The new drone in town, the GoPro Karma, has been facing some turbulence in the market since its launch. No, it’s not facing sales issues due to tough competition; it’s just that some units are reportedly faulty. It hasn’t been even a month since its release, and the GoPro Karma is already being recalled. Reportedly, some of the drones sold had faced power failure.
GoPro posted on its official website that the Karma drones were being recalled because of the performance issues that were being caused due to some underlying problems with the power of the device. The drone company also assured that the shipment of the drones will resume once the problem is resolved.
On the official page, GoPro also posted some FAQs like how to return GoPro Karma drone units. The company is also coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to tackle with the situation. But note that the Karma Grip and the Hero5 Black are not being recalled.
A good thing is that GoPro is concerned about the safety of its customers, as the company’s CEO Nicholas Woodman said, “Safety is our top priority. We are very sorry to have inconvenienced our customers and we are taking every step to make the return and refund process as easy as possible.” Woodman also added that the GoPro Hero5 and GoPro Karma drone both will bring back the profits the company has been awaiting, as GoPro faced some significant downfall in sales in the recent months.
The GoPro Karma was released on 23rd October and is priced at $799. The company was able to sell around 2,500 drones since the release. Of course, the GoPro Karma recall has proved that DJI is still the king when it comes to drones. Meanwhile, if you have got a Karma drone and are facing issues with it, you can visit the official site for more info like how to return GoPro Karma drone and get a refund. Here is the FAQs posted by the company for your reference.
Q: Why is GoPro conducting this recall?
A: The recall was announced after we discovered that in a small number of cases, Karma units lost power during operation. We are investigating the issue and working in close coordination with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Federal Aviation Administration.
Q: Is there a recall on HERO5 Black or Karma Grip?
A: No. The recall is only for the Karma drone. HERO5 Black and Karma Grip are not subject to a recall. However, if you purchased the Karma drone bundle package, which included HERO5 Black and Karma Grip, you must return those with your Karma drone for a full refund.
Q: My Karma drone appears to be operating okay. Can I continue to use it?
A: No. Even though your Karma appears to be working fine, we are asking all customers to immediately stop using the product and participate in the recall. Refer to the Return Instructions section above.
Q: Can I exchange my Karma drone for one that is not affected?
A: No. We are recalling all Karma units and providing a full refund. We are investigating the issue and plan to make Karma available once it has been resolved.
Q: How do I return Karma?
A: Refer to the Return Instructions section above.
Q: What if I bought Karma at Best Buy or bestbuy.com?
A: All Karma drones bought at Best Buy or bestbuy.com should be returned to your nearest Best Buy store with the receipt for a full refund. Even though the recall is only for the Karma drone, all components included with the Karma drone bundle, including HERO4 Black and Karma Grip, must be returned for a full refund. Refer to the Return Instructions section above.
Q: Will I receive a refund for Karma?
A: Yes. You will receive a refund for your purchase. All components included with the Karma drone bundle, including HERO5 Black and Karma Grip, must be returned for a full refund. Once your complete return has been processed and refund issued we will send you a HERO5 Black as a thank you. For Best Buy customers to receive their HERO5 Black, please contact GoPro Customer Support directly and have your original transaction number available to confirm your product has been returned and processed at Best Buy.
Q: Will I receive a refund for GoPro Care for Karma? And what if I bought accessories?
A: Yes. You will receive a refund for GoPro Care for Karma and any Karma-related accessories you may have purchased.
Q: I no longer have the receipt for the product. Can I still return it?
A: Yes. You can still return the product without a receipt. Please work directly with GoPro for no receipt returns.
Q: Do I have to return all the components received with the Karma drone if I purchased a Karma drone bundle?
A: Yes. Even though the recall is only for the Karma drone, all components included with the Karma drone bundle, including HERO5 Black and Karma Grip, must be returned for a full refund.