I had a flyaway with an almost 24 month old Avata1 which I duly reported to DJI under the care programme…this is the first time that I had made a claim using the programme
Firstly I asked DJI to look at the flight details as I believed that the flyaway was a technical error rather than my own fault - the feedback was that this was not accepted (at 12 minutes the drone had triggered a return to home sequence but after rising it began to fly in the opposite direction and I had attempted to interfere unsuccessfully with this procedure) - no option really but to accept the ruling of course
I was advised that the cost of a replacement is £144 - I had expected just a nominal charge - clearly I had not fully read the small print when opting for the care package. Given that the Avata1 is now an obsolete model a charge of £144 appears somewhat excessive given I could probably buy an Avata1 on say eBay for a not dissimilar amount
I asked if rather than replacing the Avata1 like for like I could instead simply have an allowance towards an Avata2 - I was told that this is not an option
I should say that the individual in DJI dealing with my claim was helpful throughout but the experience has left me wondering if the care package is the best value insurance cover available
Was the RTH height value set too high for the wind at that altitude?
D’oh
As most will know, I’m not DJI’s biggest fan but credit where due, their Care Refresh is second to none. Nothing else even comes close and I’d recommend it all day, every day.
It would be like buying a brand new BMW in August 2022, having it stolen two years later, and then expecting your insurance to replace it with the latest 2024 model.
That’s not how insurance works
Boxed, unused, direct from the manufacturer, with a 12 month warranty?
No, you couldn’t
Sorry you feel disappointed with the Care Refresh package, but is very (very) good.
Ping spike - thanks for your response - taking your points in turn
Conditions - it happened during the recent hot spell - so sunny day and little or no wind
Interfering with the return to home - yep ! Kicked myself afterwards but it was flying in the wrong direction and I knee jerked
Value for money - checking just now on eBay
Brand new - £190.75
Unused - £275
Pre-owned - £218
Brand new - 224.99
OK caveat emptor I accept but it does seem a good replacement wouldn’t cost a lot - it is an out of date model after all - so the discount after the cost of the insurance isn’t much (the quote for another year from DJI would be £55) and the value of an Avata1 in a year’s time…do the sums
I should have read the small print more carefully I fully accept but my point remains - the care policy isn’t a slam dunk and its probably worth looking at an alternative for the 3rd year
I have just settled a claim with Coverdrone for the loss of my Mini 2SE (seagull attack not flyaway). Coverdrone are a little cheaper than CR and can be paid monthly, but were a bit of a faff while I worked out in my technostupid fumbling way the exact information they wanted before settling the claim, which was my fault not theirs. AIUI, CR are a part of DJI and have all the airdata information available to them, hence their rapid no-quibble settlements. I’d say they are great value and I will be taking CR out on the new drone.
My £50 excess has been taken from the settlement; this would have been a £45 replacement charge from CR, not much difference.
The only time I had to claim anything on house insurance it took 6 months of back and forth and loads of hassle to get a penny out of the fuckers. I’ve had two care refresh claims in the last two years, both came with remarkable customer service and replacements arrived within days of submitting the claim. I’d say that’s well above average.
I’ve had similar previous experiences with home and car/bike insurance, Joe, and am of the view that car insurance in particular is a basically a legalised scam. One has to prove one’s case against a culture of the company working from the viewpoint that a) your are to blame, and b) you are trying to claim fraudulently (admittedly a small percentage of people do, but that’s no reason to assume without question that I’m like that). The worst is the ‘free’ insurance that comes with bike locks; it’s not free, the price includes it, and it is effectively impossible to successfully claim on it. You have to provide the broken remnants of the lock as lock failure due to cutting tools or jacks is not covered, and proof that the bike was locked to a solid object; photos are not acceptable! A scam.
Drone insurance, certainly from Coverdrone and Care Refresh, is much fairer and resolution of claims vastly quicker.
Only problem I had with Coverdrone, last year was caused by Apple’s rather stupid spam filter. Kept placing replies to my emails to Coverdrone into the junk folder ( even though they were replying to a sent email)
Hmmm…thanks for the note but I’d say you’re almost certainly in a minority here as it relates to expectations of DJI Care. It’s a comprehensive, relevant insurance and support package - and they’re responsive. The small print you refer too isn’t small - there are only two elements to the package and both are very legible and very easy to understand. Sorry you lost the drone but maybe it’s an opportunity now to watch a few excellent videos on setting RTH, understanding wind at height, drone settings and battery management - all of which really help in this situation👍
There should be an option to ask them to review the flight data, it involves properly syncing your account through settings on a controller so not sure how the avata 2 works. It took me a few trys and emails back and forth with DJI.
Ah ok, so I was getting hung up on not noticing that DJI had sent me a push request to my controller. It’s hiding in a settings menu. I kept focusing on making sure the flight records were synced but never noticed this. A misreading of the instructions on the DJI email.
DJI have again been amazing with my service claim.
I broke my Avata 2 two way charger on the last morning of the BIG MEET Part 2. I didn’t have time to mess around with the claim, before I flew out to Turkey on Mon 2nd. So I left it until Sat 14th to make a claim.
I posted the defective two way charger on Monday and today (Fri 20th), there was a DHL delivery guy knocking on the door with a replacement.
I’ve had a few claims with CR , all dealt with with no questions. Shithot compared to some insurance companies who try to av yer off at any differing detail because they don’t want to pay out.
Your fault if you never read the small print.
Care Refresh has to be the best insurance I’ve dealt with😁
