Counterfeit detectors?

[treadhead]

Hey folks,...just something I was wondering about after seeing a response in another thread that mentioned that
there were counterfeit detectors out there (And to be careful when you buy from "Some Dude" on-line) these days.

I've been buying and selling guns on-line for 15-16yrs and know what sort've hijinks some of THOSE (GUN) folks
can engage in and, while deployed to AFG I learned that I could head down to the local Haji-Mart/Bazaar at whatever
FOB or COP I was at at the time and buy My weight in 1804 Silver dollars (I sent a bunch home to friends of Mine
who collected for shits and giggles...lol) or $150 "ACOGs".

I'm looking right now at acquiring a couple of new detectors and have been offered a heck of a deal on an ANIB
Minelab. The asking price is about half what this model's MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) is and a couple of
hundred bucks less than I see used ones (Used a lot more than this one) going for on this and other MD boards.

It's a local pick-up (About 15 miles from here) so, I'm not being asked to throw a payment at some dude in Kentucky
who may never respond after saying..."Got your MO, sending it out tomorrow!"...lol

ANYWAY....are counterfeit detectors a real problem these days (?) and, if they are, how can you tell if you get a chance
to inspect one before you buy? FWIW, I'm a firm believer in buying from known, reputable dealers/people and subscribe
to the old saw....if it seems too good to be true(?)..it probable is but....I really want this Minelab!

Any hints on what to look for OR horrible examples of folks getting burned?

Thanks

 

[BC1969]

Hi I just made a post on this very subject on the minelab forum, got done and seen your post, it's true they are everywhere, and I guess it will only get worse...

 

[Keppy]

Hey folks,...just something I was wondering about after seeing a response in another thread that mentioned that
there were counterfeit detectors out there (And to be careful when you buy from "Some Dude" on-line) these days.

I've been buying and selling guns on-line for 15-16yrs and know what sort've hijinks some of THOSE (GUN) folks
can engage in and, while deployed to AFG I learned that I could head down to the local Haji-Mart/Bazaar at whatever
FOB or COP I was at at the time and buy My weight in 1804 Silver dollars (I sent a bunch home to friends of Mine
who collected for shits and giggles...lol) or $150 "ACOGs".

I'm looking right now at acquiring a couple of new detectors and have been offered a heck of a deal on an ANIB
Minelab. The asking price is about half what this model's MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) is and a couple of
hundred bucks less than I see used ones (Used a lot more than this one) going for on this and other MD boards.

It's a local pick-up (About 15 miles from here) so, I'm not being asked to throw a payment at some dude in Kentucky
who may never respond after saying..."Got your MO, sending it out tomorrow!"...lol

ANYWAY....are counterfeit detectors a real problem these days (?) and, if they are, how can you tell if you get a chance
to inspect one before you buy? FWIW, I'm a firm believer in buying from known, reputable dealers/people and subscribe
to the old saw....if it seems too good to be true(?)..it probable is but....I really want this Minelab!

Any hints on what to look for OR horrible examples of folks getting burned?

Thanks

..Haji , FOB , shits , "ACOGs" , FWIW ,......

 

[Ronzie]

Serial number.

 

[Diggin-N-Dumps]

gREAT!...Just when i was wanting to get a Minelab

 

[Alan Applegate]

Got to this site: China Metal Detector, Metal Detector Manufacturers & Suppliers - Made-in-China.com Note that there are multiple pages! Some are direct copies of Garrett, Mine Labs, Fisher, and others. The question remains, are they any good?

If you visit the page, scroll down to the green colored one. The local who owns one swears by it, but who really knows its value?

Caveat emptor!

 

[BC1969]

What do you mean exactly Alan, by asking if they are any good ?
They are counterfeit/fake/farce !
Buying one of them things would be just dumb..no warranty, cheap components, good luck returning it to China, last and certainly not the least, that's ripping off the legitimate manufacturers who did all the R&D...I'm hoping that was just a sarcastic joke, I'll give the benefit of the doubt.

Mike

 

[Keppy]

Haji - is an honorific title given to a Muslim person who has successfully completed the Hajj to Mecca.

FOB - Front Operating Base

shits - poop

ACOG - A type of a "scope" mostly used for battle rifles, great for quick target acquisition.

FWIW - For what its worth.

.. OK .. You see i do not know that talk every one uses now a days ..... I use words not letters ...I still use a flip phone .... I don't text.... But i do have a I Mac apple computer ... but when i make a post like a lot i do not put on the bottom.......................................Sent on my I Mac Apple........

 

[Alan Applegate]

Mike, they are without doubt, copies. The fact you can order them directly from China for less than 30% of the real McCoy's cost, without any import duties, no fright charges, no tax, nada, some folks will buy them. Without arguing the merits of this scenario, and only focusing in on the operational viability, the question remains, are they any good?

