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Minelab X-50 Repair

2

24kilo

New member
So I have missing segments on my X-50's lcd, Called Minelab to see what the repair was going to be. and wait for it.....$350!
and I have to pay shipping to boot, for that much I'll be a new detector and minlab can stick it. I say this because I was in the Electronic field for many years, Lowrance Electronics, and that the price for the main board being equal to the price of the a whole unit is pure rape.My old Garett GTA 500 went out, I called Garret bought all the parts I needed to fix it had them sent cost 45 bucks, This will be the last minelab I will ever own, due to the customer service theft.
 
Let me get this straight. You started with a BH, then bought an out of date used machine that doesn't have a fully functioning display (which is integral with the faceplate switches). And now you're upset that to replace the no longer produced machine's most expensive part is going to cost two thirds the price of the currently available version?

Sounds to me like you're throwing the baby out with the bathwater if that's shaping your impression of Minelab.
JMO
 
Let me explain, 20yrs in recreational electronics. I've helped design and test units of all price ranges. Lets put this in perspective, Lowrance locator, color TFT LCD, 480x480 pixels , dual freq, split screen, sd card backup, with mapping, chamber life tested up to 1000 hrs salt spray, 20g thump table test for 80hrs. With some of the best customer service available. Cost less than 400 bucks. I have this minelab board on my bench looking at it. It looks to be the technology is from 1992. So again 350 bucks for the board is to much.
 
I understand your experience/expertise, and I'm not disagreeing with the cost seeming high, but we're not talking about a company near as large or as old as Lowrance. And you're not talking about a new or even current product. That model has been out of production for several years now, and I can tell you that an out of date Raytheon that I had was going to cost nearly as much to repair as a new one. So it's not really uncommon in the industry to overprice repairs on older units....even among older and larger companies.....maybe even Lowrance?
 
They have a trade up option on non serviceable obsolete units. Good customer service keeps customers.
 
24kilo said:
They have a trade up option on non serviceable obsolete units. Good customer service keeps customers.
Click to expand...


I called them a couple months ago about upgrading my xt70 for a 705 and they said there is nothing they can do. Is this something new?
 
Lowrance has trade up not minelab
 
I think he's referring to Lowrance.
UT said:
24kilo said:
They have a trade up option on non serviceable obsolete units. Good customer service keeps customers.
Click to expand...


I called them a couple months ago about upgrading my xt70 for a 705 and they said there is nothing they can do. Is this something new?
Click to expand...
 
I don't know what you paid for the used, obsolete X-50 when you bought it over a year and a half ago, but $350 probably does seem like a lot to spend to repair it. Especially if missing a few segments on the screen is the only problem. If it were mine, and it worked well otherwise, I'd use it and go on. If I couldn't use it, I'd rather spend that money on a new X-305, which does nearly everything the X-50 will do. Plus it would be new with a 3-year warranty and you'd have an extra coil. And if you bought it before the end of this month, you'd get a free Minelab Profinder - 25. If you aren't into electronic pinpointers, sell it and recoup part of your cash. In fact, if you sold the ProFinder, the used coil and the used rod assembly, I wouldn't be surprised if you couldn't recoup half the cost of the new X-305. JMHO HH Randy
 
I have an old Minelab that had a problem. I e-mailed the Tech department at Minelab told them the problem, was told they no longer provided service for that model, however they still had the part I needed, and if I wanted to do the work myself Minelab would send me the part. Minelab did indeed send me the part at NO COST, I installed it and all is well with my machine. Needless to say I am Very pleased with Minelab service going above and beyond for a customer.
 
Digger said:
I don't know what you paid for the used, obsolete X-50 when you bought it over a year and a half ago, but $350 probably does seem like a lot to spend to repair it. Especially if missing a few segments on the screen is the only problem. If it were mine, and it worked well otherwise, I'd use it and go on. If I couldn't use it, I'd rather spend that money on a new X-305, which does nearly everything the X-50 will do. Plus it would be new with a 3-year warranty and you'd have an extra coil. And if you bought it before the end of this month, you'd get a free Minelab Profinder - 25. If you aren't into electronic pinpointers, sell it and recoup part of your cash. In fact, if you sold the ProFinder, the used coil and the used rod assembly, I wouldn't be surprised if you couldn't recoup half the cost of the new X-305. JMHO HH Randy
Click to expand...

X2

Yeah how many segments are missing? Is that all? If your going to toss that thing give me a pm.
 
It works other than the segments, I going to re-flow the chips and see what i get. when it does die I'm going to part it out on ebay.
 
Try warming the LCD screen after you solder if flowing them does not work. I have seen a heat gun fix expensive LCD calculators. Good luck.
 
I'm not for a minute calling you a fibber,
but I know for sure theservice dept in Ireland wouldn't have charged this for a repair
at the worst they would have offered you the chance to buy a replacement control box,either new or reconditioned.
They did with me.
 
to 24 kilo

have same display trouble with x50
phoned many repair shops
more than surprised when 3 of them
were willing to take a look
will let you know if its repairable
with out an arm and a leg price
as im waiting to hear from them
lately over heated and frustrated from my last hunt
local beach produced 21 cents
wow will check map must be in scotland
 
I had a segment missing on one of the numbers on my X-Terra 70, the cure was simply to clean the ribbon connector contacts with some Switch Cleaner sprayed onto a cotton bud.
You can use Isopropyl Alcohol too which will clean the contacts well.. To remove the ribbon you MUST first slide the two little grey clamps on either end of the connector up a bit to loosen the ribbon.
The I used fine nosed pliers to ease the ribbon out.
Do at your own risk - , I recommend you give the detector to a cell phone repair man to do, or maybe a TV repair man if your not confident in doing the repair. You don't want to damage your machine , but it's an easy job
 
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