- Joined
- Jan 20, 2014
- Messages
- 62
- Reaction score
- 17
I posted this on the DJI forum but don't expect it to last long, so thought I'd cross-post here. The number of threads that document the disgruntled customers that DJI is growing - but seem to be quickly deleted by DJI. Here are the reasons for my own frustration...
1) I am not worried about the delay in product launch. I understand that companies are eager to drum up support for their future products by releasing details early and this also helps stop the rumor mill (the Apple Watch is a good example). I ALSO understand that delays can occur in manufacturing - and yes, I would much rather have a working product than a pre-release beta version which has problems - especially when the product is something as critical as an aircraft.
2) My problem with DJI is their complete lack of communication and, at times, their apparent willingness to mislead...
a) There were precious few updates during the pre-order period. They have my money based on nothing but a promise, so as an investor I do feel a little entitled to be kept up to speed on what's going on as the terms of that promise change. (OK - not many updates on Apple Watch either, but the big difference is that they don't have my money and all they have promised is "Early 2015").
b) The product release has been / is being poorly handled. Orders appear to be shipping out randomly. Plenty of people who ordered after me have already received shipment notifications (and are starting to receive the product). Not only that, but DJI still can't tell me WHEN they might expect to ship my order. There's confusion over how they're shipping the dual controller version due to the delay in producing the second controller. There's confusion over the orders that were shipped and then updated with a delivery hold until Wednesday (but apparently still being delivered yesterday). Again, there is NO INFORMATION and the whole thing is shambolic. Once the product has got to market, the logistics of manufacturing, shipping and delivery should be transparent. All I want is a date! (Contrast your experiences with Apple or Amazon if you want an example of what is possible, and even expected.)
c) The small amount of information that DJI does release appears to be deliberately misleading. Until yesterday, they were still advertising that THIRD round orders will ship on 1/15 (but MAY be delayed!!). And now the site is advertising that 4th round orders shipping end of Jan. How can they offer ANY dates for future orders when the FIRST round orders are still not complete and with NO firm ship dates. And it seems that 1/15 is clearly unobtainable when customers have reported on this forum that they have been told by DJI that they should expect to wait until late January (and I think I read in one case, February) for orders that have already been placed.
So, again, in summary: it's not the waiting, it's the complete lack of communication from a company that has held over $3,000 of my money for almost 2 months. Either they honestly don't have any information about where I am in line and when my order might ship (which is unacceptable), OR they know but they don't want to tell me (which is equally unacceptable).
As others have stated in previous posts, this rant is born of frustration (and the fact that I have a day off so I have some time on my hands which I'd hoped would be spent flying my new toy). Perhaps once the thing does arrive, these grievances will be forgotten. But I must say, any future competitor with a half-decent product will get serious consideration from me - this experience has done nothing to foster any loyalty towards DJI .
1) I am not worried about the delay in product launch. I understand that companies are eager to drum up support for their future products by releasing details early and this also helps stop the rumor mill (the Apple Watch is a good example). I ALSO understand that delays can occur in manufacturing - and yes, I would much rather have a working product than a pre-release beta version which has problems - especially when the product is something as critical as an aircraft.
2) My problem with DJI is their complete lack of communication and, at times, their apparent willingness to mislead...
a) There were precious few updates during the pre-order period. They have my money based on nothing but a promise, so as an investor I do feel a little entitled to be kept up to speed on what's going on as the terms of that promise change. (OK - not many updates on Apple Watch either, but the big difference is that they don't have my money and all they have promised is "Early 2015").
b) The product release has been / is being poorly handled. Orders appear to be shipping out randomly. Plenty of people who ordered after me have already received shipment notifications (and are starting to receive the product). Not only that, but DJI still can't tell me WHEN they might expect to ship my order. There's confusion over how they're shipping the dual controller version due to the delay in producing the second controller. There's confusion over the orders that were shipped and then updated with a delivery hold until Wednesday (but apparently still being delivered yesterday). Again, there is NO INFORMATION and the whole thing is shambolic. Once the product has got to market, the logistics of manufacturing, shipping and delivery should be transparent. All I want is a date! (Contrast your experiences with Apple or Amazon if you want an example of what is possible, and even expected.)
c) The small amount of information that DJI does release appears to be deliberately misleading. Until yesterday, they were still advertising that THIRD round orders will ship on 1/15 (but MAY be delayed!!). And now the site is advertising that 4th round orders shipping end of Jan. How can they offer ANY dates for future orders when the FIRST round orders are still not complete and with NO firm ship dates. And it seems that 1/15 is clearly unobtainable when customers have reported on this forum that they have been told by DJI that they should expect to wait until late January (and I think I read in one case, February) for orders that have already been placed.
So, again, in summary: it's not the waiting, it's the complete lack of communication from a company that has held over $3,000 of my money for almost 2 months. Either they honestly don't have any information about where I am in line and when my order might ship (which is unacceptable), OR they know but they don't want to tell me (which is equally unacceptable).
As others have stated in previous posts, this rant is born of frustration (and the fact that I have a day off so I have some time on my hands which I'd hoped would be spent flying my new toy). Perhaps once the thing does arrive, these grievances will be forgotten. But I must say, any future competitor with a half-decent product will get serious consideration from me - this experience has done nothing to foster any loyalty towards DJI .