A MERGENCE OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

[Roverboy70]

This is a query I have sent to Garrett. I would like to hear what others have to say concerning this potentially cost saving algorithm buoyed by technology.

GARRETT:

I would like to offer you the opportunity of giving your side to this argument. I am confused, but wish to protect my interests.

I was getting very interested in buying your AT PRO. However, I now find out that there are emerging technologies from other countries; ones offering similar specs and operational capabilities. Namely, I am talking about Turkey's Nokta Makro Simplex for less than half the price of your AT PRO. I have gotten positive confirmation from people "in the know", including feedback from a major distributor.

I know that you do not like to hear things like this, but consumers are after the best that they can get for the smallest cash outlay. I invite you to counter any of this and offer your reasons for doing so. In the end, the cream will rise to the top, but, until then, there is much fact finding for potential consumers to query and absorb. Thank you.

 

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[Toecutter]

New Garrett will be released tomorrow lol

 

[chub]

I havent actually looked at any head to head vids of the AT pro Vs Simplex...will have a look now. I'm interested in any new release so I hope the Apex is something good at a fair pricepoint. Those big top mounted control boxes are also getting a bit old now. I remember the box on the F5 looked big enough to hold someones lunch

Chub

 

[Keppy]

Did you send a letter to Whites , Fisher , & Minelab also but did you just pick Garrett for some reason?

 

[Roverboy70]

NO, I did not purposely beat up Garret. Hell, I might still buy from them. But, since I was comparing their AT PRO with the competition from Turkey, I contacted them. Reviews about the Simplex are overwhelmingly favorable, but I have doubts still about quality control and I do hate the machine having a rechargeable battery instead of being able to use alkalines. I am wholly ignorant here and wait for informative feedback.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Probably the short answer is that Garrett does not pay Turkish wages (about 1/3 US level for similar work). It's not a question of technology so much as labor costs.

Garrett's bread-and-butter is the TSA and various security checkpoint scanners (police/courts/schools, etc.). The hobbyists are not their chief concern.

 

[Roverboy70]

Thus, that seems to DEFINE a reason for NOT buying the Garrett (or many other USA brands, either). Now I know that most of you are 'patriotic' and want to buy 'made in the USA' but when technology butts against pragmatism (and dollars) perhaps the national fervor is permitted to wane. I don't know, all I know is that I want depth for finding gold coins and I do not wish to pay so much. Does that disclose my socialist roots? Or does that permit capitalists to become 'unpatriotic' in the name of best value for the buck?

 

[FreeBirdTim]

I read a lot of reviews on the Simplex and most were very favorable. But one negative review stated that it was unable to tell the difference between a quarter and a bottle cap. They both rang up in the same range. That was the number one reason why I sold my Ace 250 and bought an AT Pro. I rarely dig bottle caps any more, which is a BIG advantage. The Simplex may be cheaper than an AT Pro, but you'll go crazy digging all those quarter signals that end up being bottle caps!

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Hello,

I am looking forward to the new Garrett Apex metal detector on Friday (5/15/20).

I own many machines, some high end some mid-range. I have both the AT Pro, AT Gold (over 2000 hours of use) and just bought the Simplex for a throw in the car machine since it was cheap $300 dollars. I must say the Simplex and AT pro are very close in my test bed. The Simplex is a great $ 300 dollar machine; I have now close to 180 - 190 hours on the machine and know it well. The depth is about the same as the AT Pro. The Audio could be improved on the Simplex by adding more tone options or perhaps even tone breaks. The VID is OK up to about 7- 8 inches, better on larger objects. I like the AT Pro modulated audio (Love the Minelab audio).

Garrett has a great customer service department, but so does Whites. I do not know about the Simplex service and hope I do not have to know!

Check out the Garrett tomorrow, I will be! Just remember, there are many nice machines you can purchase, but nothing beats an operator who know his/her machine like the back of their hand.

