Ahoy everyone!
I own two Inspires and I'm quite familiar with DJI in general. I am probably the only one on the whole internet who feels like the packaging and build quality of the Mavic isn't as good as everyone says. I am writing this to see if those of you who received your Mavics got one like I did.

I just received my Mavic Combo yesterday afternoon after a 2 month wait (they tried to deliver early last Friday, but I was away on a trip to Europe). I ordered on 9/29 from DJI Direct. I had guessed when FedEx might arrive, and sent my mother-in-law to my home to sign for it. We got home late last night so I didn't have a chance to open it up yet. 10 days away from the kids and we missed them.

Just a short while ago, after waking up early, I opened up the sealed Mavic box and immediately felt a sense of disappointment.

* there is dust or some kind of fibers scattered around most of the drone
* the protective stickers are not placed well, or have been placed a second time (poorly)
* there are scuffs/scratches or possibly stress lines on the bottom of the Mavic
* there is a spot on the back of the controller where a sticker must have once been placed but was removed
* there is a ding/scratch in one of the propellers (on the ones pre-attached)
* there are fingerprints on the controller and drone
* some of the injection moulding plastic parts look cheaply done (up close)

After waiting for 2 months and watching so many YouTube videos of people doing unboxings and saying how impressed they were with the packaging and build quality, I will admit my expectations are certainly high. But now I am in a little shock that my Mavic came like this. I have opened so many products delivered from Shenzhen, China by air (iPhones, iPads, Watch, Apple TVs, Xboxes (all series), PlayStation, etc) and I most definitely have not come across this. To me it doesn't seem indicative of normal Shenzhen factory output.

Is this a refurbished unit?
Was it just shoddily put together in haste?
Is this typical of all of the Mavics you received?

I'm just trying to understand what happened here. I am sure this is safe to fly, but I feel like I didn't get a new product here.

There's no way I'm going to power it up and activate it and fly it until I figure this out.

Thoughts/feedback wanted...
UPDATE: A forum moderator must have removed the THREE LETTERS starting the subject of this post that refer to confusion starting with W and ending in F, and then didn't even notify me/us that they did this. I'm sort of really confused here. What is going on over there at DJI? I have added "Huh?" now instead, in case the other is considered "swearing"...

Wonder if this was a return/refurb, and someone had it in their fuzzy pack that was shedding black fibers?

It doesn't indeed look like a brand new one... except the fact that my unit was faulty (compass problem), the set I received was neat, well packed and all stickers properly put.

That does NOT look new.  Wow.

looks like a used one for me.

my mavic came clean and with all stickers in correct place.

ur pictures do not show how a new mavic should look...

sry for u

I am sorry for you but this not the case in my pkg..

It certainly does not look right, I've had many products from dji and packaging has always been exceptional, I would not accept that if it arrived to me..

My Mavic did not arrive in that condition. Even a refurbished product should have clean stickers and look new.

I'm sure you're very disappointed.

wow! that does look neither new nor healthy to fly!

fansa7eabb8f Posted at 2016-11-29 10:24
My Mavic did not arrive in that condition. Even a refurbished product should have clean stickers and ...

Agree, this shouldn't happen, BUT

Due to the unicorn effect, I'd probably pull off the stickers, dust it off and carry on.

Is there anything wrong w/it, besides it looking scuzzy/fuzzy?

Wow man, I don't have my Mavic yet, but I too would be seriously disappointed if I opened up my "brand new" Mavic and it looked like this! That thing is filthy and looks used. Was the hidden sticker still up under the gimbal clamp? I don't know where exactly it is, but it's a pull tab sticker and would be impossible I think to reinstall it after removing it.

Matman Posted at 2016-11-29 09:27
Agree, this shouldn't happen, BUT

Due to the unicorn effect, I'd probably pull off the stickers,  ...

Yes, I'm tempted of course, but nervous about it. Once I boot it up, activate it, and fly it, all bets are off. I'm sure it probably flies just fine. But I can't help but feel that I should have a brand new product... not a used one pawned off as a new one. If it's just shoddy manufacturing, then that is worrisome on its own right, because what else might have been done shoddy?

I didn't want to say anything but when I received my combo everything was " dirty " as well. There was black fibers every where, I unpacked everything and had to vacuum everything off, wiped everything down. It was so nasty I washed my hands after. The factory must be a dirty place.

It would be hard for me to do, but I would send it back.

Mine arrived today all ok apart from no plastic film on the top of the controller it has it on the screen but still no scratches. That's not new.

Yeah, that's definitely not normal...

i think you would call that factory seconds. (Not the best)

Send that mother back looks like a refurbished unit. And it was done badly.
  {:4_154:}

R&L Aerial  Posted at 2016-11-29 09:36
I didn't want to say anything but when I received my combo everything was " dirty " as well. There w ...

Wow, sounds identical to me.

Things are only new until you get the first scratch and this looks very bad from start. It's painful but that is not acceptable I would say. Sorry

I bought a refurbished Phantom 4. It was just like new - package and all. My Mavic combo just arrived and it was also in perfect condition. If mine arrived like that, I would make immediate arrangements to have it replaced. I think your pictures support your case and DJI would honor it. I would not activate it. I have had repairs done to a Gimble that was damaged by a crash that was my fault. DJI repaired it for free. They are a good company even though they have problems building their products on time.

fansbd42d019 Posted at 2016-11-29 10:09
I bought a refurbished Phantom 4. It was just like new - package and all. My Mavic combo just arrive ...

