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An open letter to FT/Fisher

I

Idaho-Marke

New member
I've got to sell my F-75 and I want you to know why so perhaps I can buy a future Fisher.

My F-75 is my primary machine. The one I reach for first, but the problem is I travel a lot and my F-75 doesn't fit in an airline carry on bag and I won't check in in baggage because 1) it might get lost 2) it might be broken and if either one of things happen, my MDing on the trip won't be happening. Instead I take my back up machine, an XT-70 and since I use it so little I have to re-learn the darn thing each time and I'm really sick of it.

If you could please take this into consideration on your next designs, I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way about checking an $1,100 machine with the airlines. When I bought my F-75 to replace my MXT I didn't even think to check if it would fit in a carry on. My mistake. I went to Ireland and a day before went to pack my F-75 and guess what... it wouldn't break down into the carry on so I had to take my XT-70 which thankfully is a fine machine also. But, I don't want to take my backup even if it is a good machine. As we all know, you get the best results with the machine you know well.

Anyway, if anyone has the ear of FT/Fisher please tell them about this carry on problem. Love my F-75, but can't stand the breakups anymore before I go on trips. I need a machine I can take with me that I know like the back of my hand. Further, FT/Fisher you lose a customer. Minelab will get my next $$$ for a top of the line machine instead of FT/Fisher. A simple design change would stop others from taking their $$ to another company so I encourage you to consider this idea.

Best wishes,

Idaho-Marke
 
Well I feel for you but I don't agree with you!
 
You might want to invest in a hard case for shipping on airlines..You can also pack all your detecting gear in with it safely.
 
I like Minelabs as much as anyone but if that was my only reason for switching, I'd get a hard case and some foam and cut the foam to fit. Seems to me to be a waste if the F75 has been good to you. It would be different if you didn't like it, but it sounds like you do, so it might be worth a little extra work on your part. Just a thought.
 
But, I have seen people carry-on guitars, and all kinds of other strange sized objects. As long as they fit into the overhead compartments it's fine. My F75 does not breakdown fully like when you can take the control box right off, but I do hike with it in my backpack by taking off the middle & lower rods, & leaving the coil attached to the lower rod. Then you just have the box & upper arm part to deal with.
My T2 came with a Technetics duffle bag that both the F75 & T2 fit in nicely. I never liked the idea of checking in expensive detector equipment either, so personally I would carry the unit on, & this duffle bag will definately fit into the overhead. The idea of a hard shell case & foam is also a good one if your concerned about breakage. I've seen some detectorists make some nice ones to go to the UK out of the hardshell golf bag cases & foam....
HH,
Bill
 
Idaho-Marke has a good point. On my trip to Galveston I was forced to put my F-75 in my checked baggage as the top shaft with the control housing is 24" long. The airline I used has a dimensional requirement for carry-on baggage of 45 linear inches. That would be L + W + H in inches. Originally thought I might use a 22" long bag and put the F-75 top shaft in there crosswise to fit but it really wouldn't. If you use a bag 24" long so your F-75 (also BHID300) will fit in there, that leaves you with 21 linear inches left. In my case, I wanted to put my 12" coil from the BHID300 and the 11" coil from the F-75 in my carry-on. A bag 24" long and at least 12" either H or W would leave 9". Hard to find a carry-on bag with those dimensions ( 24" X 12" X 9" )

You might be able to get away with something larger but what if you don't? Seems to me to be tough enough flying today when you've complied with all restrictions, so exceeding baggage restrictions is just asking for trouble.

Ron
 
That's a great idea Bill. I have the Teknetics bag as well, it's amazingly small so it shouldn't be any problem to carry on. Great tip!

By the way if anyone wants the bag I'll let it go for $30 shipped. It is in new shape and normally costs $50 plus shipping. I sold my T2 and thus don't need it. Drop me an email if you want it.
 
And so do the others. It's a matter of your personal needs. However, if FT/Fisher gets a letter here and there they might miss the point. Here, in an open forum we can say "We want to travel with our favorite machine, can you make it smaller please" and then others who have that need also can chime in an request the same. Word will get to them and perhaps they will do something about it. It's their market share and in BOTH your best interests to support the idea because if this company goes under in this tough economy so does your warranty and any future developments. So, I'm taking my $1000.00 + to another company for the reason that other companies have taken this luggage size AIRLINE restriction into consideration. How many consumers simply take their business to other companies without a word why? I bought one of the first F-75's. If they address my luggage restriction concerns which we know at least one other person has also experienced (and perhaps many others), I'll gladly buy another F-75 (especially with the 5" DD coil coming :).

For those who care to check a $1000.00 + detector, more power to you. It's your personal choice. I can't afford the risk. Ever showed up somewhere without your bags. I have. According to "60 Minutes", "20/20" kind of shows lost luggage is a HUGE problem. Stolen luggage is a HUGE problem. I travel a lot. I know it's a HUGE problem. Inside the cabin I don't have gorillas chucking my hard case around. When I arrive, so does my detector. In good shape. To each his own and God Bless us all.

HH
 
and the F75 & F70 it in there well too.....
maybe take a pic of it so folks can see what we mean......
 
Great idea, I took 2 pics of it, all I have is the webcam on my laptop so they aren't the greatest but people will get the idea....
 
Again, check out the bag made for the T2, it is probably just the ticket.

I guess if you wanna give up the 75, you won't have a problem selling it. They are damn good machines. It seems silly to get so riled up when there is a $50 solution to the problem.
 
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