Gerry in Idaho

I have sold used ones in the past from as low as $6000 up to $7500 depending on condition and coils? The majority of my used 7000's come from previous sales of my own customers who changed paths or went lighter with the GPX-6000. The reason I mention that I want to know the history of the 7000, is so many China counterfeits that have flooded the market. Plus, I go through the detector and make sure it works and nothing missing or damaged. I also offer my customer a 30 day Warranty if said machine is older than 3 yrs. I've personally seen used 7000's sell for $5000 to $6000 pretty regularly, but I always caution Buyer Beware and know who you're dealing with. Just last week I seen a used 7000 for $4900 USD plus shipping.

Who me? Open mouth, insert big Au. What's most interesting of my 30 yrs chasing gold nuggets, the major of big gold I have recovered has been with VLF type detectors, even though I have been running PI's since the SD-2100 and every model since. Ponder that for a while????

My digging knowledge from there suggests a few major earth events over millions of years. When one of my Field Staff had the lease, he would dig down with a backhoe and hit different pay layers. Some areas were 8 to 10 feet down and some layers had smooth gold and 3 feet below that was rough gold. I was on a ridge top one afternoon (I usually hunt the washes) and finding a few 3 to 6 grammers at depth and digging them in bedrock. They were all smoother water worn. Then only 6 feet away on the same ridge and at the same depth, I got a really weak signal and dug just as deep hitting the bedrock as just before. This time, it was a really rough sharp edged nuggets of about 2 grams. Same ridge, same material, same depth and two different nugget characteristics.??? I firmly believe RP is one of the most unique areas I have ever hunted. And, some of the most amazing chevron type gold has come from there. As Chuck had mentioned about moving dirt. The solid smooth 6 oz belt buckle nugget recovered above the burn barrel was 8' down.

I appreciate letting us know.

Knomad - I don't know the background of who runs Codan, but I know as soon as they went on stock market, things started changing at a rapid pace. I understand your thinking though and have seen it in many other companies. Sgtfda - It only works until Minelab has no Dealers to offer your 15% Military discount. At that point you end up paying full price. I wonder how many people would fork out $9500 for a GPZ-7000 or $7000 for a GPX-6000. Only God knows what they'll try to price the GPZ-8000. Better take a mortgage out on a house to get it. phrunt - That's exactly what my feeling is. 1st it was a model of detector with only a 20% margin and now (as of last week) it's a Gold Detectors. My opinion, eventually, it will be All Minelab Detectors, just watch. All- Most interestingly in the eyes of a long time Dealer, look how often most of us well known proven Gold Finding Dealers are still posting and sharing knowledge, finds and stories. Chris, Rob, Doc, Steve, I and even some lesser-known Dealers hardly post anymore. Their forums have slowed down or shut off, videos are very few from us guys and it is only going to get worse. Sure, there is a new generation of DetectXPerts who get a carrot dangled in front of them, but eventually they'll burn out. Social media is a doubled edged sword and can cut you from both ends. But manufactures will ride that bubble for now and cash out today, as most don't care about the future. My future, it will be swinging 2nd hand detectors I picked up at discount. It's not that I personally can't afford a $10K or $12K detector but more of my "what's the best value" mindset. Here's the funny about our hobby. It's just a matter of time before different places start banning the use of metal detectors and or making us get permits. If that doesn't stop, then they'll start wanting to collect taxes on our gold finds. Ride the metal detector wave now, as it won't last forever. It's just like the gold patches, each year, produces less return. And that's exactly the same with the beaches; I've personally witnesses both.

