- #1
Thread Owner
For a lot of fellow THers like myself --its always been "the nature of the hobby" to try differant detectors -- if you have the cash to try the "latest and greatest" new machine thats fine but most buy used or trade for used --to save bucks and not have the "cash loss" differance when selling or trading in the new detector you bought -----------i dont trade or buy as much as i use to = i narrow down a certain detector --borrowing or going to a local dealer or at least watching some videos of Thers using machines and i found this is the best way without shelling out the cash - i can consider buying or not --- but recently i again i didnt go with my gut and i was in the market for a couple of Tesoro Cortes (for my 21 year old son and i ) The Cortes i owned one a few years ago and i alway like its performance --very familier with .but no more -learned my lesson -should have bought one NEW machine with warranty -my son could come and borrow it
I bought both Cortes both within a few days === one from a fellow who said he hadnt used it much but it had been used and said he bought it from a (well known ) dealer used --he said from what he could tell it worked great --(done a search and seen where he bought from the dealer)-- within a few minutes after hunting with it --i could tell it was not right ---i didnt make a stink about it with the seller i just took the hit and paid Tesoro 90 bucks for repairs ---Rusty Henry "heavy worn Cortes"the electronics had been messed with ==all the trimmers had been fiddled with and the machine had corrison --wiring replaced ---the pics when i looked at from the buying looked ok---but as in the past Pics can be deceiving + or - -------------then 2nd one i bought around the same time - i bought from a differant well respected dealer --"good shape" sight unseen (i will not do that again ) and worked like it should --after recieving it i was not expecting a mint detector by not means -it was well used as i suspected and the 8 x9 coil was in the dead giveaway of an heavily used machine -old yellow deep gouges and after using a few minutes it had a intermediate short every 10 minutes or so detecting as in the case with the 1st detector target id was way off , erractic performance -- i just called the dealer and he gladly is taking it back -he said this makes the 2nd Tesoro he had traded in== recently that didnt work right --both detectors i paid what i consider top dollar about 40% off the sale price of a 729 new Cortes -- which would be "fine" if it worked correctly -------
*your out shipping cost + insurance ---count on at least 25 bucks--
*you cant tell when a detector is going to flake out on you --when a traded for a Tesoro Royal Sabre --worked fine -then after 2 hours of hunting -it just started erractic loud noise-the guy swears it was OK and it polished up good -it was my choice - -off to Tesoro 50 bucks + shipping --2 capacitors and tune up --also out gas money and time to go to Dallas to do the trade
*Tesoro has quick turnaround and excellant service --but some MFGs can take weeks
*i am going to stay away from old vintage machines --especially ones that are out of business =leave them to the collectors -- Keith Wills may or may not be able to fix--he is the only respected fellow i would trust repairing detectors that cant be factory serviced --
* As with the Cortes --i am staying away from machines that can be easliy opened up -fixed Ground Balance /Target ID -on most Tesoro's 4 screens and a small allen wrench and your in (old Discovery Treasue Barons , some Minelabs)--usually trying to ground balance or tweak performance -- hoping they get "the right trimmer" -- there is plenty of info on the the forums with fellows farting around with trimmers -- what usually happens is they have to send it off to the MFG or KW to get it right or --most likely try get the trimmers back the the orginal settings as close as they can --performance suffers but good enough in the short run to trade it to a dealer or ditch it to a fellow Thers----most dealers i suspect only air test and give the detectors quick run thru on the menus to see if its sellable -of course the will give you a short warranty or return policy of some sort
i remember a former dealer Ronnie Dugger (Dixie metal detectors of Missisippi ) said he got burned on so many defective detector trades he finally had to make a policy to have the seller keep a Credit Card number --for repair cost
* i wouldnt buy or trade for again any used machine -for the forums, in person , Craiglist , Ebay etc -no matter mint , demo or heavily worn unless it has been serviced with a recent ticket or has --for sure remaining MFG warranty -- some MFG you have to have the orginal reciept (First Texas)
