Sad as it is, all those connection errors, as well as other issues, did not inspire much of confidence in what supposed to be a steallr $5K product.
I still have hope, though, so it's only going for replacement, not for a complete return.
We'll see how the replacement will perform.
Luckily, return address is only few dozen miles away, and the carrier is UPS, not the dreaded F-word, so I hope for a quick turnaround and getting the new unit back before the EOW.

Beware, it may be a refurbished M3C. Happened to me with my M2P in Jan of 2019

Hello there DarthSLR. Good day and thank you for sharing these information and this update with us. Again, I am sorry for the trouble it has caused before and have a nice day.

NightThunder Posted at 11-22 20:40
Beware, it may be a refurbished M3C. Happened to me with my M2P in Jan of 2019

I kinda doubt they already have a stock of refurbished units.

That is sad to read.

Thats a bit of pain,    fingers crossed the replacement is better.

Montfrooij Posted at 11-22 23:45
That is sad to read.

I know, but it is what it is. A lemon is a lemon.

DAFlys Posted at 11-23 01:07
Thats a bit of pain,    fingers crossed the replacement is better.

I know, right? First, two weeks wait, then a week of errors, and now essentially back to square one circa 11/5.

DarthSLR Posted at 11-23 07:04
I know, right? First, two weeks wait, then a week of errors, and now essentially back to square one circa 11/5.

Meanwhile still waiting for mine to arrive. Ordered at launch.
Hopefully it's a quick turnaround for you.

DarthSLR Posted at 11-22 20:49
I kinda doubt they already have a stock of refurbished units.

More than likely, you will get a unit from the group the failed the first pass yield, and get a unit that was fixed/touched up/repaired in the factory, never left the factory, so will be shipped as new.

DarthSLR Posted at 11-23 07:04
I know, right? First, two weeks wait, then a week of errors, and now essentially back to square one circa 11/5.

At least its happened at the start so your not likely to get a refurbed unit.

Flycaster Posted at 11-23 07:51
More than likely, you will get a unit from the group the failed the first pass yield, and get a unit that was fixed/touched up/repaired in the factory, never left the factory, so will be shipped as new.

You're just a ray of sunshine, aren't ya? ;)

I have been assured that the new unit is waiting in a warehouse here in Cerritos, CA.
Naturally, I have no way to know exactly what it is. But I hope they didn't go through all the obvious logistical trouble to ship failed units out that early.

DAFlys Posted at 11-23 07:53
At least its happened at the start so your not likely to get a refurbed unit.

Exactly my line of thoughts.

Visual Air Posted at 11-23 07:35
Meanwhile still waiting for mine to arrive. Ordered at launch.
Hopefully it's a quick turnaround for you.

Ouch! Where are you located, if you don't mind my asking?

DarthSLR Posted at 11-23 08:12
Ouch! Where are you located, if you don't mind my asking?

Alberta Canada. This is the first time I have ever experienced such a delay. typically 4/5 days from DJI China.

Visual Air Posted at 11-23 08:24
Alberta Canada. This is the first time I have ever experienced such a delay. typically 4/5 days from DJI China.

Ooh, such a beautiful place you live in! I've been once a couple of years ago, did a staple "Waterton - Banff - Jasper" trip along the Columbia Icefields parkway. Definitely a prime spot for aerial photography, assuming the local regulations allow it (they did not in Waterton).
And back to the subject, yes, it's definitely an emabrassment for such a prominent company as DJI. Announce GA for a supposedly hot product and not being able to deliver... That will surely live the mark.

DarthSLR Posted at 11-23 07:03
I know, but it is what it is. A lemon is a lemon.

Is that a saying?

Montfrooij Posted at 11-23 13:29
Is that a saying?

It might be, I just made it up though... ;)

DarthSLR Posted at 11-23 13:38
It might be, I just made it up though... ;)

I like it.

Aaaahhhh, I just realized... If my replacement is not processed TODAY (it still might be, as it's out for delivery to Cerritos DJI center), it will get stuck there at least till Monday due to Thanksgiving holiday. While UPS might still work through those days, I'm pretty sure service center does not.
Damn, my timing is just perfect. First two weeks delivery from HK, now a week+ wait for what supposed to be a 2-3 days operation...

For want of a fingers crossed emoticon, err.  <fingers crossed>

My unit received by DJI Center in Cerritos, CA. Thank god for UPS, they don't send everything accross the country and then back to deliver to the next city.
Now the real question is: will they send the new unit back today, or will it wait till Thanksgiving festivities are over...?

