Need Opinions On Whites Service Center In Virginia

[Robotics]

I am not that far from the Whites authorized service center in Virginia. My DFX has to go in for repair/tune up.

I have run across a couple threads of folks that took/sent their machine there for repairs, and I am getting the feeling they we not happy with the results.

I would like some honest opinions of the Virginia location to help me make up my mind. I cant see shipping it to Sweet Home, when I am not the far from the one in Va. That and I don't have the original box (I inherited this machine), so I would have to go get a box, bubble wrap, and all that stuff.

Anyone able to chime in on this and tell me your opinions? If you feel better PM'ing me with it, that's fine...I understand

Thanks!

 

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[jharhed]

I've only dealt with Oregon and they far exceeded my expectations. Take a little longer travel time, and you've read not too good reviews from VA. Sooo....

 

[wingmaster]

I never used that one but had problems at another location and now only send mine to Sweet Home Oregon. HH

 

[Digzit2]

I would go with Sweet Home Oregon just like wingmaster stated.

 

[Robotics]

Thanks for the responses. Interesting that it is only a few. Guess no one has had their machine serviced at the Va. location.
I called the Sweet Home location on the 4th. (6 days ago), and was transferred to I believe the lady said Todd's line, only to get his voice mail. Left a brief message of my problem and my contact number and asked for his advice. Needless to say I have yet got a return call from him...so that kind of turned me off being six days has gone by so far. That's one reason I was leaning towards going to the Va. store and hand deliver it and explain the issues.

Now I have some more thinking to do...hard to decide which way to go. Getting bad vibes from both locations.

 

[Digzit2]

Thanks for the responses. Interesting that it is only a few. Guess no one has had their machine serviced at the Va. location.
I called the Sweet Home location on the 4th. (6 days ago), and was transferred to I believe the lady said Todd's line, only to get his voice mail. Left a brief message of my problem and my contact number and asked for his advice. Needless to say I have yet got a return call from him...so that kind of turned me off being six days has gone by so far. That's one reason I was leaning towards going to the Va. store and hand deliver it and explain the issues.

Now I have some more thinking to do...hard to decide which way to go. Getting bad vibes from both locations.

I used to be the same way about reading post,for example when chooseing my first detector I read hundreds of positive post on the t2,then read afew bad.To make a long story short,if i had listen to a few bad post then i would have missed out on a great detector.Dont let a few bad post throw you.

 

[wingmaster]

You might see if they could look at it while your there, just let them know when your coming and see if it's possible to look at it just to make sure they at least understand what the problem is. Mine only had a problem when turning up the gain which wouldn't show up at a lower gain setting but got worse and worse and ended up just being a bad coil. I wouldn't however take one in if its working right as some people state just a tune up but they can't, won't, and shouldn't fix it if there's no problem to begin with as the saying goes if it ain't broke don't fix it and would be a waste of money for something that's working right in the first place.

 

[wingmaster]

There are some people if its out of warranty at least that opted to fix it them selves and just order the part they need and replace it themselves as some parts are just plug to the board parts. Switches and stuff like that should be easy if they come with the plug in pig tail already attached to the switch, of course I would take it in if your not sure exactly what the problem is. HH

 

[Robotics]

I used to be the same way about reading post,for example when chooseing my first detector I read hundreds of positive post on the t2,then read afew bad.To make a long story short,if i had listen to a few bad post then i would have missed out on a great detector.Dont let a few bad post throw you.

Thanks Digzit2. Id like to think I take a lot into consideration while reading reviews both positive and negative. In this case, I have a feeling I will take it to the Va. store in the long run. It is much closer, and I don't have to worry about shipping cost and having it thrown around during shipping. Just hope they give it a good look over.
The detector works great now compared to the day I got it...and all it took was an accidental jolt. This tells me it has to be looked at very closely. I am pretty sure it is a faulty solder joint.
In a way I can hold this repair off till it goes bad again...but in the mean time something still could be going on if something is indeed loose. And that means I might not be finding all that is possible for me to find.

Thanks for your comments. Looks like it will be the Va. store...just not in a rush to get it there now since the detector seems to be ok at the moment.

 

[Robotics]

You might see if they could look at it while your there, just let them know when your coming and see if it's possible to look at it just to make sure they at least understand what the problem is. Mine only had a problem when turning up the gain which wouldn't show up at a lower gain setting but got worse and worse and ended up just being a bad coil. I wouldn't however take one in if its working right as some people state just a tune up but they can't, won't, and shouldn't fix it if there's no problem to begin with as the saying goes if it ain't broke don't fix it and would be a waste of money for something that's working right in the first place.

I am hoping they can put it on the bench the day I bring it in to maybe run a few quick test while I'm there. If that's not possible, that's ok. Just hoping they can locate the issue(s) since I am positive there is one. With the machine working fine now, they will not find any issue unless it is a bad solder joint, or they bang it around (the box) to see if the problem comes back. I'm pretty sure it isn't the coil.
I could not see anything that looked out of place or wrong upon looking over the circuit board, but that doesn't mean it isn't one of the components on the board that is going bad. I know capacitors that sit around and not have juice going threw them for a long time will go bad, and some without any visible signs to give you a heads up.
I would try to repair it myself since I have done small repairs on electronics back when I was much younger, but I cant locate the problem

 

[airscapes]

Ok, here is my experience. Factory is No good, Virginia will talk to you and is competent, however when the boxed my machine up they failed to cover the shipping label with the return label and it was shipped back to them..
Like most service today, it is hit or miss.
So you did not explain your problem.. but you did mention a good thumping helped.
The pins in the bottom of the box that make contact with the battery tend to bet bent down from the battery being Dropped in. This can cause a loose connection and all kinds of strangeness. Best way to diagnose this is to have the machine running and shake it hard forward and back. If it shuts off you need to open it up and bend those tabs back towards the battery door so the battery is tight.

