Gerry in Idaho

Folks,  I have read some of the posts on here and am disappointed about what some of you think you know or what some of you might have been told by a  dealer.  No I’m not even going to other forums, as I heard they want to hang each other blaming the manufacture Minelab, their dealers and or non Minelab users causing their usual ruckus.

I will not call out anyone in particular except Minelab, as I feel they did leave us in the dark recently with lack of communication.

Here is what I want you to try and understand please. This new and exciting detector technology was introduced in the UK at one of the larger detecting events in the world.  I personally had customers there who were pretty excited about it and why would you not be?   After all, Minelab of old and their high dollar prices, for the most part…I think is behind us now.  1st Go-Finds (which I personally don't care for), is an introductory detector to get in a new kids hands for under $199 (and it sells well, better than I had imagined). Until the last few years the cheapest thing Minelab had was minimum of $500.  Then the Gold Monster 1000 package with 2 coils and accessories priced at $799.  It has really hit the US market hard and I can barely sell any of my other VLF gold detector brands.  The GM-1000 is the hottest selling VLF gold machine out there and actually fun to use too.  They already had the high end Gold Detector market share.  So what is left to go and gobble up and try to put their product brand in to your hands.  The Equinox with 2 different models and price points of course.

Minelab decided to go with a detector the majority of you can afford and most importantly, you want one.  Their advertising & intro outside of the US was genius.  The price point along with this detectors technology is stunning.  The majority of detectorists WORLDWIDE are intrigued and wanting it.

Yes we were told to expect a small batch around Christmas…but that was before the upgrades.  With the new upgrades, even more people decided to jump on board and I applaud you.  The new year is here and most major detector manufactures have not introduced much that was totally new and exciting in the last 3 months.  Tax returns are coming, the Spring is around the corner and until this week most of your retirement accounts were fat and happy.  The market was riding the wave and the Equinox Pre-Sales is as well..  In fact, the last 30 days of sales of this product have been more than the previous 3 months (for me anyway).

Minelab History. I have been a Multi Line Dealer of detectors for 20+ years. Minelab (which I feel makes some of the most innovative detector technologies) allows me (a detectorist of 45 years) the edge in my style of detecting most of the time.  I’ve witnessed this company grow from a single weed to a bush in a matter of 3 years in the US in the early 90’s.  I have seen their gold detector sales spread across the US from a bush to a garden in the early 2000’s.  Then Minelab started making well know detectors we enjoyed for Coin/Relic/Jewelry hunting using BBS, FBS and VFLEX technologies, all the time while growing and the garden getting bigger.  My sales of a variety of Minelab detectors just kept getting bigger and before I knew it the garden in the back yard became a City Park of many acres.   Minelab has methodically kept on growing, getting bigger with each new model and improvement. The 2^nd Gold Rush in Africa (about 8 years ago) was a Grand Slam for Minelab and they re-invested some of their profits by hiring more young and bright minded Engineers and yes even physicists.

Now we are at present with this new Multi IQ technology and the Equinox.  The biggest change I see?  Minelab is now so much greater worldwide and the detector is in demand more than even the best of us could have imagined.  Folks,  the walk in the park along the river is no more, it has grown into a full blown Timber Forest.  The Equinox with its new Multi IQ technology, the perfect timing release at a major detector event, the updated info and even the delay to get more features and performance into the detector… has the demand across the different lands and languages of this planet is totally awe inspiring to us old timers that have been around for a long time.

To date - 1^st shipment arrived and has been allocated.  Boy was I pissed off at 1^st as well as most all other dealers.  Then I realized what they just went through and also realized the same thing happened with the other machines in times past and most recently the Pro Find 35 Pointer.  Minelab felt it best to get at least a few machines sent out and that is exactly what came into the US?  Lucky for us as some countries were allocated even less.  My guess only… I expect another shipment (in the next 2 to 3 weeks) and it too will probably be small and then a 3^rd shipment 2 to 3 weeks later and so forth.  I feel things will open up some around the mid/late March and most customers will be happily using their new detector.

All the chatter (good and bad) is literally creating a wave and it just keeps getting bigger and more curious people are watching, wondering and wanting…to get in on the game.  Now I love new customers and have spent most of my adult life promoting this hobby and the many adventures it provides.  But some people seems to think Minelab is taking advantage?

