Miners Den Group In Australia Have Lost Their Minelab Dealership

[Reg Wilson]

With all this talk of dealerships, I thought I might add a little to the conversation.

I was a dealer for Minelab back in the time that they began as a few Uni guys in Adelaide South Australia building detectors in a garage. (I still have receipts and communications to prove it) They were struggling to get a foot in the door against the big established companies like Garret and Whites whose detectors I had used up until that time. I was so impressed by the sincerity and dedication of these guys that I bought a GS15000 to replace my previous detectors and promoted this machine wherever possible, using photos of some of my finds in newspaper articles. I had no shop, but in those days the Minelab guys were just grateful for what assistance they could get.

Bruce Candy offered me the role of tester for a prototype that he had been working on. It had the breakthrough development of 'Auto Ground Balance' which was unmatched by any other brand. Bruce and I had constant communication to ensure that various bugs were sorted out before this revolutionary detector went on the market.

All gold recovered with this proto was photographed and sent to Minelab as testing progressed and the yield was published in the 'Gold Gem and Treasure magazine. With an incredible stroke of luck I unearthed a three kilo nugget with this now designated GT16000 which was broadcasted worldwide and put Minelab on the map as a serious detector contender. I did not act as a dealer for the 16000 as Minelab was now definitely 'off and running' and I was too busy detecting for a living, as I did for many years. 

Bruce Candy and I remained friends, so when I happened to read in a newspaper in London about a new development in metal detectors called 'pulse induction' I researched this immediately. The company involved was called 'Pulse Induction Technologies' and was located south of London. Their prototype had successfully detected ancient Celtic gold at depths previously unobtainable with VLF detectors and needless to say my excitement level soared as I knew just the guy who would could do something with this. I flew ASAP back to Australia and then to Adelaide where I met with Bruce and passed on my discovery. (once again I have documentation to prove my claims) Some months later I had a PI proto in my hands. 

The PI story was top secret so I will not reveal details, but I continued to promote Minelab after the release of the SD2000 and continued to do so until Codan took over and the company changed. All the old Minelab crew were replaced and I was no longer a tester. I guess they were looking for someone younger and more manageable. Many of the older successful prospectors know the story so I won't go into it here, but they will agree that Minelab did change (manufacturing in overseas was but one example) and is not the company that it once was.

[phrunt]

On 2/16/2025 at 3:44 PM, mn90403 said:

You could be one of his trainers just as Lunk is to Gerry!

I think I could only take on teaching beginners 🙂  Not really my thing though.

A new video reel from Miners Den for those with Facebook.

Transcript: 

G'day Guys, Digger Dave here from Miners Den, and boy have we got some huge news about the metal detecting industry and Miners Den Australia, this is one you will not wanna miss! 7.30pm this Wednesday night, The Miners Den show, we'll catch you all then guys. 

The Minelab show has a new name I see.

 

[PeterInSa]

Great memories Reg, Hope you invested in their Shares at the right time.

( Self and wife started our detector career with the 15000, shaft version for me and control box on the hip for her, and then your GT16000)

[Doc]

On 2/14/2025 at 12:48 PM, Jonathan Porter said:

Gosh golly what a gossipy place DP is today. I have a dealership and currently I feel pretty safe from being closed down.

JP,

I don't think Minelab is looking to run dealers out of business.  It's just that dealers are finding it more difficult to turn a profit. 

It's just the nature of the evolution of business.  Hey if you're in business you are in business to make money.  And a company like Minelab has to fill market voids, because if they don't, some other detector company will.  It's just smart business.  

The current President of Minelab, Ben Harvey, is a very astute businessman with a great vision for where he wants to take Minelab. I think it's going to be very good for the bottom line.

Doc

[Tony]

Is a "safe" dealer one who strictly stocks and sells Minelab only detectors ?

For example, Reeds Prospecting here in WA only stock and sell Minelab detectors and pinpointers.

Miners Den / Phase Technical both had alternative detector brands for sale (Nokta/Algoforce).

So far the evidence is stacking up.

The Prospectors Patch (also here in WA) lost their Minelab dealership many years ago......and quickly offered Garrett / Nokta and now Algoforce detectors. I think they went out of favour back then by offering other brands of detectors....not sure of the whole story.

I think Henry Ford was quoted as saying that "customers can have any color they want, so long as it's black". Well maybe Minelab are saying to dealers that "customers can have any detector they want, so long as it's Minelab".

Hmmmmmmmm.

 

[Reg Wilson]

PeterInSa. Funny you should mention Minelab shares. In the early days Minelab shares were offered, but the guy promoting them was dead shufty so I did not invest. They went down the dunny. (toilet for you Yanks)

JP You would be surprised at some of the saved documentation and correspondence I have stored.

[Tony]

Could be coincidence but both the Nokta and Algoforce links on Miners Den are "page not found".

The plot thickens.

[phrunt]

1 minute ago, Tony said:

Could be coincidence but both the Nokta and Algoforce links on Miners Den are "page not found".

The plot thickens.

They're only just starting to sell Nokta and Algo, prior to their cancellation they were exclusively Minelab.  Still working on updating their site I would assume, likely go live after their Miners Den Show on Wednesday night.

[Tony]

1 minute ago, phrunt said:

They're only just starting to sell Nokta and Algo, prior to their cancellation they were exclusively Minelab.  Still working on updating their site I would assume, likely go live after their Miners Den Show on Wednesday night.

That I didn't know......so much for my theory.