I can't speak of metal detectors, because I don't own any bogus ones. But I do own an almost duplicate of an Agilent spectrum analyzer. It beats the real McCoy in every aspect, and cost less than 1/5th the Agilent's MSRP! And where is the Agilent version made? Three guesses, and two don't count!

 

[damiani1]

On eBay it is illegal to sell fake knock off items. I have broughten headphones from china that turned out to be knock offs and I got to keep them and have my payment refunded.

As for metal detectors from there, I would steer clear as the items purchased from there are never the same quality.

 

[Alan Applegate]

I really don't want to beat this dead horse again, but I have this nagging feeling that a lot of the electronics embedded into the metal detectors we all love, are sourced from China. I also have a nagging feeling that the situation is going to get much worse. Lets face it. Universal health care (Obamacare by name) is going to cost employers a lot of bread. If the want to stay in business, they're going to have to cut every corner they can. Read that as, sourcing parts and assemblies from China!

 

[doc-d]

About everything is made in China, India or other nations thanks to the traitors in DC.......we have essentially no manufacturing in the US anymore.....

 

[treadhead]

I really don't want to beat this dead horse again, but I have this nagging feeling that a lot of the electronics embedded into the metal detectors we all love, are sourced from China. I also have a nagging feeling that the situation is going to get much worse. Lets face it. Universal health care (Obamacare by name) is going to cost employers a lot of bread. If the want to stay in business, they're going to have to cut every corner they can. Read that as, sourcing parts and assemblies from China!

I get that man ( Thanks for the reply to this thread BTW ). I posted this a few days ago and just got home from a MUTA 5 drill and another
shift at work (Worst week-end ever!...lol) that started about 3hrs after our final formation. I accept Chinese labor as a part of the assembly
process but, I ALSO want the QC to meet some sort've standard. The '705 I'm looking at right now can be Mine for under $300. That's a
killer deal if'n it's fer real. Total whack-job if it's an faux deal.

Thanks again to everyone who contributed to this thread

 

[hvacker]

The July 2013 copy of the Mining Journal had an article by Chris Ralph that included his experiences with knock-off detectors. He ran across a number of them and says from the outside he couldn't tell them from real except that they didn't work. At least not like the real thing.
The way these things always work is they hook people on greed. Something for nothing or at least way cheaper. You know "If it sounds to good to be true it probably is" or "You get what you pay for" We hear that over and over but still fall for the fake crap.
Much of this stuff isn't about "Made in China" because a lot of stuff deemed authentic is made there. This stuff is made by crooks and buyer beware still doesn't seem to work.
The best lesson seems to be to get $crewed over and maybe it won't happen again.
Even in China the people pay extra for Made in the USA because they trust us and the label has status.
So if anyone gets $crewed over on this issue don't come crying to TN because you were warned. Que' No?!

 

[s.c.shooter]

The only thing I miss about Afg. is going to the bazaar! I really eyed going from table to table filled with guns, knives and swords. Sent back quite a few. They also were really good craftsman and I sent my wife several nice jewelry boxes and a chest.

 

[Mach1Pilot]

If it is a Minelab detector built after they added the security seal, a Minelab dealer can authenticate the detector. The dealer will need to see it in person to complete authentication process.

 

[kevin hoffman]

DOC-D you hit the nail on the head ,if you want to see a middle class again we must return our manufacturing, , the govt. sent out new ship contracts overseas! they also buy computer parts from china, this must stop , everybody buy american ! and vote

 

[Metal Detecting Stuff]

Minelab recently found and busted a $1.6 Million operation in Dubai. The units look exactly like real units, but don't perform and don't have warranty. An X-terra 705 in used condition sells for $400-575, so at your $300 price , it's probably either counterfeit or stolen. The knockoffs look real, even down to the packaging.

Wayne

www.metaldetectingstuff.com

 

[treadhead]

Minelab recently found and busted a $1.6 Million operation in Dubai. The units look exactly like real units, but don't perform and don't have warranty. An X-terra 705 in used condition sells for $400-575, so at your $300 price , it's probably either counterfeit or stolen. The knockoffs look real, even down to the packaging.

Wayne





www.metaldetectingstuff.com

Thanks for the heads-up Wayne, 'guess I'll just save my pennies and buy from one of you guys

S.C. Shooter, yeah man, I sent a metric TON of those silk Pashminas and "war rugs" home to friends.

 

[treadhead]

If it is a Minelab detector built after they added the security seal, a Minelab dealer can authenticate the detector. The dealer will need to see it in person to complete authentication process.

Thanks for that info man. Looks like I'll pass on this deal. It "May" be legit but....eh...