New Minelab Models or Minelab Updates?

[chuckciao]

Just my two cents regarding updates & upgrades: A couple of years ago, someone started a thread asking for CTX users to recommend some upgrades, improvements, etc. Experienced & and devoted users responded with literally hundreds & hundreds of wonderful ideas for improvements! Why in hell was this thread created if Minelab was not interested in implemented these great ideas? I don't blame new users for chiming in with questions about upgrades & updates but be forewarned, nothing will come of it. As I said......just my two cents!

I hope you realize that this a message forum and NOT Minelab's website. We are nothing more than enthusiasts, and lover's of Minelabs products. We can vent, complain, scream, cry, love, advise and recommend things until we're blue in the face (fingers) and its doesn't mean jack squat to Minelab. Do they watch things here? Maybe. But Minelab is a part of a billion+ dollar, multi national company. The complaints of a few people here really doesn't matter to them. We are a tiny voice, of a single detector line, of a small part Minelab, of only part the overall company.

This message was not intended for Minelab! It was one user's opinion about the futile efforts of lots of CTX users willingly offering their input regarding improvements!

 

[Altamaha]

It still amazes me that people buy a multi thousand dollar detector based on what it MIGHT do in the future.
I bought mine with the sole idea of what it will do for me NOW.
Complainers gonna complain, I guess.

It still amazes me that they are other competitors out there that actually listen to their customers and makes changes based on those voiced concerns/opinions. Minelab isn't, and never has been, one of those companies. It's all bottom line with them, from their less then stellar support to their sales pitch. Of course, part of this sales pitch was that there could be future updates to the "future of discovery" CTX. Wait, that's right, they added a seawater mode. Something that should have been added to an underwater unit from the get go. It then took four years to address the gasket issue, and of course, at a cost. Lots of users on this, as well as other sites, have offered some valid shortcomings that could have (and should have ) been addressed. You may see that as "complainers gonna complain", but, I, and many others, certainly don't agree. This company is continuing to blow it big time, from their $10 grand gold machines to their plastic "toy" Go Find line. The future is not bright for this gang, and the fact is the competitors know it. Which is good for us...

Hahahaha. When you are Top Dog, everyone likes to complain about you- especially those that have never even used your product. Whiners gonna whine. Seems the loudest and most persistent ones think their competing machine is better. That's OK, I understand and don't criticize your choice. If it works for you and you are happy, what else is there? O yeah, complaining that others don't agree with you, I guess.

'They never listen to me or other complainers'; and you know this how? Maybe your complaints aren't worth listening to....? I've seen that a lot in the world today.

'Keep seal clean and free of grit, and put it back in the slot correctly'. Apparently that's too hard for the average detectorist. So that was fixed (wait, what? someone was listening? amazing you say). At a cost? Well, duh- seal works fine if you do your part as noted.

"Future of Discovery'; have you ever heard of 'marketing'? Do you believe everything you read? It aint the future, its the Present! If you bought on the future, well, I wont go there because it probably violates boards rules.

Well, since you and 'many others' think it is so, it must be so, and things must bygawd change to make it so! Sorry to report to you that capitalism doesn't exactly work that way. And I'm not motivated enough to explain how a company brings a product to market.

You really think they are losing money on the price reduction of the new gold machine? Ever take a Economics class? I don't know the GoFind sales # (and doubt that you do either), but no company bats 1000 and WTH does this have to do with a CTX anyway? Yet another example of complainers complaining.

I really didn't mean to offend your choice. I bought my CTX because it was The Best machine at the type of hunting that I do. I just assume that most folks will do the same (if they can afford to anyway).

You go ahead and buy what you want. I'll be happy to hunt behind you.

"Future of Discovery'; have you ever heard of 'marketing'? Do you believe everything you read? It aint the future, its the Present! If you bought on the future, well, I wont go there because it probably violates boards rules.

Wow, are you suggesting that False Advertising to sell product to customers is ok? Last time I checked it was both unethical and illegal!!!

Plus I guess I just don't understand your logic or your meaning of future. Future by definition (look up the meaning) is any point/period in time following some present/defined point! You keep saying that you bought your detector for Now. Now/present is not static, but constantly changing/moving forward (IE yesterday is the past & tomorrow is the future), so by your own words since you bought your detector when It was released 4 years ago and you are still using it 4 years later, you did indeed (by my logic) buy your detector for the future, else you would have discarded it already! Oh well don't mind me, just my ole logical scientific/engineering brain I guess

Furthermore, as far as "Complainers Complaining" & "Whiners Gonna Whine" which you really seem to have a problem with! I feel that anyone who bought a multi thousand dollar poorly designed (water proofing, etc) detector from a company with less than stellar customer service/product support, has every right to do so! More power to them and hopefully this kind of feedback will only result in better products for all of us!

