I wonder if Minelab would be interested

[morelic55]

Minelab is the only one that has a control head actualy DESIGNED to be interchangeable. I guess we could do as expected and buy a new X-Terra and throw away the shaft and coil and just keep the control head. The last generation has been programed as a "throw away" generation anyways.

 

[thedeserttortoise]

I have to apologize for my tirade. I wrote that post just after getting plinked by my local Pizza Hut. Its just crazy now days. It dosent seem that anyone cares about the customer like I was taught to when selling cameras 30 plus years ago. The customer was always right... even if they were wrong. If I sent a customer away unhappy, my boss would be all over me. And Furious T. No patriatism left in these old bones. I was just using my country as an example of how far gone, things seem to have gotton to. Yes... I believe that all companies should be more attentive to their customers. In our changing climate... they will have to be.

 

[thedeserttortoise]

And I apologize for the tirade. Just got burnt on a pizza delivery when I wrote that post. It was simply an written expulsion of crap but with the current economy I expect to see more of it. I do believe that manufactures have had it pretty good for a long while. I'm sure I'm not the only one that is having to tighten up my purse strings and as such I am getting a little more concerned with where my dollar goes and what it has to show for itself after the purchase. I just bought my Xterra within the last 12 months. I also bought about 5 or 6 coils for it. I hate to see a market zealous approach to new models. I definitely am not going to purchase the new model. And Furious, sorry about all that America this and America that stuff. I was just using our dismal attempts of resurrection as an example of further economic and social decay... happy MDing for sure.. Tortoise

 

[thedeserttortoise]

The server messed up and this was no 3 of my apologies Tortoise

 

[thedeserttortoise]

And I apologize for the tirade. Just got burnt on a pizza delivery when I wrote that post. It was simply an written expulsion of crap but with the current economy I expect to see more of it. I do believe that manufactures have had it pretty good for a long while. I'm sure I'm not the only one that is having to tighten up my purse strings and as such I am getting a little more concerned with where my dollar goes and what it has to show for itself after the purchase. I just bought my Xterra within the last 12 months. I also bought about 5 or 6 coils for it. I hate to see a market zealous approach to new models. I definitely am not going to purchase the new model. And Furious, sorry about all that America this and America that stuff. I was just using our dismal attempts of resurrection as an example of further economic and social decay... happy MDing for sure.. Tortoise

This was no 2 of my apologies.... jeez. see what happens when you voice a negative bunch of comments........the server made me pay for this one. Good luck all

 

[Digger]

I won't (can't) answer the specific question for Minelab. But I can say that when I asked a couple dealers (and Minelab USA) the same question about 18 months ago, I was told that dealers could not purchase an X-Terra in "piece parts". In other words, dealers have to buy the whole thing from Minelab. Therefore, they were unable to sell me "just a control housing". Honestly, I can't say I blame the dealers. What are they going to do with a bunch of extra rod assemblies and stock coils? However......since then, Minelab has undergone quite a few "changes". New corporate ownership and new management. And, most importantly, the X-Terra control platform has been updated. Maybe, just maybe, they would consider marketing the new X-Terra control box as an individual item. It certainly wouldn't hurt to ask! If enough of us would ask Minelab, they might consider it? Worst case scenerio is that it remains just as it is. They sell the detectors "complete with rods and stock coil" to the dealers in their network, and we negotiate with individual dealers at that point. On the other hand, maybe Minelab would realize that selling an existing X-50 (X-30, X-70) customer a new 505 (305, 705) control housing is better for business than the customer not upgrading at all. Hmmmmm?

One additional comment I would like to make is that Minelab is no different than other detector manufacturers in regard to selling "just the control housing". Granted, the X-Terra, with a single screw holding the housing to the rod assembly, is undoubtedly the easiest to "change out". No cables running to a separate meter, no handles built around the housing, etc. But even so, many other makes offer "interchangeable coils" with their detector models. And whether you are changing the coil on two different detectors or changing two different control housings on one coil, the result is the same. White's MXT shares coils with the DFX, Matrix M6 and the new V3. There was 5 or 6 White's detectors that shared the 6.59 kHz coils. But you still have to buy the whole DFX if you wanted one to use with your MXT coils. Or purchase an entire XLT to use your XLPro coils. The Tesoro Cibola, Vaquero Lobo Super Traq and Tejon all share the same coils and rods. The Tesoro UMax detectors all share the same coils and rod assemblies with the Cortez and the DeLeon. But Tesoro won't sell you a Tejon control box to use with your Cibola coils. Nor will they sell you a Cortez control box if you want to "upgrade" your Golden. First Texas uses the same coil and rod combinations with many of their Bounty Hunter models. But you can't buy the control box as a separate item from First Texas. Same goes with those using a Fisher F70 who want to buy an F75 to use the same coils and rod assemblies. Or those with an F2 wanting to buy an F4 control housing. The Garrett 1500 shares coils and rods with the 2500, and the Garrett 1350 shares coils and rods with the 550 and Master Hunter. And, the Ace 250 shares coils and rods with the Ace 150. But Garrett doesn't sell a control box as a separate item. So what is the problem? Is there no market for "just the control housing". Or are manufacturers "stuck" on the methods they use to market their products? With all that in consideration, maybe we need to ask Minelab to consider it? The X-Terra is on the cutting edge of technology. Why not help Minelab become an innovator in the manner the X-Terra is marketed? Especially now that the new X-Terra platform is available. Allowing a current X-Terra user to enhance their hunting capabilities by adding one of the new "accessory control boxes", without the added expense of duplicating the rods and stock coil, might be worthy of their consideration. Like I said, selling an existing customer a "new control box" has to be better than their missing a sale all together. Thinking down the road......if we can enlighten them as to how we "use" their X-Terra product, it might eventually lead Minelab to reconsider allowing aftermarket coil manufacturers to build a wider arrangement of X-Terra coils and accessory products. Hmmmmmm?

Well, gotta to for now. I'm going to send Minelab my email! JMHO HH Randy

 

[David]

Couldn't have said it better myself Randy!! An aftermarket Detech 15x12" SEF(in LF or MF) for the X-70(5) makes my mouth water!! Some also want an in-line probe for it like SunRay.

Yes send them a customer feedback e-mail for sure!!

 

[Furious T]

Hey, thedeserttortoise, no offence taken. I thought your post was fine, and sometimes it's good to let off a little steam. I only mentioned that I'm from Aus. because I think this could be something that affects people world-wide. I actaully enjoyed your post, and will look forward to seeing more in the future. Sorry to hear about the pizza episode - the hirted help just aint what it used to be. All the best, Sapper.

 

[Furious T]

Thanks for the comments Randy. Very thoughtful concise and pertinent. As you said, it cant hurt to ask the question. The worst you can get is "No". Sapper.