Ok, So, Ive been approached and keep hearing

[MadTownScoop]

So I've been approached several times in the last few weeks by people asking what I'm doing etc etc. Now, Yesterday I heard it again and it bothers me. "Yeah, I saw that show on T.V. about metal detecting........" I usually, without being rude, cut them off right there and tell them what WE do is nothing like that abomination of a show. I also tell them to look up FMDF and read and see who we are and how we take care of places such as picking up trash thats just sitting on top of the ground, Taking ALL our trash we dig with us and disposing of properly etc etc and explain to them we have a "code of ethics" in regards to what we do in public.

Here is my idea/suggestion or whatever. Does anyone know, or have, business cards FOR these forums? Might be interesting to see if or how many people would come check us out just by some of our members handing them a card with the web site on it. What do you guys think? Good idea or bad idea? Just wondering. I really hate that show being on T.V. . It makes us look like greedy, land destroying obnoxious idiots when most of us are just, keep to ourselves and clean up, type of people. Ok. Let it begin. Hope I worded this right and its understandable. Thanks for reading and I look forward to your replies.

MTS

[DougF]

That's a good idea (the cards). What you already doing is good, too, just explain that the show is not how the hobby works.

[demyansk1942]

I believe its a good idea when people ask you about what your doing is to tell them a little about what your doing in a professional manner. You never know who you might be talking to. Perhaps, the person just lost their 40 yr old wedding ring at there 1850 farm? Maybe, the person owns a homestead that at one time had soldiers from the Civil War or WW2 POW camp? Perhaps, the person is the Mayor of your small town and needs assistance in the future should citizens need something found. I haven't been harassed yet and you would be surprised about how many young folk have no clue about what a metal detector is? I deal with the public the way I deal with IRATE parents. Use a little humor and then they're in the palm of my hand.

By the way, I do have business cards and you can order cards from vista print for a cheap price. I actually made my on the computer and had avery business card stock.

[MadTownScoop]

Yeah, the people that approached me were young girls. Well, by young I mean the first was around 17 or so with friends and had lost her car keys/remote and asked if I could look for it quick. I asked where she was and how big of an area she was using when she lost them. Only about 30'X30' so I scanned her new ones and looked around. Told her afterwards to check the police station. Someone may have returned them there. Second ones were much younger. Around??? 9 or 10 and had lost a necklace and asked if I could help them. Again. "Where were you when you noticed it gone", Where going to/coming from etc. Really narrowed it down to about 125yds X 50 yds. Had the two girls stand 4' apart and work one side with grid walking while I looked on the other area. No go. Probably picked up but told them I'd keep an eye out and if I find it I'll hold on to it till I come back there.

Thanks for the replies guys.
Demyansk, do you have cards with this website on it or your own contact info?

[milco]

Totally agree that the TV show (we all know which one) gives this hobby a terrible perception problem. Business cards are good, I make my own personally and do not put any forum info on there, simply because I am a member of the forums only and do not represent them.

[Dark Chameleon]

Originally Posted by demyansk1942

I believe its a good idea when people ask you about what your doing is to tell them a little about what your doing in a professional manner. You never know who you might be talking to. Perhaps, the person just lost their 40 yr old wedding ring at there 1850 farm? Maybe, the person owns a homestead that at one time had soldiers from the Civil War or WW2 POW camp? Perhaps, the person is the Mayor of your small town and needs assistance in the future should citizens need something found. I haven't been harassed yet and you would be surprised about how many young folk have no clue about what a metal detector is? I deal with the public the way I deal with IRATE parents. Use a little humor and then they're in the palm of my hand.

By the way, I do have business cards and you can order cards from vista print for a cheap price. I actually made my on the computer and had avery business card stock.

One rule is if they lost something in their old garden and wonder if you can look for it then look over the whole garden, if you found the thing straight away just put it in your pouch and keep looking, then at the end walk in and say you found it, they wont care that you took hours and you wont care about getting to search the whole garden before they got their thing back...everyones a winner.

I just get that funny feeling if you find what they lost in 5 minutes and then ask to check the rest of the garden they might just turn you down...but if you search it all and find it they cant really argue....after all you have to dig everything to find anything...dont you (no arguing that it should be a surface find, thats no fun)

[Dirt Nuker]

All this talk about getting approached is giving me the willies for tomorrow. I'm going to a very old park smack in the middle of town here. There's schools, city facilities and a major road running next to it. Safe to say the odds of me getting a few lookie-loos is pretty good.

I have business cards made and keep a few on me with my park MD permit. Basically it's for the people who approach me about lost stuff and is a referral for lostmystuff.net along with my name and email.

A word of advice if you're going to use Vistaprint. They're shady. Even if you have a promo code or deal, they more than make up the cost of the "free" stuff through shipping charges. I had a $50 credit that I bought for $10. I bought two boxes of business cards and got a few of the freebie demo products. The catch was that I had to order through a referral so free shipping would not apply. Cheap shipping runs about $12. Total cost for all my stuff was around $25 so my "deal" was not much of a deal (and I consider myself to be very adept at finding excellent deals).

Next time I'm printing my own since it'll take me forever to hand out 250 business cards to people. Maybe they'll come in handy for those drawings for a free lunch somewhere.

[Patton]

I have use Vistaprint three times on my Detecting business cards. I agree that the shipping charges can offset a lot of your initial savings. However, on one of my orders, I did not care for the looks of a set of business cards that had been made for me by Vistaprint. They were kind enough to produce another set with corrections and did not charge me a penny.

[grouser]

I agree they can be a pain to talk to,,,, but be polite and talk to them it may come with a good invite

[Liberty_1776]

I've used http://www.sircooper.com/ in the past for business cards for my consulting business. They were really reasonable (cheap) and fast.

Ok, Nevermind, I just checked their prices again and they're crazy. I used to get 250 color business cards for something like $6.00.

[hssea]

I like the idea . I personally feel funny about door knocking, but did ask two homes last year during their garage sales. Both said "yes". It would be nice to hand them a "forum" business card also.

I also hate the that show, only watched a few minutes of it on my computer. Had a family member call and was all excited about what they were finding on the show....did inform him its all fake !!! (not sure if he believed me though).

Yesterday had a couple come up to me asking about MD. They commented that I must "find alot of old stuff"...my response "actually mainly just trash".....they wanted to buy a couple of MD to find some cool stuff....must have been watching that show. Hope they refill their holes if they do !!!!

[Joves]

Well I had a young mans mother stop her car and he came out and asked how the MD works, which was a pleasant change from the are you finding anything, or what are you doing. I explained to him how it works and even found a penny and showed him how I could tell exactly where it was. He said thank you and got back in the car. But usually it is the what are you doing thing. I had one kid blurt it out 4 times before I could even answer, I told him I was looking for Jimmy Hoffa.