AustFlight
lvl.1
Australia
Offline
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tl;dr version: All three batteries that came with a brand new (NOT refurb) Mavic Pro Fly More Combo defective out of the box
Thought I would post my experience and opinion here after having recently (2 days ago) received delivery of a brand new Mavic Pro Fly More Combo.
I ordered the kit through a reputable Australian retailer (Australian Geographic) as they had the entire deal for $1498.99 AUD (free delivery) and was super excited to hear the knock on my door with the package only four days after ordering.
So I unboxed, read the quick start instructions and proceeded to install the DJI Go 4 app on my phone as preliminary steps and ready to move onto the business side of things (noting that I had watched a ton of videos prior to arrival, am a Bachelor of IT graduate and abide by the rules of RTFM).
I have now been left with a major sour taste in my mouth due to the fact that not just one, but all three of the batteries which came with this purchase are defective.
I spoke with a DJI online Chat support rep who asked that I send a video of the problem which I immediately proceeded to do and he is the person who has told me the batteries are defective ... this is because on the standalone charger they all have the LED 1 blink 16 times -> then no light -> rinse and repeat issue which is now known to be a sign that you're up for having to get replacement working batteries (same also occurs via the car charger which I ran as a test).
Furthermore, whether a single or multiple batteries are placed onto the charging hub, it seems to go through the process of trying to identify which battery has the highest charge in the case of multiple batteries being connected to it, but in any case it ends up displaying the solid red LED indicating fault. I am sure it is not the Power Adapter itself as I was able to charge the remote control with it via one of the USB ports and I will assume that it is not a problem with the hub because it displays LED's and the battery/s won't charge via the standalone adapter anyway.
So that's where I'm at:
- 3 non working batteries (one on the drone itself and 2 in the combo) straight out of the box
- A charged remote control that makes a lovely beepy sound as I power it on
- A drone that I cannot update the firmare on if required because I have not a single working battery
- A frown on my face because I haven't even been able to get the thing updated where required and off the ground
This is not a single bad batch issue either as the lovely lady from the Australian Geographic store has indicated to me over the phone that just recently at another store location there were two more of these kits sold with the exact same problem and instances at other store locations where the purchaser is going through the same. Unfortunately, in the same two cases occuring at the same other store, the batteries have been returned ... however the clients are still awaiting receieval of the replacement batteries after two and a half weeks ... so it seems like I am in for the long haul here.
After speaking with my store Manager contact again this morning, she has been asked to send photos of the serial numbers of all batteries so I have taken a heap of photos to send to her.
At her end, she has had to do the same because in attempting to find me 3 working batteries via two other kits she has in store she has now found that all 6 of these batteries are also defective.
Opinion: I think that the Quality control process at DJI seriously needs to be revamped in relation to providing customers with working products when they are paying good sums of money for them.
Don't get me wrong here, I understand that there are correct storage procedures etc etc and that these batteries have likely gone stale sitting in the box due to their shipping date (whether on the drone or in the Fly More kit) - however, the fact remains that there have been problems with these so called "Intelligtent" batteries right from the start it seems ... to the point where it is very likely going to be a hit and miss affair to get three working batteries in a combo ... and/or a working replacement staright out of the box because comments are rife that this also repeatedly keeps on happening to multiple people I.e., get a battery that doesn't work -> jump through hoops to send it back -> get a replacement -> unbox it and it doesn't work! What the heck!
I could keep going here but suffice to say I am super unhappy and disappointed with what I have received ATM and am very worried that when the time might finally come that I might get replacement batteries that I will need to go through this whole process again at a later date for whatever reason (I.e., faulty battery/faulty replacement battery/faulty battery after x amount of charges/battery firmware failure/etc) ... at this point I am seriously considering asking for a full refund and giving up on the idea of my maiden drone flight on my very first drone purchase.
I don't know what else to say really and sort of don't know what sort of response I'll get here if any because I don't think I've even asked a question to speak of ... but in the interem it makes me feel slightly better to have expressed my concerns and opinion on what I thought was going to be an easy, fun and fulfilling experience which thus far it has obviously not turned out to be.
Apologies for the rant I guess.
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