No Accessories or Protection for your new Detector ????

[nuggethunting]

Hey Guys,

We all know what I'm talking about, hopefully .....

What puzzles me the most is when a manufacture brings out a high dollar metal detector, but don't have any accessory items or protection for it. If you purchased a $40,000 vehicle and they told you it wouldn't come with any underguard protection or a front grill, just be careful and hopefully you don't scratch up the bottom or have too many items fly into the radiator, what would be your thoughts ....

You can purchase a $XXXX detector, but you can't protect it, can't get replaceable coil covers, can't get a replacement battery or charger if needed.

I love the product, the best in the WORLD in my opinion, but what is wrong with this picture?

Curious on your thoughts.

[Mike Furness]

Rob ... Chris and I have discussed this at length ... Minelab is so protective of their newest products that even after market providers can't get any info ... I sometimes wonder if ML wants to corner production on all the 'accessaries' and if so why don't they make them available at the same time the detector comes out? ... maybe they should work out royalty deals with after market companies so they can concentrate on what they do best. I hesitate to say this but perhaps they are so concentrated and single minded on their detector business that they don't give any thought to its eventual end user. Since they have become a product of a major parent corporation it also appears that what happens to the bottom line is more important than what is really needed in the field. I concede that they make the best detectors and are on the cutting edge of new technology but that is as far as it goes.

Just a few rambling thoughts to start answering your question ... the same question most of us have ... the latest additions of the SDC2300 and the GPZ7000 are top of the heap ,,, BUT they lack some things that the end user wants. For me owning both ... I want a box cover and stand for my SDC and a box cover for the GPZ as a minimum. Heck ... Chris had to beg Minelab for replacement batteries for a single battery that was bad right out of the box ... it wouldn't take a charge at all ... since I delivered the unit to the original buyer I put one of my batteries with the new ones so the new owner could use his machine upon delivery and lesson. Whenever I deliver a detector I always charge the battery before delivery so the customer can use it immediately if desired and especially if they are receiving a lesson with delivery. I'm still waiting for the battery to be delivered to me and have since purchase an 8 pack of 5000 m/a batteries from Amazon ,,, those have already been delivered, charged, used and found gold! Should not have had to go to Amazon for those batteries ... Minelab should have sold them to me through the retail detector dealer.

OK ... off the soapbox ... Have a golden day!

Mike F

[nvchris]

Actually the current release is much like the SD2000, they didn't even come (to the distributor) with batteries or headphones.

Great detectors, lousy upper management.

[Tortuga]

I'm in total agreement Rob.

They have the coil covers out for the SDC but can't do it for the GPZ?

And you already know my thoughts on the control box covers.

I think Minelab would make a ton of money just selling simple, velcro and nylon covers for their machines. They charge $90 for the SDC carry case so they could easily charge $100 for a control box cover.

[Ridge Runner]

I hope Minelab and other detector companies hear you. I say why should I have to go buy a cover and stand that should come with the detector. Like someone said on another post is why don't we get coil covers too.

It's the same old story we've heard before. That's someone gets the gold mine and we get the shaft.

It's lucky to have Rob as a dealer for Minelab being gets us whatever we need if he can get it. I know it cost us more money but Rob didn't get it free either.

Chuck Anders

[goldfind]

I don't think my GPZ coil cover will last another 2 months. So I hope they will release the GPZ coil covers soon.

[nuggethunting]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the comments. Would like to hear from others. I have a few customers that purchased the units from me right out of the gate, which has been at least a few months now. Several of them have wore through the coil covers already, now using duct tape and other stuff to help protect the high dollar coil. They are not happy campers knowing every day they have to mess around with tape and other stuff to protect the coil as there is no covers yet available.

I would think at a bare minimum, coil covers, batteries and chargers would be ready to purchase the same date the unit was released.

[Tortuga]

My only other complaint about the GPZ 7000 is the velcro armrest strap. Just feels cheap, seems like an afterthought. It was probably just the same one that was on the CTX 3030, a much less expensive unit.

It works tho but it could be better. Should be a little more up to par with the one on the GPX series. Hopefully someone like Eureka Worx comes out with some nice control box covers and armrest straps for both the GPZ and the SDC.

[fredm]

Rob, you mentioned a problem with your wm12 module...I was just informed there won't be any replacement until the end of May....pitiful!!!!

I think Minelab needs to cut open some units a nd use the parts for current owners.

Counting the first unit as one problem I have also had a 12v car-charger come apart and the module is defective. I get very nice emails expressing great sorrow for the inconvenience-what good does that do? I want my very expensive toy to be fully functional, not sort of functional And I want it now!!!

not that any of this wailing will do any good

fred

[DOC]

I am in the process of having a really nice cover set made for the GPZ7000. Coil covers are available however, they are out of them right now. I was able to snag 3 of them.

