Seems the focus on the posts is not on the actual X-70 . . . .

[Andy Sabisch]

Just an observation but virtually every post that has been made about the X-70 since it was posted Friday has been about how Minelab's marketing is screwed up and that Minelab has lost customers for life for what they did (or failed to do depending on how you are looking at this).

Not wanting to sound like a lone person in the wind but I think that the vast majority of those reading the posts on this forum would like to discuss how the detector operates rather than trash the company that built them. The comment that they had to know when they would be for sale as they had to build the stock . . . . . how many do you think are built? All that has arrived is 100 units . . . yes, 100 units! Based on what I have heard, there were holdups up until a few days before they got them completed and an actual ship date for the first batch was not finalized until last week . . . days before the posts started.

I'm sure that when people start using the X-70 and compare it to other detectors including the other X-Terra's, the overall tone of the posts will change for the positive.

Personally, I use what works and that is why I have more than 20 detectors hanging up on the wall from all different manufacturers. If the X-70 fits a niche for me I will use it, if detector ABC from manufacturer XYZ serves me better, guess what, I buy that one and move on. Complaining about a company for issues outside the control of customers and even dealers serves little other than to get worked up over something that we can not change . . .

OK, off my soapbox and I'm sure this will solicit some interesting feedback

Andy Sabisch

 

[Sonny(IN)]

it was just a guess,but it turned out to be a good one. I am getting one asap,and dont care if they come out with another model next week. I will get it if it sounds better ... Come on guys. Most guys never pay for a detector or detectors by what they find anyway. My golf clubs ,irons alone are 1200.00 and they (Callaway) come out at least once a year with different models.. Suck it up...HH.. Good post Andy... I am using a t-2 at the moment, but want the x-tera 70.(BAD)

 

[Art (NWOH)]

rag on the detector for anything they can find wrong..........
So they rag on you, other dealers, other field testers and Minelab.

Let's all throw a fit when when Minelab or any other company introduces a new detector with enhancements over previous models.

Gimme a break.

HH

 

[jsamsky]

Unfortunately not everyone can afford 20 detectors. I personally have two, seeing as I can only use one at a time. I have the other for friends who want to try out the hobby without the investment. Kind of like taking someone out in my bass boat. I don't expect them to buy a bass boat just because they are more casual about the hobby than I am. When I buy a detector, I want the top of the line at the time, or close. I don't want to buy what I'm told is the hot item, only to have a hotter item come out two weeks later. No one is mad at the dealers. They have no control over this issue. It's Minelab's poor marketing that bothers people. It would have been easy to give a few weeks notice on the release of the X-70. There's no way you can tell me they didn't know that much in advance when the detector would hit the market. No way. It was poor marketing, and it backfired. We'll see if people get over it. If I read all the great things about the 70, it's just gonna make me madder. Many a good company has pulled a similar stunt only to go belly up. Tesoro would never pull such a stunt. And White's gave a heads-up as to the release of the 6. I'm done with Minelab--for good. As I said, I was leaning toward getting another Tesoro when I was told what a great detector the 50 was. Now it'll be great for wrapping around a tree.

 

[BarnacleBill]

n/t

 

[Larry--IndianaHVAC]

my Explorer XS around a tree when I found out Minlab was coming out with the Explorer 2. I'll do that now along with my Elite cause they came out with a GT too. Man, the nerve of that company to do that to us!!

 

[jsamsky]

Some of you act as though Minelab is paying you to stand up for them. When a supposedly superior product comes out just after a "new" product, as Minelab still calls the 30 and 50 on their site, it turns some people off. Maybe you all buy into this. Fortunately, I'm too smart for that. I won't be anyone's sucker. As Andy has said, they're all good, to paraphrase. I'll buy the "good" who is the most up front and honest. I have no brand loyalty, except to Tesoro, an up front and honest company. I'm sure Tesoro's sales will increase after this, along with White's, Garrett's, and others. The furor will subside, but my dollars will go to an honest competitor. Probably better off to keep my money in the good 'ole U.S.A. anyway.

 

[Mike Bearden]

Minelab won't go belly up because of a few folks that feel the way you do, contrary to what you believe, they will probably have a hard time keeping up with the orders to fill the dealers needs for quite some time.
One more thing, don't take this personal because I sure don't mean it that way but it just stands to reason that there will always be folks that get mad when something like this comes up and will continue to belly ache or pi$S and moan until the cows come home but it won't STOP the sales and the finds WILL happen.
The X-Terra's are killer detectors, every one in the series has it's place and it's not likely that much else out there will rival them anytime soon IMO.
Maybe it's time to sell your X-Terra to somebody that will get some good out of it and use what you praise and believe in. Nothing wrong with that whatsoever, but raining on everybody's parade that IS excited about the 70 makes you a spoil sport for sure. So sell it if it makes you that mad and let the others enjoy their newest addition.
Peace & H.H.
Mike

 

[Bill W.]

Mike,

I think it is was a no win situation for Minelab. If Minelab would have held up the 30 & 50 because the 70 wasn't ready there would have been complaints then too.

-Bill

 

[Steve(MS)]

check out other products, they are always releasing newer models, like digital cameras, do you think they will not release newer, more expensive models? I don't understand where you are going with all this and I doubt anyone else does either. Most of us just want to learn about this new model, if you like other brands better that's great too.

