Dura-grader

[Sponge Bob]

Does anyone live in the area where the Dura-grader owners live in Kiln, MS? I was curious if they have suffered some type of major issue with their business. I ordered an 8' model from Mr. Seal on June 20, 2009, but haven't heard from them since that date. I spoke with Mr. Seal at length on that day. He was a very nice gentleman to talk to, and I was happy to do business with him. My credit card was charged for the purchase, but I have not received a bill of lading. I was told that I would receive the item within 8-10 days (calendar). I understand that this is a small family business, but I have attempted to e-mail and call on several occasions with no answer. I hope that there has not been some type of catastrophe that has affected them or their business.

 

[sandman2234]

I am north of there right now, in Southwest Arkansas, and have plans to return down thru Pleasant Hill, La which is in Sabine Parish, just below Shreveport. There is a possibility that I might be able to pick it up for you, and haul it to Jacksonville, Florida if that would be any help. Getting it shipped to Maine is a different problem that you would have to work out, along with refund of your shipping costs. I did this one time before for another member who lives in South Carolina, and we met halfway thru Georgia to transfer it from truck to truck. I will send you my cell number in case you need to call me concerning this, as I am not checking the boards everyday. Hopefully somebody else will post and give you their opinon of me, and if they think you should trust me with your hard earned money spent on a great piece of equipment. We didn't have any problem convincing the Seals to release it to me, just a couple phone calls, emails, but I did take written permission with me.
David from jax

 

[Sponge Bob]

Hi David,
I sincerely appreciate your offer, but I don't think that it would help as I don't plan on taking a trip to Jacksonville in the near future. I just read a thread from almost four years ago in which you assisted a fellow TBN'r with his issue. As I stated, your offer is commendable; however, I would like for them to ship it directly to me. Jim

 

[smitty9266]

They are a few miles from me I have not heard of any problems. I will see if I can find anything out tomorrow.

Jeff

 

[sandman2234]

Jim,
I am not able to help many people, so when I do see a chance, I try to jump in. I understand you wanting them to carry thru with their end of the deal as agreed. Let me know if you change your mind.
David from jax

 

[Big Bri]

i really thought i wanted a dura-grader but was a little uneasy ordering one after hearing about (don't remember his name)but he had to get the police involved. Mr seal came on this site and "cleared things up" well after this i think its a pattern, think i'm going with the "Grade Mater" brand.

 

[sandman2234]

Hi David,
I sincerely appreciate your offer, but I don't think that it would help as I don't plan on taking a trip to Jacksonville in the near future. I just read a thread from almost four years ago in which you assisted a fellow TBN'r with his issue. As I stated, your offer is commendable; however, I would like for them to ship it directly to me. Jim

That would be Wayne_Freeman's Dura Grader that I brought back on a previous trip a few years ago. I really didn't have any problem picking it up, and they actually agreed to let me pick it up "on my way thru" which ended up being about one or two oclock in the morning on a Sunday night/Monday morning. I thought that was nice of them, as it saved me from having to grab a motel room and wait until normal business hours to pick it up. They loaded it with a forklift (actually had it on the forks waiting on me) and I was off and running within just a few minutes.
I really didn't expect you to make a trip to Jacksonville,Florida but rather try to work out a better way of getting it delivered. My company sends me as far as north Alabama so I could probably get it that far, or maybe Atlanta area without too much trouble, but we would need to locate another member who could store it until a ride to your end of the world was located, or shipping arranged.
I understand your situation. You paid for a implement, delivered, and expect it to get there within a reasonable time frame, as suggested by the seller. It appears to me that the seller doesn't have any problem manufacturing his product, but does run into problems with his transportation end of it. He probably has a "hot shot" company doing his deliveries and they tell him that they can put it anywhere in the U.S.A within a week. Then when he sells one going to Maine, they put him on the back burner, because there really isn't much freight that goes that way, and almost none coming back out of there, so the hot shot company loses money on the run, which is something they don't like to do. That is derived from my knowledge of the trucking business, which changes over the years, but pretty much stays the same when it comes to holes in the freight availability areas.
David from jax

 

[sandman2234]

If I lived in Gonzales, I would just drive over there and pick up a Dura-Grader (make sure they have one built waiting on you). They are easy to deal with in person, and you can pay for it when you pick it up. I mentioned that they allowed me to pick up Wayne's in the middle of the night, (with PLENTY of forewarning as to when I would be coming thru). I am sure they don't want to make that a regular thing, but they do try to cater to the needs of people from out of town when possible. Plus I picked up a couple of spare blades for a 7 footer while I was there.

You just missed your chance to get one brought to you as I went right by there, and then by your place with an empty pickup truck.
David from jax

 

[Wayne_Freeman]

I was the guy David picked up the grader for. Let me tell you if David is driving by and is willing to pick it up I would not hesitate. You can work out the shipping from there because David will bend over backwards to help you out! The longer it sits in Kiln the longer it will take you to get your implement. The good part is that once it arrives I suspect you will be extremely pleased with yours as I am with mine. I wish you luck!

 

[Big Bri]

I went with the "Grade Master" brand. I wasn't going to put up with all the crap.
I Made one call told them what tractor i had, what i was going to do and he gave me the model number to order. They shipped it the next day, (picked it up at a local tractor store) Very nice to deal with and great looking product
they are also located in Mississippi. 228-831-0441. or grademastersales.com


sandman, thanks for the offer. . . might call you for something up the road.