What would you do in this situation? Advice is much appreciated!

[Beeps in my sleep]

My friend just got into metal detecting and is frustrated she has not found anything old. I told her she needs time to not only learn her machine but to research areas. She recently purchased what she thought were civil war bullets recovered from Gettysburg off of Ebay so she could atleast have something old. She showed them to me and they were brand new lead. No Patina. Looked like a newly molded bullet which it was. She was so excited I didn't have the heart to tell her they were fake. Ebay is a dangerous place for reproductions sold at high dollar as authentic. Unless I dig it myself I don't want it. To many scam artists making money off of people like her. She is a close friend of mine and I don't know if I should tell her that they are fake or not. What would you do? I don't want to crush her because she is so excited ...yet I don't want to turn her off of detecting as shes only been at it a month. She is not claiming she found them and is just happy holding what she thinks are 150 year old minie's from Gettysburg. They are poorly made too.

 

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[Hognutz]

Tell her they are fake! Or else she will continue to be scammed...


Tell her....."patience"

 

[dholland02]

I agree she needs to know there fake or shell continue to buy stuff like that. Sit her down ans try and show her how to tell the difference between real ones and fake ones.

 

[True_Metal]

She should be told. It's the right thing to do. If she wants some old items for inspiration, I imagine I have some things lying around that I could part with, if it would help.

 

[Beeps in my sleep]

I think she is just to impatient. She is not a member on here but watches it. She sees my finds and your finds and gets discouraged. I try to help her but she still swings the coil like a madman. Fast and not even with the ground. I told her that even the best detectorists have days they find nothing but junk. You don't find something good every time. I will tell her to quit the ebay because it isn't authentic to me unless you dig it yourself. I also won't plant a find for her. I just hope she lasts long enough to find her first old coin, bullet, musket ball, whatever. She needs to slow down her swing and learn the machine. I will tell her they are fake... it will suck though. She just paid 25 bucks for 3 newly casted bullets. Maybe I will shadow her on a hunt and if I hear something that should be dug, I will grab the shaft of her coil slow her down to where its got a better lock on the target and show her how to pinpoint. Maybe that will help. She just needs to understand everyone has bad days, I have been at 1700s areas before where NOTHING old is found.

 

[RushinPA]

If she did not dig them, then they are fake. You two are so close I can smell you. She needs to do research, read diaries, then go to Carlisle and find the land they partied on, get permission and then sweat, sweat, and bleed to get the goodies. the best spots are always the hardest to get to.

Good Luck from Peach Glen

 

[Beeps in my sleep]

She should be told. It's the right thing to do. If she wants some old items for inspiration, I imagine I have some things lying around that I could part with, if it would help.

Thank you true metal I appreciate the offer. However I think once she slows down and learns patience.. When she finds her first old item.. She will be hooked. I just hope that is soon so we don't lose another person to frustration because of lack of experience.

 

[Msbeepbeep]

As much as you want her to enjoy MD'ing, it's not for everyone, requires a great deal of patience. You may want to give her a real bullet she can compare to her's maybe she will see for herself her's are fake. Shadowing her is a good idea. Is it that she is really into acquiring relics or she wants to find something good? Guess you could take her to the most productive place you know and hope for the best.

 

[fongu]

Tell her the truth and if you have time, show her the ropes. A lot of people start out with unreal expectations and then their detector gets stuck in a closet. I stuggled for nearly five years until I started water hunting and have had success with this when I am able to go detecting. Research is very important and I've had lots of older people tell me of places they used to swim when they were kids and it's really led to a lot of places to detect.

 

[CincinnatiKid]

Tell her the truth! The truth you tell will be about eBay, not metal detecting!

 

[pippinwhitepaws]

don't tell her....show her...

 

[CoilyGirl]

Awww man I feel sorry for her because she is so enthusiastic but I think you need to tell her in the kindest way possible that she got scammed and what to look for next time. I had a habit of swinging too fast too for awhile but found that slowing down and listening to the machine helped me find more good targets

 

[Native Floridian]

My detecting is mostly beach hunting. When i first got my sons involved i detected the beach to find the hot lane and then put them on it. Same with my brother. And, as beginner's luck would have it my brother found a 14k gold ring in the first 15 minutes of swinging a detector. I was thrilled for him. Now we have four detectors in the family.

Take your friend with you or hook her up with some other vets in the area. Put her with people who will step back and let her have the prime hunting area.

 

[Mackaydon]

If, as you say, she is impatient, then she is an impulse (impulsive) buyer and that trait can get her broke fast (in the heart and purse)
Teach her how to be patient by first researching her desired acquisition. It wont be the last CW bullet (real and fake) for sale on Ebay.
Don.......

 

[calisdad]

It depends on how much she paid. If a lot then I'd say tell her they are fake and have her file a claim with Ebay. The scammer needs to be dealt with.

You say she is a 'close friend'. Take some time and mentor her. You will both benefit.

enjoy-

 

[voodoo]

You need to tell her the truth. MD-ers need to stick together and help each other. We are kind of like a large extended family (that you actually enjoy spending time with ha ha). Show your friend true artifacts, help her out, mentor her and 'Perses' had a good idea you could tell her "you should try looking over there" ... "a lot of good finds are in places like that (point her in a direction after). Or just flat out give her a good spot or two. Enjoy your hunts together! With regards to your original question you must tell her the truth.

 

[Limitool]

For what's it worth I agree with everyone above. You should share what you know and tell her the truth. She should not be upset with you at all... but grateful (after a minute or two). The advise above stating "patience" is the best of the best advise. After telling her show her this thread so she knows you were not alone on your opinion. And if you do this.....

Happy Hunting Lady and show us your 1st finds.... Your TN friend, Brad

 

[Beeps in my sleep]

Thank you all for the support. I decided I will take her to a property I have not yet hunted and I will walk behind her. If she misses something, I will tell her to come check out this signal on her machine and see what it says. If I found a signal that sounds like it should be dug, I will tell her to pin point it ( I wont pin point it) Once she does that I will tell her.. You pin pointed it.. you dig it. I think that is a good approach. If it turns out to be junk.. I will repeat the process until she gets something that makes her smile ear to ear

 

[Argentium]

Beeps , you obviously are a kind soul ! continue to patiently mentor her - start at ground zero with proper coil height , swing technique etc.
I like what so many others have suggested already - take her to some "best spots" your idea of following , and then having her check a
diggable signal , pinpoint- and dig it - is all really good stuff ! Also have her check out any available video digs featuring her make/model
of detector - so she can better learn the machine - should be some here and on youtube . Cheers !!!

 

[Limitool]

Thank you all for the support. I decided I will take her to a property I have not yet hunted and I will walk behind her. If she misses something, I will tell her to come check out this signal on her machine and see what it says. If I found a signal that sounds like it should be dug, I will tell her to pin point it ( I wont pin point it) Once she does that I will tell her.. You pin pointed it.. you dig it. I think that is a good approach. If it turns out to be junk.. I will repeat the process until she gets something that makes her smile ear to ear

Good for you... and I wish you and her the best. Just press patience over and over and over (we all know). You all will find something. And then photo, post and tell the story... it should mean more than anything bought on ebay. I can't wait to see her 1st finds... I just hope it's a real old coin.... we all do.