USDroneSupply

[Made2Phly]

Has anyone had experience with USDRONESUPPLY.COM? I want to buy a mini 5 pro from them. They are a U.S. re-seller. Their FB and website state that their drones are "powered on and activated" before sale. To my understanding, "activated" also means bound with somebody's account. They have not answered several inquires from me about that. So...seems like at least 2 red flags.

 

[mavic3usa]

Has anyone had experience with USDRONESUPPLY.COM? I want to buy a mini 5 pro from them. They are a U.S. re-seller. Their FB and website state that their drones are "powered on and activated" before sale. To my understanding, "activated" also means bound with somebody's account. They have not answered several inquires from me about that. So...seems like at least 2 red flags.

So why would you pay $500 more to get a drone from them when they are obviously getting their drones from other sources (overseas) and marking them up as if they are paying some sort of tariff and passing costs along to you? Do you believe you may have some sort of advantage by purchasing from an American company such as a US warranty or access to DJI Care Refresh? I don't see the angle but my understanding is they are fair game if you need someone to do the work for you and take the risk....they'll do it. Just be mindful of their no returns policy.

 

[DoomMeister]

I wouldn’t use that company for anything!!! Once you pay them you are screwed.

 

[Cafguy]

They have some good reviews, some from as soon as a month ago.. I think they open the boxes to save on fees somehow but I would be cautious too.. I dont know what kind of warranty you will get with it, and everyone on the reviews reports the Drones are defauted to Chinese and need to be changed to english.

 

[Made2Phly]

I am guessing the reviews on FB are fake. The Company posts a reply, like "Glad you like it" to every positive review. There are no negative reviews. I posted my question under their FB posts and got no response.

My decision is to not buy from them Thanks all for the helpful responses.

 

[anotherlab]

They have some good reviews, some from as soon as a month ago.. I think they open the boxes to save on fees somehow but I would be cautious too.. I dont know what kind of warranty you will get with it, and everyone on the reviews reports the Drones are defauted to Chinese and need to be changed to english.

Opening and activating a drone would not bypass the tariffs. According to U.S. customs precedent, the tariff classification is based on the article "in the condition in which it is imported". Opening the box does not change the essential nature of the drone. For customs purposes, it remains a new drone.

This is also why if a US citizen drives across the border to buy a DJI drone in Canada and uses the drone in Canada, they would owe the tariff. There used to be an $800 personal exemption, but in August, an executive order closed the "de minimis" exemption.

 

[MS Coast]

This is also why if a US citizen drives across the border to buy a DJI drone in Canada and uses the drone in Canada, they would owe the tariff. There used to be an $800 personal exemption, but in August, an executive order closed the "de minimis" exemption.

The $800 duty-free exemption for purchases by returning travelers is different from the de minimis import tariff exemption. The traveler's duty-free exemption is still in place.

CBP Customer Service

 

[anotherlab]

The $800 duty-free exemption for purchases by returning travelers is different from the de minimis import tariff exemption. The traveler's duty-free exemption is still in place.

CBP Customer Service

You're right, I read the wrong page.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Opening and activating a drone would not bypass the tariffs. According to U.S. customs precedent, the tariff classification is based on the article "in the condition in which it is imported". Opening the box does not change the essential nature of the drone. For customs purposes, it remains a new drone.

This is also why if a US citizen drives across the border to buy a DJI drone in Canada and uses the drone in Canada, they would owe the tariff. There used to be an $800 personal exemption, but in August, an executive order closed the "de minimis" exemption.

Opening the box and activating the drone does, in fact, change the essential nature from "new" to technically "used," which then changes the value to whatever they decide a used drone is worth, which can be significantly less than a new, unactivated drone, with the original manufacturer's tamperproof seal still intact.

This would then legally allow them to choose the amount of the tariffs to be paid, as they can set the used value. They could even claim the unit is defective and is only being sold for parts.

 

[anotherlab]

Opening the box and activating the drone does, in fact, change the essential nature from "new" to technically "used," which then changes the value to whatever they decide a used drone is worth, which can be significantly less than a new, unactivated drone, with the original manufacturer's tamperproof seal still intact.

This would then legally allow them to choose the amount of the tariffs to be paid, as they can set the used value. They could even claim the unit is defective and is only being sold for parts.

For customs valuation, tariffs apply to used equipment the same way they apply to new equipment. The key factors are the country of origin, the item's value, and how you are bringing it into the country.

 

[GadgetGuy]

For customs valuation, tariffs apply to used equipment the same way they apply to new equipment. The key factors are the country of origin, the item's value, and how you are bringing it into the country.

