dutchroots said:
I would like to stick my big nose in here for just a few comments. Although I'm brand new to this forum, I have been metal detecting for about 20 years and have some experience in MD purchases.
We have a local dealer for White's detectors here where I live but it is, unfortunately, a sideline for him. When last I visited (a couple of weeks ago) there was an MXT and (I think) a Prizm hanging on a rack in the corner of his shop. I told the lady behind the counter (the owners wife, I believe) I was interested in buying an MXT and wanted to know how much they would charge me. She started looking around for a catalog but couldn't find it and I asked if she was just going to quote me the full retail price which I already knew. She said yes and I then asked her if they would throw in any sweeteners? The answer was no, full boat price for whatever. I thanked her and left.
Let me also say that there used to be a dedicated metal detector dealer in a large city near me and I did drive the 80 miles or so to do business with him but he got out of it or retired and no one that I have been able to locate has stepped in to fill his shoes. He would always throw in a few goodies whenever you purchased something from him and even though it might have been just a throw away item, you never felt like you had been ripped for a full retail deal. He was also ready to help with any problems and I would have been happy to do business with him again had he still been there.
But, since he wasn't .......... to make a long story short, I just (this week) bought a brand new MXT from Kellyco. No regrets. I saved slightly over $350.00 from what I would have had to pay here in town for the same package. I will say that I hope Kellyco didn't lose too much on the $19.95 apron they threw in which I believe I could sew up myself for about a buck-fifty.
Also, when the package arrived, there was a small problem with the detector, I called them and explained it, the guy I talked to couldn't solve it himself but he gave me the number for White's out in Oregon, I called them, told them the story, including where I bought it; one of their in-house guys got on the phone and the problem was solved in about 2 minutes.This little narrative has been kind of long winded but the point is, it depends on an individuals' circumstances as to where he needs to purchase his metal detector. 350 bucks is nothing to sneeze at but if the local dealer had been a little more accommodating and involved with MD'ing, I would have probably gone with them just to keep it local.
Good luck to all, this is a wonderful forum.