No-drone zone: DJI, consumers grapple with Beijing sales ban

A sweeping rule change for drones in Beijing, which bars sales in the Chinese capital and requires identity registration linked to each device from Friday, has left sellers and consumers scrambling to cope with some of the country’s toughest regulations on the sector.

At a flagship retail store operated by DJI, the world’s largest drone maker, in Beijing’s bustling Guomao area, a shop assistant said that the store had been preparing to clear its shelves of all drone products in accordance with the ban.

The store was set to remove all drone products – from the affordable Neo series to the most expensive Mavic models – on Thursday, the employee said, adding that the shop was running low on stock due to an influx of customers snapping products before it was too late.

Beijing’s legislature approved the new regulation on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), a category that includes drones, in late March. In a first for the country, it prohibits the transport of drones into the city as well as their sale.

E-commerce platforms, including Alibaba Group Holding’s Taobao marketplace and rival JD.com, will also halt sales and shipments of drones to Beijing from Friday.

Some DJI stores have been dealing with crowds of customers trying to take stock of the new regulation’s impact, deciding whether to buy backup devices or upgrade before the sales ban.

At least four DJI official stores in Beijing have been contacting customers to inform them of the new rule and advising them to make necessary purchases or upgrades while they still can, according to a screenshot of messages sent to potential clients and seen by the South China Morning Post.