

Far as I'm aware, Mavic is not waterproof either

 

[jwilson]

Far as I'm aware, Mavic is not waterproof either

You're right. I thought it was. But I normally would never fly in rain anyway because the video wouldn't be good.


No, the DJI Mavic 3 Pro is not waterproof, and like most DJI drones, it's designed for clear, dry conditions and should not be flown in rain, snow, or fog, as water can cause serious internal damage, even if some users have had limited success flying in light drizzle with protective measures.

 

[ChristianPFC]

For boat owners, there are key tags that inflate on contact with water and make the keys float. Something similar should exist for drones?

Or even better, make drones waterproof, or even better water repellent (like a lotus leaf).

 

[PINEBARON]

For boat owners, there are key tags that inflate on contact with water and make the keys float. Something similar should exist for drones?

Or even better, make drones waterproof, or even better water repellent (like a lotus leaf).

All this is possible however there needs to be a significant demand for it. I believe Aeroo drones, as per their website, have a weather resistant shell, corroision resistant coating and sealed mechanics.

 

[jwilson]

For boat owners, there are key tags that inflate on contact with water and make the keys float. Something similar should exist for drones?

Or even better, make drones waterproof, or even better water repellent (like a lotus leaf).

Unfortunately, I was in such heavy surf that I doubt even if it floated it would of been retrieveable in repairable condition.

 

[jwilson]

So after Dec 20th, when they didn't email me, I more less gave up on getting a replacement drone while on vacation. So this morning, I started another chat. Now they wanted my flight records! I told them since I am willing to pay everything, the drone, shipping and duties, why do you need my flight records? Plus, if you need them, why didn’t you ask for them 7 days ago. So then a guy from DJI called me. I explained I would pay for everything. So he will send me the price and a link to pay with PayPal within 24 hours. Unfortunately, my stupid wife decided to change hotels tomorrow. So I will have to send them the new hotel address. He said he couldn't guarantee it would get here by January 4th, because of the holidays and everything. But that's OK. All of their emails on this subject have so far failed to reach me, even though my friends email me everyday.

 

[Droning on and on...]

Boy, I hope your stupid wife doesn't read the forum, or we may not be hearing from you again for a while

 

[jwilson]

Boy, I hope your stupid wife doesn't read the forum, or we may not be hearing from you again for a while

Nope. She never reads the forum! She actually just did something good. We're changing hotels today, and she looked under the mattress, and found two sd cards. So I guess she's smarter than me!

 

[jwilson]

So DJI has one hour left to send me the email they promised me. Any bets? And I was looking for the phone number they called me from. The only one that looks probable, is from a Philippine cellphone. Is there some way they can call me from China, pretending to be a Philippine cellphone?

 

[jwilson]

Now I'm pretty sure DJI is just jerking me off. On chat, they said there was no one available to call me. They still haven't sent emails even though they say they have. They say, they'll send it again. But I get other emails from them all the time. So I was wondering if I can sue them in American court. This is what I found on Google:

Yes, you generally can sue a foreign company in an American court, even for events abroad, but it's complex; you must establish U.S. court jurisdiction (power over the company) usually through the company's U.S. business activities or consent, serve them properly (often via the Hague Convention), and navigate different laws (like the Alien Tort Statute for human rights) and procedural hurdles. Success depends heavily on proving the U.S. has a connection to the case, like the company doing substantial business in the U.S., making it a tough but possible path.

Key Hurdles & Considerations:

1. Jurisdiction (The Big One): Can a U.S. court legally hear your case against a foreign entity?
   • "Minimum Contacts": The company must have "minimum contacts" with the U.S., meaning they purposefully do business here (have offices, agents, sell products).
   • Consent: They might have consented by registering to do business in a U.S. state.
   • Specific Actions: If the lawsuit arises directly from their U.S. activities, jurisdiction is stronger.
2. Service of Process: You must formally notify the company.
   • Hague Service Convention: If the company is in a signatory country, you follow this treaty's process (often via central authorities), which can be slow but formal.
   • Registered Agents: If they have a U.S. registered agent, service is easier.
3. Applicable Law: Will U.S. law apply, or the foreign country's?
   • U.S. courts often apply foreign law in these cases, requiring complex legal analysis.
4. Specific Laws (Human Rights): For severe abuses (torture, genocide), the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) allows non-U.S. citizens to sue for violations of international law, though recent Supreme Court cases have limited this.

Bottom Line:

• Yes, it's possible, but don't expect it to be easy. It's complex transnational litigation.
• You need strong U.S. ties to the company or the case to justify U.S. jurisdiction.
• Consult a U.S. attorney with experience in international law and cross-border litigation to assess your options.

 

[MS Coast]

Now I'm pretty sure DJI is just jerking me off. On chat, they said there was no one available to call me. They still haven't sent emails even though they say they have. They say, they'll send it again. But I get other emails from them all the time. So I was wondering if I can sue them in American court. This is what I found on Google:

Yes, you generally can sue a foreign company in an American court, even for events abroad, but it's complex; you must establish U.S. court jurisdiction (power over the company) usually through the company's U.S. business activities or consent, serve them properly (often via the Hague Convention), and navigate different laws (like the Alien Tort Statute for human rights) and procedural hurdles. Success depends heavily on proving the U.S. has a connection to the case, like the company doing substantial business in the U.S., making it a tough but possible path.

