phrunt

I don't think you'll need to worry too much about USA EMI and the Algoforce Jeff. There is something going on there with the Algo, it's very resistant to EMI for a PI. With the QED there was some adjustments needed for the different powerline frequency, I really don't think this will matter with the Algoforce, it has a nice noise cancel too.

I think they're just clearing excess stock; I don't think anything is going on beyond that, perhaps the cash flow is handy, always more outgoings waiting to be paid and with not all that many sales of the detectors. Even at these discount prices they're not selling like hot cakes as can be seen by the Ebay listing's numbers available. I think their focus is moving away from detectors to the other larger parts of their business. Night Vision optics, line tracing, leak detection and the thing that appears to have a huge market in the USA, security detectors like the walk-through things at Airports and well, just about anywhere you can think of in the USA, even sports grounds and schools. Hobby metal detectors to them appear to be like the Salads at McDonalds, they sell them, but few buy them, you don't go to McDonalds to buy a Salad. I think this is one of the big money makers for them now. See their website for the electronics manufacturing division. They have some cool equipment. They're not going anywhere anytime soon, they just lack interest in metal detectors and are using what they currently have as supplementary income, and will continue to do so until they no longer sell. The designs are well and truly paid for, they owe them nothing, they can just keep pumping them out like they do other people's electronics, except at minimal cost and still at these reduced prices they have a very high markup, you can guarantee that. It increasingly makes more sense for them to sell direct and with just big box stores as their retailers, and I'm sure there will be very few dealers left soon, if any as that's not their market anymore. They're already undercutting their wholesale pricing, but they won't care, they don't need dealers for their business model.

Hard to answer that as limited availability doesn't really help keep the discussion going on them. With so few owners on the forum you won't see much discussion. It sits a little below the Axiom so you could just buy that and be done with it, especially seeing you've got no GPX coils already and the Axiom is a really good price in the US and no indication of any possibility of sales in the USA at this stage. I think the only real disappointed people are those that expect the performance of a much more expensive detector or more from it, and I've seen people say that, and "borrow" one and decide it's not for them as it doesn't beat the machine about triple or more the price....

My Pro Pointer AT has a little rattle too, has since new, might just be a wire hitting the housing, doesn't change the way it works..... which is great!

I noticed that too but figured it was just the template their web developer was using, the sites very much a work in progress. New Products - Coming soon would just be the template placers. I wouldn't read too much into it but it would be great if they're about to start fighting back and their fire sale was clearing old stock for their new models. There are only so many colours of paint on a painter's palette though. 😛 I'm hoping for a Gold Bug 3 and an Impulse Gold.

Watch their 60th Anniversary video it introduces you to many of the staff, including Mary, looks a nice lady. They may do a great job of fixing the problems when they arise but perhaps not getting to the bottom of why they're happening in the first place, especially if the problems are split between two people so they may not see how often they even happen. Pure speculation of course, but three problems with three orders is a bit much so maybe it needs some higher up intervention, or maybe you're just extremely unlucky. Either way, an earful isn't usually the best approach, a good explanation of the issues will go a long way to fixing the problem for yourself, and may help others in the future from having the problem too. An angry person with a problem gets the problem resolved with the bare minimum treatment, a nice person gets the problem resolved with a smile and a thank you. It's rather wonderful how often and sometimes how promptly kind, forgiving, understanding and generous behaviour is rewarded. Here is Mary, look how busy she is, look at all the sticky note reminders all over the place!

I had no choice, I really liked it 😉

Wow, that's crappy, sorry you've had such a bad run. Rather than an ear full it would be best to speak to the right person, someone high enough up the pay grades to matter, and explain the problem you've had with your orders. It's more than likely the people that need to know aren't even aware of the problem. We all know they're going to make it right for you, but the problem only gets resolved if the right people know about it, and often the right people are the people that don't find out about mistakes.

I really like Garrett, not only their detectors, I like them as a business, as people. They seem to operate a bit differently to some manufacturers with the fact that to them, customers matter. Anyway, they've done this 60th video, it's a great watch as it introduces us to some of the team behind the detectors. A BIG Happy Birthday Garrett! I hope to be swinging more Garrett's in the future. Their staff are great, I love the coil winding team! Happy staff, best way to run a business. In fact, the entire team are great, so good to see such a multi-national bunch of people, love the idea of the flags from the countries the staff are from, I noticed an Aussie flag there! If it were me, I'd be proud to work for Garrett. It's clear these guys are all friends, and love working for Garrett. Great bunch of people. Probably my favourites, a husband and wife team from manufacturing. I want an autographed detector from them 😀 You can see the flags in the background of the staff members. A really cool idea.

Yup, see Garrett's reply to this guy asking if it's an AT Pro replacement.

