Teknetics customer support ??

[RounderRick]

Ok, I'm having some concerns about purchasing first texas products after doing some reading.
I'm wanting to buy an omega 8000 and from what I've read it's a great detector for what I'm wanting light weight and good at coin shooting which I do most.
But, in reading on some older posts I've read where some had product issues and couldn't get teknetic to answer phone calls or reply back by tech support crew which is not so good so I'm having second thoughts about the purchase of a teknetics or any first texas product.
I know a new product should last for years but hey we all know sometimes you get a lemon even when it's new and I'm wondering what happens when I buy something new and can't get any customer support if mine should be defective there's no dealers in my area I'll have to order online so what customer support would I have with a teknetics detector?
Like I said where I been reading about customer support was from older posts so I just need to know they not like that anymore and if something should happen I want be left in the dark because as I said I don't have any dealers in my area.
I just would like to hear if any of you has had any problems with your detectors and got it taken care of without any problems because I'd really like to get one but I want to also have customer support if I should need it too.

Thanks

 

[jim tn]

Of the several F T detectors I've had in the past six years, I have only had a problem with one...the Omega 8000. The pin point membrane broke. I made one call to the 800 + and talked with Felix and immediately got a return auth., returned it and had it back in eight days. It has worked perfect ever since. IMHO, F T has as good of customer service as any of the major companies, and better then some other(s). For coin hunting, the Omega is a pure delight. HH jim tn

 

[RounderRick]

Thanks Jim, I appreciate that information.
I haven't seen anything recent about customer support I been reading a lot of the newest to older posts on the omega before I buy one and it was in the older posts.
Yeah from all I been reading about the omega I think I'll love it for coin shooting.

 

[basstrackerman]

ive called them several times and got ahold of someone everytime with a very nice personality. answered my questions and i was on my way. i just recently bought the g2 and like it so much, the weight, fit and feel and super fast response time,that i bought the omega 8000. ive been using the mxt and mxt pro but they are somewhat heavy. the omega has alot of great features and the testing ive done with it makes me really like it.. so..i sold my mxt pro with all accessories.. so hopefully it was worth it. lol

 

[Mark652]

Rick, I purchased a T2 about six months after they came out. Since then I have had to go back to First Texas/Teknetics three times. The first time was because the plastic sleeve stabilizing one of the sections of the pole cracked. I got a customer service rep on the line immediately and she told me she would send out a replacement. Two days later 2 complete sleeve sets arrived. About two years ago I called about shipping my T2 back to get the coil waterproofed. Again I got someone quickly who gave me the information I needed to ship. I sent the detector out on a Tuesday and it came back with all the work done the following Tuesday, exactly seven days later. I was very impressed. The last time I called was for a technical question I had about one of my settings. The lady who answered the phone told me she did not have a good answer for me, asked me to wait for a moment, which I did, and Bob Johnson came on the phone personally to talk to me about the issue. He then took the time for a chat about the detector and how he developed his ideas for it, spending about 30 minutes with me.

First Texas has great customer support, I think you will be most satisfied if you have to contact them about any detector they make that you purchase.

Good luck with your Omega!

 

[RounderRick]

ive called them several times and got ahold of someone everytime with a very nice personality. answered my questions and i was on my way. i just recently bought the g2 and like it so much, the weight, fit and feel and super fast response time,that i bought the omega 8000. ive been using the mxt and mxt pro but they are somewhat heavy. the omega has alot of great features and the testing ive done with it makes me really like it.. so..i sold my mxt pro with all accessories.. so hopefully it was worth it. lol

Thank you all very much I guess I'll be getting the omega very soon.
I like you have been swinging the mxt and you won't hear nothing bad out of me about the mxt other than the weight it's a great detector and I hate parting with it but I got a bad shoulder and with only 10 or 15 mins of swinging it I have to sit down and take a break so I must get something a little lighter and I can't afford to just buy a new one and keep it too.
My first detector was a bh brand and it didn't bother me so bad as it was lighter so with omega it will still be an upgrade from that and still be a light made unit.
Again thank you all just needed a little nudge and you've done that, lol

I'm sure after I get it I'll be posting a few questions along so get ready and happy hunting when the weather allows it.

 

[Monte]

I'm about to start my 47th year of detecting in two months and I have had a problems either with a brand-new, out-of-the-box detector, or with one that I've used a bit and it developed a hiccup. There are only two manufacturers that have caused me concern due to a long wait-time, or I got a repair back that wasn't fixed as requested. Neither of them are a First Texas Products company.

Any business I needed taken care of with them followed a very quick phone contact and immediate fix and return. I have also had immediate service from White's Electronics and I mention it here because you use an MXT. I, too, like the MXT and especially the MXT Pro. Excellent detectors with proven in-the-field performance, and you need to credit the principal design engineer, Dave Johnson. I'm not getting younger and I have been using a cane to hobble around for most of the time since I got it in early '93. Bad back and bad shoulder means I needed to give some consideration to a lighter-weight detector without sacrificing performance.

I had the Teknetics T2 and it is well balanced, but I wanted something with a lower frequency and 'handier' for some quick coin shooting and old site hunting. I got the Omega and later the Gamma. Of the two it is a bit hard for me to pick my favorite. I like the rod/grip of the Omega because it's like the T2, and I like the stock coil, and I like the knobs and touch-pads that combine for quick adjustments immediately from the control face. I will say, however, that I also like my Gamma and just added another one to my arsenal. This way I have 3 or 4 detectors ready-to-go with a different coil mounted. the gamma, but the way, will essentially match, or sometimes better, the performance I get with my Omega. A lot depends upon the EMI issues at a site.