I'm going to clear up some smoke about the Military/VET Discount a few Dealers offer. I got a little heat from a couple people as my original post on the GM-2000 said I was not offering a VET discount. My reasoning, was the (out of nowhere) drop in our margins and just as they did with the Manticore pricing, we were informed the Manticore at such would not offer Military Discount. Here's the cut and dry.... as I explain to Every Swinging Doug who is military active/VET, where the discount came from. What you don't know, it was me who fought hard for the Military/VET discount many many yrs ago in the early 2000s. I used to be a Managed Partner (about 12 of us in the US) before that was taken away. I used to fly in for Managed Partner meetings and Dealer Conferences and meet with the higher ups at Minelab. It's amazing the amount of Dealers we have but yet when a Conference would take place and Dealers had to pay their own way to get there, the amount of them who never attended. Funny as we still have those same kind of Dealers who offer Back Door prices to anyone. Heck, that's exactly why Minelab can lower the margins, since most give it away anyways. But that's another story. Military/VET Discount - I started asking for it when Kevin H worked at Minelab. I asked again when new upper brass would take over but nobody was interested in implementing at that time. Eventually as one of them heading out, Gary S (head of Minelab USA at the time) was about to leave Minelab, he personally called to thank me for everything I had done for Minelab. He asked if there was any last-minute things I needed and desired. I explained again the need for a VET discount, since Minelab was a main supplier of Landmine Detectors and Equipment for US Military/Nato forces. They were getting big checks from US Gov for their technologies (remember the SDC-2300). Anyways, it was a couple months later that Debbie (Minelab USA) informed me of the update and new Military Discount Program and how it would be run. and the option of up to a 15% VET discount to those who provide the appropriate documentation to said Dealers. I've sold more gold detectors to VET's than most Dealers and have always taken pride in such. As a VET myself, I do enjoy offering active Military and VET's the opportunity to save a little $$. So when a DP Member (I'm not going to call him out) makes comments about something he knows nothing. I get a little rattled, as it was me who fought and never gave up, to help US Military get said discount. Is it wise to offer a 15% discount on a 20% margin detector? Well if I want to stay in business for an extended amount of years, probably not, but to be honest, these new 20% margins are just that, new to us Dealers. I remember the days when we had 45% margins and selling a $2000 made $800 after all fees. Those days are certainly gone. Interestingly, I wonder what would be said if a detector manufacture walked into Cabelas and said, "we want you to sell our detectors in your store, what shelf should we display them"...oh and by the way, we'll offer you a 20% margin and if you desire, you can offer 15% VET discount. Wonder how many stores would allow product to sit on their shelves with said margins? Food for thought. Veterans Day is around the corner and I look forward to trying to offer my fellow active duty brothers/ sisters and VET's a quality detector at a savings. Hope this helps folks understand where I'm coming from. To all Dealers, keep your hardhats on, as I think it's just going to get worse before it gets better. I should probably be like Steve H, just grab a detector and go swinging and leave all chatter behind.

Just curious, did you think the GPZ-7000 detector was to only respond to Gold? It actually beeps on most all metals and on solid targets, deeper than many people want to dig. Make sure you have your cell phone in Airplane mode.

Very impressive nugget finds and well earned.

I had a customer in NV just tell me about a gold chain he found at Lake Tahoe. It looked like the real thing, it read low tone really low ID #'s like a real gold chain does and it was stamped 14K. Anyways, he was excited and thought he would sell it and get a few hundred bucks? He took it to a pawn shop and they told him it was "just gold plate - FAKE". What did he do next, sold it at work to a guy for $20 bucks. My gut tells me the Pawn Shop was not truthful? I don't for a fact. When you see the local TV commercials airing for a "Gold Buyer" coming into town, and will be set up at the local Hotel, be very cautious. Has anyone else sold some jewelry lately at these record high prices for gold? I might need to take a peak in the Safe Deposit Box at my bank and see if I have a ring or handful to move. I would be cautious right now. Below pic was a fun trip in Caribbean with one of my Field Staff. Those dang Tungsten rings (top back row) sure fool us. They're low tones and usually deep. When you get one in your hands without looking, you're expecting good size 6 to 10+ gram chunk of Gold. I sure hope the younger future generations decided to go back to traditional gold wedding rings. Everything else in front of the back row of Tungsten is marked gold from 10K to 18K. Low and Slow, is the coil sweep I enjoy most.

Once your battery is charged, be sure and charge the detector battery😉 and then go use it for a quick bit to let us know 1st impression.

