Tenly: "The
only reason for it - no matter how they try to spin it for the media - is higher profits."
(emphasis mine)
DFD: "are you able to use aftermarket batteries with the Phantom 2, or did they pull the
same ****..."
(emphasis mine)
- same ****: There's nothing wrong with making a profit. In fact, sales on accessories can be the main source of profits for a lot of products. It's called a business model.
- The only reason besides making a profit (which is not inherently evil)? DJI tests their products with their own batteries. Not having tested their UAVs using 3rd party batteries, they understandably cannot warranty their product if the 3rd party battery contributes to a crash or other malfunction that requires repair.
Tenly has been out here on these boards for about a week now pushing his case on how evil DJI is for having done this (upgrading the firmware to not allow 3rd party battery use).
How much money did he save buying those 2 knock-off batteries?
The concept of 'profit' aside, how much does he consider that just his free time might be worth, I wonder, that he can afford to put so much effort into this campaign? To him.
Chris
You've mixed up my points - which may not be entirely your fault. There are 2 of them and they are somewhat related and intermixed. On one of them, I simply have comments. The other one pisses me off.
First of all, there is the decision to not allow after-market batteries to be used.
I don't like that decision and I don't think it's necessary - but I do acknowledge that it may be legal for them to do so and a good business decision. I am genuinely trying to understand why - if it is legal - more companies don't do the same thing - because as we all agree, doing so will certainly increase profits. I don't think they are evil for doing so and the reason I point out that it was done solely for financial reasons is to counter the suggestion that they are doing it for safety reasons as they have tried to spin it. It's not about safety. It's about selling more batteries.
So - to avoid mixing things up - I'm disappointed that they've chosen to implement such a policy - especially since I think the vast majority of us were using all DJI or mostly DJI batteries even without this policy in place. (I had 6 batteries, 4 OEM and 2 aftermarket)
The thing that really pisses me off is the way they did it. I've explained this a number of times already so I doubt that explaining it again is going to help with anyone's understanding - but - people immediately after the Phantom 3's release, people were allowed to use aftermarket batteries, and some of us purchased them. But the WAY that DJI chose to implement this policy instantly destroyed the value and usefulness of the batteries that their customers had previously purchased which for some may have amounted to several hundred dollars. A company that cared about its customers would have introduced some program to at least make it look like they cared about its customers and that they were sorry about the financial impact of their new policy. The simplest thing they could have done - as a token gesture -would have been to allow any customer that sent in an aftermarket battery with a dated proof of purchase for it - to purchase an OEM battery for cost ($50?). This would not have cost DJI anything except the cost of administering the program - and it would have shown that they do care about their customers. (It's the minimum I would have done if it were my company - but honestly, I would have probably done more.)
But DJI did nothing except say tough luck - you're going to have to purchase OEM batteries at full price - and *THAT* is why I'm angry and ranting - and I have the right to rant and be upset. This is very nearly theft. Ranting - sharing stories, and sharing information are some of the reasons this forum exists. If people get tired of reading my rants - they can unsubscribe from this message thread and enjoy the rest of the forum. I'm not flooding every message thread with anti-DJI rhetoric. I've kept my comments limited to this message chain that I created.
If people keep jumping in with incorrect information -I'll keep rebutting and correcting them. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion - and if they don't want to risk flying with aftermarket batteries - nobody is forcing them to do so - but claiming that DJI is doing this because they are a) getting burned on warranty repairs, or b) because it's a safety issue or c) that all aftermarket batteries are inferior and prone to failure is simply not true - and in my thread people are not allowed to present an untruth as if it were a fact -without it being challenged.
In between conference calls, I sit out on my back deck and I drink wine or coffee and smoke cigarettes. While I do so, I read forums, watch YouTube tutorials, I shop on Amazon and I respond to this thread. Rebutting the misinformation people are trying to pawn off as fact here - and calling out DJI for customer-unfriendly behavior is therapeutic for me. Each time I press send, i feel a wave of calm wash over me. I don't expect DJI to change any of their policies based on what I write. It's enough for me to put the truth out there. Perhaps some future potential DJI customer will stumble upon this thread and decide to go with Yuneec instead of DJI because of this discussion about the way they treat their customers....and maybe they won't! It doesn't matter! I feel good about it and it is after all - my time and I have it to spare!