AT Pro $178.97 repair PLUS Shipping

beerguy · Aug 31, 2016

3 years out of a metal detector is not good.

I had my XLT for 20 years, sent it in the first time after 12 years of hard use.

I just sold a Eagle II SL on ebay for what you paid for a repair...

While I hate to slam that unit, since it is so popular, I will say that I have read plenty on T-Net about quality issues, and that is enough for me to steer clear.

My next machine will be a Tesoro Vaquero. Should be a good backup to my CTX.

ansehnlich1 · Aug 31, 2016

beerguy said:
3 years out of a metal detector is not good.

I had my XLT for 20 years, sent it in the first time after 12 years of hard use.

I just sold a Eagle II SL on ebay for what you paid for a repair...

While I hate to slam that unit, since it is so popular, I will say that I have read plenty on T-Net about quality issues, and that is enough for me to steer clear.

My next machine will be a Tesoro Vaquero. Should be a good backup to my CTX.

Ya, your post ain't making me feel any better :laughing7:

I'm keeping this little thread alive for one purpose.....to share my experience. It is what it is. I too may purchase a Vaquero some time soon!

beerguy · Aug 31, 2016

You should keep this alive.

I personally think that a repair bill on a machine that new would not have been too much for Garrett to absorb in the name of keeping a customer happy.

A happy customer tells 10 friends about his great experience. An angry customer shouts it from the rooftops...

Metal Detecting Stuff · Aug 31, 2016

Since the coil is $140+ on Garrett's site, I'm guessing they charged you for the coil and a one hour labor charge and replaced the circuit board at their expense. While $179 is a lot of money, it's only a $38 or so labor charge above the price of the coil, A used refurb AT Pro will fetch $350- 400 in average condition. I'm sorry yours broke outside of warranty, but I can tell you the overall failure rate is very low based on the number of these machines that I have sold since the AT Pro came out in 2010.

I hope everything works out for you and thanks for sharing your experience.

Wayne

Metal Detector Sales Rental | Treasure Hunting | Metal Detecting Stuff

Keppy · Aug 31, 2016

Sandman said:
Each one lasted a while. The last one lasted the longest but leaked from the faceplate and was only submerged a foot in the water. Three times being stupid is enough for me. My Tiger Shark and CZ-21 have been underwater while diving an never leaked. Garrett wanted arm and leg to fix each of them just after warrantee ran out. Throw away detectors I guess.

Your right I think they are throw away detectors also....I have had 3 AT's and they seem to always need some king of fix but i will have no more.

CoilToTheSoil · Sep 1, 2016

At least yours cost less than mine when it crapped out after only a few water hunts... Quite disappointed as well.

ansehnlich1 · Sep 5, 2016

Have a sit down folks, don't want anybody to keel over and get hurt here.

Got the AT Pro back. It's doing the same thing it did that caused me to send it in the first time.

So, I guess I'll have to drop another $50 bucks on some new headphones and see if that's the problem.

I emailed Garrett and asked if they plugged the headphones in when they tested out the unit, we'll see.

Sound jumps in and out, in the headphone, then out to the speaker, plus, static in the headphone when unit is turned off.

Trying hard not to bash the company here :thumbsup:

Keppy · Sep 5, 2016

ansehnlich1 said:
Have a sit down folks, don't want anybody to keel over and get hurt here.

Got the AT Pro back. It's doing the same thing it did that caused me to send it in the first time.

So, I guess I'll have to drop another $50 bucks on some new headphones and see if that's the problem.

I emailed Garrett and asked if they plugged the headphones in when they tested out the unit, we'll see.

Sound jumps in and out, in the headphone, then out to the speaker, plus, static in the headphone when unit is turned off.

Trying hard not to bash the company here

yes sir that is the same with me my AT came back and was still doing the same thing it did when i sent it in . So there was no fix on mine either ..

thaigler · Sep 5, 2016

Keppy said:
yes sir that is the same with me my AT came back and was still doing the same thing it did when i sent it in . So there was no fix on mine either ..

What did Garrett tell you? Would they not let you send it back to them on their dime? is there any warranty?..... like 30 days warranty after they send it back to you ?

ansehnlich1 · Sep 6, 2016

In the interest of full disclosure, I went straight to the local dealer and bought a new set of AT Pro headphones and the AT Pro is back in business.

I deduce from this that Garrett did not plug in the headphones I sent to them, and did not field test the unit with those headphones, or possibly did not spend enough time field testing the headphones I sent to them, as it was the headphones that were defective.

Now, Garrett stated that the large coil I sent them was also defective, and I see no reason to believe otherwise, along with a new control housing, and a replacement item on the circuit board, said item being said by Garrett to be defective, and replaced with an upgraded item. I did not care to get in to the specifics of diodes, capacitors, resistors, and other such electronica that I know little about :dontknow: