Minelab Partners Conference Starts Tomorrow

[steveg]

I don't see "stars" being given for weight, just the actual weight of the detector listed.  Am I missing something?

Steve

[Sinclair]

4 minutes ago, steveg said:

I don't see "stars" being given for weight, just the actual weight of the detector listed.  Am I missing something?

Steve

 

You're right.. have to clean my goggles.. and no stars for Battery Life

[steveg]

LOL!  No problem!  :)

Steve

 

[Ridge Runner]

I’ll be more than happy to come back and add all the stars you want after I get my Equinox 800.

I pre-order it before I even knew it rated one star let along the number they show. 

Some of the others didn’t rate too bad but it’s all about what I want. This is clear and simple as I can make it.

Chuck

[Sinclair]

A friend of mine pre-ordered 4 of them.. in Sept. last year - so we're in the same boat

[Gerry in Idaho]

On 1/14/2018 at 11:00 AM, Chase Goldman said:

Glad I don't have to pay anyone to be on the short list.  Guess I'm lucky and have a dealer who treats all his clients the same regardless.  First come, first served and no paid claim jumping.  Good to have options where money talks though, it's just business, I guess.  Just a pet peeve, sorry for the rant. 

Please understand from a well known 20+ Year Dealer and what we go through.

With the high demand of the detector, it is simple sales 101.  If a customer is not serious enough to commit, please step aside as there are others who put their money where their mouth is.  The same goes for a dealer too. If we want to make sure we get more than a small dealer to cover all of our customers, we better plan in advance and order more units than a small dealer.

Us larger dealers purchase in bulk at the same price per unit as the small dealers who only purchase a few. 

How many of the folks on my short list "who Prepaid" are also on another list?  I personally have 2 I know of who Pre Paid with another dealer as well?  So for some reason, if that dealer gets his before me, then the customer could easily cancel his order with me and I end up getting charged the charge back fee regardless.  It is wasted time and money and an actual loss for me the dealer.

How many people are on my Long List, that are also on other dealers list?  Probably quite a few and the same goes, if they get them 1st, I could be stuck with product.

The 1st few days this detector comes out, there will be some folks who bash it... and I could end up with extra stock?  Think back of a few recent brands who had such releases and all the bad units out there.

What if another brand releases some FANTASTIC news of an up and coming machine?  Just like with the Garrett AT Max did and I still have unsold inventory.  I actually had customers cancel their AT Max order and asked to have the money rolled over to the EQ-800.

So if someone has an issue with Prepaying, please step aside and let some of the more serious customers who want one sooner, get theirs.  There is more to it than most of you realize. Just like in real world...you want a new 2019 truck and you want it sooner than most others, you Prepay. 

If a dealer has one set aside for you, that is nice of him, but if that dealer is well known 20+ year Dealer, there is no way he can just hold one for all his previous customers who want it.

If folks know they want one and can use it now, it is most wise to be on a Prepaid list.  If they prefer to wait and see what others have to say, then get on the "when extras are here" list.  Pretty simple life lessons I have learned.  Maybe some have not?

Sorry if this upsets some folks, but please realize from a big well known dealers point who is trying to get as many as he can for his customers and friends who have helped his business grow from years past.  It is not that easy as "Gerry, put me on a list".

Now for another bit of info.  I was already told by Minelab, my customers come 1st and my own staff of 10+ do not get theirs until all my Prepaid customers have their own units.  That is exactly what they did to us with the Gold Monster 1000 and I have 130+ happy customers with many finding gold already.

Some dealers go the extra mile, spend their own money, shut their shops to go to conferences, training, meetings, do testing, offer training.  We update info we learn on FB, forums, YouTube all to benefit "all detectorists and potential customers" in hopes of earning their business. A small % of customers appreciate that by purchasing from those dealers who go the extra miles.  Steve H is a fine example and why his business did so well.  Even today he is considered the top of his league and will be for quite some time.

[FollowTheBeep]

I couldn't agree with you more Gerry.  Being in North Dakota, it will probably be mid April before I can get out to do any worthwhile detecting; as such, I've decided to wait to order an Equinox since I know others are really chomping at the bit to get one now.  If I was further south, you would not only have my money for the detector but a new pinpointer too.  Hopefully by mid March there will be some available without a long wait.

HH

[Chase Goldman]

Gerry,

Thanks for giving the dealer's perspective.  Believe me, I know that dealers need to protect themselves from unscrupulous buyers just as buyers need to shop around and of course business is business..  My only point was glad I was in a situation where I did not have to worry about what list I needed to get on based on money exchanging hands.  I am lucky to be in a situation where the dealer and I have mutual trust that does not need to be confirmed with a credit card number, if I say I am going to buy it, I buy it and doesn't have to tell me to "step aside".  I do not know what volume my dealer moves so I cannot compare with your situation but I know that the playbook changes when you have a larger customer base.  So perhaps, I will have to wait longer than your prepaying customers, but my sense of loyalty to my dealer because of the good product recommendations, personal service and instruction he has provided will keep me coming back despite wait times and despite knowing that his prices are not necessarily rock bottom.  Some nationally known dealers will not give you a choice, its either prepay or no detector, so I appreciate those dealers that give the customers that choice (just as I'm sure some of my dealer's customers would prefer that he run a long and short list).  The mindset of buyers and what they are willing to tolerate in that regard varies across a wide spectrum, that is why it is a good thing (and yes good business) to have competition and for the buyers to have choices with respect to being able to have some influence over when they get product even if it involves a prepay.  

It's all good and I dare say, since I am sure you know that the product Minelab is producing is not going to be an AT Max situation (even if someone comes up with a new product announcement, I cannot see it even touching what Minelab is offering in the Equinox), this thing is going to sell like hotcakes and dealers will not be taking any baths with unsold inventory, I'm sure of that.  They are just going to be dealing with whining buyers (like me) who are wondering when their 'Nox is going to show up and having to deal with people who say "'Nox."  lol.

Thanks again for responding.

 

PS, anything you can share with us from the dealer's meeting?