Well, to cut to the chase, I was a dealer for a vast array of products for almost 40 years. ATVs, boats, snowmobiles, outboards, and yes, many lines and types of metal detectors and prospecting equipment. Almost all dealerships come with territorial restrictions. So many dealers per town, so many dealers per state. There are almost always restrictions on selling outside your home country as each country has and controls its own dealer distribution network.
I am not defending the way things are. I am just explaining the way it is. The enforcers are not the companies. It is the dealers and the distributors. They have contracts for their areas. When another dealer sell out of area, it could result in lawsuits, plain and simple. You are talking territories, and money. And livelihoods. If you were an authorized Australian dealer and I started bootlegging product into your area, threatening to put you out of business, you might protest. And if it continued you might threaten to sue the company involved for not enforcing its contracts with other dealers resulting in a loss of business and livelihood.
A few time over the years I would now and then unwittingly cross the line. A new employee might ship something out not knowing. You would be surprised how fast the heat can come down sometimes. More often, nothing happens. But it can cost a business their dealership if they continually abuse their contractual obligations. It is about power, control and money. You may be thinking "Gee Steve, these are just metal detectors" but you would be surprised at just how seriously people take their businesses and their money. Thank God I finally got big enough to actually be able to dictate back to some degree. Big dealers can gain control over manufacturers. But small dealers are totally at their mercy.
In this particular case I am not sure where you got that email. It has been edited to leave out over half, so if it was provided to you it is out of context with an agenda - which was to piss you off. The original is about the fact counterfeit First Texas product (happening to Minelab and White's also) are getting out of control. Gray market dealers are aiding in this. First Texas is taking strong steps to try and address the issue, and part of that is trying to go after those bootlegging these units across dealer lines. In other words, trying to make sure people (you) work only with legitimate dealers so as to not get ripped off. If you buy this great deal Fisher from this US dealer and he sells you some cheap knockoff that performs at 50% of norm, you go online and get all on Fisher for making this piece of garbage. That they did not make. And I am telling you these fakes are very well done in all ways. All that gets left out is the performance. Anyway, long story short is First Texas is having to clamp down hard on the dealer network to gain tighter control over the flow of legitimate product so as to exclude the garbage. The intent is not to mess with you. Honestly, all you are doing for Mike is highlighting the fact that they have work to do in Australia if you are dissatisfied with your ability to get First Texas product at reasonable prices.
Again, I have no pony in this race. I am not defending any company or its practices. Believe me, they catch some heat from me on stuff now and then! You asked, and so I am just pointing out some of what is going on inside the industry. Be very careful where you buy the top end units these days. Counterfeit GPX 5000 detectors in particular are a serious problem. Minelab has been instituting some security measures on new units like special holographic stickers a dealer can read with a special tool. That is how bad it is getting.
Research for a purchase?
............It's also indicated Fisher detectors are in stock.
