This Is A Post From Geotech About The AQ On Thomas Dankowski's Forum

[schoolofhardNox]

2 minutes ago, cobill said:

Latest post on Fisher Labs Impulse AQ FB page from Alexandre Tartar:

The IMPULSE AQ units are part of a limited series of 100 pieces.

This series allowed us not to rush off into a worldwide series and to see what could be improved.

We can see that there are a lot of problems with our competitors with waterproof devices. Unfortunately there are many detectors on the market and the number of returns is catastrophic.

Here we have modified the mechanics, removed the cables.

We have upgraded the electronic board so that it can be mass produced avec a good board adjustement. We have improved the electromagnetic shielding of the detector and improved its behavior in seawater.

Regarding "discrimination", there has been no change. It's always an iron reject setting.

So, I spent $1,800+ to be a tester, so "they could see what could be improved" Are you kidding me!

Bill

Apparently .... yes ? You and me and a bunch of others. Sad really. The least they could do is allow us a trade in for the final version.

[tvr]

15 minutes ago, cobill said:

So, I spent $1,800+ to be a tester, so "they could see what could be improved" Are you kidding me!

Did you read the disclosure statement for the LTD? It is at the bottom of the following post and acknowledging understanding of it was part of getting on the early buyer's list.

 

[cobill]

TVR, 

Yes I read and acknowledged the Fisher Disclosure letter. My issue is that Fisher States in their letter that:

"Experienced beach hunters have rigorously tested the Impulse in multiple beach environments since 2009. The Impulse AQ Limited is engineered, manufactured and tested to be fully compliant with the demanding requirements of this application and environment. The Impulse AQ is not a prototype or pre-production metal detector".

 I'll say it again:

50 minutes ago, cobill said:

So, I spent $1,800+ to be a tester, so "they could see what could be improved" Are you kidding me!

Bill

 

 

[schoolofhardNox]

33 minutes ago, tvr said:

Did you read the disclosure statement for the LTD? It is at the bottom of the following post and acknowledging understanding of it was part of getting on the early buyer's list.

 

Of course we did. BUT.... I never expected so lack luster customer support when things went wrong. Also never dreamed a company would use the cheapest parts they could get. Engineered to fail ?. I assumed that they meant that you could not work the machine as hard as you usually work a beach machine. Gentle is one thing, extreme bubble wrapped kit gloves is another thing. And not even a thank you to the people who volunteered to do this, just the same corporate bull we get from normally much bigger companies in other areas. I wonder if whoever had that broken shaft ever got the replacement yet? This is not the way to expect people to help you get a machine refined for production.

[Steve Herschbach]

I agree cobill. The rigorous testing may have been in multiple environments, but certainly not all, and actual underwater testing was far from rigorous in any case. It was also said early on the electronics were done, there would be no changes. Well, except the pulse delay change being extended on the low end, but the label not reflecting the change, so you need secret knowledge to know that if you believe the label. Do people even know which version they have? And according to Carl “We have just fixed a circuit failure mode.” So no, the electronics were also still a work in progress.

I agree people should have known what they were getting into. I certainly did, which is why I insisted on paying the same as everyone, instead of getting a freebie. I wanted no conflict of interest if this all came down as it has, and was under no illusions. But I honestly did expect better, and that one statement up front is clearly designed to make people think the risk was lower than it turned out to be. With the failure rate seen, it’s been a crap shoot as much as anything as to how well it’s worked out for people.

[Steve Herschbach]

57 minutes ago, schoolofhardNox said:

Of course we did. BUT.... I never expected so lack luster customer support when things went wrong. Also never dreamed a company would use the cheapest parts they could get. Engineered to fail ?. I assumed that they meant that you could not work the machine as hard as you usually work a beach machine. Gentle is one thing, extreme bubble wrapped kit gloves is another thing. And not even a thank you to the people who volunteered to do this, just the same corporate bull we get from normally much bigger companies in other areas. I wonder if whoever had that broken shaft ever got the replacement yet? This is not the way to expect people to help you get a machine refined for production.

The people who bought into this were often some of Fishers longest term customers, and most faithful customers. I’d put me in that category. This was an unusual deal, and it deserved personal oversight and communications from Tom Walsh, not radio silence. The message I see being sent as a marketing guy is “we got your money - good luck!” Ricks obviously washed his hands of the situation.

Presumably they are just busy with more important tasks. I’ll not take it personally, but just what does that say really about FTs attitude about the high end market? Knowing corporate think like I do, I’d not be surprised if we are viewed as high maintenance bitchers and moaners, unappreciative of the good deal we were offered. So much easier to just ship pallets of detectors to Walmart and Costco. And far be it from the high and mighty to descend from their lofty towers and engage their customers directly. I’m just a dumb business guy from Alaska, but I’ve got more business savvy than these so-called big players, and honestly I am embarrassed for them.

I really need to leave this be now. It’s occupying too much of my mind space for a topic that I need to move on from.

[schoolofhardNox]

2 minutes ago, Steve Herschbach said:

The people who bought into this were often some of Fishers longest term customers, and most faithful customers. I’d put me in that category. This was an unusual deal, and it deserved personal oversight and communications from Tom Walsh, not radio silence. The message I see being sent as a marketing guy is “we got your money - good luck!” Ricks obviously washed his hands of the situation. Presumably they are just busy with more important tasks. I’ll not take it personally, but just what does that say really about FTs attitude about the high end market? Knowing corporate think like I do, I’d not be surprised if we are viewed as high maintenance bitchers and moaners, unappreciative of the good deal we were offered. So much easier to just ship pallets of detectors to Walmart and Costco. And far be it from the high and mighty to descend from their lofty towers and engage their customers directly. I’m just a dumb business guy from Alaska, but I’ve got far more business savvy than these so-called big players, and honestly I am embarrassed for them.

I was one of those non Fisher guys that was willing to give them a shot at winning me over. As far as I see, it was a lose/lose deal for them. The other loyal Fisher guys would have hopped all over this machine if they did it right, and us non Fisher guys would have been brought over to Fisher, some for the very first time. What business does not want converted customers? The damage they did to the company reputation is not easily overcome. It really is a specialty machine that most people would not buy, so why disregard your small pool of potential customers?  I agree, I'm sure they really do not care in the long run, but I bet Alexandre does care and some of their engineers care, but the corporate part has no worries I'm sure. I can't blame Rick for any of this, as he could not do anything about it and is probably as dumbfounded as we are in how this played out. Now with all the other MF machines ratcheting up the beach wars, that specialty PI may just become a past memory. I will stick with my GPX.

 

[cudamark]

Having used a Gold Bug and a CZ, I was expecting a quality built Fisher detector that did what they said it would do. IMO,  I got neither with the AQ Impulse. Good luck FT trying to sell me another machine.

[tvr]

9 hours ago, cudamark said:

Having used a Gold Bug and a CZ, I was expecting a quality built Fisher detector that did what they said it would do. IMO,  I got neither with the AQ Impulse. Good luck FT trying to sell me another machine.

 

For you, cobill and possibly others:

Unfortunate that your experience with the AQ LTD has not been positive. Mine has been. And as Steve mentioned, there is more potential to unlock. I hope that potential comes to market.