Lil-Croft

Hi, I just wanted to thank everyone for the warm reception and kind words! This seems like a wonderful community 🙂 The Bass Pro 10% deal was just to encourage store traffic - there was no open-box requirement. The serial number on the detector matches the box but not the coil. Update: We tried a test and Lil' Croft did not disappoint. Within 10 minutes she uncovered what looks like a WWII bullet and a '63 penny (too bad it wasn't a dime!)... all on default settings and without a pinpointer! I just worked the detector and popped out a couple of plugs for her - Lil' Croft did the truffling. Once I get a moment I'll start a new post with a photo or two. So, we're off to a pretty good start! In terms of exchange or keep, I think it comes down to two factors: 1. Can anyone try an "open air" test with their Manticore on default settings. How far away are you getting a signal for a modern US quarter? I seem to lose signal completely around 8 or 9 inches away but I have yet to adjust settings like sensitivity, etc. The purpose here is to benchmark this specific Manticore's performance against others that are known to be in perfect working order. Beyond that, any helpful setting pointers are welcome. 2. What's the process to confirm that this detector is not refurbished? Is there anything on the detector or packaging that would indicate refurbished or should I just reach out to Minelab with the box/detector serial number and story? If this detector passes those 2 tests I'll probably skip the drive and just work something out with Bass Pro customer service. Thank you, Detector Prospectors!

Hi Detector Prospectors! Skip ahead to "Problem:" if you want to cut to the chase. Backstory: My youngest daughter just graduated from Kindergarten and she is a "Little Lara Croft"! She finds coins and treasures wherever she goes - just like a human metal detector. On more than one occasion she has found 100+ year old coins all by herself. She's a real darling and I'm proud of her. I'm also very supportive of her interests and skills as a junior treasure hunter. I had a metal detector when I was younger, so I have decided to make this a family project and get a new detector. The plan is for me to operate a full-size detector and have her assist with the pinpointing. When she's old enough and proven her "mettle" (pun intended), I'll get her a full detector. In the meantime, we'll spend some quality time together and I'll build up my detecting skills. I narrowed our choices down to The Legend and Manticore. Bass Pro had a 10% off day and they carry Minelab products, so I placed my order for pick up (a requirement for the discount). There is no nearby store so we had to drive over 2 hours round trip to pick it up. First time ever at the store. It was set up and decorated well and the girls liked the huge fish tank. Strange: The guy ahead of me in the customer service line was actually returning a Manticore which seemed like a very strange coincidence. When I got the package I triple checked that the box had my order info on it, which it did - meaning it was the exact one I ordered rather than the returned one. Problem: I got the Manticore box home and began to open it up. The first thing I noticed was that the normal circular plastic box seal was broken and taped over with clear packing tape. I wasn't happy to see a broken seal but the entire box was all taped up with a "ship to store" label with my name on it, so it didn't really raise any alarm bells. However, once I got the box open I saw that the skid plate had some dirt on it. The dirt resembles the kind of reddish dusty dirt that you'd find on a clay tennis court. A 6th screen protector (box includes 5 spares) is already installed and appears to have some wear/scratches. Marks in the plastic on the shaft indicate that the arm brace had been previously attached. The included quick start guide lacks the crispness of typical new product instructions. Serial numbers for the computer and coil do not match. On the other hand, the headphones seem 100% untouched. Question: Is this normal for Minelab detectors? Does some kind of factory QA/testing explain the dirt on the skid plate, etc.? Is this possibly a refurbished detector or did Bass Pro sell a returned product as new? Maybe the serial numbers can be checked with Minelab to authenticate the possibility of a refurbished detector? Are there any settings that could indicate prior usage (like a "detecting hours odometer")? Can the performance of this detector be confirmed by some kind of diagnostics or simple tests? I would rather not drive another 2 hours but my concern is that someone who "knows more about this" tested it out and determined that it was not performing properly. Thank you for any advice from fellow Minelab owners (and fathers of adorable little treasure hunters)!