So, it's official. Replacement approved, but apparently it's not gonna be tomorrow, as I naively hoped. The email said, and I quote:
"The replacement unit will be shipped out from DJI within three business days".
Considering it's almost Thanksgiving, it's quite possible the countdown will only begins on Monday, 29.Add 3 business day gonna be 1-2 of December, and if the last shipping fiasco with fedex is going to be repeated, it means that i *maybe* get it before Christmas...  Mind you, it all started 11/5...
Oh, the joy of being an early adopter...  

What were the issues you were having?

rincflyer Posted at 11-28 10:46
What were the issues you were having?

"RC is not connected to the aircraft".

DarthSLR Posted at 11-28 10:49
"RC is not connected to the aircraft".

I saw that error in another forum too.  Did this happen when flying or before in the air?  Just curious.

In this post it looks re-pairing might have solved it.  Did you try this?

https://mavicpilots.com/threads/aircraft-not-connected-to-rc.118940/

rincflyer Posted at 11-28 11:01
I saw that error in another forum too.  Did this happen when flying or before in the air?  Just curious.

In this post it looks re-pairing might have solved it.  Did you try this?

Please see my other posts, I provided a lot a details. And no, it didn't help. Nothing did. Hence the replacement. Also, mostly happened on the ground, but also happened in flight couple of times, which was honestly the last straw.

Update: DJI notified me they don't have replacement units in stock, and offered the following options:
- a refurbished unit, or
- a nearly month wait for a brand new one, or
- a refund.
Considering my personal experience and what I have read of others, I have chosen the latter.
I still fully intend to get the craft, but this time I wait until the dust settles and better options will become available. Looks like Feb or March, at the earliest.

DarthSLR Posted at 11-29 12:42
Update: DJI notified me they don't have replacement units in stock, and offered the following options:
- a refurbished unit, or
- a nearly month wait for a brand new one, or

Worrying to hear, just sent mine in for replacement

Sad news here ... Sorry for you @DarthSLR
Refund is a good choice and you can wait February for order a new one with FINISHED firmware

Skyris Posted at 11-29 13:50
Worrying to hear, just sent mine in for replacement

I wouldn't be surprised, looks like they fresh out of RC Pros.
Good luck!

The french globetrotter Posted at 11-29 13:56
Sad news here ... Sorry for you @DarthSLR
Refund is a good choice and you can wait February for order a new one with FINISHED firmware

Yeah, I thought that too. As much as I would love to get my paws on this new toy for good, it's not worth all the disappointments. For that price, it's better be reliable and fully functioning.

DarthSLR Posted at 11-29 12:42
Update: DJI notified me they don't have replacement units in stock, and offered the following options:
- a refurbished unit, or
- a nearly month wait for a brand new one, or

Bummer, not nice to hear..

hallmark007 Posted at 11-29 14:49
Bummer, not nice to hear..

That's ok. I have been losing my confidence/patience anyway, it's for the best...

DarthSLR Posted at 11-29 14:06
Yeah, I thought that too. As much as I would love to get my paws on this new toy for good, it's not worth all the disappointments. For that price, it's better be reliable and fully functioning.

"fully functioning" good one!

Did you send everything back or only the drone etc.?

Muchmore Posted at 11-29 18:54
"fully functioning" good one!

The whole package, complete with DJI Care Refresh, was nearly $6KUS. I'm not going to struggle with a half-baked product for the price of a new entry-level car.

Sean-bumble-bee Posted at 11-29 18:59
Did you send everything back or only the drone etc.?

The whole nine yards, craft, RC Pro, batteries, bag, box, cables, filters, etc. Their instructions were pretty strict about it.

DarthSLR Posted at 11-29 19:14
The whole nine yards, craft, RC Pro, batteries, bag, box, cables, filters, etc. Their instructions were pretty strict about it.

Ahh I wonder if they knew they had no stock at that time.

Sean-bumble-bee Posted at 11-29 19:19
Ahh I wonder if they knew they had no stock at that time.

"Ill-planned" is one way to describe this launch...
TBH, a lot of tech companies screw up their initial products. Remember Microsoft? Only 3+ version of their OS was usable. DOS 3.1, Windows 3.1, they could not even get the 3d proper done right
I'm sure DJI will get it right (more or less), but I'm not planning on paying several $K for being a beta tester anymore.