Jmho,

Respectfully

Altamaha

 

[Jason in Enid]

Just my two cents regarding updates & upgrades: A couple of years ago, someone started a thread asking for CTX users to recommend some upgrades, improvements, etc. Experienced & and devoted users responded with literally hundreds & hundreds of wonderful ideas for improvements! Why in hell was this thread created if Minelab was not interested in implemented these great ideas? I don't blame new users for chiming in with questions about upgrades & updates but be forewarned, nothing will come of it. As I said......just my two cents!

I hope you realize that this a message forum and NOT Minelab's website. We are nothing more than enthusiasts, and lover's of Minelabs products. We can vent, complain, scream, cry, love, advise and recommend things until we're blue in the face (fingers) and its doesn't mean jack squat to Minelab. Do they watch things here? Maybe. But Minelab is a part of a billion+ dollar, multi national company. The complaints of a few people here really doesn't matter to them. We are a tiny voice, of a single detector line, of a small part Minelab, of only part the overall company.

This message was not intended for Minelab! It was one user's opinion about the futile efforts of lots of CTX users willingly offering their input regarding improvements!

You very clearly stated AS QUOTED "Why in hell was this thread created if Minelab was not interested in implemented these great ideas?" Sure sounds like you are expecting Minelab to act on what someone writes on this forum.

 

[jerseyjim]

I thought this machine was for a life time. We have the capability of uploading any new updates. When Minelab decides its time. So far we got the salt water mode. LOL, Don't hold your breath, I have a feeling we will get something soon.

Jim

 

[GKMan]

I already passed out from holding my breath.

 

[underwatermetalman]

I guess I have some more wining to do, I kept my battery seal laboratory clean, lightly lubricated with silicon grease, I waded with it in less than five feet of water and it leaked!!! Fortunately I caught it right away when I got home....I do not remove my battery in the field. Does that give me reason to express dissatisfaction ? I then did the battery seal upgrade-no more problems. Were it not for others having the same problem "complaining" we would have never had that upgrade. Sometimes complaining brings about change and product improvement which is best for all of us. I still think the CTX could be the top dog were it not for some of its shortcomings. I am not a rep or a dealer, just a guy that paid 2,500.00 dollars for a machine that has not lived up to expectations IMHO.


UWMM

 

[Jason in Enid]

. Were it not for others having the same problem "complaining" we would have never had that upgrade. Sometimes complaining brings about change and product improvement which is best for all of us.

UWMM

I would imagine it had a lot more to do the expense that Minelab was paying out for all the warranty repairs on leaks than on anybody complaining.

Of course, the squeaky wheel does get the grease and enough complaints may very well register with company reps. Nothing wrong with complaints, but people should understand the venues they are complaining in and the limits to which those complaints will travel.

I would love for a new update to give us a few more options, and yes I wish the new battery modification was free to all existing customers, but the CTX is STILL the top dog of coin hunters so I will still keep using it.

 

[electricmetal21]

If a customer is trying to make a decision on which new metal detector to buy, are they more likely to believe the companies advertising(the company propaganda), the stories they hear from the dealers (more company propaganda) or, the stories from the people who have actually used the machine?

My point being, a companies reputation is their best advertising. And, does anyone honestly believe that Minelab is doing anything to maintain their company reputation?

In the past, Minelab's company reputation was built on building high quality machines and providing good customer service. Minelab's high quality and good customer service attitude has changed. But, the attitudes of their competitors have not. If Minelab wants to stay in business, they need to wake up. You snooze you lose.

 

[GKMan]

Last October if you recall, there was a post by Altamaha, In it he pasted a response from Minelab's perhaps social network team apologizing for the lack up software updates.
They know they screwed up. But, don't really care apparently.

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?86,2243605,2244610,

The post by Altamaha

Date: October 27, 2015 03:09PM
Hi all, here is Minelab's Facebook response to my question regarding updates for the CTX 3030, hopefully this is a start in the right direction:

Hi Tom;

Thank you for your message. We are aware of this issue as it has been highlighted to us by many CTX 3030 owners from around the world. We constantly pass this information onto our engineering team in Australia. We understand your frustrations. Please stay tuned to the Minelab website for future updates and product releases.

Thanks,

Team Minelab

You can read it here along with my gracious response comment.

https://www.facebook.com/MinelabMetalDetectors/posts/1053510768022473?comment_id=1055484024491814&notif_t=feed_comment

Altamaha (Tomas), HH

 

[Jason in Enid]

Yeah, unfortunately for almost all large companies, they hire people whos only job is social media. These people typically have no knowledge of the products or their use, they just there to pass on news updates and keep customers feeling "involved". So when we complain to their twitter page, or facebook, or website, it generally does nothing. They probably "pass it on" but we aren't complaining to anyone with the power to do anything.

