Why are we overlooked?

[alabamagetaway]

Hi everyone, I've been lurking here for a couple of years and finally to decided to join and take part. I have been detecting on and off for 6 years. More if you count the crappy detector I had as a child. It had a little box on a strap that you put over your shoulder with a cable going from it, into the top of the telescoping stem. No disc, no depth, but soooo much fun. I was cleaning out a storage room of my parents, when I ran across it. Got the bug again, and the rest is history....

So, anyway, I read alot of other forums on the net and find that garrett seems to be overlooked in most all discussions I read about the best, deepest, etc. detectors out now. Why is that? I have a gtp 1350 that is absolutely wonderful. Easy to use, light, deep, with reasonable id and TARGET SIZE. I don't understand. It's like garrett's are seen as a step or two above bounty hunter, when I know from experience, that my mid range garrett blows away my mid range bh landstar.

When I was growing up, all I heard from my parents friends, is that garrett's and white's were the best out there. Now it's everything else. I'm glad I have a garrett. Great company, great history, great detector. I do need to mention that as far as PI detectors are concerned the Infinium does get rave reviews.

Hope I find you all well,
Dave

 

[John-Edmonton]

We are not overlooked. Garrett has sold literally thousands of truckloads of detectors in the past number of years. They are made in USA, and probably the best coin hunters out there....The Garrett forums are one of the busiest around. Count the number of posts and hits and compare to other forums. There are also so many finds too! Garrett users just don't care to brag about how good their machines are. Some people just never learned how to properly use them, so they blame the machine, which is hilarious. You are in good company here. And that GTP 1350 is a great machine. I bet a lot of the other companys would love to get the profiling/sizing abilities on their own machines, but they can't, because Garrett has the patent.
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[Uncle Willy]

Garrett is a well kept secret and we like to keep it that way. The Ace 250 is the most sold detector on the market currently. You probably don't hear much about that either. Garrett doubled the size of their factory off the profits from the Ace series. One doesn't hear about that either. As long as you're happy and know you have the best machine out there that's all that counts.

Bill

 

[Parkit]

I think part of it might be that Garrett's are lumped in with Bounty Hunter and White's as GENERALLY the "big-3" makers of detectors, and that makes all three of them seem kind of "generic".

Another part of Garrett's problem is convincing people that a $212 machine (the Ace 250) is NOT a cheap detector just because the price is low. It's VERY difficult trying to get people to believe they're getting more than they paid for because that's just not normal. Throw in White's tv spots where Joe Blow is finding diamond rings and old coins his very first day, and
that's pretty powerful advertising to the ignorant masses. "It worked in the commercial, and I've never seen a tv commerical about Garrett..."

Whenever someone asks me "which one do I get" I feel it absolutely necessary to recommend the Ace 250, because it's so much machine for so little money. If they're too lazy to do their own research they probably aren't looking for a detector for a specific purpose, such as "the best" relic machine, "the best" nugget hunter or "the best" coin-shooter, they're just interested in getting into the hobby and they always want to get something that doesn't cost too much. Luckily, I don't have to recommend some cheap Chinese brand and I can sleep well at night knowing that my recommendation was solid. If they learn the basic use of the Ace 250 they can't help but be pleased with it, and they won't feel the need to "upgrade" soon if at all.

Unfortunately, there's still one co-worker of mine who simply hasn't taken much time at ALL to learn even the basics of the Ace 250. I wrote a post several months ago about a chance meeting at the local fairgrounds where we both were using our 250's, and in 45 minutes he'd found two pennies to my 45-50 coins. I asked him just last night if he'd been out lately, and he said he hadn't used the machine since our fairgrounds hunt. I tried to help, but he apparently still hasn't even watched the video or given it a fair chance at all, so as far as I'm concerned that's just less competition now. Some people can't be pleased, I'm sure he considers his purchase a waste of time and money. If someone were to ask HIM what he'd recommend, there's no telling what he'd say but I don't think he'd give the Garrett a resounding endorsement. I'd offer to buy it off him for chump change and he'd probably sell it, but I already have two. Might be worth it anyway.