What I ask of everyone who reads this.  Please be respectful of your dealer who is trying to get the product, but we can only hand you what we get.  Some dealers have not been as up front with their customers and a wise customer will shop with someone different next time.  Please understand Minelab USA and their distributors are doing all they can to get them and I know for a FACT they are moving them to the dealers.  Thank Minelab Corporate, the ones who make up the new technologies we so desire.  After all, they could have kept their promise (machines were done) and sent them across the lands.  Then a month later we are all up in arms with new info and possible downloads.  Heck people, they make a wise decision and are offering us even more machine at the same price we already paid.  Why be upset with that?

So please don’t call and threaten your dealer for taking your money.  Please don’t call and harass their distributors and or even Minelab USA.  After all, if you don’t want the product let us know, we have plenty of people in line to take your spot. 

Now for Minelab USA or Corporate.  I feel they did not do a good enough job of updating the consumers of their products. We are inquisitive people who want to know (hence the new EQ) and many of us have put money in your hands, some for a few months now.  We (most of us anyway) are ok with the delay and updates.  But after saying “end of Jan” and that not happening, it allowed the forums to run rampant with rumors…which causes more stories and then sometimes mistrust.  A simple post to FB or on the main Minelab Site explaining the product was delayed an additional 2 weeks for any reason would have been enough for most.  After all we all know BAD news is better than No news.

I would kindly ask of those who want to chime in with opinions on why this or who that and Dealer A not doing something right.  Please refrain.  I’d like to see positive comments and feed backs only.  Once the detectors are in your hands, then there will be discussions started to engage.

Bottom line is this.  Not a person on any forum is going to make the detectors show up any sooner.  It is what it is and we just need to be a little more patient.  Americans being patient?  I don’t think so.. we are spoiled, self serving and sometimes non practical.  Guess what.  We still be waiting.  Thanks for allowing me to help clear up some of the delays and ways of Minelab.  I’ve had plenty of hair pulling events myself in my years with Minelab and it will all work out in the end, I promise.

Oh and have you downloaded the newest version Equinox manual, I don’t understand why some come in White,  Who wants a white one?

https://my.chevrolet.com/content/dam/gmownercenter/gmna/dynamic/manuals/2018/Chevrolet/Equinox/2018-chevrolet-equinox-owners-manual.pdf

So many people call me and ask about getting into Nugget Detecting and then comment,  “Hasn’t it all been found by now?”. I’m here to tell you what I found out last week on a short trip to Yuma to get some sun. The last minute, I decided to take a GPZ-7000, as it actually packs in airplane luggage easier than my 5000.

Anyway, we did the usual stuff for the first 3 days and then got the call to meet up with Lunk and another of my customers the next morning at around 9AM.

I was worried my rental car 2WD Ford Escape was of no use?  But when we met up at the site, I realized my riding lawn mover would have done just fine.  After all, we turned off real genuine pavement and drove less than a mile on gravel, seen some dry wash piles on the side of the road and decided it was good to hunt.

OK… lets cut to the chase… How did we do in the 5 hours of detecting?  All 3 of us found gold with our detectors.  Are we all swinging the high end GPZ-7000 that most folks can’t afford.. you ask?  Nope.  Only me, as I did not realize smaller coils would have served me better for that site.  My one buddy was using a more moderately priced detector, SDC-2300 and he recovered more than I.  Lunk was swinging the best VLF gold machine under $1000 and he too found more than me.  After all, coil size to match the terrain is pretty important as I found out.

So whats the verdict on AZ and Yuma specifically?  Plenty of gold out there folks and I was able to drive my riding lawn mower less than a mile off a paved road when we seen old Prospects so decided to try.   Each of us using 3 different detector price ranges and even technologies (VLF, PI & ZVT) scored some Au.  We all went home with gold…and a few great memories. 

I’m still awe struck that gold can be so easily found a half mile from a paved road, 15 minutes outside of Yuma?  I guess those folks enjoy dry washing more than nugget hunting? 

I'm thinking next winter I know of an area to put on a Gold Detector Field Training class for my customers?  At least I know it is really close to town and most anyone can get there.

