old model sovereign users , beware

[mr.bean.]

hello
i'm from belgium , ostend .
a couple of months ago , my minelab dealer sended my broken down sov , up for repair to ...
i think this is the adres .
Europe
Minelab International Ltd
Sales, Support & Service
Unit 207, Harbour Point Business Park
Little Island, Co. Cork, Ireland

after more than a month (?) i got it back , unrepared .
is it minelab's policy not to repair detectors of a sertain age ?
so as a'n example ... if you drive your old car to the garage & you hear ; sorry , we dont work on cars older than 10 years .
i think you would be angry just like i am . you surrely would'nt by another car from that mark .
i heard that there's a new technician at minelab europe . maybe he's not capable for the job & sends them back without reparing 'em .
maybe the company is not aware of that .
questions , questions .
i'd like to hear from other customers who are in the same situation .
greeting
jean.

 

[dewcon4414]

Depending on the model...... its posible they dont have the parts. Just like the old Xcals. Now that the Sovs are discontinued, we may see more and more of this. I dont know that its uncommon thou. Even the Fisher CZ20...... if it breaks you have to completely convert it to a 21 at a hefty price. I know.......... we hate to upgrade when we have a GREAT machine, but most have really paid for themselves. I kind of have to look at it from their point too. How can they continue having repair parts made and stored on machines long gone and expect us to buy new ones which pays their bills and give us upgraded machines? I feel your pain. I am surprised that you didnt get an explination as to why they didnt or couldnt repair it.

Dew

 

[Auriemma]

Mr. Bean... try contacting KellyCo in FL, USA. (I know it's International Shipping)
They have a ML Repair Department that is excellent and fixes older MLs.
They did a great job on my Sov. And will be again (I should'nt have dropped it).

 

[goodmore]

I have an XS-2A that I use quite often. When it breaks the box will go in the trash. Knowing that up front helps to heal the wounds of losing it.

 

[mr.bean.]

thanks folks for the replys
minelab has now contacted me
i have to send 'em the serial nr of the sov so they can see it's history .
if they can't do anything , than i wil send it up to kellyco as auriemmo/joe sugested (thanks) .
i also own a white's surfmaster & a hoardhunter + a laser b1
i'll keep you informed here on the forum .
greetings

 

[terry g]

Try this company in the UK, www.metaldetectorrepair.com/ they work on older minelabs.

 

[mr.bean.]

thanks for the tip terry . would be less expensive than sending it up to kellyco .
i'm gonna wait and see what minelab can do .
the first minelab sov i bought whas the one with the iron mask on it . bought it in england at peach ideas . does not exists anymore i think .
don't have it anymore . pitty .
then came it's successor , it's that one that is broken down .
greetings

 

[terry g]

Try and phone them with your sovereign symptoms they will more than likely be able to advise you and give you some sort of cost before you do decide to send it in.
I might be wrong but Kellyco will not work on overseas machines.... as I wanted to send my excal to them. I l have one of the original sovereigns and it is still going strong.
Chow Terry.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Mr.Bean,Minelab had a list of detectors they no longer repaired and the older Sovereign black box units were included.Unless these old Sovereigns were dropped they seem to require very little maintenance or repairs.Minelab has to make money to stay in business and they had to end support for obsolete detectors no longer in their model line up.My suggestion find some individual or small repair shop that will fix your Sovereign. Good Luck Ron

 

[mr.bean.]

this is the mail i've had fom minelab . i'm realy curious what wil happen now .


Good afternoon

We are sorry to hear of the bad service. Can you please supply the serial number of your device (control box) so that I can trace the history

Looking forward to your reply

Finbarr

 

[treasure_hunter]

thanks folks for the replys
minelab has now contacted me
i have to send 'em the serial nr of the sov so they can see it's history .
if they can't do anything , than i wil send it up to kellyco as auriemmo/joe sugested (thanks) .
i also own a white's surfmaster & a hoardhunter + a laser b1
i'll keep you informed here on the forum .
greetings

Hello, depending on the issue Kellyco is still repairing the old Sovereigns.....

 

[mr.bean.]

hello al you helpfull people
i know now why minelab can't fix sov's anymore.
read .

