How to Get a DJI Drone for Cheap and Save Money
If DJI is known for one thing it’s the high prices that they charge to their customers. DJI has earned the right to its premium price tags since their products truly are much better than the competition. In fact, it’s hard to find a competing drone with similar flight time or range.
DJI is increasingly the only game in town if you want the best. Fortunately, it’s possible to get a DJI drone for cheap if you know how to look. Below are the top nine ways to get a good deal on a DJI drone.
1. Refurbished Drones
By far the easiest way to save hundreds of dollars on a DJI drone is to buy one that has been officially refurbished by the company. You can save $100 on the Mavic Pro and similar percentages across most products.
The beautiful thing about buying a refurbished drone from DJI is that it comes with a full warranty, which is much less risky than buying a used drone elsewhere. This means that you will get the standard 6 – 12 month part defect warranty from DJI. You are entitled to a replacement or a refund in the event of a major failure in the drone. For minor issues, DJI will repair the drone as part of the default warranty.
You can still get DJI Care Refresh on refurbished drones. This is an awesome insurance policy that will protect your drone from almost anything. It even covers water damage. If your drone stops working, DJI will fix it for a nominal fee with DJI Care Refresh.
DJI thoroughly inspects their refurbished drones with an expert team. As part of this process, DJI says they:
- Conduct a full functionality test and replace any defective modules if they are present. This includes flying the drone to detect any problems.
- Thoroughly clean and inspect the drone.
- Put the drone in new packaging (including appropriate manuals and parts).
- Do a Final Quality Assurance inspection before putting the item on sale.
- Update the firmware on the drone.
- Follow the same basic technical guidelines and testing procedures that new DJI products go through.
You will get the same things in the box that a new drone has:
- The drone itself
- Propellers
- Remote Controller (if applicable)
- Any batteries
- Cables
- Instruction Manual
- Camera
- Charger
DJI says that the product could have slight signs of wear such as minor scratches. They won’t accept returns for aesthetic reasons. You can find out if your drone is refurbished by looking for an R at the end of the serial number.
2. Drone Without Sales Tax
You can get your drone without paying sales tax on DJI.com. This can save you hundreds of dollars on their more expensive products.
You can also buy the drone on B&H Photo and avoid sales tax too. Both sites offer free shipping on your purchases.
3. Bundle Kit Drones
You can save a lot of money by buying a DJI drone bundle kit. Bundle kits often give you the drone with a bunch of free accessories such as extra batteries, chargers, carrying cases, memory cards, and much more.
There are a lot of bundle kits for sale on Amazon. You want to make sure that the bundle you purchase is from a ‘DJI Authorized Dealer’. This will ensure that your default 6 – 12 month warranty is still valid. Sellers will mention these words on the page if they have an official relationship with the company.
4. DJI Deals Page
Always check the Deals Page on DJI’s website before buying a drone. The page will often have discounts on a limited number of products. Usually, the deals page offers discounts on drones if you buy a drone with DJI Goggles.
5. Used Drones
You can buy used DJI drones at substantial price drops. Of course, there’s a lot more risk to buying a used drone, especially if it’s older than 12 months. It’s worth searching for used drones on Ebay. You can also look at your local Craigslist as well.
It’s very important to test your drone before buying it by flying it. Otherwise, look for drones that are covered by a DJI Care Refresh insurance policy or from reputable sellers.
6. Drone Financing
You can get your DJI drone financed if you purchase it on DJI’s website. The financing is done through Affirm and you can apply for it during checkout. The process is straightforward.
Financing is especially useful for people who are entering the commercial drone space. If you are buying a drone for your startup, it’s good to know that you can get a loan to cover it while you nail down your first few jobs.
7. Drone Sales Event
DJI has two major sales events each year. The first is during the spring, usually in April. It lasts approximately one week. The second falls around Black Friday and Christmas. This sales even has the largest savings. Overall, you can expect a maximum of 20% off DJI drones during this time.
8. Educational, Developer, and Non-Profit Discounts
Students, teachers, and academic researchers all qualify for an educational discount from DJI. This discount offers you 10% off select DJI products. The DJI Spark is being offered for 15% off for a short time through the program.
Getting the DJI educational discount is straightforward. All you need to do is verify that you have an academic email address from an accepted institution. Currently, the Tello, Spark, Mavic Pro Platinum, Phantom 4 (Advanced and Pro), and the Inspire 2 drones are available for discounts.
The most generous discount from DJI is reserved for registered developers who are attending university. Qualified individuals will receive 40% off DJI drones. You will need to have an educational email address that is also registered to the DJI developer program.
Registered non-profits have a similar program with DJI. They are being offered 10% off DJI products.
9. Join the DJI Select Program
You can join the DJI Select Program for $29 per year. The program is an easy way to save money if you are planning on getting DJI Care Refresh. You can save 50% on the insurance if you become a member. You also get 5 coupon codes for accessories, a birthday discount, and exclusive offers emailed to you. Finally, you will get priority on new products and faster shipping.