Steve

 

[cwilk]

When I detect with other enthusiasts and let them swing my rig the first thing they say it's too heavy. The next thing they say is it's too expensive. The last thing they say is I think I might get me one of those. I hunted along side two other guys this weekend. One was fairly new (Bounty Hunter) and the other had loads of experience (Whites.) I was digging at least 5 times the number of targets as either. They both dug at least a dozen beer cans to my one. I attribute this to the fact that my GTI 2500 pinpointed so much more accurately and to imaging. They both liked treasure talk and so do I. I swung each of their rigs and found and recovered coins with both. I was a Bounty Hunter user for about 7 years so that transition was easy. The Whites was a nice machine and I could do well with it. We tested the Whites (I don't know the model number but he said it was about 7 years old and cost 1200 back then. It had a big flat coil.) and my 2500 side by side on at least 20 targets. They both accurately identified most US coins. His Whites called every pop top a ring or a nickel. My GTI showed them as pop tops. Depths always agreed to within 1/2 inch. My pinpointing blew him away. He was digging some pretty big holes. It was his invitation to hunt the site so I couldn't say too much on that score.

Garrett is also about the best company I have ever dealt with. I called them twice and they always had the answers to my questions. When I discovered a very small defect to my new detector they immediately sent out replacements and sent them two day express!

Chris

 

[khouse]

I know two hunters that said they don't like them because of the green color. You never know?

 

[Uncle Willy]

Do they actually detect or are they trying to make a fashion statement? If a detector works I wouldn't care if it was purple with orange polka dots.

Bill

 

[khouse]

You got that right Bill ! I was at Radio Shack about 4 months ago looking at headphones. The clerk ask me what I was going to use them on. I said a metal detector. He said that he was getting ready to buy that detector on TV that showed a picture of what was found. I quickly told him the reality of it all. Then I brought in the 250 to let him see it. We waved some coins over the coil and he was excited.

 

[rmptr]

I don't know that Garrett is overlooked.

I have 'other' machines, but always had fun with my Garretts.

That Charles Garrett has GOT to be one of the nicest fellows around...

I have read where the GT2500 WAS the deepest seeking VLF in good ground,
and the Infinium is frequently mentioned along with the most impressive machines of the moment.

That Little Yeller Feller has surpassed all records anyone can recall.

(I don't like the horrid green, either!)

HH
rmptr

 

[bearkat4160]

This has perplexed me also of the attitudes towards Garrett sometimes.

I'll give 2 examples recently.
I went to a active Gold mine in Nov. last year. they sell dredges, detectors etc. They used to sell Garrett I remember a few years ago. All they have now is Whites hanging on there walls. I showed the owner the nuggett I found and told her I found it with my Garrett. She looked shocked that a Garrett could find it. I asked why dont you sell Garrett anymore,
She said , "you can go down to Walmart now and buy a Garrett, this is how far down they have gone". I went to that Walmart and there are no Garretts here. So where did Garrett get this weird reputation?

Herers another,
Back in Sept 2007 I was at Hobby Town checking out there detector section. (Garrett, Whites).
A guy was there that has a large detector club putting new flyers out for joining.
I told him I had a GTI 2500, and told him I found a civil war bullet in my own yard with it.
We also talked prospecting with detectors which he did also with his Whites MXT. He has been detecting for 20 years.
He told me where he found a nugget before.
So here was his opinon of Garrett as we were talking....well Garrett is now made in China and shipped back to America. I would buy a non american detector. He had a Minelab also(duh not made in America) OZ
I showed him on a Garrett box it said MADE IN AMERICA. He said he didnt believe it. And he said no-one in the detector club has a Garrett.
And then said he had won a Ace 250 in a contest but it is just a "TOY". I said that "TOY" will keep up with your MXT in most situations.
I also said Garrett was on the "Made in America show". cant be there if its made in China. Duh

Si I went to the mine he said he found his nugget at and that is where I found my big one (1/4 oz'er)
So I emailed him a pic of it. Never heard back.

Still dont know where these lies and weird attitudes come from but I have 2 ideas:

All Whites high end detectors have an True All Metal Mode, Garretts do not, and maybe some "PRO" detectoriest think that Garrett is cheap because they dont.