Kind of a catch 22. You want the company to know

 

[Jason in Enid]

Yeah, unfortunately for almost all large companies, they hire people whos only job is social media. These people typically have no knowledge of the products or their use, they just there to pass on news updates and keep customers feeling "involved". So when we complain to their twitter page, or facebook, or website, it generally does nothing. They probably "pass it on" but we aren't complaining to anyone with the power to do anything.

Kind of a catch 22. You want the company to know about problem and changes needed, but you typically can't talk to people who can do anything about it.

Personally, when I shop for a new detector I read the posts of people who use it. What are their praises, complaints, what are they finding, how deep are they finding things. Companies always hype their products, and salesmen are always trying to sell. Talk to the users.

 

[ML]

If a customer is trying to make a decision on which new metal detector to buy, are they more likely to believe the companies advertising(the company propaganda), the stories they hear from the dealers (more company propaganda) or, the stories from the people who have actually used the machine?

My point being, a companies reputation is their best advertising. And, does anyone honestly believe that Minelab is doing anything to maintain their company reputation?

In the past, Minelab's company reputation was built on building high quality machines and providing good customer service. Minelab's high quality and good customer service attitude has changed. But, the attitudes of their competitors have not. If Minelab wants to stay in business, they need to wake up. You snooze you lose.

Minelab was an innovator in this hobby for a long time. They have let go a number of very well respected employees over the years, and it shows. Some folks have to remove their Minelab colored glasses, because the detector landscape is changing, all to our benefit I might add. Lighter, quicker, waterproof models at one third of the price are what will define this industry going forward. FBS and BBS do rule the wet sand environment, but other way more affordable units are available that can do the job as well. A good dealer friend of mine has been shaking his head for years with some of the decisions that Minelab has made, especially when it comes to their lack of utilizing user input for certain features that could improve the CTX. Let's be honest, Minelab prices are brutal, and their support is right there as well. The list price of the CTX is bad enough, but adding $400 for a coil, and $175 for a lower rod is highway robbery. You can buy a new AT Pro for a little more than that. Their Go Find lineup was developed to tap into the Garrett Ace nitch, but it's too little and way too late for that. My thoughts are that they would have had a real winner if they had simply waterproofed a Sov GT with the ablilty to change coils, AND kept it affordable. That's a big AND in Minelab world. Just my two cents.....again. Happy hunting.

 

[mrwilburino]

FBS is still the king of the deep identifiers. Worth the extra $$$$ for me.

 

[Electriken]

Hello everyone,
Like many others I purchased a supposedly latest model CTX3030 just before Xmas last year. Some time early in January this year Minelab announced that there is to be a Mechanical design update with a new battery and redesigned gasket and arm rest.
Now all CTX3030 sold this year will include the latest mechanical updates. I have read on many forums that many people in my situation have had their CTX3030 sent back to the Minelab service centre to get the updates supplied free.
Here in Australia I approached my dealer and enquired how I could get the latest update carried out for free. After several phone calls to Minelab in South Australia he was told that Minelab in Australia could not carry out the upgrade as they don't have the parts and they have to be imported into Australia. You would think that before they announce an upgrade Minelab would ensure that all service centres would have the required parts?

Can any one tell me if they have had their CTX3030 modified with the Mechanical Update either paid or free and which Service Centres around the world have the parts to carry out this update?


Regards Electriken
Barwon Heads Vic
Australia

 

[KinTN]

Alatamaha, my problem is those people that chronically whine and cry that have never even owned a CTX, or those that claim they have/had one and obviously haven't. They're pretty easy to spot; just look at their complaining posts vs their nonexistant posts on more technical CTX matters(even about the simplest things). I have no problems with folks like you that have a CTX and aren't happy with it for whatever reason. You spend that kind of money, you have a legitimate say imo. If you bought it and don't like it, its GREAT that you will share your reasons with the Internet and keep others from making the same mistake you made.

The majority I see in the whiner threads are just chronic complainers that WISH they had a CTX and bash it out of some psychological feeling of inadequacy or something. The most successful people/products are always a target for those that Cant and Never Will accomplish anything. Sometimes I just get tired of people who don't really understand how the world works and want to blame others for their lack of whatever.

 

[ML]

Alatamaha, my problem is those people that chronically whine and cry that have never even owned a CTX, or those that claim they have/had one and obviously haven't. They're pretty easy to spot; just look at their complaining posts vs their nonexistant posts on more technical CTX matters(even about the simplest things). I have no problems with folks like you that have a CTX and aren't happy with it for whatever reason. You spend that kind of money, you have a legitimate say imo. If you bought it and don't like it, its GREAT that you will share your reasons with the Internet and keep others from making the same mistake you made.