It was a widespread problem that they weren't aware of when the detector was released, only after a year or more did they establish that it was a problem with enough feedback from users so unfortunately it was missed during the testing of the detector. I don't think they're obligated to pay shipping costs, as their warranty is a return to base warranty, and the problem was never a "recall" as there are other implications if they did that such as having to pay for shipping. It's unusual they would replace your entire PCB, generally they repair them. Either way, you'll be happy now that it's fixed, the machines really good once fixed up.

It came with my 4500. I tried it recently on the Algoforoce, completely lacks the sensitivity I'm used to with spiral coils. Much like the Sadie is less sensitive to small gold than a spiral coil of a greater size. I'd only use the 15x12" for larger targets. I guess in really bad ground or hot rocks a less sensitive coil would be beneficial though. Once you've gone spiral it's hard to go back 🙂

Better, far more sensitive to smaller gold while being similar on all else. I have a 15x12" Commander, probably never use it.

I guess I'm just not used to having a dealer around, my closest is about 7 hours' drive away and I've never stepped foot in the place 🙂 I tend to make my own decisions though, I don't need a sales person helping, nor do I care about seeing something in person before I buy it. I'd survive if I never walked into a shop again, if I could just buy everything online with fast shipping I'd be set, and the world is increasingly going that way. I can get most things overnight now, same day would be better, and in some places you can but because I live in a low population area not here yet. I'd be happier to cut out 3rd parties and buy direct, especially if doing that helped lower prices.

Unless you want the bit of extra ground coverage I don't see it as a necessary purchase.

Not at all tempted on an AQ, a final version, maybe, the AQ Gold, likely. I'd never spend my money on a beta product with no warranty essentially due to geographical location. Unlikely shipping it back for repair would be viable WHEN it breaks down. In saying that, maybe they've seen me poking fun at their shipping prices, suddenly they've removed Worldwide shipping off their listings and they now just Say USA, Mexico and Canada as shipping options and to contact them if elsewhere for a quote. They too probably thought over $200 USD to ship their garden scoop was excessive. -- Update: They've changed it on the AQ to only those countries, the other detector listings have remained the same with crazy shipping so the garden scoop is still $230 USD to ship 😛

It's a damn good price, cheaper than shipping to get it here 😛

The 22" is 1500 grams with skid plate, only a couple of hundred grams heavier than the stock 14x13" I believe, I can't remember the 14"x13" weight. It's significantly lighter than the 19" Minelab coil. The 22" although a big coil isn't designed for ground coverage, none of the Concentric coils are, they're for depth in known gold areas and you have to overlap your swing by 1/3, a little less if you're able to use normal.

It's all just marketing doing their thing, they've got everyone talking about it, perhaps a few are now holding off a purchase of another detector waiting to see what this "storm" is all about, and that's exactly what they want to achieve. I just hope they don't drag it out too long like other brands have in the past. I prefer the take us all by surprise method that some manufacturers use than this marketing hype stuff.

That's a good video, I'd love to detect that ground.

This is where the Sphinx 03 is awesome, configured with a phone app, and you don't even need to use the button to turn it off and on, that's all done by magnetics, pull it out of it's holster and it turns on, put it back in and it turns off. It's a shame it never became widely available, and that's unlikely to happen now with the war going on over there. They're a big brand too, and make a massive range of different pinpointers, many for security use. Catalog of Handheld Metal Detectors and Metal Detectors for Object Security | "SPHINX" – Inspection Equipment (sphinx-md.ru) Other brands may end up copying the phone configuration method in time, as it really is a game changer, so much easier than remembering overly complex button combinations to do things. It has a great internal battery too, up to 90 hours off a charge.

The people that took over our best store are dredgers, I'm sure if I required dredge stuff, they'd be great to talk to, they just have no idea about the toys called metal detectors.

Unless a multi-line dealer the chances of getting the "correct" advice is minimal, as they're going to sell you what they have, not necessarily the best for your requirements.

Isn't he a Garrett exclusive dealer? Either way, there is no point being a dealer when there is no stock available to sell and so easy for people just to go direct to Algoforce and order it, I don't see much point in dealers in Australia unless they're going to offer some training or something to add value to the purchase, otherwise easier to just go direct. Where dealers are going to be more necessary is overseas, and they'll likely need to have a dealer take on the warranty repairs, pretty simple unit to fix though especially if it's a simple swap out parts scenario. They are gradually filling orders though; I have a second one sitting at my house at the moment that a friend ordered and had delivered to me for him to collect here when he's in the area soon.

Have you tried a Nokta Pulse Dive? I find it deeper than the F-Pulse on coins, not sure how that would translate for you but probably quite favourably.