* i kinda suspect that about 20% (most likely much higher) of the used detectors for sale or trade either knowingly or innocent have some needed repair --that about what my luck has been when i done the math
* i realize a dealer its a business and they have to make money when taking in a used machine for trade and most have a great reputation -- but i also suspect some guys (that are not dealers ) still lingering on the forums to trade to make money by buying and trading for used machines --low balling, polish up , doing "repairs: to make a few bucks -
I bought both Cortes both within a few days === one from a fellow who said he hadnt used it much but it had been used and said he bought it from a (well known ) dealer used --he said from what he could tell it worked great --(done a search and seen where he bought from the dealer)-- within a few minutes after hunting with it --i could tell it was not right ---i didnt make a stink about it with the seller i just took the hit and paid Tesoro 90 bucks for repairs ---Rusty Henry "heavy worn Cortes"the electronics had been messed with ==all the trimmers had been fiddled with and the machine had corrison --wiring replaced ---the pics when i looked at from the buying looked ok---but as in the past Pics can be deceiving + or - -------------then 2nd one i bought around the same time - i bought from a differant well respected dealer --"good shape" sight unseen (i will not do that again ) and worked like it should --after recieving it i was not expecting a mint detector by not means -it was well used as i suspected and the 8 x9 coil was in the dead giveaway of an heavily used machine -old yellow deep gouges and after using a few minutes it had a intermediate short every 10 minutes or so detecting as in the case with the 1st detector target id was way off , erractic performance -- i just called the dealer and he gladly is taking it back -he said this makes the 2nd Tesoro he had traded in== recently that didnt work right --both detectors i paid what i consider top dollar about 40% off the sale price of a 729 new Cortes -- which would be "fine" if it worked correctly -------
*your out shipping cost + insurance ---count on at least 25 bucks--
*you cant tell when a detector is going to flake out on you --when a traded for a Tesoro Royal Sabre --worked fine -then after 2 hours of hunting -it just started erractic loud noise-the guy swears it was OK and it polished up good -it was my choice - -off to Tesoro 50 bucks + shipping --2 capacitors and tune up --also out gas money and time to go to Dallas to do the trade
*Tesoro has quick turnaround and excellant service --but some MFGs can take weeks
*i am going to stay away from old vintage machines --especially ones that are out of business =leave them to the collectors -- Keith Wills may or may not be able to fix--he is the only respected fellow i would trust repairing detectors that cant be factory serviced --
* As with the Cortes --i am staying away from machines that can be easliy opened up -fixed Ground Balance /Target ID -on most Tesoro's 4 screens and a small allen wrench and your in (old Discovery Treasue Barons , some Minelabs)--usually trying to ground balance or tweak performance -- hoping they get "the right trimmer" -- there is plenty of info on the the forums with fellows farting around with trimmers -- what usually happens is they have to send it off to the MFG or KW to get it right or --most likely try get the trimmers back the the orginal settings as close as they can --performance suffers but good enough in the short run to trade it to a dealer or ditch it to a fellow Thers----most dealers i suspect only air test and give the detectors quick run thru on the menus to see if its sellable -of course the will give you a short warranty or return policy of some sort
i remember a former dealer Ronnie Dugger (Dixie metal detectors of Missisippi ) said he got burned on so many defective detector trades he finally had to make a policy to have the seller keep a Credit Card number --for repair cost
* i wouldnt buy or trade for again any used machine -for the forums, in person , Craiglist , Ebay etc -no matter mint , demo or heavily worn unless it has been serviced with a recent ticket or has --for sure remaining MFG warranty -- some MFG you have to have the orginal reciept (First Texas)
* i kinda suspect that about 20% (most likely much higher) of the used detectors for sale or trade either knowingly or innocent have some needed repair --that about what my luck has been when i done the math
* i realize a dealer its a business and they have to make money when taking in a used machine for trade and most have a great reputation -- but i also suspect some guys (that are not dealers ) still lingering on the forums to trade to make money by buying and trading for used machines --low balling, polish up , doing "repairs: to make a few bucks -
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