Why Is A $1500 Pi Even Being Talked About?

[mn90403]

6 hours ago, phrunt said:

I think the people that can't afford a GPX 6000 or 7000 are going to end up with a pretty good detector for their money with the Algoforce,

What would you estimate the total market to be for the E1500?  Is it 10,000, 25,000, 50,000 units or more?  How many of us want one now?  How many of 'us' are there?

I don't know how many 800s sold or 7000s or 5000s or XPs or any detectors including Bounty Hunters.  I'd probably be surprised.  Everyone is saying that this E1500 (is it named after this original $1500 US price?) is more affordable and will have a bigger market.  It is all good.  

I wonder for a couple of reasons.  One is just how much of a task is it to contract up the manufacturing and the second is related ... when will that mean there will be one of these detectors available that I can buy?  If there is going to be a long waiting list (already is) and the number of units produced per month is low then it could be a long time before most of us get one, right?  Even longer than just the FCC approvals.

[phrunt]

Well, they had units to sell from the moment it was announced, not like detectors like the Manticore that were hyped up for a long time before anyone could get one, so that's a good start, the second batch is only a month behind the first, so perhaps they can scale up production pretty quickly.  If they knew they were going to sell so quick the first batch may have been bigger than the 100 units that were on Amazon, who knows how many Phasetech and Algoforce website direct had.  Either way, it's all stuff we can't know and can only guess. 

I think it's going to appeal to more than just gold hunters, so that may increase it's sales, along with the very affordable price by comparison to other detectors.  

We will have to wait and see how it plays out.  It may well be a good detector for your beach detecting Mitchel, I look forward to trying mine on the beach soon.

[FarTraveller]

"Why Is A $1500 Pi Even Being Talked About?"

Because that's a fair price? GPZ, after having such a long run, can't possibly cost more than $1000 to produce. The industry is dominated by a monopolistic cabal.

AlgoForce has a simple business plan:
1. Sell a PI detector at a fair price resulting in such demand the factory cannot even keep up.
2. Accept Minelab's offer to buy AlgoForce.
3. Start collecting mansions and yachts

For us, it's a great time to get one or two PI detectors.

Once Minelab owns AlgoForce, they'll neaten up the package and the units will be priced at $3500.

Would be great if AlgoForce would remain in the market and outside of the price fixing club. They should also jump into the coil aftermarket.  The result would be honest pricing from the big brands.

[DSMITH]

27 minutes ago, FarTraveller said:

"Why Is A $1500 Pi Even Being Talked About?"

Because that's a fair price? GPZ, after having such a long run, can't possibly cost more than $1000 to produce. The industry is dominated by a monopolistic cabal.

AlgoForce has a simple business plan:
1. Sell a PI detector at a fair price resulting in such demand the factory cannot even keep up.
2. Accept Minelab's offer to buy AlgoForce.
3. Start collecting mansions and yachts

For us, it's a great time to get one or two PI detectors.

Once Minelab owns AlgoForce, they'll neaten up the package and the units will be priced at $3500.

Would be great if AlgoForce would remain in the market and outside of the price fixing club. They should also jump into the coil aftermarket.  The result would be honest pricing from the big brands.

Obviously they do not need mine lab involved, from what I am seeing and reading they will do OK with out Mine labs Greedy Butt's involved, the only reason mine lab would get involved is to kill it and keep doing what they have been doing, keeping prices high and out of reach of the average detectorist and keep trying to monopolize the market. 

[RickUK]

I certainly have not posted anything about this new detector and 2 reasons why,i dont and never have done nugget hunting although i do own 3 PI machines but they are solely for hoard and artefact hunting and also i never have purchased a brand new detector until it's been out for 12 months and the reason behind that way of thinking is to see if any major design or software issues start appearing,most modern either VLF or PI machines are hyped up and then the final bugs are ironed out after they have sold alot and that is the main reason i dont buy a machine until it's at least 12 month old.

Must admit this new PI machine does look interesting and a few major things it has going for it is the fact it uses established things like GPX coils which is a massive plus i must admit,good luck to all the new owner and hope they turn out to be ultra reliable.

[Gerry in Idaho]

14 hours ago, Gold Ryder said:

Come on 8000 show yourself.  One of the beauty things about PI detectors is they keep the masses out of the price range.

There is something to be said about that.

Many of us are not worried about the weekend warrior nugget hunters as our tools are superior to most.  The few who do invest in the higher end detectors, don't have the skillset we do.

