Dumping Minelab GPX 6000 For Garrett Axiom?

[Chet]

I have used the GPZ 7000 GPS for 6 years and really appreciate having it built in to the detector.

Prior to the GPZ 7000 when in the wooded mountains and canyons I always carried a hand held GPS.

After I started detecting with the GPZ 7000 I always Set a Waypoint and Start a Track as I left my Jeep. And entered a Find Point for each nugget found. I quit carrying the hand held GPS since the GPZ 7000 was easier and faster to use.

Now with the GPX 6000 I carry my phone loaded with a map application, GAIA GPS. I have loaded it with most of the GPZ 7000 Way Points and Find Points.

[General Mayhem]

Hi new member here, although I have been lurking on this forum for awhile.

I am in the market for a new detector, primarily on my gold claims in my home Province of British Columbia. I thought I had made my mind up to get a GPX 6000, then I started hearing about some of the issues about bad coils/EMI, poor build quality, bad design of stem etc. This caused me to hold off on pulling the trigger on buying one. I just feel for what is a $7400 CAD + 7% Provincial tax and 5% GST, detector in my neck of the woods, I would expect a machine that runs the way it is supposed to right out of the box. Apparently, for what seems like to be too many people in my opinion, that has not been the case.

To the people who bought a 6000 and have had no issues with it, thats great, I'm not looking to pick a fight over this detector brand or that one. In my mind, Minelab still builds the best detector out there. If I could afford/justify a 7000, I would buy one...but I was never really in the market for one. A 6000 was in my mind the most I could afford/justify for my purposes.

   By and large the majority of 6000's seem to function just as they were meant to, but given Minelabs reluctance to deal with or even acknowledge in some cases, the issues that are obviously present... it's just not for me at this time.

 Now, given this new offering from Garrett, I have to say, I am truly considering buying one. Steve Herschbach's opinion matters to me, even though he says he is a bit biased on this one, I think we can agree he is biased in a good way... because the Axiom checks off most of his wish list in a detector. Even though I would like to see this detector in the hands of "unbiased" i.e. regular consumers, I am finding it hard to resist the urge of signing up for pre-purchase on one of these.

 I think this is going to be a popular product on release, and once proven to be popular...despite what Garrett says about building up stock of the units, I fear the MAP pricing of $4000 USD we are seeing now on pre-orders is likely to become MSRP of $4700 USD in short order. It might even go higher than that if supply and demand takes over. 

So I ask you, the diligent forum reader, do I throw caution to the wind and pre-order now? Or wait to see what the average Jane/Joe has to say about the Axiom? I suspect I already know the answer... as my cursor hovers over the 'buy now' button...

  Wow, this is a much longer post than I intended, but there you go.

[phrunt]

Here that decision is much easier as the GPZ and GPX 6000 only have $430 USD between them in price so it's better to go with the trusty reliable and better performing GPZ over the GPX.

That said it sounds like the price difference in the US is more significant.  The Axiom seems great and it may well be the right choice for you, it won't be long now and it'll be in the hands of a number of people giving their thoughts on it, I'm sure if they do intend to increase the price it won't be in the very short term as they're trying to break into the market.  They want the unit to sell and more people to use it as word of mouth is a great seller, I wouldn't be too concerned about the price increasing quickly.

By Steve being biased towards the Garrett it doesn't mean he's bias inflating performance or anything for that matter, that is not how he operates.  It's just a detector he wants to use now and he likes the attributes of it and they suit him personally and I understand that and can relate to it.  I don't think bias is the right word, perhaps preference is more suited.

[General Mayhem]

3 minutes ago, phrunt said:

Here that decision is much easier as the GPZ and GPX 6000 only have $430 USD between them in price so it's better to go with the trusty reliable and better performing GPZ over the GPX.

That said it sounds like the price difference in the US is more significant.  The Axiom seems great and it may well be the right choice for you, it won't be long now and it'll be in the hands of a number of people giving their thoughts on it, I'm sure if they do intend to increase the price it won't be in the very short term as they're trying to break into the market.  They want the unit to sell and more people to use it so I wouldn't be too concerned about the price increasing quickly.

