I've called B+H 10 times since first ordering the Solo.
I got my free battery a month ago with my solo bundle pre-order.
I had to call them a couple times to make sure they send the product as it becomes available.
Last time I called them before receiving the free battery, the operator said "We should be getting a shipment this week, hopefully tomorrow"
I called them on a Monday.
As soon as I hung up and checked my e-mail I had a notice of shipment from B+H.
So even though I provided my order number, etc, they didn't see that my free battery was already shipped out, probably before I ever chatted with the CS representative.
The gimbal is the more pressing issue, obviously.
From all the other calls I've made, it simply sounds like 3DR is changing the story on them. Or being secretive with the information or misleading, dare I say.
I bought my Solo via paypal, which gives me 6 months to pay it off, though it charges me the day I PRE-order. Meaning April 16th.
So October 16th, I will have to pay off my Solo in full. Let's say I get the gimbal September 16th. A whole 5 MONTHS after pre-ordering it at NAB.
I get one month with the product before having time to extensively use and test it?
I really want to return my Solo and buy it again so I have another 6 months so I can actually MAKE MONEY with the product, which is why I bought it in the first place (I'm in film production).
As a freelancer, I offer my services, and often times my gear is what gets me hired, and having an incomplete drone while I see other professionals flying inspires/phantoms on gigs, is making it impossible for me to simply defend my Solo purchase.
I'm trying to hold off on lamenting about some crappy gimbal performance videos, because I've seen some excellent videos as well.
The BEST thing 3DR can do, is realize that a good portion of B+H pre-orders came from film professionals, who plan to create fantastic content that will make their product look great.
The fact that we've been given little spurts of news and info has been unacceptable.
I'm not sure what recourse I have except to wait or return the entire package, (I've already purchased extra propellers a GPC hard case, and an extra battery on top of my free one.)
So jumping ship completely would take some effort to sell off my items.
I am almost at the breaking point though.
I think people are especially troubles because it feels stupid to try and hold on to hope and have patience when it is not even rewarded with any sort of real update.
Instead WE have to CALL and find out ourselves that there are even MORE delays.
The only silver lining at this point is that they have a Customer Service team that is attentive and will take care of issues in a timely fashion for the majority of folks who have had issues.
The second I see a gimbal available, and in stock elsewhere, though -- if I haven't received any shipping info from B+H, I will request an RMA, return my Solo. Buy the gimbal just to have it, then re-purchase a new Solo.
The fact that I am even entertaining that as an option is ridiculous.
</EndRant>