Anyway, consider one or both of these detectors, and an accessory coil, too, and don't be concerned about the FTP customer service. Its top flight!

Monte

 

[RounderRick]

Thank you Monte I always have respected what you say don't know if you remember or not but I emailed you been 2 yrs ago about the mxt and you got back with me and expained a lot to me.
I mentioned I was recently found that year with diabetes and had bought a BH and wanted an upgrade was trying to decide between the mxt or m6 I went with the mxt afterwards.
Don't think I had mentioned I had shoulder surgery that same year and thought everything was ok with that but I guess aurther moved in so just got to learn to live with it and do things to make it a little easier.

Anyways back to the omega,,,
From all my reading I see most everyone uses the 11dd coil and don't really see anyone using the 10 stock coil that comes with it and my problem right now is I don't think I'm gonna be able to afford the omega package so what about the 10 coil is it any good or what?
I see you mostly use the small 5" coil and mentioned the stock so have you used it much at all.
These parks around here is eat up with pulltabs and foil and when I got the mxt with the 950 it gave me a fit for a long time until I finally got the shooter coil to go on it so I'm just wondering if I'm gonna live that all over again and this being an even bigger coil than the 950.
I know I could possibly get something else with a package but I really got my heart set on the omega I have read all I can, I done downloaded the manual and read all of it and see now they do have good support.
Any info about the stock coil would be most useful.


Thanks

 

[jim tn]

Fear not Rounder, the stock coil is great. I use it a lot and Monte will state that he does as well. Monte will fill you in, but it really is a good coil and should not be a deterrent for getting the Omega. HH jim tn

 

[TerraDigger]

I own a T2.......hasn't needed service yet.......but I have dealt with First Texas for additional purchases and technical questions. They all have been very friendly, courteous and as helpful as possible. I deal alot with Hector in the Cust Srvc dept and he is a really helpful guy. My opinion is that the customer service issues of the past are simply that.....in the past.
p.s. If you do need something from First Texas, do it with a phone call.......not email.......their response is kinda slow with email. But every phone call I have made to them, the phone is answered in 3 rings or less.

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

To your other questions. I played with the 8000 10" coil today with my son at a park today. Used the 11" DD Saturday at a different park. So far I like the stock 10" Ellip better. Hits coins harder and discriminates better. My conclusions are very limited though. I need more swinging time before I can give a definate winner.

Just what I have noticed. Monte is the man to listen to.

You need any other help or pricing holler. I will try to help you any way I can.

Thanks,
Bart

 

[RounderRick]

Thanks I feel better about the customer support now hope I never need to call them but it's always good to know they there if you need them.
Glad to hear about the 10" coil I imagine it being an ellip coil it would be some what different than the round one I been using far as it not being a dd coil so guess maybe I worry to much huh, lol

 

[Monte]

I emailed you been 2 yrs ago about the mxt and you got back with me and expained a lot to me. I mentioned I was recently found that year with diabetes and had bought a BH and wanted an upgrade was trying to decide between the mxt or m6 I went with the mxt afterwards. Don't think I had mentioned I had shoulder surgery that same year and thought everything was ok with that but I guess aurther moved in so just got to learn to live with it and do things to make it a little easier.

It might be age but my memory gets short when I try to recall who has asked about detectors over that past couple of years. Besides, I respect some of the White's models and have been/am flooded with e-mail about them, and two years ago I certainly would have suggested an MXT. I like them, have owned and used them up until march of last year, and would be pleased to use an MXT Pro today. They are good.

However, I've been battling diabetes since '91 and as the years progressed I maxed out on pills and not take a pill twice a day and shoot two insulin shots in the morning and two at night. Arthritis is frustrating and I wonder if it was inherited. A month before I turned 45 several doctors reviewed my back x-rays at the hospital and all figured that, arthritically, I was between 65 and 75. They were wrong, and today they guess my condition to be similar to 75-85 years with nasty arthritis. I do like the XLT and MXT, and I do like to use them, but my time afield is cut short of I work them with a coil larger than 6

 

[basstrackerman]

thanks alot monte. that is the kind of info i like to read. these teknetic detectors really have what i like also. my son n law is buying the gamma in a couple weeks. i told him he will like it. he wont let go of my omega 8000..lol

 

[Monte]

I wasn't pleased with their great weight & balance combined with excellent performance. There are quite a few very good detectors on the market from White's and Garrett, now, and Fisher and Teknetics so any avid enthusiast out to be able to enjoy this great sport. However, regardless of what a persons' financial status might be, I am still a believer in getting the best features and most performance you can for the dollar invested, and models like the Fisher F5 and Teknetics Omega and Gamma are definitely at the tip of the list. All have very similar overall functions and performance, and all at very reasonable prices, too.

Recently I will get out with a friend to do a little detecting (when we have a brief break in the miserable weather) and I might grab my Gamma instead of the Omega or G2. He'll usually ask the same question, and I tend to give him the same answer. He'll ask me Why are you using that instead of the other one? (referring to the Omega) and I just tell him, Because it works, and it works well. Some days I just like to use a different detector or a different search coil so grabbing the gamma, which functions almost the same as the Omega, is a no brainer. I just sometimes like to use the round 8" search coil, especially when he grabs one of his two competitor's models that also sport an 8" coil, which he prefers.

There's no doubt in my mind that your son-in-law will be more than pleased with the Gamma, once he gets a really good grasp of it.

Monte

 

[RounderRick]

Thanks to all that replied and a very special thanks to Monte who always goes the extra mile to explain things to where we can understand I know myself and many others appreciates the time you take to help with so many of our questions.
Hopefully in the next day or so I will have the new omega on order.

 

[jbow]

n/t