Some forum Sponsors and vendors are not all theyre cracked up to be

rhino71

Jr. Member
Mar 22, 2012
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Detector(s) used
Minelab X-Terra 705 Whites DFX Garrett GTAX 550
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Some forum Sponsors and vendors are not all they're cracked up to be

I made a few inquiries over the holiday into some different machines posted on the classifieds. I also ATTEMPTED to communicate directly with some of the vendors regarding some different new detectors. Let's just say my batting average on getting replies from some of them wouldn't have won a little league game. Say whatever you want about some of the vendors but what I read about some of them and what I experienced was night and day. And for business to tell someone they will get back to them and you hear nothing, nada...even days later ??? Not going to stay in business long....nuff said.
 

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Your upset they didn't get back to you over the busiest times of the year......? Did you call or email....?
 

LOL! Yes! I am. And yes, I called and emailed. Kellyco does however seem to be in business.
 

LOL! Yes! I am. And yes, I called and emailed. Kellyco does however seem to be in business.

Didn't Kellyco drop their sponsorship here? They were getting plenty bad rap on this site for a while - and I guess they'd earned it. I bought my first detector from Kellyco in 1981 - Garrett Deepseeker ADS III

The joys I found in that machine :) Plenty virgin sites back then....

Kellyco should come back and be a sponsor again! However, I'd still deal with people with whom I could negotiate :)
 

Your upset they didn't get back to you over the busiest times of the year......? Did you call or email....?

Most of the sponsors here are not corporate conglomerates! The sponsors here have families, and it was Christmas.

I would have forgiven them for that - but I probably would not have been in a hurry. Please don't judge the sponsors because they paid attention to their families at Christmas!

Just my two cents worth.....
 

Didn't Kellyco drop their sponsorship here? They were getting plenty bad rap on this site for a while - and I guess they'd earned it. I bought my first detector from Kellyco in 1981 - Garrett Deepseeker ADS III

The joys I found in that machine :) Plenty virgin sites back then....

Kellyco should come back and be a sponsor again! However, I'd still deal with people with whom I could negotiate :)

I'd rather buy a package deal off ebay than from kellyco.
 

It has been Christmas.....I know from experience that there are some VERY prompt and helpful (to say the least) sponsoring vendors on this forum. They are not huge "box stores" that will treat you like a number after a purchase........TR
 

Rhino, there's a difference between classifieds vendors and forum sponsors. A classifieds vendor could be almost anyone. A classifieds vendor may be just fine, but when it comes to shopping around, there are two classes of dealers that are at the top. Forum sponsors and knowledgeable local dealers.

Forum sponsors sponsor these forums. They have nowhere to hide. And to be financially able to be a sponsor, they have to be big enough that they've got some serious investment in doing their business. For an incompetent dealer, becoming a forum sponsor risks the death of their business because a fish in a fishbowl is the fish everyone gets their shot at saying it's ugly.

I am not saying that forum sponsors never screw up. I personally screw up, everyone here does, and so do the finest businesses in town. A good business doesn't make major screwups very often, and when they do, they try to get it fixed. A forum sponsor is spending money to get more business, and by doing so they're exposing themselves to complaints on the very forum they sponsor, even if the complaint isn't justified.

I work for a manufacturer. Been in the biz for several decades now. I have some perspective on this stuff. And here's my opinion.

The two best kinds of dealers there are, are forum sponsors, and a local knowledgeable mom & pop dealer. Both classes of dealers have no place to hide: they do business in a fishbowl where all the cats in the neighborhood can watch. And although they may not always be able to beat the supposed price of some other kind of dealer, with a forum sponsor or a local knowledgeable mom & pop dealer, you are paying for value added. In both cases part of that value is confidence in the bona fides of the dealer. The local dealer adds face-to-face value, there's knowledge of what works well in their area and you have a personal relationship. The forum sponsor adds value by sponsoring the forum where you're learning about metal detecting, and forum sponsors usually have economies of scale that permit them to stock a wide variety of product.

Local dealers are dying out because of Internet sales competition, and that's sad. The local dealer's price might be 10% higher, but that 10% is almost nothing compared to bigger picture of the value a good local dealer can add. Shopping for the lowest price tag without considering value added is not a smart strategy.

I'm not criticizing the forum sponsors who do most of their business over the Internet. They, too, have their value to add, and it's different kind of value. The industry needs both things to be healthy.

Please notice that I have said nothing about what brand is better than another, or even whether to buy new or refurb/demo or used (both local dealers and forum sponsors have that flexibility). What I am saying is that there are two kinds of dealers you should prefer to do business with-- forum sponsors, and knowledgeable local dealers. There's always the risk that something may not go quite right, but with those two classes of dealers the risk is low and the chances of satisfactory resolution are high.

--Dave J.
 

Didn't Kellyco drop their sponsorship here? They were getting plenty bad rap on this site for a while - and I guess they'd earned it. I bought my first detector from Kellyco in 1981 - Garrett Deepseeker ADS III

The joys I found in that machine :) Plenty virgin sites back then....

Kellyco should come back and be a sponsor again! However, I'd still deal with people with whom I could negotiate :)

No Kellyco did Not Drop their Sponsorship as Per Post #15 here by Gene@Kellyco

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/general-discussion/391100-buyer-beware.html

They are just overwhelmed I guess , same as the others
 

I have purchased from kellyco with no problems! I bought my AT Pro Adventure package from them and had it in less than a week!
So my experience with kellyco was a positive one!
 

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Same here, I've been buying from Kellyco since their beginning with no problems at all. I've also bought from Bart at Big Boys and from a couple of local dealers with great success. The "iffiest" ones seem to be the private sellers, mainly on E-bay and Craig's list. I've had mixed luck there. As mentioned, many of the vendors are small businesses that don't have a huge staff to handle the volume around the holidays. Give them a few days to catch up. The good ones will........
 

I have had all positive experiences with the forum sponsors so far. Maybe you can elaborate on what exactly your problem was and someone can help you?
 

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Gonna have to agree!.....Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
 

Ordered Grey Ghost Headphones, a book, and a few smalls, from them the day after Christmas................it all arrived 2 days before the tracking said it would. One time stuff was backordered in the Spring.
I have purchased from kellyco with no problems! I bought my AT Pro Adventure package from them and had it in less than a week!
So my experience with kellyco was a positive one!
 

Well there at one time was a dealer sponsor on here that is not here any more the reason is he told the truth about one of the detectors that the company he sold for …. The company did not like the truth and now he can not sell that brand now…So when a dealer tells you about the detector you want to buy i would check with some one that uses that detector . Or find one you could try out …. For dealers are sales people and we know what they are like...
 

I have had excellent results from the vendors on this site and another forum I use. I am sorry you were disappointed. Even though it was during the Holidays that is no excuse for poor service. If they didn't want to service your request they could have emailed you and told you why. I look at it as your the customer, they should chase you after your initial contact. Actually I hope every vendor on this site reads your post. Hopefully they will take notice.
 

I have had excellent results from the vendors on this site and another forum I use. I am sorry you were disappointed. Even though it was during the Holidays that is no excuse for poor service. If they didn't want to service your request they could have emailed you and told you why. I look at it as your the customer, they should chase you after your initial contact. Actually I hope every vendor on this site reads your post. Hopefully they will take notice.
I had no trouble with any dealer just talking..
 

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