Question to all ...Just curious

[Richard-N-FL]

I was wondering if anyone else has paid attention to Minelab and the line of detectors. I remember about 6 years or so ago when I got my Elite it was $598 from Kellyco for the base unit. No rechargeable batteries or meter. and I think $698 for the pro pack with everything included. Now the GT is $798 with no meter and the Musketeer is $698 HUH? Its was $498 back then. I know that machine isn't worth $700 when you can get the GT for $800. Now the new E-trac is $1500. WOW.. The Explorer was $1000 when it was first released now the newest is 50% more!! Anyways I think its crazy...not sure if its worth it... Your thoughts?

 

[Rick(ND)]

The Elite was sold with a meter, but no rechargeable batteries, the GT has rechargeable and no meter and believe the GT was around $100 more, but don't have one of my old price sheets here. Now then GT retails now for $900 without the meter and the advertising price has been $798.97. The Musketeer Advantage Pro model which now comes with the new rechargeable NIMH battery pack and chargers which they didn't before is $700 retail while dealers are selling them for $578.97.
The new E Trac is about $200 more then the SE was, but it is a much more advanced detector too that the first XS was. Like everything there has been higher wages paid, expenses are higher so the final cost is higher too that years ago. Look at what we are paying for gas then we did 6 years ago, not that is what I call a real rip off on something we all need and not our hobby.

 

[strobeone]

Hard to justify today's prices when the actual technology hasn't changed that much in many years. Ya, they put a few more bells and whistles on the equipment, but that just makes the "die hards" trade in and buy again! Some people just aren't happy unless they have the latest model! Salaries have gone up and our expenses have gone up. Add-ons become real money makers for manufacturers. Just like a new car....best way to buy is used!! I've yet to see someone come forward and say, "Hey, since I upgraded to the latest Explorer..GT...Excaliber...etc, my finds have increased 25%. Just ain't going to happen unless there's some major change in technology. I say...so what if you can profile the target or see a thumbprint or size an object. The real successful hunters dig almost all targets anyhow. (Boy is that statement going to bring a litany of "I don't, and look how successful I am"). Ya, I've heard it all before! Truth is, you need to have a decent detector......you need to be lucky enough to walk over the target......and you NEED to be competent enough and well versed with your equipment to tell when a decent target is down there. Most of all, you need to be smart enough to know that you need to dig most targets to increase your overall success rate in this hobby. The companies need to make more money (parts have gone up) and the latest model can never cost the same as the older model(or who would buy out the older models?) Makes sense to me!

 

[joecoin]

The minelabs are made in Australia. Since the year 2000, the Australian dollar has almost doubled in value against the USA dollar.

 

[Richard-N-FL]

Wow...Doubled. That would be a big reason for the increases.

 

[Rick(ND)]

For our hobby detectors are made in Ireland and shipped to us here in the USA, the main office and possibly the engineers are in Australia designing new detectors. That is the way I understand it and what is marked on the boxes the detectors come in.

 

[joecoin]

For our hobby detectors are made in Ireland and shipped to us here in the USA, the main office and possibly the engineers are in Australia designing new detectors. That is the way I understand it and what is marked on the boxes the detectors come in.

Sacre' Bleu"! Rick, I looked at the box my GT shipped in and sure enough, Made in Ireland.

Since 2001 , the Euro has pretty much doubled in value to the US dollar.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Euro_exchange_rate_to_USD%2C_JPY%2C_and_GBP.png

 

[AgileMJOLNIR]

This is an interesting thread. AM mode with the Sovereign is that much better?
Normally I hunt with no Disc etc. Anyone have any idea how much more depth AM gives?

 

[Rick(ND)]

For me and my park, ball fields and schools I hunt there is too much trash to run all metal and would spend all day switching the switch back and forth checking every signal in disc after getting it in all metal. I also feel for me that disc goes deeper than the all metal mode as many of the weak signals in disc I get no real signal in all metal when I pinpoint, so I have to pinpoint in disc the best i can. I have gotten 12+ inches with a 8 inch coin search coil in disc, but you had to go slow and they were just very small tone and meter changes and in all metal I got nothing I could hear to pinpoint it.

Rick

 

[Neil]

I think you meant to post this on a different thread(below) but to answer your question try this:

set your sov to min disc and min sens then wave a dime or nickel in front of the coil and progressively move away from the coil and note where you loose the coin. now switch to disc and you can start from that point and see how much further it goes, doing the same thing with the coin.
try this when you are digging some deep ones and you should see a difference.
Neil