By Steve being biased towards the Garrett it doesn't mean he's bias inflating performance or anything for that matter, that is not how he operates.  It's just a detector he wants to use now and he likes the attributes of it and they suit him personally and I understand that and can relate to it.  I don't think bias is the right word, perhaps preference is more suited.

Hi Phrunt,

           Yeah, not much of a price difference in your neck of the woods, be a no brainer in that case to go with the 7000. For me the price difference is a bit over 3000 CAD. My fears on the price increase is not so much on Garrett's part, but dealers. As far as I know dealers can charge whatever they want for it, the MAP is just the lowest they can advertise it for and the MSRP is just that... a suggestion. Who knows really though, if I could predict the future, I'd be far wealthier ?

[Swegin]

39 minutes ago, General Mayhem said:

the MAP is just the lowest they can advertise it for and the MSRP is just that... a suggestion.

Exactly.  That is a touchy subject for a few on here.  LOL.   Welcome to the forums.

[General Mayhem]

Thanks for the welcome Swegin, I assume your handle comes from the show "Deadwood"... if it does, I cross my fingers and hold them up.

20 minutes ago, Swegin said:

Exactly.  That is a touchy subject for a few on here.  LOL.   Welcome to the forums.

 

[Bohemia Miner]

5 hours ago, General Mayhem said:

Hi Phrunt,

           Yeah, not much of a price difference in your neck of the woods, be a no brainer in that case to go with the 7000. For me the price difference is a bit over 3000 CAD. My fears on the price increase is not so much on Garrett's part, but dealers. As far as I know dealers can charge whatever they want for it, the MAP is just the lowest they can advertise it for and the MSRP is just that... a suggestion. Who knows really though, if I could predict the future, I'd be far wealthier ?

Welcome to the Forum!

I've been a multi-line dealer since 2005.  As you mentioned, MSRP is a suggestion.  I don't know of anyone who has ever charged more for a detector than that.  Most utilize the MAP.  But once they walk into your store, you can charge as little as you want.  You can give local club members an extra 5% off, etc.

To the best of my knowledge, Garrett has never introduced a model at a ridiculously low price only to raise it substantially later.  They have accountants or "Bean Counters" if you will, who most likely examine the marketplace, figure in the R&D plus Design, Manufacturing, and Marketing costs, then come up with a price that would fit the consumer's pocketbook as well as make whatever they consider the minimum profit would be.

The only shortage that may come about is Garrett (like other companies before them) catching up with all the Pre-sale backorders.  You have plenty of time to make a decision.

This is an excerpt from the release letter I received from my Distributor here in the US:

"Axiom’s manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) is $4,700 and its minimum advertised price (MAP) is $3,995. Discount rates for Axiom might differ from your normal rate so check with Garrett to understand your specific pricing. The Axiom is eligible for Garrett’s Military Discount."

Good Luck!

Walt

P.S.:  I'm not trying to sell you a detector.  I just wanted to add some perspective from a Dealer's standpoint.

[General Mayhem]

Bohemia Miner,

 

      Thanks for the input, nice to hear a perspective from the other side of the counter.

    It could be my fears of dealers raising prices are unfounded, it could be I feel this way simply because I wants one ?

   On the other hand, I have recent experience with tech related items, that prove popular, getting price bumps, such as GPU's from a couple years ago until just recently.

  Anyway, not my intention to hijack this thread, don't want to get too far off topic here.

                             Have a good day.

[geof_junk]

55 minutes ago, Bohemia Miner said:

"Axiom’s manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) is $4,700 and its minimum advertised price (MAP) is $3,995. Discount rates for Axiom might differ from your normal rate so check with Garrett to understand your specific pricing. The Axiom is eligible for Garrett’s Military Discount."

That seem to add up to  what a dealer told me.  

They have no minimum sale price (in the shop) on any of their Garrett detectors.