I think they are so busy making them they are not making the accessories, which I agree is not very wise.

Also when you get your GPZ7000, you might want to take care to do something the protect the feet on the bottom on the unit. They are easily broke off if you drag the detector across the ground.

I have some shallow U shapped fiberglass channeling coming, that i intend to cut to size and glue on the feet with silicone to protect them. In the meantime, I think I would consider using anything to protect the machine. Maybe a large stretchy sock?

Just got the first prototype of the SDC2300 and GPZ7000 cover today. It looks real good, a couple of modifications need to be made but they are minor. So give me 30 days and you will have something to protect your GPZ7000 and the screen.

Thanks,

Doc

[Ridge Runner]

Maybe their thinking is nothing can go wrong with a one dollar less the ten thousand detector. You would think for all the technology that went into this detector nothing could go wrong. The trouble is from the lowest price to GPZ 7000 things do happen. The trouble nothing happen until you get it. The electronics is all made by Minelab but maybe the other is farmed out to other companies. It all comes back to quality control before it goes out the door.

Chuck Anders

[nugget108]

Hopefully this won't ruin them. I think we've all seen awesome products come along but years later they are going under because they don't want to take care of the end user. THE PERSON WHO PAID FOR IT. Hopefully they do right for you guys.

[nuggethunting]

Hey Guys,

Here are some of my thoughts about the product and Manufacture. No questions in my mind they are the best detectors in the World for the ability to find small gold, mid and large gold at depth in just about every type of mineralization on the Earth. I couldn't imagine going back to a VLF to even just hunt bedrock (too much hot bedrock out there). I'm confident I can find just as much, if not, more gold on the same ground with a SDC 2300 then an VLF or user.

The new product is superior, but heavy. All my customers are more than satisfied with the performance, but do question the accessories and warranty of products that are not in stock right now. I have heard some reports of batteries, wireless remotes and screen blanking out, but customers having to wait to get replacements. I couldn't honestly answer why this is the case, probably the fact they are trying to get units out first, then accessories. I would hate to be one that invested 10k and had to wait for a replacement part and couldn't use my detector.

I think the product sold better than expected for a 10K metal detector. Most thought they wouldn't sell, but I couldn't keep them in stock at first, now there is a shortage until the end of May on them. I still have a few units in stock, which is nice.

For anyone having a battery issue, I still have some CTX/GPZ smaller batteries that last around 4 hours. I have one myself and it works great. I carry the larger and the small one when I'm detecting around. For the most part, these two batteries will cover a weekend hunting for me.

[FlakMagnet]

Rob, I applaud you for bringing this whole topic up.

As a dealer it must be difficult to make the decision to talk about shortcomings of your primary product.

And, you are absolutely correct to do so, MineLab has a chance to make their product better

by implementing simple improvements that will help the customers.

This is not meant to be some kind of mean-spirited rant, but rather it is to point out fairly clear-cut shortcomings

Because the GPZ works and the electronics are innovative MineLab pretty much knows they can count on us buying them.

The 7000 is hugely expensive but why Minelab continues to stop short of making a well-finished detector

is mystifying and seems rather dismissive of a consistently loyal customer base.

For a breakthrough technology that represents a big step forward in the prospecting world

it seems strange that the 7000 appears to have been rushed onto the market.

Stories of batteries that don't work with no immediately replacement available,

screens that stop working (and what is up with that cheap screen protection, a ten-year-old Gameboy has a better covering).

a coil cover that wears out incredibly quickly with, again, no replacements available

seems beneath a company of this size and capability.

A ten thousand dollar detector simply should not be released without a dust cover.

The finish of the handle under the screen should not have sharp edges that cut into a persons hand (this was on an SDC

don't know about the GPZ).

All these sorts of things are simple and cheap to fix or make much better.

It is difficult to imagine that the profit margin is so tight with this detector

that these kinds of fixes and improvements were not considered.

Of course, that being said, as soon as I can get my hands on ten thousand bucks, I'm going to run out and buy one.

So maybe I'm just full of hot air.

Thanks again Rob.

[strick]

Hey Guys,

We all know what I'm talking about, hopefully .....

What puzzles me the most is when a manufacture brings out a high dollar metal detector, but don't have any accessory items or protection for it. If you purchased a $40,000 vehicle and they told you it wouldn't come with any underguard protection or a front grill, just be careful and hopefully you don't scratch up the bottom or have too many items fly into the radiator, what would be your thoughts ....

Curious on your thoughts.