Now that I have been updated from Minelab on the official stand of the Military Discount, Gerry's Detectors will also offer the VET Discount to those who have earned it. Minelab is a hard company to deal with at times and things change on occasion, (so has the others). A prime example is the original price of $1799 US we were told. So I had posted that price on other platforms to get folks educated on the new talked about detector. Well you all know, it didn't come out early Sept as we were told. When it finally did show up last week, to our surprise was a $200 increase to the Consumer. I had a guy send me a snippet yesterday and demand the $1799 price I had posted months ago. I learned one thing, not to post anything up front until it's official. To make matter worse about the $200 increase, us Dealers were also updated with our new margin on the GM-2000, being less than any other gold detector release. Talk about tough times for a Dealer. Yes, it's tough when you sell a $2000 detector and can't even make $200 (after 15% VET discount, card fees & shipping from my shop), but what can us Dealers do, quit? I feel that's exactly what they would like for many of us to do, as they now sell Direct. It's just the changing of times, so I'll suck it up and trooper my USMC VET Dealership along the road and get back to helping my customers. For any VET's who did purchase from me this week, please reach out to me by calling my 30+ Landline at 208-345-8898 or at gerrys1det@gmail.com and we'll get you compensated. On a side note? I think Minelab USA should also offer the VET Discount on their own website to VET's who earned it. If us Dealers are going to make less when working with a VET, so should Minelab. As for the other Minelab Gold Detectors. We were also updated yesterday of price increases to us Dealers and Consumers, with again another DECREASE OF OUR MARGINS. As I had mentioned, my gut feeling, it's just a way for us to get frustrated and give up, so they can sell more detectors off their own site. Yes, I'll also offer the VET discount on the other detectors, until I get the word that went away, like with the Manticore. 30+ yrs selling metal detectors and boy have times changed. On a side note, I got out bed today and Detector Prospector Forum is still here to read up and see who is finding some heavy metal. Speaking of Heavy Metal and Gold. Those who are desiring to trade your gold for a new detector, or those wanting to trade your used detector for a new ones, lets talk.

The new GM-2000 container box is the same size as that of the GM-1000, at 22" in length is good for Carry On for most airlines, at least until they change their rules. The Rechargeable battery for the GM-1000 will fit the GM-2000. The AA Battery Holder is the same size as that of a GM-1000, but was informed the batteries will not last as long. GM-2000 comes shipped with 2 Rechargeable Batteries. GM-2000 comes with coil cover on coil already, but there is a spare cover in the box. Those trying to put that cover on their coil, will have issues. Again,, Out of the box, the small 5" coil ALREADY HAS COVER ON IT. So, everyone will get a spare coil cover. Arm Cuff is same as GM-1000 The lower rod on EQ-700, 900 and Manticore will work on the new GM-2000, but is not recommended. Those who know the issues of the carbon fiber rod on the EQ-900 and Manticore, totally understand. Those who don't see the problem, you're Special. I recommend you only use the Lower Rod (I was told it's non carbon fiber) that comes with the GM-2000. As I get more info and questions, as I get time, I'll try to update. Sorry, but I personally won't be swinging one in the Field for a few weeks yet. I'm already seeing reports from across and their so far looking good, (real tiny, but gold).

Don't expect the larger 10" Ellip coil until earlier next year. The good thing is, we'll get one, but as with many things right now, it's a waiting game.

Luckily I was able to get the truck started and running early. Well what a day. Ran my a$$ off but at the end....EVERY PERSON who was on my list, got their new shiny Gold Monster 2000 sent out to them today. Afterwards, I then emailed all customers the Tracking #'s so they know when detectors arrive at their doorsteps this week. If your Dealer is not providing Top service, maybe it's time to find one who will? To make things better, I was also informed a good part of my order shipped directly to me today. I know I'll have a few that are not spoken for. If you are wanting to get one this week, call me (Gerry's Detectors with the 30+ yr old Landline) 208-345-8898. Time to relax and watch a little MNF. Thanks for the support from my DP friends again. Gerry