Cost of manufacturing a detector?

Newfiehunter

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Oct 20, 2007
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Newfoundland
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Currently own: Fisher CZ5, Eurotek Pro, Tesoro Vaquero, Tesoro Cortes, Vibraprobe 560, Vibradetector 720, Garrett ProPointer. Makro Pinpoiinter Used: Whites Liberty2, Garrett Freedom3, Garrett GTA 1
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting

bigfoot1

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Nov 1, 2011
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so.cal.mtns.
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garrett,minelab,fisher,,,atp current weapon of choice
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the first one costs a hundred grand....the last one about 40 bucks.....my best guess
 

can

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Dec 26, 2015
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xp DEUS, excal sword,ctx 3030, garrett carrot
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Anduril

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Aug 31, 2015
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Garrett GTI-2500
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As for the electronics - practically nothing. (Well, not much anyway).
The big bucks come in firmware development and custom housings.
You can spend months getting all the software bugs worked out, etc.., and injection molds for plastic parts are very expensive.
The big dollar items are amoritized over the lifespan of the product.

This makes your question difficult to answer, because the answer depends on how large the lifetime production will be.
 

Jason in Enid

Gold Member
Oct 10, 2009
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It probably costs about $10 to manufacture any detector. It's the millions of dollars of R&D that goes into creating it that makes it sell for $1000.
 

Dr. Syn

Sr. Member
Feb 15, 2011
458
700
Lakeland, Florida
All true above, unless it's a Chinese copy, then the costs are minimal. They don't give a rat's behind about copyright, trade agreement, contracts, etc.

A company pays them to build the unit, and after the deal is done, it's easy enough for them to run off as many copies as they like to sell at rock bottom prices.
They already have the molds, the software, etc. And they even drop their costs using sub par parts that are cheaper then the original design called for.

And electronics are their big time thing. I fly r/c, where a name brand receiver for an airplane is over $50.00 at the low end. Same one from China, I can buy for $5.00. My transmitter, was over $700.00 when I bought it, I can buy the Chinese version right now for $59.00.
 

Joe Pani

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Feb 18, 2016
4
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New York
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Surfmaster Amphibian II and garretts 350
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I'm as Curious as Newfiehunter and have to question the big companies policies. I was a Whites guy, Still am I guess, but why do they have to be 50 to 100 bucks more than Garretts. I wanted to get their pinpointer but went with Deteknixs'. I want to go with the Treasure Pro, their answer to the AT, but its going to be 800 bucks. Compared with 650 from Garretts. I get some of it, its not like printers where they can give them away and then get you on the ink. There has to be a better business Model. Pinpointers over $70.00 come on what's up with that? I want to buy American but If the Chinese put out quality Knock offs, I'm there. The american manufactures should help make the decision easier.
 

against the wind

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Jul 27, 2015
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As was previously mentioned, R & D is a big part of the initial costs of putting out a quality product. Okay, so now the detector is complete and the MSRP is $1,000.
That means, after averaging in all expenses from the
drawing board to the final packaged detector, the per
unit manufacturer's costs is estimated to be $250. The retailer's cost is $500. Your cost is $1,000. ,, unless it is on sale.
Then the price is $50.,, with an AT pin pointer, Lesche digger, and a 15 inch coil thrown in. lol
 

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Terry Soloman

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May 28, 2010
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White Plains, New York
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Nokta Makro Legend// Pulsedive// Minelab GPZ 7000// Vanquish 540// Minelab Pro Find 35// Dune Kraken Sandscoop// Grave Digger Tools Tombstone shovel & Sidekick digger// Bunk's Hermit Pick
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Let's see, it cost me about $300. to "build" this one:
 

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Terry Soloman

Gold Member
May 28, 2010
19,423
30,109
White Plains, New York
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Nokta Makro Legend// Pulsedive// Minelab GPZ 7000// Vanquish 540// Minelab Pro Find 35// Dune Kraken Sandscoop// Grave Digger Tools Tombstone shovel & Sidekick digger// Bunk's Hermit Pick
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting

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