Seriously, a multi thousand dollar detector that does not come with a real nice hard case is kinda an insult....but I bent over and bought one any way...

strick

[Uncle Ron]

Maybe some saran wrap and some spray on truckbed liner!!!! Or a triple extra large trojan? Cheers, Unc

[nuggethunting]

Hey Guys,

I can tell you Minelab is listening.

I agree, I think anyone that is capable of buying one will do. The unit is amazing, never thought it would have the performance and depth ability that it does. I haven't heard anyone question the ability to balance out mineralization, find tiny, mid and large gold at extreme depths (some cases more than 40%).

If I know Minelab Americas, they are working hard to get any issues resolved. If there is anyway I can help, I'm always willing to help as much as possible (customer of mine or not).

Hoping to have some more hours on mine this weekend on some new country. Not sure if there is a single speck of gold, but after this weekend I will know whether to return or not.

[Oystrich]

It's quite surprising to know that if you are investing so much on a detector and not getting any protection for that!

[nuggethunting]

Hello All,

Just to clarify there are a few guys out there making covers for the GPZ, but they are expensive and most of them in UK or out of the country. I believe Doc with Doc's Detecting, long time friend is working on this project and will have something available for the GPZ and SDC within the next month. I will have a large stock from Doc at that time and ready to ship.

Right now I'm using a camo control box cover for the GPX series on my GPZ and it's working well. It's not a perfect fit, but does protect the bottom of the GPZ box until something official comes out.

I think Thesaurus Detecting on Ebay has a cover for anyone looking right now for one. I don't know the craftsmanship of them, but I have heard many have ordered and they are being shipped from the UK.

[Mike Furness]

Rob ... Good idea on the GPX cover ... never gave it a thought. Temporary situation of course until Doc has stock. Thanks for the update.

Mike F

[Tortuga]

Been waiting two weeks for Thesaurus Detecting just to BUILD my GPZ cover. They must be really backlogged.

However the wait time was indicated in the auction description so it wasn't completely unexpected.

Once it's actually built then I gotta wait however long for it to ship from the UK. Going to be a long process.

[way2cool]

It shouldn't be that hard to make a paper template for the cover then buy some material or go to a upholster shop and have them sew it up. For the screen run to walmart and buy a tablet cover then trim it down to size or wait for DOC's to be released in a month or less.

[jasong]

If a person wants to get a screen protector make sure to do it when the detector is new, once the screen gets scratches it won't go on right anymore, too many bubbles and it makes it hard to see. Also my feet broke relatively early and easily like Doc's did so I second that statement, be careful with them. The plastic there is flimsy especially since it's meant to be a load bearing part.

To Minelab: It's being marketed as a serious tool for serious detectorists and full timers and as such should be built like a tool and not a toy, it needs to stand up to daily use and be exposed to constant rugged conditions. The lack of replacement parts is concerning, but outside the coil covers I do not even want to have to be thinking about replacing parts like screens, feet, clips, armrests, etc this early on yet I find it to be a daily concern. Also, at this price point we as customers should not have to be buying aftermarket covers or cases, that should be provided OEM. Maybe we could do without the cap and the keychain and put a detector cover and screen protector in the box instead? Or at least a spare coil cover.

On the plus side, the electronics are great (I have some suggestions there too though) and the machine is powerful, not sure there is a better detector in the world right now for overall general use. Also, I love that bungee - I want a second one for my 4500 too whenever accesories become available.

I'm new to the forum but good to see a dealer here talking about the tougher issues, I'm impressed. I think Minelab has a good product, hopefully they take the customer input here and make a few corrections.

[nuggethunting]

Hey Guys,

Mike F. - I'm using AZO's Camo Box Cover right now for protection. I think it's working for the time being. Not the greatest fit, but sure keeps the scratches from the bottom. I did purchase a cheap screen cover for the GPZ 7000 when I first got it off Ebay and it works. I thought the CTX screen cover might work, but it's too small and I had to cut it to get it to cover and it didn't fit right.

Tortuga - Lets us know how the "Thesaurus Detecting" cover works out and quality.

Jasong - Thanks for the comments on the forum. Great to have you here.

I have some coil covers on the way and maybe some batteries. Looks like the Wireless modules WM12's are still on backorder. I'm not sure how much of each item I will let yet, as others are trying to get some also.

just a FYI.

[DOC]

It shouldn't be that hard to make a paper template for the cover then buy some material or go to a upholster shop and have them sew it up. For the screen run to walmart and buy a tablet cover then trim it down to size or wait for DOC's to be released in a month or less.

Walmarts fabric section has clear vinyl by the yard. Very inexpensive and really heavy duty. It is what I use to make prototypes.

Doc