With a more reasonably priced PI, it will allow the masses the chance to peruse the precious metal.  Many will fold after time, as their patience is not up to task.  But lets, say 10% of the 100% actually become proficient and get good?  Now there will be that many more swingers out there covering the same grounds many of us already do.

As it is now, I enjoy seeing clubs at Rye Patch.  I like to go the week after their big gathering.  Now I know I can hunt my favorite spots and realize most of the surface trash was just removed by the newbs.  It's a win win for me not having to dig surface bb's and pellets.

Truthfully though. I'm still not worried about the masses who will purchase one at $1500.  But yes, there will be a % of them who graduate and take a little slice of our pie. 

Keck, I'm used to it anyway, that's why my Field Staff and I enjoy sharing knowledge and offering Field Training.  Seeing folks find their 1st gold is always a blast, as you know you had something to do with their little success.

[Gerry in Idaho]

On 2/7/2024 at 1:43 PM, Rob Allison said:

Hi Gerry,

   I think it goes back to what most can afford.  Everyone would love to own a GPX 6000 or even a GPZ 7000, but most know there are other priorities for most that come before a super, high end detector.  I get calls all the time about how someone would love to own a GPZ, but the wife would leave them.  

Just my thoughts,

 

Hey Guys/Rob included.

I ruffled a few feathers and want to be straight.

I want everyone to know my true thoughts of Mr Allison. and his business practices.

1st off, he and I hunt different styles and for the most part areas.  But it does not make one of us better than the other.

2nd is Rob's time to play with a detector is not as often as mine.  He is a devoted husband, father and well known tax paying American who has a primary job (income stability) to provide for his wife and daughter.  That right there speaks volumes.

3rd. Rob is a genuine good guy and one heck of a detector dealer.  He's stood the test of time and his customer loyalty and reputation is something to be proud of.  I would rather have 20 more Rob's Detectors as a friendly competitor than 100 of the so called dealers who don't know crud about gold detectors.  Seems manufactures will hand a dealership to anyone these days.  Manufactures don't test their skills and or knowledge any more, they just want to sell.

4th.  Of all the dealers I've known in my 25+ yrs selling gold detectors, if I went on a gold hunting expedition for a month, I would want Rob with my Field Staff Experts and I...he's that good.

Many of you don't know it, but years back at the Minelab Dealer Conference, I was presented many awards, more than any other dealer.  But there was one award I did not get.  It was the "Customer Care" award.  To this day, that bugs the crap out of me, as I too feel my customer service is on par with Robs.

Does Rob and I agree on everything?  Most certainly not, but at least he and I are man enough to stand up and say so.  You'd be surprised at all the folks in a meeting who has the opportunity to help dealers and when it comes to questions or new ideas?  They clam up... afraid, afraid to rock the boat.  Those days are pretty much behind us now.  But those same dealers didn't realize, it was the dealers who were floating the dang boat.

When I decide to pull the plug on my dealership so I can swing and chase more gold,  it's Rob will be getting the majority of my referrals.

Until then, lets enjoy for once a great priced Pulse Induction detector.

We know the bigger this company gets, the more options for us will come.

I've got your back Rob, even when I serve you cold coffee.  Besides, your a cowboy and I respect most.  Anyone who can jump on the back of a bull, you have bigger testicles than I.

[mn90403]

Detectorists and dealers can be a competitive lot and few of us hold a grudge, but we have long memories of hunts gone by.  Sharing some of that knowledge and passing it on to others is a personal choice.  Many don't share.

From my perspective Rob, Gerry, Steve, JP, Norvic, Simon and many others share a lot.  It makes us all better to hear different perspectives about different areas.

We're potentially fighting over the last scraps of gold so let's get out there and get some.

[Norvic]

There is a lot more than scraps out there, just need the legs, turn ya bloody blinkers off and a good touch of the sun.🤪

[ChuckScrivener]

On 2/7/2024 at 6:37 PM, Gold Ryder said:

Come on 8000 show yourself.  One of the beauty things about PI detectors is they keep the masses out of the price range.  I see the Algo as good for the dealer's but not so good for the crowds in places that are already being crowded.  Give me 8000 let it punch to the earths core.  I’ll dig it. 

I’ll take this a little off topic but I’ve been detecting for decades and I’d say my usual districts seemed to peak about 15 years ago. Used to be 2-3 campers every weekend out there. I’ve been out 6 times this winter and only seen one. I don’t think people are interested in getting out as much anymore. Biggest reason being it’s a lot harder to find gold these days for most. If a detector came out that truly stepped up like the gp 2000 did then I think that’d change but nothing new seems to make finding new gold patches much easier.