You are completely missing the point.
The value of used equipment is not the same as the value of new equipment.
Hence, by making it into used, by opening the box and activating it in a foreign country, it is now used, and not new.
Now the seller can claim it is defective and the value is only for parts for tariff calculation purposes.

 

[anotherlab]

You are completely missing the point.
The value of used equipment is not the same as the value of new equipment.
Hence, by making it into used, by opening the box and activating it in a foreign country, it is now used, and not new.
Now the seller can claim it is defective and the value is only for parts for tariff calculation purposes.

I understood the point. You might have missed mine. US Customs will not lower the tariff for open box products.

Are you seeing sellers labeling open-box drones as defective as a way of avoiding tariffs?

 

[mavic3usa]

Are you seeing sellers labeling open-box drones as defective as a way of avoiding tariffs?

No I think it's the other way around. US sellers (mainly) are the ones who are using the "open box" strategy because they are scared and are using this tactic to avoid tariffs and in the event they are caught, they can claim ignorance. US sellers don't know any other way or don't have the means.

As opposed to overseas sellers who are using other tactics and methods to avoid the tariffs and aren't necessarily subject to the same issues should they get caught. Meaning they don't have to resort to the open-box drone tactic.

At least that's the way I see it, otherwise I can't imagine why so many prominent US scammers sellers (other than the bigger ones who probably actually pay the fees) openly advertise their drones will arrive open and activated. For what other purpose would it be? I also think it's a way to sell a product without a warranty as a US seller. Again, small shop in Korea doesn't have these problems.

 

[GadgetGuy]

I understood the point. You might have missed mine. US Customs will not lower the tariff for open box products.

Are you seeing sellers labeling open-box drones as defective as a way of avoiding tariffs?

The tariff is based upon the declared value by the shipper.
Open box products that are activated are, in fact, used, not brand new and unactivated, and therefore worth less than new, and can be truthfully declared by the shipper as having a much lower value, upon which the tariff is calculated. The tariff is a percentage of the lower used declared value. QED.

 

[GadgetGuy]

No I think it's the other way around. US sellers (mainly) are the ones who are using the "open box" strategy because they are scared and are using this tactic to avoid tariffs and in the event they are caught, they can claim ignorance. US sellers don't know any other way or don't have the means.

As opposed to overseas sellers who are using other tactics and methods to avoid the tariffs and aren't necessarily subject to the same issues should they get caught. Meaning they don't have to resort to the open-box drone tactic.

At least that's the way I see it, otherwise I can't imagine why so many prominent US scammers sellers (other than the bigger ones who probably actually pay the fees) openly advertise their drones will arrive open and activated. For what other purpose would it be? I also think it's a way to sell a product without a warranty as a US seller. Again, small shop in Korea doesn't have these problems.

For what other purpose?

One of these U.S. sellers states,

"All DJI drones are manufactured in China. The open boxing and prior activation is required because this Universal Edition must be activated outside the U.S. to operate here, otherwise DJI locks out functionality. This is a manufacturer requirement, not a customs workaround. Unfortunately, it does not reduce tariffs, we still pay full tariff value."

Others in the U.S. selling still unopened, unactivated units in the U.S., when asked about these above representations, state this is B.S., as their sealed units have no such DJI requirement, and DJI does not lockout functionality, no matter where the unit is sourced from, especially not on a "Universal Edition."

I still can't make heads or tails out of this.
The seller who made these representations is an otherwise trustworthy source, but oddly now will not answer any follow-up questions, and has ghosted me.

 

[mavic3usa]

For what other purpose?

One of these U.S. sellers states,

"All DJI drones are manufactured in China. The open boxing and prior activation is required because this Universal Edition must be activated outside the U.S. to operate here, otherwise DJI locks out functionality. This is a manufacturer requirement, not a customs workaround. Unfortunately, it does not reduce tariffs, we still pay full tariff value."

Others in the U.S. selling still unopened, unactivated units in the U.S., when asked about these above representations, state this is B.S., as their sealed units have no such DJI requirement, and DJI does not lockout functionality, no matter where the unit is sourced from, especially not on a "Universal Edition."

I still can't make heads or tails out of this.
The seller who made these representations is an otherwise trustworthy source, but oddly now will not answer any follow-up questions, and has ghosted me.

Ok, first time I am hearing that. Activated outside the US seems to imply that you could activate your drone over wifi using a VPN and achieve the same purpose.

I don't know what to believe either but still, if you get the opportunity to declare a lower value because the drone is activated prior, I guess I would make sure I have a valid reason to back that up by claiming DJI is forcing me to do it. Sure sounds better than I'm doing it to lower the tariff value. No judgment.