We bought the Gold Bug pro - it was a fake

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Joined
Oct 3, 2018
Messages
36
Reaction score
95
Location
, VIC
Our adventure is starting

First
I am not sure if I can post images as i'm pretty new here or say where I bought the Gold bug pro from but it was overseas. (can edit to say if admins say I can with an image confirming my price)
What finally persuaded me to buy from here though was the price and the fact I had some security from Paypal. I was skeptical at first because i saw a few bad reviews but I paid just $273.49 for it. I followed the tracking site closely each step off the way and it took 2 weeks to come and just missed out on the long weekend. =(

So it came today (monday 5th Nov) with both a 5" and 11" DD coils, the handle/host and 2 stems. So all I had to find was a 9v battery to get started.

Anyway the package came and My daughter filmed me opening it up and putting it together for about 20 minutes. We are going to make a few more videos on setting it up using the manual and later on some of the advice sourced from here. But my daughter and I had fun just scooting the 11" coil over her $5 ballarat gold and hearing the sounds.

The manual is 40 pages, so a lot of information to take in for a gold/ metal detector noob and it is aimed at the American market so will have try try find equivalent to test the target readouts.
But anyway back to reading that manual and trying to understand all the new terms.

Will keep in touch and post my videos when I get them ready.

Icarusvonlubey (Anthony)
 
Have fun with your new toy and generally the Gold Bug pro is a good detector - it would be good to know where you got it from.

cheers
Keith
 
after reading the replies and the other links. Yes it is a fake one.
Keith, it was bought with paypal via Cafago

Problem now is what to do because we have been playing testing with different metals (coins and little pieces of ballarat gold) and it has been finding them with both coils.
Daughter was even making a note of the numbers for each coin/gold found for reference.

Do we keep it as a play around thing to get used to the hobby since my daughter is now super keen to try it out for real.
Then save for a real one and take it as a valuable lesson learned, or go through the process of getting the money returned and everything that's involved in that process.

p.s. I havn't told her its a fake.
 
As difficult as it might be to reveal it's a fake & chasing a refund I would be exploring that option.
The more people who call these sellers out & demand money back for fake goods the better IMO.
If you just accept it then there's no gain for anyone but the dodgy seller. You will get a detector that works to a degree, not to the degree you thought you were getting, & the dodgy seller gets to keep your money + keep selling them knowing most won't pursue them.
 
If you have paid via Paypal,
You can request a refund as the Machine is a fake.
It won't take long to reverse.
After all, It is your money and you bought the machine in good faith.
I would say that you will end up keeping the machine as the dodgy
seller will not want to pay to send it back over sea's.
 
Why Not contact fisher in the US give them the serial number and ask them if it is a fake, It is better to confirm Yes/No than have everyone saying it's fake, Chances are at that price it may well be, But there again it might not be ? even if it is but it works then things are ok-ish sort of, :Y:
 
If it came from the Cafago website, all their products are shipped direct from China to the customer, and at that price you can guarantee it is a knock off - even says it comes direct from China on the actual listing.
 
You paid via PayPal, just put in a claim. Get your $ back. The seller wont pay for the return so just keep it.

You dont owe the seller any loyalty.
They willfully sell knock offs.

Even if it is a junker it will more than likely run at around 6-7kHz and will find coins in the park.

Enough to see if you guys want to continue with exploring the hobby :Y:
 
AussieChris said:
You paid via PayPal, just put in a claim. Get your $ back. The seller wont pay for the return so just keep it.

You dont owe the seller any loyalty.
They willfully sell knock offs.

Even if it is a junker it will more than likely run at around 6-7kHz and will find coins in the park.

Enough to see if you guys want to continue with exploring the hobby :Y:

Thought I better update you guys on what has happened.

It happened just as aussieChris and a few others mentioned.

I put it a claim saying the machine is not what I expected as it was a fake model. (sent pictures of what a real gold bug should look like and what I received). The process took a while but early January I did get my money returned. =)

I also still have the detector which my son took out last Bank holiday weekend in Creswick. (3 bottle tops, 1 large nail and a couple of hot rocks were found)

so Thank you for the advice everyone
 
Icarusvonlubey said:
I put it a claim saying the machine is not what I expected as it was a fake model. (sent pictures of what a real gold bug should look like and what I received). The process took a while but early January I did get my money returned. =)
I also still have the detector which my son took out last Bank holiday weekend in Creswick. (3 bottle tops, 1 large nail and a couple of hot rocks were found)
so Thank you for the advice everyone

That's a great result, Anthony - congratulations. :clap:
Sorry you've had such a poor intro to the hobby, hopefully you'll stick with it and you and your family can enjoy some real treasure-hunting time together.
 
