LebGeeks

infiniteloop

Member

Bying a drone from US and Beirut's airport?

I have e a good occasion to buy a dji drone from the US as my cousin is there for 3 weeks, it's an expensive drone even in the US but easily 300$ less than here, I think the box itself is small as the Mavic Air is foldable and as small as a Spark, but are the customs in the Beirut airport very nit picking on drones and do they scan every single travel case?

rolf

Member

Re: Bying a drone from US and Beirut's airport?

In my experience there is no consistency, there is no telling if they will scan your suitcase or not.

chosen2k

Member

Re: Bying a drone from US and Beirut's airport?

In case they try to stop him from bringing in the drone, don't let him accept.

rolf

Member

Re: Bying a drone from US and Beirut's airport?

Assuming that the Law says that you need a license to import a drone, how is he going to refuse it?
Sure he can try.

Azachariou

Member

Re: Bying a drone from US and Beirut's airport?

keep in mind that he's going to have to put the batteries in his carry-on

RandomMemory

Member

Re: Bying a drone from US and Beirut's airport?

You need a license. why risk it?

infiniteloop

Member

Re: Bying a drone from US and Beirut's airport?

Well because of the huge price difference:
Dji Mavic Air refurbished USA = 700$
Dji Mavic Air in Lebanon comes only as Fly more = 1100$

As of spark it's even more crazy:
Dji Spark + RC + 1additional battery so like fly more = 400$ in the USA
Dji Spark fly more in Lebanon = 750$

Both Antaki and Billboard, the 2 proclaimed Dji dealers here are overpricing this ''new'' technology as usual in our country.

rolf

Member

Re: Bying a drone from US and Beirut's airport?

If you do bring it please keep us updated.

vlatkozelka

Member

Re: Bying a drone from US and Beirut's airport?

In my experience there is no consistency, there is no telling if they will scan your suitcase or not.

They charged me 10$ for a 10$ item lol
And my friends got charged 10$ for 4 items in the same box that were worth like 100$

It's really random. I guess the formula that day was 10$ per box

vlatkozelka

Member

Re: Bying a drone from US and Beirut's airport?

You know I've always followed a rule when buying stuff: If I think about it overnight && I have enough money to get it -> I go buy it

You've been posting about buying a drone for like a year now. Just get it!!

It doesn't matter the extra VAT or whatever. You re-compensated for that by waiting a whole year! That's worth like 10K lol

mmk92

Member

Re: Bying a drone from US and Beirut's airport?

@infiniteloop, off topic, how's it like using a drone in Lebanon and what's your favorite spots?

I see you're a drone enthusiast and I've been thinking of getting into Drones for a while.

Which Drones have you bought so far and which would you recommend to be used here in Leb?

Last edited by mmk92 (July 11 2018)

infiniteloop

Member

Re: Bying a drone from US and Beirut's airport?

Never owned a drone, it will be my first one, that's why I don't want to throw tremendous amount of money for Lebanese thieves.I understamd if I am paying 50 to 150$ more because of profit and VAT but paying 300 to 500$ more...
I was going for the Spark at 1st but saw so much reviews saying it's too limited in terms of video and photo quality I am thinking about Mavic Air

mmk92

Member

Re: Bying a drone from US and Beirut's airport?

They're not thieves if you consensually give them money.

rolf

Member

Re: Bying a drone from US and Beirut's airport?

I think my brother brought a drone here in his suitcase once not so long ago. I will ask to make sure.
It's not a phantom, more like a cheap one with a gopro included, but the drone is bigger than 30x30 cm.

If you're into video quality I recommend a drone with gimball.
Both of the drones you mentioned have one sort of. The drone I mentioned doesn't, you just stick the gopro at the bottom, the image wobbles a lot, it'll make you dizzy.

Last edited by rolf (July 11 2018)