Has Detector Build Quality Decreased Dramatically Over The Years?

[phrunt]

I can't but help notice how poor quality metal detectors have become, for such expensive electronic devices the quality is frankly pitiful.   I like everybody buy a lot of stuff, from TV's to Vehicles and everything in between and the products I have the most trouble with are metal detectors.  Most things I buy last fine, I never really cared about warranty and rarely kept receipts until I started detecting, I'd never needed to use it.  Almost everything other than detecting gear I've bought in the last 20 years has lasted well beyond it's warranty period trouble free and most things I've bought in that time I've still got now are working fine or I got rid of them while still in a working state because they were simply replaced with newer stuff.

I have a LCD TV that's 15 years old and never had a glitch, it's now just used by my daughter as I couldn't bring myself to throw it out, I had a very large rear projection TV from about 10 years before that and it still works fine but I gave it away and the people are still using it, .  I have an original Atari game console from 1983 that I had as a kid that still works, and my original Sega Master System from 1986 still works like it was new yet a lot of the detectors I buy screw up in the first year or two and it's not just me, I see it happening to lots of people.   I still have my first ever metal detector from when I was about 8 years of age and the thing still works! 

I've only been detecting a few years so wasn't overly aware of the history of detectors and their failures but looking around seeing people using old whites metal box machines and people still using Gold Bug 2's from the 90's gave me the impression detectors were built to last.  I thought the poor reliability was just a Minelab problem with recent machines like the known build quality issues with the Nox and now the GPX 6000 but if I look back the CTX had it's share of issues too and I would guess other models.  The GPX 6000 is dismal, worst quality detector I've seen in my time with a crazy failure rate although some are in denial of this until theirs joins the long line of failures at some point.

Nokta come out fighting saying their detectors are far superior build quality than the Nox indicating their Legend would be built tough and reliable and it's turned out anything but, with countless people complaining of problems with some examples being the speaker failing which seems to happen all too often, faulty PCB's,  updating issues and an abnormal number of faulty coils, to me from what I've seen their failures are just as bad as any Nox ones, if not more so as they've happened so close to the release date and the problems extending into a range of parts on the detector where as the Nox was mostly leaking which may or may not be a valid warranty as who knows if anyone with a leak used it within it's limits.   Yes I know the Nox had other issues like wobbly shafts and I'm certainly not saying the Nox was good build quality, neither of the two are.

Fisher came out with the Impulse which was a shambles and had endless faults, although at least it was a beta detector, albeit one people paid for the privilege of testing for them.

XP have had their share of problems with the Deus 2.  It seems no brand is immune to making rubbish, I haven't had any problems with Garrett personally but their Apex certainly had its issues.

I have an original early model Gold Bug 2, my antique and it works a treat, solid as a rock!  I have an early Aussie Built GPX 4500 and it purrs along like the day it left the factory, in AUSTRALIA.   Whatever happened to detecting companies building good quality products, they used to be able to do it.

[Erik Oostra]

7 minutes ago, phrunt said:

Yes I know the Nox had other issues like wobbly shafts and I'm certainly not saying the Nox was good build quality

It's a hardy beast compared to the XP Deus II, which despite its hefty price tag should be on top of any list comparing poor quality metal detectors..   

[jasong]

We offshored to China to save a buck, China is in the process of re-offshoring to SE Asia to save a dime, and now every company in the world is waiting in line to have their products made now in the same manufacturing facilities. They could give a damn about quality because if Minelab asks for too much time and effort, there are 10000 businesses in line waiting to get their product manufactured instead who accept less quality.

Everything is made as cheaply as possible now. Which is fine when you are buying disposable products. But is obviously pissing customers off when they are selling $6k and $10k detectors with $500 level quality. 

But actually think back: the 4500 failed when it first came out. My foggy recall is it was stability issues requiring main board replacements, which were promptly replaced for customers. We've seen no such thing to address the flaw with the speaker and the general lack of stability of the 6000 though, why? We know they have firmware updating, so it must mean it's mostly a hardware issue. I can't for the life of me grasp how they can sell a $6k detector, know it has flaws that literally leaves it inoperable in some places, and not be fixing the problem like they did with the 4500 unless it's just not possible to get boards re-manufactured quick enough in Malaysia due to long lines.

[Valens Legacy]

59 minutes ago, phrunt said:

Whatever happened to detecting companies building good quality products, they used to be able to do it.

Like all companies who has share holders they became cheap to make a profit for the share holders.

I see it every day on that we need for the business when things break. We can get the factory parts or have better parts made that will last. It is not cheap when you do that but it is worth it in the long run.

[geof_junk]

It is not the flaws but the time the Company takes to fix them that matters most for the next batch.

[Tony]

My SD2100 and GP3500 would totally agree with you Simon. Todays modern machines may have the brains but sure as hell don’t have the body to go with it. The older machines had tough bodies and tough brains as well 🦾

[strick]

My wife’s garret at gold had the speaker go out within the first 6 months..I did not fix it because I hated the sound of the dam thing to begin with  so she had use it with her headphones after that. Had a screen go out on my first ctx as well as a coil that quit working. The issue with the loose batteries in production model 2300’s and Minelab continuing to produce them is something they should never be forgiven for. Even though it is a great gold getter. My equinox has had no issues and it was one of the first made I have god only knows how many hours on it and still use it in the water submerged. I have not broke a coil ear ever on any of my machines. I think people are over tightening them.  Garret carrot pin pointers are the best pin pointer in my opinion however they sometimes need to be turned on and off several times in order to get them to work lol.  I want to like my 6000 but if it keeps pissing me off it will be down the road I don’t need a detector with mental issues. It needs to turn on and work or be able to be made to work.  Equinox 800 is a very sensitive machine to emi but at least you can make it work by turning the sensitivity down. 

 To be fair it’s not fair to compare metal detectors with TVs or computers that sit in the comfort of somebody’s home....we beat the heck out of these things outside in the elements in some rough country...Overall I’ve been very happy with most my purchases. 

Strick 

[schoolofhardNox]

I beat the heck out of my 5000. At one time I seized the potentiometer with salt and sand from the beach. I sprayed some pot cleaner and loosened it up and it worked fine. I've had waves come up and splash it, dropped it by accident, etc.. and it always worked. I am afraid to dunk my CTX (ruined 3 batteries), afraid to dunk my Equinox and certainly afraid to do anything with the 6000 for fear it may break. Minelab quality started to go down the tubes right around the time frame between the E Trac and the CTX. The problem is there is no recourse available, except to sue the company and that would require someone that has a lot of free cash to spend. No consumer protection agency is interested in going after a publicly traded company unless it is something serious. Detectors are not important enough for any action to be taken. Really all we can do is complain and not buy their products. I will be very reluctant to buy another product from them. I never liked the fact that Minelab was sold to another company right around 2008 (I think).  It is the way the world is heading. Products from the past will outlast more recent products. Sad really.

[Sourdough Scott]

The only minelab issue I've had was a broken lower shaft on my 7000. A mean momma bear was about to give chase to Klunker & I. So figuring my only chance of escape was to klunk Klunker in the noggin with the detector.  Hence the namesake. 🤣

[Hard Prospector]

This won't explain everything  but it seems like a lot of items currently  built since Covid hit have quality control issues.