Hello Jean
Finally I traced the history of your unit, but it was back in May of this year and I had been searching in July/August.
This unit had damage done to the PCB which made the unit a non-viable repair. These PCBs have not been available to us for some time. Even if we had these PCBs available to us then, the cost would of repair would have far exceeded the value of the detector making it a non-viable repair. As a goodwill gesture I may be able to look into a voucher towards the purchase of a new Minelab product.
I will come back to you tomorrow on this.

Regards
Finbarr

 

[mr.bean.]

hello .
after minelab refuses to work on older models , last friday i've send it up to www.metaldetectorrepair.com , as terry g suggested .
i made a phone call with Steve Cox and he assured me he can fix any old model at a reasonal price .
so if he can , minelab should also be able to do so .
shame on you minelab .
i'll keep you informed
jean , mr.bean.

 

[GeorgeinSC]

Mr. Bean does your local Ford, Chevy, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat ETC still carry parts for every automobile that was ever manufacturer? No They Do Not.

Why do you think that Garrett, Minelab, Whites ETC should continue to manufacture and stock parts for Detectors that they no longer manufacture.

Manufacturing parts for outdated pieces of equipment is very expensive and you would not be willing to pay the price of repair parts for any of the obsolete machines.

Welcome to the Real World.

 

[lytle78]

Don't know about the rest, but Whites will do a lot, using salvaged parts if necessary (and only with your approval) to get your detector running again. Since ML has now 100% outsourced their repairs to Kellyco, it all depends on how far Kellyco is willing to go and who is paying whom for the work.

 

[GeorgeinSC]

I don't believe that Minelab has outsourced all repairs to Kellyco. I do know that the folks at Kellyco will do all they can to get you back in business.

I know of one "Former" company who was also a Minelab Authorized Repair Center before they went out of business.

 

[treasure_hunter]

Don't know about the rest, but Whites will do a lot, using salvaged parts if necessary (and only with your approval) to get your detector running again. Since ML has now 100% outsourced their repairs to Kellyco, it all depends on how far Kellyco is willing to go and who is paying whom for the work.

Minelab hasn't outsourced to Kellyco, Minelab has an authorized repair center that is physically located at the Kellyco facility staffed by Minelab. As long as parts are available they will repair the detector, if parts are not available then they obviously can't repair a detector no longer supported....

 

[treasure_hunter]

hello .
after minelab refuses to work on older models , last friday i've send it up to www.metaldetectorrepair.com , as terry g suggested .
i made a phone call with Steve Cox and he assured me he can fix any old model at a reasonal price .
so if he can , minelab should also be able to do so .
shame on you minelab .
i'll keep you informed
jean , mr.bean.

Minelab is still repairing the old Sovereigns as long as the motherboard isn't trashed. The only way someone can repair the old Sovereigns when motherboard is trashed is if they have dead units sitting around that they can salvage a working motherboard off of....

 

[treasure_hunter]

I don't believe that Minelab has outsourced all repairs to Kellyco. I do know that the folks at Kellyco will do all they can to get you back in business.

I know of one "Former" company who was also a Minelab Authorized Repair Center before they went out of business.

Minelab hasn't outsourced to Kellyco, the repair center is an authorized Minelab repair center located at the Kellyco facility staffed by Minelab.

 

[goldnugget]

Who doesn't stock Parts, I just had my Fisher 1260 Repaired, It's an 1980 Beach Model. It should be back next week . It only cost me $ 135.00 .cheaper than any new model.. Will have to update this Post with Pictures next week. AKA,The Speaker broke about 5 years ago and then 2 weeks ago ,no sound thru the Head phones . Had to use a Fisher 1225 for The FMDAC Hunt in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania last weekend. The weather was Great, Got to See The Battle Field, Visitors Center with Display of Items. a 2/1/2 hour viewing trip. Then on Saturday and Sunday my 1st Civil War Relic Show ,they had a 300 table show . Now I can charge more for my C/War Items found on the Beach the last 2 1/2 years.goldnugget--Charlotte,North Carolina. Also Gettysburg, Pa has a Great Metal Detecting shop that does Repairs. The man that owns it is 87 years old and had alot of Parts, that my friend was able to purchase for his Fisher C Z 7 A, Could be a Fisher 6 A if they made one.