BTW… There is plenty of lead targets in that area too, so you’ll get your share of pinpointing practice.

And on the way back to the hotel, you can pull off the side of the road and get another kind of nuggets, fresh AZ oranges.

Sorry I have not been in the loop the last week, as I was down South.

Thanks for the invite from my clients and friends.  We had a fabulous time down there in Yuma and digging up the gold.

No monster stories to tell, at least not about the gold nuggets, but I was able to dust off my GPZ-7000 and find my 1st piece of 2018.

What a great way to kick start my year.  Just a little one at .4 gram...but sometimes the hunt and the folks in the hunt are even better.

I hope I get the invite again and looking forward to seeing all my clients and friends who winter down there or anywhere if you invite me.  I might even do a little training for you too.

 

It may not be for everyone and especially those who do just 1 thing and are really good at it with a certain detector.  But what about all the other folks and those who do a variety of hunts?  The last few years has allowed a few manufactures to build detectors with a vast range of uses.  I predict this new technology will be the flagship for future models to come with is great for the end user.

I’ve been a Minelab dealer for 20 years, but more importantly a multi use detectorist for 40+ years.

Some people think I’m a Minelab guy because of all the YouTube videos and posts I make mentioning the brand Minelab.

Simple fact to set everyone straight so you understand where I come from.  Brand means nothing to an accomplished hunter.  Success means everything.

As a detectorist, who hunts with many friends and customers, I want to find treasure.  I don’t care if I’m in the warm water of Mexico or Hawaii scooping for gold rings, I want the best salt water performing detector for the task.  If I’m in the rolling fields of England digging Roman coins and artifacts I need the best discrimination and ID detector I can find.  If I’m in the gold rich soils of Australia or NV where many others detect, I need the most powerful detector with depth than can handle mineralized grounds.  Or I could even be here in my own 150 year old town of Boise trying to sniff out another 100+ year old silver coin in a nice manicured yard of a neighbor,  I need extra depth and better target identification. After all, most sites I detect have been hunted by many.  And yet I still seem to find more than most others?

What separates me from most of you?  Not only my Success, but the fact is I have almost every detector at my fingertips.  Yes, being a multi line dealer allows me the opportunity to get them all.  On top of that, I have handful of select Field Staff members who also enjoy the hunt and we like to compare different detectors, coils, settings and also share our findings and knowledge.  So having the ability to do all the different styles of hunts we do with most of the top performing brands, allows us to see the truth and find the best detector for the hunt we’ll be doing.

I’ve yet to find 1 detector that is best at everything.  In fact, I am most certain said unit will never be made because there are too many variables, soil conditions, kinds of targets and many other aspects affecting the outcome.

So legs go full circle and back to the beginning.  Why am I more Successful than most?  The detectors I use give me the extra advantage needed to keep finding treasures in worked out sites.   Most of the ones I swing are proven winners and they are Minelab models that have been tested side by side with the best of the other brands.  I’m not saying in a particular soil type on a certain target, at a given depth, there is not another detector than could beat a Minelab…because I have found such instances, hence why on a rare occasion I still go back to some other brands and models.  But the majority of time, the newer and more advancing technologies of Minelab is the winner.

Each of the detectors I have used for Minelab since they came to the USA has been better than the previous ones they have made.  Not one time did the overall performance/features of a new model not do better than the older.

Here’s your options.  Keep swinging your old reliable and getting a scrap here/there or start the new year with the newest (the future) technology and never worry about looking back over your shoulder.  For you, what’s it going to be?

For me,  past performance and proof has already served me well.  I know without a doubt this new Multi IQ is here to stay for a long long time and I’ll be out there swinging it at all those sites making top finds as usual.  After all, I’m a detectorist and not worried about detector brand, cost or model … I want bang for the buck features, performance, versatility and a machine with better ergonomics.    Anyone know of such a detector?  The EQ-800…I’m pretty sure. 

BTW,  I’m always here to earn your detector business no matter the brand and I accept some detector trades.  Yes the 15% Military Discount on Minelab detectors, even the Equinox, is a great way to thank a Veteran.

See you in the field, where it counts. Thanks,  Gerry

My brother just shared his 1st GPX-5000 nugget of 2018.

Here is a 17.5 gram Sun Baker.