Lost a phantom anyone?

[Richlizard]

Two phantoms have gone up for sale on Ebay today. One in Maidstone and one in Bristol.

Strangely, neither of them have a transmitter and even more strange is the wording is almost identical. I am sure it is possible, but seems pretty dodgy to me.

1. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/dji-phantom-/301293945001
Description... "Dji phantom with battery and camera holder. unfortunately this unit does not have a remote, was in perfect working order last used, but can not guarantee now as has not been used in a while."

2. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161402463688
Description... "Here I have dji phantom with battery and camera holder for spares was working last time it was used no controler or battery charger"

Perhaps I and many others are being a little cynical. But if someone here has lost one, perhaps... ?

[ashutchy]

Cynical or not Rich those ads certainly set off alarm bells. Just a shame we can';t set up a central database for lost multirotors. 

[Richlizard]

Cynical or not Rich those ads certainly set off alarm bells. Just a shame we can';t set up a central database for lost multirotors. 

Somebody on one of the Facebook pages is going to set up a site for recording UAV serial numbers. Great idea. I will post it when sorted.

[nub]

aye the 1st one is a bit dodgy, i mean why would you buy it 2nd hand without the controller especially if you or you husband know nothing about them unless she got it for like £50 hmmm

[Richlizard]

aye the 1st one is a bit dodgy, i mean why would you buy it 2nd hand without the controller especially if you or you husband know nothing about them unless she got it for like £50 hmmm

Yeah she may be completely innocent... but doubt who she bought it off was!

[Friskle]

aye the 1st one is a bit dodgy, i mean why would you buy it 2nd hand without the controller especially if you or you husband know nothing about them unless she got it for like £50 hmmm

That';s the whole point, when someone knows nothing, they end up buying, then realising the issues later, sadly, some do.

But very dodgy, when either one is without TX.

Plus with DJI stuff, I have to be signed in via my mail address, which is connected to the serial number, upon setting up the software, you would think that DJI could make matters much simpler, eg, if the address does not match the number on a different pc, then it blocks it.

Never tried it myself, unless it does, no clue.

[Hands0n]

Honestly! Why can';t people just do the honest thing and hand them in to the local Police station for someone to claim later on. If not collected in three months it becomes theirs to do as they see fit.  I remain highly doubtful of both and it looks to me like pure opportunism (finder';s keepers) to make a quick wedge of pound notes! 

The Maidstone one has turned up on one of the groups I hang around in on Facebook.   Decidedly dodgy in my opinion, and no doubt we will see more of this!

[G60jet]

On 29-Aug-14 at 11:58:22 BST, seller added the following information:

Right after a mass amout of messages from people I have spoken to dji directly, they have confirmed that it is probably a fly away, there is no way for them to contact the original owner and they have dealt with this quite alot. They also confirmed that it probably had changed hands several times before I purchessed it, they told me I am well within my rights to sell this item as I purchessed it unknowingly and have no way of finding the original owner. Thankyou for all of your interest but please no more messages regarding the fact it is a fly away as I have done my best to find the owner, I purchased this item for what I consider a lot of money and it has been sitting in the shed for a few months now and I would just like to sell it and try and claim my money back. Thank you again for your interest.

If its a fly away then really she needs to take it to the police station

[Hands0n]

...  they told me I am well within my rights to sell this item as I purchessed it unknowingly and have no way of finding the original owner.

Actually, she';s not quite right there.  There is no "finders keepers" law in the UK, and lost items should be handed in to the Police rather than simply sold on or kept.  Doing the latter can amount to theft. And even if she';s bought it in good faith she could find herself being "in posession of stolen goods" which, regardless of whether she knew or not, can place her in rather a tenuous legal position.  In law "I didn';t know ..." holds no water.  Ignorance, legally, is not bliss!

My advice to her would be to hand it in, it is unlikely to be reclaimed within three months, at which time she can claim it from the Police for it to become her property to dispose of as she sees fit.

[G60jet]

Spoken ti DJI directly   

that';s unlikely their CS is poor from my experience.

[fruitsalad]

sounds a bit dodgy,trying to cover there ass..
why would you buy a used phantom with no tx....just doesnt add up