My Policy Regarding Dealers

[Steve Herschbach]

Dealers are welcome on these forums. I do as a rule prefer dealers identify themselves when posting. Putting dealership contact information is the signature line is encouraged for this reason, and can bring the dealer some business! 

Unlike most forums this one is not owned or sponsored by detector dealers. However, I respect many dealers as being some of the most knowledgeable people in metal detecting. To ban them here would be a bad idea. I in fact would like to attract them. I welcome any posts from any dealer intended to enlighten and inform. Any smart dealer should know people do not like overt sales. The way to go about it is show you know your stuff. Help people. Be useful.

I also do not mind dealers advertising in the Classifieds and in fact again, I welcome it. There are limits however. First, you must identify yourself as a dealer in your ad. Second, only advertise real deals. Genuine limited time offers that people would regret not knowing about. Do not "flood" the Classifieds with ads. A few good quality listings is better than sheer volume. As a rule a dealer should have no more than two ads in the Classifieds at any one time; if more are posted I may delete the oldest ones at my option. And do note that no ads stay up forever unless updated regularly. After 30 days any ad may be deleted. Again, at my option and I am not looking to be draconian but am pretty forgiving. I try to see what the intent is and work with that.

In particular, dealer ad listings for used detectors and demo units are most welcome. Offer the members of the forum real deals, and you will be appreciated.

Dealers can be aggressive types but if so they will meet their match in me. I have very high standards for this forum and demand polite, informative discourse. Anyone wanting anything else, well, the internet is loaded with places that cater to everything else. Here, we stick to meat and potatoes. Advice from my 50 years in retail - talk about what you do that is good, not about what other dealers do or do not do. People do not like it when dealers talk others down. Any dealer that makes a habit of talking negatively about the competition or engaging them directly in a negative way will not be welcome here.

This site will always put regular member interest first over dealer interests. Any member who has a problem with or objects to the behavior of any dealer on the forum, please PM me with your concerns. One person complaining that a dealer did them wrong may not sway me but on the other hand I do not want to support dealers in any way that do not make a habit of going above and beyond for their customers. Since this is all an experiment I am making up as I go you can bet I will be watching like a hawk and make adjustments in practices and policy going forward as I see fit.

[vanursepaul]

Thx for the rules, Steve.

Pretty durn clear to me.

I love this forum and one thing that really got my attention is how fast our aussie mates are jumping in...lots of knowledge here....

Paul

[LuckyLundy]

Steve, your forum will receive all my/our adventures in our hobby! Thanks for drawing a line...to draw the most talented and new detectorist to receive sound information and to find a good deal. One stop information forum, this leaves the flavor of a Medium Rare Rib Eye in my mouth...your a Genius!

LuckyLundy

[CKG_Scoop]

Hello!
I want to contact administrator about advertising or collaboration with my brand. How can I do that?

[Steve Herschbach]

On 2/24/2025 at 3:25 AM, CKG_Scoop said:

Hello!
I want to contact administrator about advertising or collaboration with my brand. How can I do that?

As explained in this very thread (see first post in thread) I have no interest in paid advertising or “collaboration”. Especially the dreaded “guest posts”. Well, maybe guests posts for $10,000 a placement? 

Dealers are welcome here only as participating members that add value to the forum by helping members with their questions, posting their own detecting stories or finds, etc. The payback is free advertising rights in the Classifieds. But it’s a fine line I guess since if you get perceived as only being here to sell, then you get the boot as being a spammer.

Anyway, if you are a real detectorist or prospector with knowledge and stories to share, and just happen to also be a dealer, you are welcome. If you just want to advertise, not so much.

This guy is a good example of a dealer who answers member questions and posts great stories and finds…

https://www.detectorprospector.com/profile/182-gerry-in-idaho/

So if you are for real tell us in a new thread who you really are, your name, your experience, finds you’ve made. In other words, introduce yourself as being the real deal. If on the other hand you are just Joe from marketing, then I will wish you good day and leave it there.

P.S. CKG makes a very nice pouch, I bought one recently.