 

[Andy Sabisch]

. . . . . to spend all this time criticizing something that you know what, just happened. Do you think Minelab sat there thinking about how they could piss off their customers and dealers? I am not on Minelab's payroll contrary to what some may think (Yes, I've penned 4 books on their products but every one was paid for and published by me without any support asked for or offered by Minelab) and knowing them as I do, they must have thought long and hard about how best to roll this out. They have tried different methods in the past and in each case, a handful of dealers felt the need to jump on the forums and tell the world "I know something you all don't" and hence, any plans to roll the unveiling out to the public was trumped by dealers either intentionally trying to be the 1st to take orders or simply not engaging their brain before posting information; i.e., asking Minelab if a post would be acceptable.

Heck, when I reprinted the Explorer book I called Minelab to see if anything new was coming and told them why . . . . . at that time they said no and when I ordered the reprint, the release schedule changed and the Explorer II came out.

I think others have summed it up in that Minelab is really no different than most other companies in most other industries. They do what they think is right and let the chips fall where they may. If this release has upset you so badly, then isn't the best thing to do simply to sell your Minelab and go back to the brand-of-choice that has served you well all these years rather than spend all your time complaining about it? look atthe time spent posting negative comments all weekend . . . . . how much would have been recovered if this time had been spent detecting with ANY machine you might have!

Heck, I have driven Ford trucks for years but with the problems I had on my last one and the treatment I received from one local dealer, I now have a Dodge Ram in the driveway . . . . . even though I'm sure I would not have had problems with a new Ford, I just did not feel right about it so I moved on. Ford is still selling a ton of the trucks and is in business, while I am happy with my new truck (even if it tries to pull into every gas station it passes

So, use what works for you and gives you that "warm fuzzy" feeling . . . . go out and dig up some goodies to post on these forums . . . . and take a chill pill in terms of fuming about what can not be changed.

Not trying to get too deep on this forum but remember this prayer . . .

==================================

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.

====================================

Sounds like it applies to this situation . . . . . let's start talking about the detector and how it performs . . . isn't that what we are all really on teh forums for anyway???

Andy Sabisch

 

[BarnacleBill]

I guess what is now referred to as one of the "white box specials". One of the ones that everyone in the know now says to avoid like the plague. And even now it looks like they're still working out the kinks. And aren't they the ones that started the "It's Coming" ad campaign oh about a year ago. Well it's here, and still not quite right in the eyes of some.

And I never owned an X5, maybe I ought to call a five-star dealer and see if they have any "New-Old Stock" kicking around. Because I just went to the manufacturer's web site, and there isn't a thing about any new detectors coming out, and it's been how long since the last Troy model? I wonder if my five-star dealer will advise me to wait for the latest version. Seems if he told me that last spring, I'd be swinging a broom about right now.

And what about that new PI that discriminates, let's see, I think Dave Emery's been working on that for goin' on nigh 5 years. Good thing I didn't wait on that technology to be perfected.

And Garrett???? Bring out the ACE and then nothing, nada. And all those 250 users waiting with baited breath for the mid-line successor. What's up with that? Shame, shame, shame, cause Fisher, ML & White's are eating your lunch in the mid-priced category.



HH
BarnacleBill

 

[Mike Bearden]

You know the old saying .. damned if you do and damned if you don't !
Mike

 

[lynn in texas]

Upset 'cause the X-70 came out so soon after the X-30 & X-50???? How long should Minelab have waited?? A year, 6 mons. , how 'bout never!!! If Minelab would have come out with all 3 X-terra's at the same time, this would be a moot point. It's called giving us,the American public a choice!! It's the American way!!! I'm sure that the folks at Minelab stay awake nights thinkin' of ways to pi-- us off!!! Will I buy an X-70?? If I determine it will fit my detecting needs, you bet I will!!!!

 

[steve herschbach]

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference."

Steve Herschbach

 

[coindetector]

What's the deal??
When was Minelab supposed to release the new model? X-terra series is extremely popular, and they went ahead improving it! Were all XLT users pissed off when White's released DFX?
I just don't get the problem you are complaining about...

 

[Rustyjuan]

Let's talk performance and not marketing. Personally,,I'm gald it's here. Now let's talk Detecting. Beside's my EXPLORER and EXCALIBUR,
this X-TERRA 70 will be my 3rd most expensive detector. then comes my
Sov xs2a pro. So please help me justify the $ I'm going to spend for the 70. (so I can pass it on to my wife) HH.
Rusty, Chicago.

 

[adam in cal]

get out there and hunt .....to sit here and second guess the marketing stragety of a Multi million dollar company seem just completely ridiculous..........I mean you people bitch when they dont come out with something new ....then when they do you whine again ............I love this hobby with all my heart and I made a commitment to be a good detectorist,pick your machine learn it well and ""HAVE FUN"" ....but I will say this hobby as the highest amount of spoiled brats I have ever seen in my life.......geeze get a life and quit bitchen about stuff you have absolutely zero control over.......in life the only thing you can control is your attitude and point of view ..........so why bitch about stupid stuff ..........be happy and positive life seems much better that way......................................

 

[Mike Bearden]

I'm not Andy but your quest is simple really when it comes down to discussing it with the wife. Try to get your hands on any X-Terra or something really close in weight and start out by putting each of your heavier detectors in her hand, one at a time, and then hand her the lite weight one and ask a simple question.
Which one of these would YOU rather hunt with all day long ?
The Excalibur isn't to bad but the Explorer and Sovereign is usually way to much for a lady to handle all day long.
Works for me and my wife rarely detects.
H.H. & Good Luck
Mike

 

[Donnie]

That just means there is more for me to find behind them with my X-Terra!

As for your quote "except to Tesoro, an up front and honest company" that's a hoot. When a company doesn't come out with new technology then they don't have to worry about marketing. Just re-label and re-announce (add a tone, add a visual id, turn up the gain, etc...).