BC1969
Banned
Hey all, wanted to share a few things that I have come across lately, I have been looking for a used detector and had been using youtube watching peoples videos on different detectors, to get an idea of how they may work, so I could make an educated purchase.
I have been mostly looking at the minelab detectors, found this video when searching the tube.
Now I had never considered that there may be counterfeit detectors floating around out there, and just today I found a 2 month old safari on craigslist, I am sure glad I watched that video, for it had me asking questions about it when I texted the guy, he wanted 700 bucks for a 2 month old machine, when previsiouly, I had seen another ad from the same guy selling a different minelab 2 months earlier, in the ad guy says was selling cause he bought a new safari.
So anyway I text the guy and ask him if he had got it from a authorized dealer, that way the warranty would be transferable, he texts me back and says he got it from a dealer, but does not have the warranty card or the box.
So ok following the advice in that video I asked him nicely if he would mind sending me the serial number so I could email minelab, to find out if the detector was legit or not, he simply told me no thanks.
So I figured maybe he thought I was a scammer of some kind, so I changed tactics and asked him if he could email minelab the serial number, to check its legitimacy, then take a screen shot of said email, and to of course cover any personal info there might be visible....again another no thank you from the seller, finally I said well I can come and look at it in person so I can check it out in person, so you will know I am not trying to scam you, well never heard back from the guy.
Now does this mean its not legit ? there is no way to be sure, guy could just be paranoid or be one of the people ripping people off, but I know I guess I won't be able to buy that one...
Then there is another minelab up on my local craigs, one of them fancy gpx5000 thingies that cost 5800 bucks new, this guy says its brand new in the box, never opened, selling it for 4200 just like the guy in the video mentioned, said he will beat anybodys offer that has another for sale by 100 bucks...
Well I did my research on the website the guy in the video says is selling the conterfeit minelabs to people so they can rip others off, every detector you can imagine is on there, the gpx500 they sell for 1400 bucks, and I highly doubt minelab and whites and fisher have different company names in mainland china, aswell as factories to build them there.
Don't know why I didnt think about this before since all the time in business news they are talking about chinese companies reproducing american cars and and just about everything else.
This is NOT a bash on any country, this is MY way to try and help keep innocent MDers and n00bies from buying something they think it is but not really.
I sincerely hope this info helps somebody out.
Mike
I have been mostly looking at the minelab detectors, found this video when searching the tube.
Now I had never considered that there may be counterfeit detectors floating around out there, and just today I found a 2 month old safari on craigslist, I am sure glad I watched that video, for it had me asking questions about it when I texted the guy, he wanted 700 bucks for a 2 month old machine, when previsiouly, I had seen another ad from the same guy selling a different minelab 2 months earlier, in the ad guy says was selling cause he bought a new safari.
So anyway I text the guy and ask him if he had got it from a authorized dealer, that way the warranty would be transferable, he texts me back and says he got it from a dealer, but does not have the warranty card or the box.
So ok following the advice in that video I asked him nicely if he would mind sending me the serial number so I could email minelab, to find out if the detector was legit or not, he simply told me no thanks.
So I figured maybe he thought I was a scammer of some kind, so I changed tactics and asked him if he could email minelab the serial number, to check its legitimacy, then take a screen shot of said email, and to of course cover any personal info there might be visible....again another no thank you from the seller, finally I said well I can come and look at it in person so I can check it out in person, so you will know I am not trying to scam you, well never heard back from the guy.
Now does this mean its not legit ? there is no way to be sure, guy could just be paranoid or be one of the people ripping people off, but I know I guess I won't be able to buy that one...
Then there is another minelab up on my local craigs, one of them fancy gpx5000 thingies that cost 5800 bucks new, this guy says its brand new in the box, never opened, selling it for 4200 just like the guy in the video mentioned, said he will beat anybodys offer that has another for sale by 100 bucks...
Well I did my research on the website the guy in the video says is selling the conterfeit minelabs to people so they can rip others off, every detector you can imagine is on there, the gpx500 they sell for 1400 bucks, and I highly doubt minelab and whites and fisher have different company names in mainland china, aswell as factories to build them there.
Don't know why I didnt think about this before since all the time in business news they are talking about chinese companies reproducing american cars and and just about everything else.
This is NOT a bash on any country, this is MY way to try and help keep innocent MDers and n00bies from buying something they think it is but not really.
I sincerely hope this info helps somebody out.
Mike
