Coptershop is closing?

[Highrpm955]

I just got an email saying Coptershop is closing the doors, all inventory and fixtures are for sale. Man! I wish I lived closer!

CopterShop is CLOSING!
On Black Friday, we will host a MASSIVE close-out sale for all our existing new, used and open-box drone inventory.

Come to our warehouse in Woodinville, WA, on Friday, November 27th, for thelowest prices on all drones, camera stabilizers and accessories. No reasonable offers refused. Store fixtures and warehouse equipment will also be liquidated. Doors are open from 8 AM to 2 PM, but come early because the best deals will sell out quickly!

Phantom 3 Professional, $999 or lower
Phantom 2 Vision Plus, $399 or lower
DJI Ronin, $1999 or lower
DJI Inspire 1, $2299 or lower

Fearless Phantom 3 Backpack, $99

All GoPro cameras and accessories are 20% to 40% off!

Toy drones and parts, a mixed of new, used and broken = FREE

Many more great close out deals. All inventory MUST GO!

Sale starts at 8 AM, this Friday!
19510 144th Ave NE, Suite B-7
Woodinville, WA 98072

 

[Redtazdog]

I'm going shopping as I only live 10 minutes away

 

[Highrpm955]

Let us know if you got any crazy deals!

 

[davlucmac]

I'll head up there as well. Good news for those of us trying to score a deal... but bad news for those trying to run a business supporting consumer UAS. I wonder what the issue was...

 

[JayBurd]

Drones have taken off like rockets in recent years and there aren't that many shops. I too wonder what the issue is.

 

[davlucmac]

I believe it's margin. These suckers are relatively expensive tools/toys depending on how you look at them. Given the fact that a retail shop has fixed margins that are relatively thin... I'm guessing they just can't move enough product to make ends meet.

 

[Redtazdog]

I'll head up there as well. Good news for those of us trying to score a deal... but bad news for those trying to run a business supporting consumer UAS. I wonder what the issue was...

I'm guessing lower quantity in sales because of location.
Drones plus in Bellevue sells a lot of them but this is a much better location

 

[Redtazdog]

At the shop 1 hour and a half before opening and there is already a couple other cars.

 

[Dexter Harvey]

Having spoken to quite a few retailers the environment DJI has set up for them is extremely demanding with very thin margins. To be a DJI dealer and receive product at wholesale the minimum purchase amount per month is extremely high(50k) and the margins are in the 20% range. That's a lot of product to move without enough gross to cover overhead. What many are doing is selling to other retailers at a small profit just to meet their minimums. On top of that DJI leaves the retailer in the wind when it comes to customer service. Many cases anything done monetarily to help a customer falls on the retailer who is already operating on a tight margin. Also keep in mind that DJI enforces the fixed retail pricing model so no selling at a discount or your no longer a wholesale purchaser. As a business owner I looked at the possibilities of entering into this exploding market. For most it's going to be a blood bath. DJI is leading the market in what they're creating and are extremely profitable allowing them to dominate behind the scenes. I guarantee it is short term. The market and DJI is ripe for a player with the bankroll to enter and provide real dealer profitability, real customer service, meet promised product role outs, and not have every new product be beta tested by the paying customers. It's actually kinda funny as if everyone thinks back to the US auto manufacturers prior to the Japanese entering the market there are a lot of parallels to the corporate mentality displayed. Whether anyone likes to admit it or not the Japanese revolutionized a market the US manufacturers thought they owned. DJI feels like they own this market right now. They are doing many things to customers and retailers alike that will provide the cracks in the structure that will eventually allow it to crumble. I don't have to look any further than my pro which is equipped with an early model transmitter. The retailer has already lost on the four units he rendered used or open box just to try to give me what I paid for. On top of that when he does receive a unit that contains the correct equipment he will be exchanging it with me so he'll have another to sell used. That's a great company he and I are dealing with isn't it. I should add I contacted DJI directly to see if they would simply expedite an RMA and install the correct transmitter and decal only to be told to exchange it with the retailer. That tells you all you need to know about how they treat their dealers.

You have a good understanding of things. DJI makes it extremely hard for you to run a proper business, extremely low margins are one thing but the fact that you are also competing with your supplier in terms of sales is a huge problem. When DJI takes the decision to discount their products online, you don't get a discount from them, if you want to move that same product, you have to lower your price in order to make that sale and deal with an even lower profit margins. I predict that more stores will eventually close. I was happy the day that I pulled the plug, 50K to 100K a month on orders without any terms. You have that feeling in your gut that these guys don't give a you know what about your business. I'm so glad that I'm out of this madness!

 

[1buddyc]

Wow, very interesting insights.Explains a lot of what I've noticed in the industry, as a purchaser.

 

[Dexter Harvey]

Wow, very interesting insights.Explains a lot of what I've noticed in the industry, as a purchaser.

I don't know if this is the status quo when it comes to other drone manufacturers but my experience in respect to DJI was brutal, a total nightmare.

 

[StealthChaser]

I spoke with CopterShop owners. They are closing DJI distributorship as they were offered the opportunity to run the US operations for a new Chinese drone manufacturer, which requires them to dissolve any DJI relationship.

They are seeking a buyer for the "CopterShop.com" business and are looking to liquidate their warehouse inventory. They currently have a 10k sf warehouse with office and retail space which they are looking to get out of immediately too.

 

[CCTPREZ]

At the shop 1 hour and a half before opening and there is already a couple other cars.

So what happened? Did you get crazy deals? Was it more/less than you expected? Did they sell the majority? Lot of people show up with bundles of cash? Just curious of follow up, and wondering how much I regret living 8-states away. I'd have loved to get those great discounts if they were as rumored prior to Friday.

 

[StealthChaser]

One of the great deals I was able to get was the full size Ronin ($1999)brushless motorized cinematic gimbal for full size cameras and RED, rugged pelican style carry case, extra battery($149), and thumb operated remote control($89)....,

They ended up throwing in a few Inspire 1 90-min training videos, two sets of propellers, and fpv practice drone......all for $1750

I got several DJI part# items to try to hack together a 2nd camera for FPV too like a 5.8GHz transmitter, fpv hub, and cable to connect GoPro hero black 4 to the hub, and GoPro goose neck that bends any direction to position GoPro wherever you want. My hope is to use it as my FPV, oh and the 7" Field Monitor HD LCD to receive and display the fpv GoPro video on. These goodies cost me another $245.

It seemed like on average everything was 40% off but depending on the employee helping you, they would reduce the price and offer you additional items for a greater discount or just throw it in for free if they felt you were on the fence. They really did just want to liquidate the inventory to prepare for thier new drone partnership.

 

[CCTPREZ]

Now THOSE are some DEALS!!! WOW, great job!! Wished I could've been close enough to be part of that. Looking forward to your end results. Thanks for posting!

 

[Redtazdog]

Purchased a new Phantom pro with all the goods for $1247 like this one Buy Phantom 3 Professional Everything You Need Kit (Backpack) | DJI Store but it came with a couple 64 gig cards, three sets of monitor shade hoods for phone, 8" tablet and 10" tablet,
a few camera filters and a up graded back pack.