 

[Robotics]

Hi airscapes,

I inherited the machine from my father, who I know keeps good care of his stuff...but maybe not this time. I have had the detector since December of last year, and have used it probably 100 hours now. My father used it about 4 times he claims. So more or less hardly any usage out of the machine since it was purchased in 2001.

It did sit for many years with no use at all (not good on some electronic components).

So I been using the machine just about every chance I can get. Im finding lots, but everything seems to be from surface finds to no more than 6 inches deep. After 7 some months this has raised a flag to me. I have also noticed that since I have had the machine, I have always had to crank up the volume in order to hear the tones. I'm talking turning it all the way up. I don't use or have headphones yet.

One day detecting I get a hit, while I am starting to kneel down to start the dig, I let the machine slide off my arm (in the cuff strapped) and then gently set it to the ground once near the ground.
This time how ever, I thought it was on the ground but was maybe 3 to 4 inches off the ground (the box...coil was already on the ground). So the box got a bit of a jolt. Not much but enough to where the next tone I got a good tone, I noticed the volume was 2 times louder than I have ever heard it. Probably the way it was meant to be out of the box.

And since then the detector seems to be reaching further in the ground and of course the audio is great.

I will check into the battery compartment and do as you say and see what happens.

But that's why I feel it needs to go in. That jolt seems to fix a few things. But did it fix them all (if any?)
And what happens with the next "jolt"?

 

[airscapes]

Well they will only find a problem if it is currently misbehaving, or is visually obvious when the box is opened up. They do not do board repairs, they replace it with a used one if they can find one. There is no diagnostic box they can plug it into to find out if it works currently, they just go outside load the default coin program and swing it a bit..
If you can drop it off, I would do that, shipping it to the other side of the country takes 7 days each way and they will take a month or more to work on it. They don't call you to talk to you, just do whatever and send it back.. Been there done that 2 times and then sent it to Virginia where they replaced the board with a used one and finally corrected the problem.
If it is working fine now, wait till the winter to drop it off..
Good luck

 

[Robotics]

Thank you for all that info. You answered a lot of questions I had in the back of my head, like can they plug it in and run a diagnostic test on it. Sorry to hear they don't. You would think White's would supply and or allow this to happen at their "authorized service centers" Hell a real service center would check the components to check the values are still within spec. And much more I wont get into.
Just cant get service like you used to anymore that's for sure.

I will be waiting for awhile before I send it in. I really think it is doing better now...time will tell.

Thanks again for the very helpful info!

 

[airscapes]

No diags at the factory either.. they were the ones that told me how they do it.. This is why I sent it to Virginia, they seemed to be more with it than the one guy they have fixing things at the factory.. Greg was the guy ..
I told him the problem was when I changed the frequency and he said "Oh that is a program problem, I don't know anything about that, I just use C/J. I will have my boss Todd Call you" 2 weeks later no call, and I get the machine back still not working properly..

Others will say this is all hog wash and whites CSR is best in the world.. maybe I am just unlucky..

 

[Digzit2]

Wow,That makes me wonder if I should get rid of my whites machine?I would not want to go through that type of service!

 

[wingmaster]

I've never had much of a problem as my problem with the coil was intermittent and I know from doing electrical work you will never find be able to trouble shoot a problem unless its messing up when your testing it, even a bad connection you won't find if its getting good contact while your testing it. I've had White's replace a couple bad coils for free even out of warranty, not many companies will do that and they don't charge much for even big repairs so in my opinion they do fine by me. Not to mention as detectors go now days the White's with the metal control box is built like a tank and makes me feel better when deep woods detecting. HH

 

[airscapes]

Wow,That makes me wonder if I should get rid of my whites machine?I would not want to go through that type of service!

I understand the Minelab is WAY worse..

 

[Mach1Pilot]

"The Virginia location" is manned by a guy who has serviced White's (and formerly other brands, too) for years.... they are more than competent to handle the issues you are having with your detector. You can be confident it will be working perfectly when they are done with your detector.

 

[Robotics]

I'm a bit lost without words on hearing that. Todd is the one I left a message with (now 7 days ago), and still haven't heard back from him. Guess they are understaffed and just don't have time to reach out and talk to customers over the phone.

Believe me I am not one of them that will call "hog wash" on this subject. I tell it like it is, and I have a feeling you are too.

Three some days now and my post on White's forum still hasn't showed up due to their "moderated forum" for new users. I have no problem it being set up that way, but where the hell are the mods on that site? They have a section called "Talk directly to White's" or something like that. Well, guess maybe it works if you have been on that site for awhile.
Ok I will get off my little rant.

But I take all I have read about them having the best customer support, and fix you right up, very lightly.