Australia is a great place to live. I moved here 9 years ago from the UK to enjoy the splender Australia has to offer. I got married here and have two boys.
The only negative aspect of Australia I absolutely detest is the prices on electronics. Case in point: I purchased my 3DR solo 2 months ago from a local electronics retailer for $1099 AUD with a gimbal for $299 AUD. I then purchased an extra battery for $299 AUD and a backpack for $299 AUD
Total cost for all this comes to $1996 AUD ($1521 USD). And let's not forget the GoPro I need which I purchased some years ago for approx. $600 AUD.
For the whole package this comes to approx. $2600 AUD.
I've tried purchasing from Best Buy and Amazon but they won't send to Oz. Amazon apparently changes daily on this aspect but I don't have time to sit in front of a computer waiting for them to change.
Now, I like Solo, or more accurately, the idea of Solo; the opportunity it provides for tinkering; to upgrade/change components towards improving Solo; creating applications for it like Solex etc.
But let's face it, its a failure as a company, it brought out the gimbal months after the copter was released - Solo and the gimbal should have came together from the start as one package, as one unit already assembled together. There should also have been an Optical Flow Sensor, like they had on their earlier prototypes. To be competitive, majority of consumers look for features comparable to devices in the same category, like DJI.
Don't get me wrong, features like 'cable cam' and 'follow me' are great but it's not enough.
Anyway, to get back on topic. I feel cheated and conned because of the amount of money I've spent on this drone. Not only did I spend $2600 I also spent on upgrading the GPS and WiFi cards too (these should have been in Solo already). I also purchased the FPVLR antennae and boosters, increasing the cost to almost $3000 AUD. I wished I waited a few more weeks when Karma and Mavic were announced, I would have saved myself around a $1000 and got a better drone with a company with little chance of failing (I know neither of these companies are perfect).
Prices here in Oz are unchanged despite huge price reductions in USA. I spoke to one of the retailers and he had no idea of the issues 3D Robotics were having, in fact he said they are still selling him Solos at the same price as always.
Servicing:
When I spoke with 3DR robotics regarding issues I was having with my Gimbal, I was told it was pilot error. I excepted this and bought a new gimbal, but this gimbal seems faulty. 3DR then suggested if any repairs are required to send it to a trusted repair service in the USA. Are they kidding me. It'll probably cost me more than the device itself to send it there, not to mention the cost of the repair too.
Ive lost total confidence in 3DR, and I've decided to sell my Solo after only 2 months of ownership. I don't expect to make my money back though.
I want a drone that works, without any need to upgrade it (I don't have the time). A drone that doesn't have a fragile gimbal that seems to fail on the slightest of knocks. A drone that provides great pictures with minimal post production adjustments, like removing the fisheye effect. A drone I can pick up and place amongst my belongings in a backpack, not being the whole backback. Mavic is the way to go.
The only negative aspect of Australia I absolutely detest is the prices on electronics. Case in point: I purchased my 3DR solo 2 months ago from a local electronics retailer for $1099 AUD with a gimbal for $299 AUD. I then purchased an extra battery for $299 AUD and a backpack for $299 AUD
Total cost for all this comes to $1996 AUD ($1521 USD). And let's not forget the GoPro I need which I purchased some years ago for approx. $600 AUD.
For the whole package this comes to approx. $2600 AUD.
I've tried purchasing from Best Buy and Amazon but they won't send to Oz. Amazon apparently changes daily on this aspect but I don't have time to sit in front of a computer waiting for them to change.
Now, I like Solo, or more accurately, the idea of Solo; the opportunity it provides for tinkering; to upgrade/change components towards improving Solo; creating applications for it like Solex etc.
But let's face it, its a failure as a company, it brought out the gimbal months after the copter was released - Solo and the gimbal should have came together from the start as one package, as one unit already assembled together. There should also have been an Optical Flow Sensor, like they had on their earlier prototypes. To be competitive, majority of consumers look for features comparable to devices in the same category, like DJI.
Don't get me wrong, features like 'cable cam' and 'follow me' are great but it's not enough.
Anyway, to get back on topic. I feel cheated and conned because of the amount of money I've spent on this drone. Not only did I spend $2600 I also spent on upgrading the GPS and WiFi cards too (these should have been in Solo already). I also purchased the FPVLR antennae and boosters, increasing the cost to almost $3000 AUD. I wished I waited a few more weeks when Karma and Mavic were announced, I would have saved myself around a $1000 and got a better drone with a company with little chance of failing (I know neither of these companies are perfect).
Prices here in Oz are unchanged despite huge price reductions in USA. I spoke to one of the retailers and he had no idea of the issues 3D Robotics were having, in fact he said they are still selling him Solos at the same price as always.
Servicing:
When I spoke with 3DR robotics regarding issues I was having with my Gimbal, I was told it was pilot error. I excepted this and bought a new gimbal, but this gimbal seems faulty. 3DR then suggested if any repairs are required to send it to a trusted repair service in the USA. Are they kidding me. It'll probably cost me more than the device itself to send it there, not to mention the cost of the repair too.
Ive lost total confidence in 3DR, and I've decided to sell my Solo after only 2 months of ownership. I don't expect to make my money back though.
I want a drone that works, without any need to upgrade it (I don't have the time). A drone that doesn't have a fragile gimbal that seems to fail on the slightest of knocks. A drone that provides great pictures with minimal post production adjustments, like removing the fisheye effect. A drone I can pick up and place amongst my belongings in a backpack, not being the whole backback. Mavic is the way to go.
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