So I called the SF DJI store and they advise me to contact DJI online support.  I waited for about 10 minutes (10 ppl ahead) and when it's finally my turn:

I'm not familiar with warrenty claims with DJI.  The seller (at least 40 years old) I got it from said last xmas his parents asked what he want for xmas and he told them he wanted the P3 Pro.  BOTH of them got him one so he had two.  Apparently the parents are divorced and don't speak to one another...  Anyway, he put it up forsale on CL and I got it for a great deal.

Conversation with support:

• Marnie
  Hello, thank you for contacting DJI Technical Support. How can i help you?
  
  
  
• 
  Marnie
  hi
  
  
  
• 
  Hello I bought a Phantom 3 Pro from Craiglist on 4/23/2017. It is a sealed unit. Everything works great except the remote control's phone holder is defective from the factory. When I hit the "release" button it doesn't work at all. Can you help me exchange it for a working one. I only recently activate and flew it so it should be all on record. I also have a Phantom 3 Adv. that my friend crash which is why I bought the Pro. I swapped my old phone holder to the new controller for now. So I have a un-usable "new phone holder" that I hope you can exchange for me. I called the SF DJI store and they said to contact DJI online for help. Please advise, thanks.
  
  
  
• 16:35
  
  
• 
  To clarify I only need the phone holder part the bit that swivels up and down.
  
  
  
• 16:39
  
  
• 
  Marnie
  Regarding on that matter.
  
  
  
• 16:40
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  
• 
  you can see it's still shrink wrapped
  
  
  
• 16:44
  
  
• 
  Marnie
  regading on that we still not process that on repair center we suggest to buy that holder on our online store. http://store.dji.com/product/phantom-3-mobile-device-holder
  
  
  
• 
  Are you serious? This is broken from the factory.
  
  
  
• 16:45
  
  
• 
  Isn't there a 1 year warranty from the time of first drone flight?
  
  
  
• 16:47
  
  
• 16:47
  
  
• 
  Marnie
  may i know where did you purchase it
  
  
  
  

As you can see this is spanking new with wrapping still.  The release button doesn't work...  Support is trying to tell me I need to spend $30 for a new holder?  But this is defective from day one.  Despite buying it off CL without any recept, when I activated it online everything seems fine.  Doesn't the warrenty start from first flight?

spray some wd-40 in there that will lube her up! Lol sorry im not helpful.

Is a Warranty transferable in USA or does it only apply to the original purchaser?

rytenuff Posted at 2017-5-8 16:43
Is a Warranty transferable in USA or does it only apply to the original purchaser?

Since I'm the person activating the drone and flew it first hand I believe the warranty goes to me....  It started on the first flight which was 4/24/2017 and expires 1 year later.  Supposedly...

ghettoracer Posted at 2017-5-8 15:53
As you can see this is spanking new with wrapping still.  The release button doesn't work...  Support is trying to tell me I need to spend $30 for a new holder?  But this is defective from day one.  Despite buying it off CL without any recept, when I activated it online everything seems fine.  Doesn't the warrenty start from first flight?

Without a receipt of some sort, even if it had the original purchaser's name on it, the accessories that are in the box cannot be covered for any sort of free replacement. Unfortunately, this will require for you to purchase a replacement mobile device holder. Activation will only account for the aircraft and the RC since the SNs are stored in the sytem. Batteries and the other accessories require proof of purchase in order to be covered under warranty.

rytenuff Posted at 2017-5-8 16:43
Is a Warranty transferable in USA or does it only apply to the original purchaser?

The warranty of the aircraft and the RC can be used by the next user since that can be tracked from the date of activation. Everything else needs a proof of purchase, but the name on the receipt doesn't really matter.

DJI-Jamie Posted at 2017-5-8 17:05
The warranty of the aircraft and the RC can be used by the next user since that can be tracked from the date of activation. Everything else needs a proof of purchase, but the name on the receipt doesn't really matter.

Meh, doesn't make too much sense to me...  this is lame.  Also, I just tried to input my Phantom 3 Adv. to check its warranty information.  But the serial # for My P3A came back as:

you entered does not exist, please make sure you've entered it correctly.

Hmm, what does this mean?  Shouldn't all DJI drones show up in the system?

Remove the plastic wrape from the holder and it should work.

Looking at the photo the plastic connects the top of the holder to the bottom and stops it from moving.

{:4_177:}

ohh boy.  an epic fail on my part...  thanks beeper!!  i wonder if i'm the only idiot that failed like this.  lol.

So that worked. cool