Yes well i have been stung by the fake bug also!

I havent received it yet but i have only just received a refund as it was determined to be counterfeit.

Gold Bug Pro off Ebay, $580.

Im new to detecting so wasnt aware of the ridgy didge pricing on these.

Al.
 
Aussiedigs said:
Yes well i have been stung by the fake bug also!
I havent received it yet but i have only just received a refund as it was determined to be counterfeit.
Gold Bug Pro off Ebay, $580.
Im new to detecting so wasnt aware of the ridgy didge pricing on these.
Al.

That's a good outcome, especially since no Fisher is a particularly good choice for hunting gold in Australia, other than the Gold Bug 2, which is pretty specialised (and has also been counterfeited). You'd do well to read as much as you can here on PA to help you decide what machine to buy, preferably from an authorised Australian source.
 
grubstake said:
Aussiedigs said:
Yes well i have been stung by the fake bug also!
I havent received it yet but i have only just received a refund as it was determined to be counterfeit.
Gold Bug Pro off Ebay, $580.
Im new to detecting so wasnt aware of the ridgy didge pricing on these.
Al.

That's a good outcome, especially since no Fisher is a particularly good choice for hunting gold in Australia, other than the Gold Bug 2, which is pretty specialised (and has also been counterfeited). You'd do well to read as much as you can here on PA to help you decide what machine to buy, preferably from an authorised Australian source.

It is mate yeah.

My intentions is to buy a VLF and a PI eventually.

If you dont mind me asking, what would be a good starting point in the VLF range in Nth East Vic, obviously highly mineralised soils? I understand VLFs arent fantastic in this scenario but what units would be more suited if you dont mind me asking?

Al.
 
Aussiedigs said:
My intentions is to buy a VLF and a PI eventually.
If you dont mind me asking, what would be a good starting point in the VLF range in Nth East Vic, obviously highly mineralised soils? I understand VLFs arent fantastic in this scenario but what units would be more suited if you dont mind me asking?

If gold nuggets are your target, the Minelab Gold Monster GM1000 is an obvious choice. Have a look at this thread to see how amazingly well it's working for PA member maccatuna in his mineralised Northern Territory ground: https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=30448

If you're looking for coins, jewellery and relics, along with occasional gold fossicking, the Minelab Equinox 800 would probably be a better choice, with its switchable modes and sophisticated discrimination system. There's lots of threads about Equinoxes here on PA.

Each of these detectors is around $1,000, with good Australian warranty backup if you should need it and lots of users here who can help with any queries you may have.
 
grubstake said:
Aussiedigs said:
My intentions is to buy a VLF and a PI eventually.
If you dont mind me asking, what would be a good starting point in the VLF range in Nth East Vic, obviously highly mineralised soils? I understand VLFs arent fantastic in this scenario but what units would be more suited if you dont mind me asking?

If gold nuggets are your target, the Minelab Gold Monster GM1000 is an obvious choice. Have a look at this thread to see how amazingly well it's working for PA member maccatuna in his mineralised Northern Territory ground: https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=30448

If you're looking for coins, jewellery and relics, along with occasional gold fossicking, the Minelab Equinox 800 would probably be a better choice, with its switchable modes and sophisticated discrimination system. There's lots of threads about Equinoxes here on PA.

Each of these detectors is around $1,000, with good Australian warranty backup if you should need it and lots of users here who can help with any queries you may have.

I know its bringing up an old post.

But I managed to save my grand and bought the Minelab Goldmonster1000.

I still havnt managed to take it out yet due to all the lockdowns but been reading all the forum posts.

But for those that havn't bought a machine before I recommend checking with these guys first before departing with your hard earned cash.
 
What convinced you that it is a fake Gold Bug?
Was it;
Made In China.
Incorrect Specifications.
Poor Performance.
Build Quality.
Doesn't look right.

Would you have suspected it was a dud if you had not asked for advice on this forum?
 
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