Comment by Drone Savant on January 7, 2013 at 7:21am

Back *on topic* do you have any footage that was shot from a camera in your stabilization rig? I am curious to see how it came out. 

Developer Comment by R_Lefebvre on January 7, 2013 at 7:44am

This is all a good point.  Retailers in the US must realize that forcing your customers to use FedEx or UPS (UPS is the worst) is a massive impediment to your international sales.  I basically won't buy from a US dealer unless they can ship USPS.  

Let's take two shipments.  Both are for $99, from the same location in the US to the same destination in Canada.  The USPS charge might cost $20.  When it arrives, since it was less than $100, the post office does not collect sales taxes in Canada.  So the total cost would be $119.

With UPS, the charge might be $30 (though it arrives faster).  However, when they deliver, UPS will have to collect the 13% tax (I don't know why they can't ignore it the way the Post does).  So that's 12.87.  Then, UPS charges a "brokerage fee" which they claim is the cost of getting it through customs.  The service they are providing here is basically forwarding the paperwork provided by the shipper, to Canada Customs.  That's it.  They don't have to do anything else other than forward that paperwork.  Typically, this fee is $30 to $200.  It seems to be related the cost of the goods being brought in, and typically is ~50% of the cost of the goods, until you hit the $200 cap.  In my experience, on a $99 item, it's going to be about $40.  So the total cost to the customer is $181.87.

Then you start to understand why non-US customers will choose to buy from a Cloner in China.  Even if the item cost the exact same $99, that would typically be including shipping.  They'd use post, so there are no additional fees.  That makes the US-sourced item 80% more expensive, and that's all in the shipping charges.  This, despite the fact that the item coming from China is travelling much further. 

Comment by leonardo.bueno on January 7, 2013 at 8:15am

Here in Brasil, the APM bought from 3DR costed me almost US$ 500 after fedex + taxes. 

Distributor Comment by Dany Thivierge on January 7, 2013 at 9:35am

Robert for your example in Canada you forgot to say that you can buy a legit 3DR APM from CanadaDrones.com and get it at a very good price!   :) 

But back on topic, I would also like to see a camera point of view to see how stable it gets! 

Dany

Comment by Maxime Carrier on January 7, 2013 at 9:50am

Hum, I plan to buy an APM in near future but what you said R-lefebvre make me feel dizzy :D I think I will check on CanadaDrone.

Comment by Dwgsparky on January 7, 2013 at 11:11am

Dany , you forgot to mention your superb customer service and fast shipping. (both confirmed several times!)

I can buy clones but I prefer to support 3DR, there distributors and future developemnt even if it does cost me more.. I'm in this for the long term and customer service is a primary requirement. Will I get that from a clone .........NEVER. and lets be honest an autopilot system that costs less than 200$ is amazing, The 1000$ + Time  investment in the sky is not worth risking a clone.

 

Comment by Wirehead on January 9, 2013 at 7:12am

@ Alejandro: Beautiful realization. What are the engine mounts used ?

@ R Lefebvre, I confirm this is the same problem for France. UPS and FEDEX are less efficient than the conventional post office.
Ok to pay the tax because it is the law. But the fees should be included in price on the web site it was a very bad surprised..t.

In addition,UPS and FEDEX can't deliver to your home in your absence and they haven't t office nearby (2 hours to get lost in paris retrieve a package of with € 75 supplement over 200$ preview).

An option "Air parcel with tracking" will be a "plus" commercial for 3DR.

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