The majority I see in the whiner threads are just chronic complainers that WISH they had a CTX and bash it out of some psychological feeling of inadequacy or something. The most successful people/products are always a target for those that Cant and Never Will accomplish anything. Sometimes I just get tired of people who don't really understand how the world works and want to blame others for their lack of whatever.

If someone doesn't own one you are 100% correct, but which one of us "complainers" doesn't own a CTX? You claim a majority, but I'm guessing you can't factually back it up. Yeah, you probably should take your own advise...

 

[electricmetal21]

Your logic doesn't make sense.
You think that most people who make negative comments about the CTX don't own a CTX and are complaining just because they want to complain about something they don't own?
People don't want to waste their time complaining about something they don't own.
I don't think you understand how the world works.

 

[Jason in Enid]

Your logic doesn't make sense.
You think that most people who make negative comments about the CTX don't own a CTX and are complaining just because they want to complain about something they don't own?
People don't want to waste their time complaining about something they don't own.
I don't think you understand how the world works.

You must be fairly new to the world of the internet forum! While we do keep most of those who only complain out of this sub-forum, there is a whole wide internet world out there and it is filed with people who LOVE to complain. They complain because they saw somebody else complain and they want to be on board the band-wagon. They complain because they borrowed one for 5 minutes and didn't find something with it. They complain because it cost $$$$ and they have no way of affording it so they bash and complain.

You should have see this place in the month before it was released when all we had was teasers and a price!!! Good LORD what a bitch fest it was. SOOOOO many people already saying what a piece of crap it was when nobody outside of the testers had even touched one. So yes, there are a LOT of people who love to run down the CTX, mostly out of jealousy.

 

[KinTN]

Alatamaha, my problem is those people that chronically whine and cry that have never even owned a CTX, or those that claim they have/had one and obviously haven't. They're pretty easy to spot; just look at their complaining posts vs their nonexistant posts on more technical CTX matters(even about the simplest things). I have no problems with folks like you that have a CTX and aren't happy with it for whatever reason. You spend that kind of money, you have a legitimate say imo. If you bought it and don't like it, its GREAT that you will share your reasons with the Internet and keep others from making the same mistake you made.

The majority I see in the whiner threads are just chronic complainers that WISH they had a CTX and bash it out of some psychological feeling of inadequacy or something. The most successful people/products are always a target for those that Cant and Never Will accomplish anything. Sometimes I just get tired of people who don't really understand how the world works and want to blame others for their lack of whatever.

If someone doesn't own one you are 100% correct, but which one of us "complainers" doesn't own a CTX? You claim a majority, but I'm guessing you can't factually back it up. Yeah, you probably should take your own advise...

Hahahahaha. Sorry you cant follow the logic of recognizing someone who doesn't own the machine. Not sorry I don't have the time to educate you further.

Jason makes a good point about all the complaining about the machine before it was even released. CLUE ALERT: those old threads might be a good place to start your education.

 

[ML]

Alatamaha, my problem is those people that chronically whine and cry that have never even owned a CTX, or those that claim they have/had one and obviously haven't. They're pretty easy to spot; just look at their complaining posts vs their nonexistant posts on more technical CTX matters(even about the simplest things). I have no problems with folks like you that have a CTX and aren't happy with it for whatever reason. You spend that kind of money, you have a legitimate say imo. If you bought it and don't like it, its GREAT that you will share your reasons with the Internet and keep others from making the same mistake you made.

The majority I see in the whiner threads are just chronic complainers that WISH they had a CTX and bash it out of some psychological feeling of inadequacy or something. The most successful people/products are always a target for those that Cant and Never Will accomplish anything. Sometimes I just get tired of people who don't really understand how the world works and want to blame others for their lack of whatever.

If someone doesn't own one you are 100% correct, but which one of us "complainers" doesn't own a CTX? You claim a majority, but I'm guessing you can't factually back it up. Yeah, you probably should take your own advise...

I'm sure there are folks that bash whatever brand for whatever reason, but I'm still waiting for you to name the "complainers" who don't own one. Being it's the majority of folks on here, it should be rather easy, even for you. As far as educating me, I've been hunting for almost 45 years and used most major makes/models over the years, and I may have lost more stuff then you've found. I don't tend bash without reason, and either do most folks on this or any other forum. If you actually read these forums yourself, you've seen a number of very credible hunters have had issues with Minelab for a host of reasons. If you haven't are are satisfied with your unit as is, good for you. I'm sure any future CTX will have several additional features. Features that us "complainers" have been asking them about for years. CLUE ALERT - GET ONE ( a clue that is). Happy hunting.




Hahahahaha. Sorry you cant follow the logic of recognizing someone who doesn't own the machine. Not sorry I don't have the time to educate you further.

Jason makes a good point about all the complaining about the machine before it was even released. CLUE ALERT: those old threads might be a good place to start your education.