Another is maybe some detectorist backlash at how Mr.Garrett promotes his detectors in his books and his advertisments.
If they dont do as well as the ad says then Garrett sux and are "gimiky" detectors with the "image" and "belltone"" "talk stuff"....blah blah, heard all this before.

Wierd eh. the Gold mine owner never heard of the Infinium. I think she would do well to sell it, she is in the heart of Ga. gold country is is actually a fantastic mine with great people.

Still cant exactly put a finger on why or how some detectorist have this perception of Garrett and where it came from.

As far a Garrett and Bounty hunter goes together, well I am now a Garrett dealer and I use a wholesaler as well as deal directly with Garrett. My wholesaler has Garrett and Bounty Hunter. And from looking at where and who sells them.....well its a huge amount of companies that sell those 2, esspecially online. Can get a Garrett and Bounty hunter practically any where. This I think is part of the perception Garrett is lumpded with.
I also sell Tesoro, but I have to buy 3 of them before I come "official". So this seems more "Professional distibutership" maybe than dealing with Garrett or Bounty Hunter distributer? Dont know, but some "PRO DETECTORIST" may think so. So it is Garrett and Bounty Hunter so far. Until I get cashola to buy 3 Tesoros.
Fisher never even responded to my request for dealership. 3 times I asked.
Dealing with Tesoro distibuter has been good. great people to deal with.

Sorry to rant about this, but Garrett detectors have done exactly what Mr. Garrett says they do, but YOU are the one who has to do it. Maybe some detectorist havent even used a Garrett detector, matter fact Im quite sure they have not, but they will spread rumors about Garrett, thats for sure.

The Haters will Hate......no matter what facts are before them.

Alan (Ga)

 

[robert roy]

Hummmmm. I don't think I ever came across this idea that Garrett is cheap....but I don't get out much from the home!
Most of the negative stuff I have come across is the Bounty Hunty hunter at the top of the list and Fishers somewhere midway,
maybe toward the bottom. If Garrett got off their duff''s and provided an 8inch concentric you can be sure people would be singing
the praises of Garrett because of the extra depth the Ace and other detectors would give them. Of course people sign the Garrett praise anyway.
RR

 

[robert roy]

WHAT!!! You stole a customer away from White's?
SHAME SHAME!!!!
RR

 

[dahut]

I used to think of the Garrett line as toylike and chintzy. I was a dedicated Whites and ultimately a Tesoro man, too good for those 'plastic Garretts. I was not alone in that.,, most "serious" detectorists sneered at the Garrett line.

Then I got my first GTA1000, used. It baffled the peewaddle out of me, with its on-off response and what seemed like a constant din of beeping and honking.
Guys like Bill and a few others tried to coach me, but I didnt listen and was convinved that it wasnt like my other detectors. So I sold it. I was sure, then, that the Garretts were crap.

I was right about something else, too - the Garrett wasnt like all my other detectors. Eventually I came around again and this time I determined to persevere. I vowed to let my next Garrett, the GTP1350, teach me how it wanted to work. And things started to open up. Today, I think the 1350 is possibly the best mid-level detector on the market and use it often.

I would agree that Garrett is overlooked, in the light of all the hype over the Whites and boutique status of the Fishers and Tesoro's. But, those who care only whether a detector works well, will care less about all that. There is little need for bravado or vindication when you are confident in your armament.

'Know what I wish? That there were fewer detectorists around. I liked it better when I was one of the only ones around here....

 

[Uncle Willy]

When I ran the Garrett Classroom I discovered a heap of folks who couldn't seem to figure a Garrett out. Had I not shown them the error of their ways they would have been bad mouthing Garrett all over the place. Now most are avid Garrett users. I spent a lot of time with some folks helping them figure out the Garrett. I always told them if they tried to use a Garrett like they used any other detectior they would be in trouble.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

As I have always said to new Garrett users - Garretts don't work like other detectors and if you try to force one to do so you will fail miserably and of course blame the detector. But once you master one and figure out its quirks you have one of the best machines made.

