Detector Purchase??

[D&P-OR]

When considering purchase of a detector---What criteria/research do you use prior to the purchase of a detector you may be interested in?----Internet, "hands on", hunting buddies, detecting club, etc.?------I sound like a metal detector "questionaire"! -----Just trying to break the "winter blahs" a little for us here. ---------Del

 

[jim tn]

Pretty much the treasure forums for me. I read the comments on recently released models and pretty much go from there. This latest release, though, has had so much hype associated with it that it has been tough separating fact from fiction on performance and problems. A fellow club member is also a dealer, so I am able to get some first hand info from him as well. HH jim tn

 

[leroy1937]

You can get good information right here or the other forms on this same page

 

[dewcon4414]

That latest release for me started off VERY slow. I use the forums, read the manuals, and talk to those gurus on here that have tested them or whose review i can trust. I dont buy hype.... i like to wait for at least a year to make sure the real scoop is out there. I also use the forums to read about finds and difficulties with the machine. Doesnt take long before start talking about things they would have liked for the machine to have had. Also... what area of the country do these machines seem to be working best. But... the bottom line is always mine, i dont let someone talk me into buying.

Dew

 

[Furious T]

I do a lot of reading when I know of a new detector, articles, field reports etc etc...then I look at features, weight & whether it will add anything new (or better) to my arsenal...That's about it really..oh yeah! nearly forgot...I also look at my finances.

 

[Elton]

I never buy a detector based on what the producing company says about it. I try to never buy a first run complete new model detector either. To many bugs in them.. AT pro being an example right now. The Whites Vs not long ago. I read the Forum..see what the real in field guys say about them. Try to see if the detector is better, and deeper than what I have. I also base my purchase on past experiences..if a detector didn't work well from the company I bought from..I usually do not buy another detector from that producer. I do keep an open mind though and realize companies do improve. Just look at the V3i. It's a good performer now after several upgrades from Whites. ............. Just because a detector goes the deepest doesn't mean I like it after I get it. I myself find the Explorers to be fine depth units, but the weight isn't what I like to carry around while enjoying my hobby.


Service is another big issue I rely on.. Poor service and I don't care how good the detector works..I will not buy from a company that does not take care of it's customers. When you spend upwards or over a Thousand Dollars there is no excuse a company can give me when they fail to replace a defect unit.

 

[Uncle Willy]

For anyone considering apurchase, wait awhile and don't jump the gun, read the forums - all of them, read the field tests from credible field testers you know or think you can trust who ain't blowing smoke up your keaster - like me. HAA. Read and find out everything you can about a given machine. Don't buy because someone else tells you it's the greatest thing since sex and their's finds treasure everywhere. What is claimed to be good for someone else could be devestating for you. Buy something that fits you, everything about you, your experience and expertise, and fits the particular environment you hunt in and what you hunt for, plus the ergonomics of the machine. There's nothing worse than a machine that doesn't fit you or is uncomfortable to use. Above all check the customer service reports of the company whose detector you are interested in. Lousy service can rapidly negate all of the aforementioned..Also, unless you are a real pro, pick a machine that is easy to learn and operate. I've been doing this for 46 years and I still like em easy. Good luck.

Bill

 

[Ron from Michigan]

n/t

 

[Darkflight]

And I'm fairly stuck on the beep/dig thing. In that I want direct feedback from what the ground signal is not a sampling from a program.
I use a Tesoro Silver & Troy X2-very similar machines & I can swap coils around.

I purchased the Silver with the tax return & it is getting close to that time again.

I read a lot here & read reviews on any used units that come up locally on craigs for example. And I had pretty much settled on 2 of the latest greatest.

But then I watched the video's. Frankly with the way I hunt there is a lesser $ unit that has very fast recoveryVCO adio feedback & VDI#'s-in all metal. Thats fine with me & the video's are what helped me make my mind up.And that unit is 1/2 the price of the ones I was looking at.
Cheers!

 

[Mike Hillis]

What? No impulse buyers? Have to admit many of mine have been impulse buys.

When I'm wanting to buy for a specific need, the first thing I do is go back to the dealer catalogs and see what they all offer that might fit my need and create a list of possibles based upon their feature sets. Then I read those manuals. Then I read all their field tests and reviews and cut it down to a couple that look like they would fit me and my personal preferences. Then from those I pick the one that I think I'll enjoy learning/using the best. Then I make the new or used decision and go hunt one down until I have it in my hands.

HH
Mike

 

[D&P-OR]

You're an honest man Mike!!!----Impulse buyer--I gotta admit I've done that myself, "been there, done that"! -----I TRY not to do it anymore though. --------Del

 

[newalaska]

I am looking to buy a new detector with aroud a 500-600 budget, I live in Alaska so I need something that can be used in a wet cold climate any suggestions?
Thanks

 

[Lizz]

I can say I love the Fisher F5. So far I've had a blast with it. Once you take time to learn and get the feel of it, it's an excellent machine. Hope this helps.

 

[UK Brian]

You can't beat just trying the few your interested in which is the big plus of being in a club. Every comment below is right on target. If you check out forum reviews you have to know if you can trust the opinions given.

The new Garrett has hit new hights (or should I say lows) of hype. Nasa Tom has had good points used on other forums and the bad missed out. Monte (always worth a read) must have mention the T2 because thats being used as the excuse as to why you should ignore what he says (suggestion he gave away a T2 as a prize therefore is in First Texas's pocket !). They should read all his reviews if they think that.
I was on the verge of being banned from a forum for suggesting that someone who already had good machines but wanted to try wading in a few months time when the water becomes warm enough should hang on till any problems are resolved and might even get the detector cheaper from one of those who just has to buy every new detector. A few have been sold on here as the purchasers had ordered from the U.S. to save a third on the price then found that their vision didn't cope to well with the small display. Threats didn't bother me because the moderators making them are complete wastes of space. Little equipment, less finds. Nice global comments on that forum too," All C-Scopes are rubbish", Discovery in the U.S. and C-Scope in the U.K. are the same company. Hmmm. Wonder if thats to rubbish Discovery detectors.I've still got and use my Discovery Treasure Baron.

As always "buyer beware"

 

[camo]

I just bought a brand new detector .My old one and me did a lot of miles together and it will make a good back-up. Living in Oregon put me with a Whites ''Coin master''' even though I do most of my hunting in the forests . It's nice knowing that a coin can show up while I'm sweeping for relics . Finding trash is one thing that's'' good'' when I'm deep in the woods because it tells me that there 's an old shack or house foundation near by.So most of the time the detector is running ''full bore''!
It's not the size of the magician's wand but the way in witch he waves it.