Best Regards on you detector search.

Doc

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Thus, that seems to DEFINE a reason for NOT buying the Garrett (or many other USA brands, either). Now I know that most of you are 'patriotic' and want to buy 'made in the USA' but when technology butts against pragmatism (and dollars) perhaps the national fervor is permitted to wane. I don't know, all I know is that I want depth for finding gold coins and I do not wish to pay so much. Does that disclose my socialist roots? Or does that permit capitalists to become 'unpatriotic' in the name of best value for the buck?

Are you looking to pick a fight? Seems the only chip here is on your shoulder. You seem be hoping for persecution or to be singled out for a choice you haven't even made yet. Or perhaps you have and feel guilty?

Capitalists would go with the least expensive viable solution. Nationalists would say "buy local". Socialists would say "metal detecting is bourgeoisie and self-serving and instead you should be planting crops." We're a world economy, like it or not.

Buy what you like. I drive a Jap vehicle, most of what I wear is from China, I like Husqvarna chainsaws, trimmers and mowers. I even tend to buy a lot of things second-hand so it really doesn't matter.

Is there some reason you feel guilty about wanting a Turkish made detector? I haven't seen anyone come down on you for it. Run with it. Have fun. I never thought much of Garrett. Solid but unremarkable detectors. Never owned one but I did read Charlie's books and he definately was an industry leader while alive. I'm sure Fisher and Garrett have been reverse engineered by lots of foreign manufacturers.

 

[Rad1sh]

Capitalists would go with the least expensive viable solution. Nationalists would say "buy local". Socialists would say "metal detecting is bourgeoisie and self-serving and instead you should be planting crops." We're a world economy, like it or not.

.

“We’re a world economy “ So true. That’s been a thought on my mind for some time now. I think you just very correct here.

 

[Roverboy70]

Are you looking to pick a fight? Seems the only chip here is on your shoulder. You seem be hoping for persecution or to be singled out for a choice you haven't even made yet. Or perhaps you have and feel guilty?

Capitalists would go with the least expensive viable solution. Nationalists would say "buy local". Socialists would say "metal detecting is bourgeoisie and self-serving and instead you should be planting crops." We're a world economy, like it or not.

Buy what you like. I drive a Jap vehicle, most of what I wear is from China, I like Husqvarna chainsaws, trimmers and mowers. I even tend to buy a lot of things second-hand so it really doesn't matter.

Is there some reason you feel guilty about wanting a Turkish made detector? I haven't seen anyone come down on you for it. Run with it. Have fun. I never thought much of Garrett. Solid but unremarkable detectors. Never owned one but I did read Charlie's books and he definately was an industry leader while alive. I'm sure Fisher and Garrett have been reverse engineered by lots of foreign manufacturers.

Certainly, I have no chip on the shoulder and posited that statement solely to contradict what so many here might aspire towards: i.e., Not deviating from Made in America. To me, that thinking is purely hogwash: we should always seek to buy best value, regardless of origin, not "patriotism" (unless documented sweat shops have caused these cheaper prices to manifest). I am the LAST to adhere to such false promise that one should buy one's own output.

I think that Turkey falls squarely into the acceptable purchase parameters (in a moral sense) and my sole purpose for this thread is to gain responsible "permission" to buy the cheaper Simplex+ in that it will both conform to AT PRO standards and also confirm that sometimes cheaper IS better.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Roverboy, please keep political comments out of your posts, it violates our rules.

 

[Roverboy70]

Roverboy, please keep political comments out of your posts, it violates our rules.

Done deal, and I would also surmise that that caveat also applies to Charlie P, even though he is a cherished gold member. Right?

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Done deal, and I would also surmise that that caveat also applies to Charlie P, even though he is a cherished gold member. Right?

Charlie didnt bring politics into the conversation you did, let's leave the moderation to the moderators. Your a new member and most likely not aware of some of our rules so all is good..