I'm as guilty as the rest. For years I stuck with other detectors ( mostly Compass and Tesoro ) and avoided buying a Garrett. Then one year I took the leap and bought one and discovered what I had been missing all those years and I've owned several ever since and in the process became an official field tester for Garrett.

Bill.

 

[bearkat4160]

n/t

 

[alabamagetaway]

It is nice to hear from all of you. Some of you I have read your posts for a really long time, as well as various field reports.

I would also like to thank some of these same people for all of their time and effort that they've put in over the years to help others, and post reviews, etc. Before I had purchased my 1350, I scanned the archives of this forum and found every post that made mention of that model. It was alot, but I read them all. I didn't want to be lazy, and ask the same tired questions that you all have answered a zillion times before. Although, posting those Q&A types, will really help out those who don't have time to sift through past posts, by bringing the info to the front page of the forum.

It seems like all of us Garrett users are more of a "group" than some other brand holders. BH forums are great too. The people are so nice and relatively laid back on them. The way most all of you present yourselves on this forum is part of the reason I bought the 1350. I had looked at every other brand, and even came close to buying a used explorer for about the same price. But I like to support American industry whenever I can, cause we have lost so many jobs here already, I like to at least know that I played a part, however small, in helping someone keep their job. Garrett sold me with the profiling feature.

I really just wanted to say hi to everyone, introduce myself, and say a long overdue thanks. Because of everyone here, by the time I got my 1350, I felt like I had already owned it for years. Anyways, I'm out. HH all!!!

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

Here in Oz, you only hear about Minelab. it dominates the market, almost completely. We have the reverse situation over here though, 70% of detectorist hunt gold, while only 30% hunt coins. For this reason, As Minelab machines are the best catered for for gold hunting (as far as coils goes) and are considered to be the best gold machines, this tends to carry that belief onto the coin machines. Mostly, other brands just don't enter peoples heads over here, and because of that, are perceived to be junk. Personally, I'd rather use the Infinium over the GPX's as it can discriminate at full depth. That has got to save a lot of pain and suffering in unnecessary digging! From What I've heard, they tend to give the Minelab machines a good run for their money, oh and they are less than half the price of a Minelab machine.
I quite like the 2 Minelab machines that I own; I just haven't had time to play with them much lately, as I've been playing with my 2 Garrett machines.
Mick Evans.

 

[Ace]

A few years back in 2001 I got my 1st detector, a Garrett predator 2... I was 14yo at the time and my father got it for me, I was thrilled, I loved the machine in every way even though it took 3 holes to find the damn target (spare me, I was 14yo and anxious! I'm now 21 and way more experienced), ok, so, I love the damn thing, I found probably a few coins here and there, nothing too fancy, I remembered a coin I had buried in the yard a few years ago i tried putting the coil over it (I had marked its exact location with a small pot) and no signal was given (the coin was silver, it was from Nicaragua, about the size of a quarter)... I sweeped and nothing, oh well, I left it there and kept detecting with it, I tried the beach and it falsed like crazy, horrible, so I couldn't use it on the beach, fair enough I couldn't ask more from a $250 unit... ok, so I had it for 3 years and went to really old places and couldn't find anything deep, I never recovered anything more than 2-3" and finally it dies on me... I was really disappointed... well I went ahead and got me a White CL IDX, I went over the same spot where I had buried the silver coin and it gave a very loud BEEP... [Insert very big happy face HERE]... yes I was very happy, and I had more features than before, to be completely fair this is a $500 unit vs. a $250... ok... a few years went by and I wanted to get myself a better unit, a pro detector, so I sold my CL IDX and got myself a Minelab Explorer II with a few add ons like the Sunray probe and haven't found anything better yet, now, this is not flaming Garrett, it's completely unfair to judge the whole brand based ona lower-end detector but that's how I overlooked Garrett, so, I'm planning on getting an Infinium LS for prospecting and give Garrett another chance...

That's my story. I don't know why Kellyco keeps selling those crappy Predator detectors, those are a complete JOKE! The should put them on sale, get rid of them and advertise the Ace 150/250 more, from what I've read they're awesome. =)

HH!