Key Hurdles & Considerations:

1. Jurisdiction (The Big One):Can a U.S. court legally hear your case against a foreign entity?
   • "Minimum Contacts": The company must have "minimum contacts" with the U.S., meaning they purposefully do business here (have offices, agents, sell products).
   • Consent: They might have consented by registering to do business in a U.S. state.
   • Specific Actions: If the lawsuit arises directly from their U.S. activities, jurisdiction is stronger.
2. Service of Process:You must formally notify the company.
   • Hague Service Convention: If the company is in a signatory country, you follow this treaty's process (often via central authorities), which can be slow but formal.
   • Registered Agents: If they have a U.S. registered agent, service is easier.
3. Applicable Law:Will U.S. law apply, or the foreign country's?
   • U.S. courts often apply foreign law in these cases, requiring complex legal analysis.
4. Specific Laws (Human Rights): For severe abuses (torture, genocide), the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) allows non-U.S. citizens to sue for violations of international law, though recent Supreme Court cases have limited this.

Bottom Line:

• Yes, it's possible, but don't expect it to be easy. It's complex transnational litigation.
• You need strong U.S. ties to the company or the case to justify U.S. jurisdiction.
• Consult a U.S. attorney with experience in international law and cross-border litigation to assess your options.

Relying on AI legal advice is about as advisable as believing everything your hear from customer service reps who are working off scripts. Forget the lawsuit and go enjoy your vacation.

 

[Kilrah]

Now I'm pretty sure DJI is just jerking me off.

And I hope they keep doing so.
Why should we, honest buyers of DJI stuff who take good care of their equipment eventually pay for your repeated carelessness?
You took an unreasonable risk and lost, too bad. Want another drone? Buy another.

This has to be a troll post, at least I hope so.

 

[Chip]

So I was wondering if I can sue them in American court.

Sure you can. But it would be very difficult, time consuming, and massively expensive for a very small dispute that you could lose a dozen different ways. There is a case that shows how aggressively DJI defends lawsuits and will throw out every possible argument to derail you.

For example, look at Bishop et al v. SZ DJI Technology Co., LTD., a 2025 case filed in federal court against DJI in Texas. The case summary is as follows:

When operating the Subject Drone, it malfunctioned and flew into A.B.’s face, causing serious injuries to his eye, face, and shoulder. A.B. has had seven surgeries on his right eye since the incident and is now legally blind in that eye. This lawsuit ensued. Among other causes of action, the Bishops assert claims against the DJI Defendants for negligence and gross negligence, and for product liability grounded in alleged design, manufacturing, and marketing defects.

DJI argued they sell drones through third parties and they have no contact or nexus with Texas so court had no jurisdiction over them. A court may exercise jurisdiction over a nonresident defendant only when a “sufficient nexus exists between the defendant’s contacts with the forum and the cause of action."

The court blew that one out holding that DJI purposefully availed themselves of the Texas drone market, and their claims relate to the malfunction of a DJI drone in Texas, which caused the injuries to A.B. that are the subject of the action.

The court said "it strains credulity for the DJI Defendants to operate a website touting the availability of their drone products at hundreds of retail locations in Texas and yet claim that they could not expect or foresee that such products might be sold or used in Texas. That dog won’t hunt." (I know, only in Texas, right)?

The court said the plaintiff made a prima facie case that the DJI Defendants delivered their products into the stream of commerce with the reasonable expectation that a substantial number of those products would be sold to Texas consumers. That satisfies the purposeful-availment requirement under the stream-of-commerce theory.

So plaintiff dodged that motion to dismiss. But DJI had another defense which is a mandatory arbitration clause in its terms of use that reads:

In the interest of resolving disputes between you and DJI in the most expedient and cost effective manner, you and DJI agree that every dispute arising in connection with these Terms will be resolved by binding arbitration. This agreement to arbitrate disputes includes all claims arising out of or relating to any aspect of these Terms, whether based in contract, tort, statute, fraud, misrepresentation, or any other legal theory, and regardless of whether a claim arises during or after the termination of these Terms.

The clause even tells you who will be the arbtitrator:

Any arbitration between you and DJI will be settled under the Federal Arbitration Act, and governed by the Commercial Dispute Resolution Procedures and the Supplementary Procedures for Consumer Related Disputes (collectively, “AAA Rules”) of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”), as modified by these Terms, and will be administered by the AAA. The AAA Rules and filing forms are available online at www.adr.org, by calling the AAA at 1-800-778-7879, or by contacting DJI.

Arbitrations can be much cheaper and quicker than court but not if you have to pay the private arbitator or pay the other side's fees if you lose.

The plaintiff in the Texas case got out of arbitration and was allowed to continue in federal court becasue DJI used a "click wrap" agreement and the injured party was under 18.

The court ruling explaining the jurisdiction issue can be found at:

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/texas/txedce/4:2024cv00268/228932/68/