My Metal Detecting Journey: Why I’ll Always Choose Bill at Miller’s Over Online Sales

When I first got serious about metal detecting, I did what most people do—I hit the internet. I read endless Amazon reviews, compared specs on big-box websites, and watched flashy YouTube videos promising buried treasure with the “best detector of 2025.” Prices all looked about the same, shipping was fast, and the click-to-buy convenience was tempting.

But something held me back.

A friend in my local detecting group mentioned Miller’s Metal Detectors, a small countryside shop just a couple of hours away. “Go talk to Bill,” he said. “He’s forgotten more about detecting than most people ever learn.”

That sounded like an exaggeration.

It wasn’t.

Meeting Bill at Miller’s Metal Detectors

Driving up to Miller’s felt more like visiting a friend’s farm than a business. Tucked behind the house in a seperate building, the shop looked modest from the outside—but once I stepped in, I knew I was in the right place. The walls were lined with detectors of size and model, coils hanging like fishing rods, and a display case full of relics and coins found by locals (and Bill himself).

Bill—his eyes lit up when I mentioned I was new to the hobby—welcomed me like a long-lost cousin. We sat down, and instead of trying to sell me the most expensive machine, he asked:

“Where do you plan to hunt?”

“What are you hoping to fin?”

“Are you comfortable learning settings, or do you want something simple and turn-on-and-go?”

He listened. Like, actually listened.

Within 30 minutes, he had me holding two machines he thought would suit me best. He explained the difference in tone IDs, target separation, ground balancing, and what features I’d outgrow too fast if I went too cheap.

Then came something no website ever offered: Bill walked me out behind the shop and showed me how to use it.

He buried a few old coins and rusty nails in the dirt, demonstrating how to distinguish between trash and treasure by ear and motion. He even showed me the “sweet spot” on the swing.

In-House Specials & Support You Won’t Find Online

Here’s the kicker—when I finally picked the detector I wanted, it was the same price I’d seen online. Identical. But Bill included a set of premium headphones and a digging tool—his “in-house special,” he called it. “I throw these in for folks who stop by,” he said with a grin. “You came all this way.”

That gesture mattered more than the free gear. It was personal. Thoughtful. Something a faceless online checkout can’t replicate.

More importantly, he told me, “If you ever have questions, or it acts funny, just call me or bring it in. I’ve fixed more of these than I can count.”

The Online Experience (or Lack Thereof)

Just out of curiosity, I ordered a pinpointer online a week later—a name-brand one I thought I couldn’t mess up. It arrived quickly. No issues. But also, no instructions beyond a paper manual, and no idea how it would behave in mineralized soil or near saltwater. I had a question about whether I could recharge it while plugged into a car battery setup—sent an email to the seller.

Still haven’t heard back.

With Bill, I’d just walk in and ask, maybe over a cup of coffee.

The Long-Term Difference

Since that first visit, I’ve been back to Miller’s a few times—for a better coil, a detector for my nephew, and once just to show Bill a colonial button I found in a field outside town. Each time, it’s more than a transaction. We swap stories. He asks what ground I’ve covered and what signals tripped me up. He even gave me a map of public land where he used to hunt in the ‘80s.

You don’t get that from a warehouse in Kentucky or an algorithm recommending “frequently bought together.”

Final Thoughts

Both options—online or in-store—might offer the same price. But what I got from Bill at Miller’s Metal Detectors was worth far more:

Honest, experience-based guidance
Hands-on training
Local support
Community
And yes, a few helpful tools thrown in or a bonus discount just for walking through the door

If you’re new to metal detecting—or even if you’re not—skip the shopping cart and find your local expert. If you’re lucky, you’ll find someone like Bill.

And who knows? You might just dig up more than relics. You might discover that old-school service is the real treasure.

Got your first detector from MILLERS METAL DETECTORS too? Let me know your story—I’d love to hear it.