I had one of my Inspires repaired (on my dime) and they were quick and reliable. 6 days to receive package, send it back, evaluated, estimate, paid, repaired, flight tested, QA, shipped, and received. That was impressive (and made me feel a little better considering I had to pay for it).

Before sending it back, I would try to inquire about the unit as they should have record of it by S/N that they can look up. That should tell them/you if it was ever activated or owned prior to you getting it.
Edit: Possibly they randomly pull one from the production line every XXX amount of units to test functionality/QC and this happens to be one of them. If that is the case and that is all they did, I would be comfortable with keeping it as it likely means it was fully tested and works correctly. But would definetly want confirmation that this is what in fact happened.

Was this purchased direct from DJI or a reseller?  If a reseller, maybe they played with it first or resold as it was returned.

Ethanflux Posted at 2016-11-29 12:31
Was this purchased direct from DJI or a reseller?  If a reseller, maybe they played with it first or ...

his initial post says he purchased it direct from dji on 9/29.

Feeling bad for you, I would also not activate this Mavic..
Was wondering, do you see any of these fibers in the camera lens?

Checked the flight log of the unit? Looks like is been 3d printed with cheap plastic... It's definitely NOT Inspire build quality.

Without a doubt, I would return this. To me, it looks like someone got this one, started it up and had errors, and RMA'd it back to the factory. They received it, couldn't find anything wrong, and shoved it back in the box and sent it to you.

Check the flight logs, and see if it has been flown.

Heavysledz Posted at 2016-11-29 12:38
his initial post says he purchased it direct from dji on 9/29.

The ADD in me missed that.  

Mine did not look like that. If you bought this from Best Buy down the street it would be an easy descision... just swap it out. Under the circumstances, it's a tough call. Who knows how long it would take to get another one. Bummer. I feel your pain.

I'm gonna suggest that it is your Mother-In-Law messing with your head.  After she accepted the package, she opened up the packaging like a Ninja, threw in some dirt, and then shook the package around, before expertly re-sealing the packaging.  Mother-In-Laws (Mothers-In-Law?) are like that. {:4_181:}

Heavysledz Posted at 2016-11-30 02:21
Before sending it back, I would try to inquire about the unit as they should have record of it by S/ ...

From my understanding, they are ALL flight tested and Q/A'd so this shouldn't be the reason.

Ethanflux Posted at 2016-11-30 02:31
Was this purchased direct from DJI or a reseller?  If a reseller, maybe they played with it first or ...

I ordered direct.

Anoniem Posted at 2016-11-30 02:56
Feeling bad for you, I would also not activate this Mavic..
Was wondering, do you see any of these  ...

Rubber cover is a little dirty, but due to the kind of material it is it likely collects lint easy. The plastic gimbal cover looked clean, and quick look at camera looked clean, but I didn't open the plastic cover to look closely.

UAV Man Posted at 2016-11-30 02:58
Checked the flight log of the unit? Looks like is been 3d printed with cheap plastic... It's definit ...

Nope, haven't checked flight log. Haven't even powered it up yet. Waiting for a response from support first.

Agreed! The injection moulding does NOT look Inspire or Phantom quality. I suppose first time buyers are very impressed, but I'm not thrilled. My guess is this is how they can save some capital and increase the technology instead.

dana5 Posted at 2016-11-30 03:04
Check the flight logs, and see if it has been flown.

I haven't powered it up, and I don't want to activate it until the matter is cleared. Pretty sure I have to activate it to check the flight logs, which then would probably clear any out? I know there is a master flight log that only DJI engineers can access though.

When I originally had some problems with my first Phantom 3 Advance, I sent it back to DJI. They sent me back a drone with half-missing stickers, and not packaged like the original, very loose.

Not only did they send me a "used" drone but it had the same exact issues I had sent it in for. I started another RMA immediately and wrote on the aircraft body in Sharpie marker "Fix me! This is the second time I have been in the shop for repairs and I am still broken!"

Needless to say, my drone was replaced with a brand new drone in packaging like the first. I think the Staff at DJI sometimes take personal offense to having to repair or replace drones, they do not meet the build or repair quality of newer units and almost like attacking users for sending it in for repairs, they sometimes send units that were previously used or in the junk bin and they just frankenstien them together.

kevinelliott Posted at 2016-11-29 20:22
Nope, haven't checked flight log. Haven't even powered it up yet. Waiting for a response from supp ...

I've cancelled my Mavic after seeing a few issues and the delays... Going to see what next year brings, no rush as I'm moving from UK to Canada... I think you need to ask them to replace it ASAP. I've heard reports from others about refurbs been sent. Pretty sure DJI will just say return and send another one, then some other poor soul will get your returned refurb...

I ordered the Mavic Combo in the early hours of Sept 28th and got it Nov 4th. It was very well packaged and I did not note any problems with the unit I received. Maybe did not look at it with the detail that you have, but did not note any scratches or other issues. Charged the batteries and flew it a couple of days later. Very stable aircraft, usually recalibrate the compass each and every time I fly. Have not been too many places with it yet, usually along the river near home but took it on a beach holiday and flew it along the ocean as well. Takes great video, still learning how to master cinema photography.