Anyone here hire themselves out for detecting?

[Bootyhunter1971]

Hey everybody, just wandering if any of you hire out your metal detecting services, and if so what for? How much and how do you charge and what have been your results as far as amount of "business" and success in locating objects? I just placed a few ads in a local paper, first in the "wanted" section an ad wanting places to hunt and then in the Lost and Found and Resume' sections I posted an ad offering fee based services locating property pins and also lost jewelry. I was bored and thought I would give it a try. If I get one reply for a "job" it will be 1 more than I would have had if I hadn't posted, and it didn't cost me anything to post, so we'll see. Just wandering if any of you had done this or are doing this and what your results had been, or are. Thanks for looking and if I get any takers I will post a follow up. Thanks for looking and HH.

 

[RigDean]

Hey Capn.
Because we advertise as being dealers in this area, we get a lot of strange calls of people wanting to find lost items.
Of course all we try not to charge, hoping it does good for the hobby.

That's good for you 4-H because you are a dealer and already making money from the hobby How do you get into being a dealer? Do you have to invest, meet requirements or are the machines fronted by the company?

I was thinking of making up some business cards and posting flyers and such. "archaeology search and recovery"
I like it. I am of the belief that people should be paid for services rendered. Even if payment is merely getting permission to search property or a small reward to help cover equipment and expenses.

HH everyone

 

[jeff of pa]

I Would never charge to Metal detect
Because then it would be a Job Not Fun

I Have been asked to find Things
but never accepted payment or even
a Donation for my time when I Was sucessfull.
not even for the Gold charm
I detected in Deer Poop


Was hunting this Town Square



in the 90's when a man stopped and asked
if I Had the time to look for a property
marker for him, so he opened his trunk
threw my detector in & drove with him
about 20 minutes to a half hour
North to his home.

Everything I Dug turned out to be trash.
the one signal I Was posative was correct
he wouldn't let me dig. kept saying
it couldn't be there.

I Have several Theories on this.

Anyway on the way back he shoved
$40.00 in my Shirt pocket.
Was the only time I Remember not Arguing.

 

[RigDean]

Personally, I don't think it would make it a job and NOT fun, I think it would be a FUN job! Easy to say when you are between jobs though

 

[jeff of pa]

Personally, I don't think it would make it a job and NOT fun, I think it would be a FUN job! Easy to say when you are between jobs though

If I Was in better Health, I Suppose so

But If somone were paying me by the hour
or even a set amount, It would definately
be Work to me if I Couldn't
Break whenever or as Often as I wish.

& IF I Change my mind before or in
the middle of a hunt, would feel bad
if I Was on the Clock.

a 30mph wind Gust of 30 Degree
wind has Been known to Freeze My
Energy and Interest in being outside
to 0

and in most cases would take a $10,000.00
Handout in cash to walk outside for even 60 seconds

 

[Frankn]

Jeff, That's the beauty of the setup I mentioned. You set your own time and breaks. For the daily fee, I might decide to hunt two half days, or on two weekends etc. I don't hunt unless it is 60 or under 85. This country is based on reward for work! And if you just happen to love that work, why not. I think one of the problems today is people doing something for nothing. Example-- In my younger days I use to listen to the police band. when a major event happened I would rush out to beat the news services . I would take a roll of film and then sell them to the reporters that arrived later. The standard fee was between $50 & $100 depending on the event. Now adays people take pictures and give them to the media thus killing a good sales market. Pictures use to have value. Now adays only wedding and high end ad photos bring in the bucks!

​

 

[LuckyDragon]

Why have your good past time hobby ruiened?
if some one ask to find some thing just do it for pleasure
, I too will refuse money, because i will say you need that for food or bills.

 

[treasurehound]

I never have accepted money for finding some lost rings and never will. This is a hobby that I enjoy for the thrill of finding that unknown target and recovering a piece of history. To see the expression on someone's face when you find their several thousand dollar ring is priceless. That is my payment. Plus you can get some great referrals by helping someone out. If others want to charge for their services that is their business. It just does not work for me.

 

[Lithophylic]

I have done some...lost rings etc. I set it up where it did not cost them anything unless I found it and if I did, I would have it appraised and get 10% of the appraisal value. It was agreed up front and I kept the item until payment. Worked pretty well, paid for my UW Fisher that way. Just not a lot of call for it here. Good Luck. Will watch for you on Fortune 500

 

[Atherton]

It is a hobby, not a job.

If I start going out 60 hours a week focusing on how much I can make for it, it not only is no longer a job, I decimate sites for people who can only get out so often as they have REAL jobs.

 

[Frankn]

In the USA the federal government defines what is a hobby & what is a business. A hobby is an activity where your expenses exceed your income. A business is an activity where your income exceeds your expenses. The Gov. wants tax on the income either way, but only the business can deduct expenses! When your good at it and you want that latest equipment a business is the way to go. That doesn't mean you still can't enjoy your hobby. In fact you might enjoy it even more with all that neat equipment!

​

 

[GioTheGreek]

Hey Atherton...

Quite a touchy-feely avatar you have going on there... along with your description...

 

[KYBuzzBox]

I have been asked from time to time by the local PD to assist in recovering shell casings and spent bullets. Occasional request to find lost jewerly. I have never charged anybody. However, I could go for the BBQ Pork steaks and Beer!

 

[bigscoop]

I use to dabble in this for a while, about a year, but as one poster already stated, there's little enjoyment in it and it can be a real pain in the A**, quite often more then it's worth. Now I just do a few favors, "when I can."