Price war??

[Ken_in_MI]

I went to a local nationwide electronics distributor that sells bounty hunter machines under the name "discovery 1100, 2200 and 3300 models. They have them all steeply discounted, with their $299 machine at $111...makes me wonder if Garrett and the ace series is causing other manufacturers to start backing up on inventory??? If so, kudos to Garrett!
Ken

 

[jeff@middlesex]

Actually the store you mention is closing many of it outlets. They will not be carrying BH machines anymore. Some of the larger stores in bigger centers will, but many will not. I think Garrett can be applauded for bringing out a low cost machine that performs really well. I think this has changed the way other metal detector companies will do business down the road. I remember years ago the consumer electronics store you mention(radio shack) used to carry Garrett metal detectors.

 

[zamora]

i get a national catalog and internet company mag once a month (Heartland) and they have a Bounty Hunter Discovery 2000 Mfg. Sugg. Retail: $249.95 Discount price $199.99 free shipping

 

[Ken_in_MI]

IN the back of my memory, I thought that they did at one time carried Garretts. Thanks for the reaffirmation.
Ken

 

[Uncle Willy]

I imagine so with as many as Garrett is selling.

Bill

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

I think that the Garrett is making a huge mistake producing machines for less than $300. It is going to dilute the hobby until everyone has a MD and there is not much left to find.

More and more I am not the first to a site. Parks & schools have nothing left to find because of low priced detectors.

It is the beginning of the end for the hobby. I predict in 2 years you will see a ton of used machines on ebay. All of the disheartened people who buy one and get frustrated will be selling them... cheap.

It should be an elite hobby, not one that everyperson gets one for christmas.

 

[Mirage]

I know how you feel about the $200 detectors and everyone and their brother having one. Once all the virgin sites are gone they are gone forever. Just the way life is. Kinda like when I was growing up and you could hitchhike, stay out until midnight, take your dog unleased everywhere with you, lot's of wooded areas to play in, build fires...etc. Now it is all gone.
However, the MDing hobby will never die since people are still loosing stuff - it just will "evolve".

Mirage

 

[Chuck@TreasureHut]

Hey guys.....we all know that those of us with experience, and a good communication with our machines can always walk behind the newbies with their lower cost machines and still clean up. The bright side is that without a lot of experience, they will help clean out the trash.....and because they don't understand the language of their machines, they will inevitably get discouraged, and put their new Christmas presents in the closet. I wouldn't worry too much, as long as they don't p_ _ s off land owners with unruly hunting habits and close sites down for those of us who follow the rules.

 

[Ken_in_MI]

Well said Chuck. There is more than enough to go around for everyone.
Ken

 

[OnEbayIm"chileheadplumber"]

My first machine was a Bounty Hunter 2200. It came from Walmart. It says on the box that it will pick up coins at 10" down. I air-scanned a shovel, a pick axe, a quarter, a car axle, and even my Nissan Maxima.... NOTHING and I mean NOTHING would register at over 4" away. Not even my CAR!!! I found a few good items in my yard, and took it back to Walmart for a refund, till I got lucky and stumbled onto 2 free Garetts. (Thank you Jesus!) My GTA Ultra 1000 will pick up a dime at like 10" if adjusted right.

Maybe theres a good point to all those el cheapos out there. The cheap MDs will help weed out a lot of possible prospectors. I talk to people all the time who have a BH or a Micronta. They have it in their closet, buried. They wont sell it, but they havent used it in 8 years. The reason is they get tired of digging junk. Its there in case they lose an earring or ring... or maybe some day they'll go digging. Or... I hear this a lot... they might take it to the beach once every 5 years.

I buy them at flea markets for spare detectors for the other vehicles. The next BH I find for $15 or so will go in my plumbing van so when I spot a good site between jobs I can have a lil fun. I want a 5th one for my other van. A cheapie is better than no detector at all.

 

[Uncle Willy]

Now you know how those of us who hunted in the sixties, seventies, and eighties feel, when there were very few detectors out there, and now they are everywhere. Just a few short years ago I could hit any playground in town and pick up five to seven dollars in coins or hit a school and pick up ten to fifteen dollars - but those days are long gone. And silver coins are as rare as hens teeth.

Bill