amigauser
Veteran Member
I just went to their site and it states it no longer exists??
404 Page Error
Is Carver gone or just the web site?
404 Page Error
Is Carver gone or just the web site?
Carver web site down?
- Thread starter amigauser
- Start date
- Views: 16515
Hi Norm,
The Carver Tractor Company closed it's doors November 7, 2009. Steve Carver had Craig Sanford running(?)/buying(?)/owning(?) the business for a short time. Steve has the property/building up for sale/lease. Just another sign of the not so good times.
Raymond Jordan
BX 25
The Carver Tractor Company closed it's doors November 7, 2009. Steve Carver had Craig Sanford running(?)/buying(?)/owning(?) the business for a short time. Steve has the property/building up for sale/lease. Just another sign of the not so good times.
Raymond Jordan
BX 25
shownuff
Gold Member
WOW what a loss!!!
6dog
Silver Member
westbrooklawn
Platinum Member
I am shocked... I was at Carver's around the first of November shopping for an RTV... They put me onto one of their customers who had a used RTV that the customer wanted to sell. Long story short, I bought a 2008 RTV900 with top, 64 hours, in like new condition with 6 months warranty left on it for about $6500 less than what a new one would cost. At the time, I thought that was really decent of Carver's... giving me information about a good used unit that they would not profit one cent from. I had a long talk with the manager, and asked him how they were weathering the economy... he admitted it was really bad, but didn't even hint that they were shutting down. I promised him my future Kubota business.
This is the second Kubota dealer in our area to go out of business... The Tractor Place in Knightdale (where I bought my L3400 5 years ago), just closed recently also. Kind of makes you wonder if Kubota is giving their dealers the help they need to make it through these times...
This is the second Kubota dealer in our area to go out of business... The Tractor Place in Knightdale (where I bought my L3400 5 years ago), just closed recently also. Kind of makes you wonder if Kubota is giving their dealers the help they need to make it through these times...
radioman
Super Member
that's sad to see another business shut down like that. It seems like the only local surviving ones are the ones with a internet bunsiness as well. Having a link showing what they have and where they are is not good enough anymore. They have to have parts you can look up and buy with online shopping.
MarkV
Super Member
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2000
- Messages
- 5,698
- Location
- Cedartown, Ga and N. Ga mountains
- Tractor
- 1998 Kubota B21, 2005 Kubota L39
That is sad to hear. Years ago Steve Carver participated on TBN and always had valuable information to share. I haven't seen him here for a number of years and was wondering if he was OK.
MarkV
MarkV
KeithInSpace
Veteran Member
An awful shame. As a business owner, I can say that this economy is about the worst-case-scenario.
The choice you have to face is:
A) Shut my doors now and call it even-steven, keeping the shirt on my back?
B) Limp through for 6 more months, accrue another $500,000 in debt, THEN shut my doors WITHOUT the shirt on my back?
Fortunately, we're lean enough and don't have to stock shelves (we're land development engineers/consultants), so we don't have the crush of inventory over our heads. It has been very tough, but I think we see a glimmer of light...unless that's just the train coming to finish us off...
Certainly hope the best for them. Don't know Carver from anyone else, but I HATE hearing about another fallen comrade.
The choice you have to face is:
A) Shut my doors now and call it even-steven, keeping the shirt on my back?
B) Limp through for 6 more months, accrue another $500,000 in debt, THEN shut my doors WITHOUT the shirt on my back?
Fortunately, we're lean enough and don't have to stock shelves (we're land development engineers/consultants), so we don't have the crush of inventory over our heads. It has been very tough, but I think we see a glimmer of light...unless that's just the train coming to finish us off...
Certainly hope the best for them. Don't know Carver from anyone else, but I HATE hearing about another fallen comrade.
MessickFarmEqu
Super Member
Not saying anything about Carver, but what we've been seeing is dealerships failing who where marginal even in good times.
Not that I am complaining, but they were selling some stuff way cheaper there, than up here, I dont know if it is regional, or was just them selling cheap.
I wanted a L3400, HST, and a loader and around here a 2008 "bought this year" was around $19,000.00 - $20.000.00 with low hours.
They sold me the same machine with 20 hours, delivered to massachusetts for $15,500.00
I wanted a L3400, HST, and a loader and around here a 2008 "bought this year" was around $19,000.00 - $20.000.00 with low hours.
They sold me the same machine with 20 hours, delivered to massachusetts for $15,500.00
keyman1808
Platinum Member
ehchvac, your right on. I have been looking for a 60"mmm and the dealers here all want 1950 plus for it and they had quoted me somewhere around 1500 with shipping I beleive but I was looking for next season. Guess I shouldn't have hesitated. Must be a MA thing. Squeeze them for every cent kinda deal
The dealers here are brutal with the pricing.
I have bought a couple of machines from a local dealer and there was no deals to be had, in fact the dealer in question is " norfolk power equipment".
I bought a b2910 hst with a loader,
a b7800 hst with a loader,
a heated curtis cab, and various other stuff and supplies.
Always paid cash, and still no deals.
And for the used 2008 L3400 they still have, they would not budge from over $19,000.00.
Thats when I called carver equipment, the rest is history.
Craig sanford delivered the machine himself from N.C.
I have bought a couple of machines from a local dealer and there was no deals to be had, in fact the dealer in question is " norfolk power equipment".
I bought a b2910 hst with a loader,
a b7800 hst with a loader,
a heated curtis cab, and various other stuff and supplies.
Always paid cash, and still no deals.
And for the used 2008 L3400 they still have, they would not budge from over $19,000.00.
Thats when I called carver equipment, the rest is history.
Craig sanford delivered the machine himself from N.C.
BXpanded
Silver Member, Approved Advertiser
and apparently so is Carver... Could their pricing have contributed to their demise?
roamerr
Silver Member
I hate reading this thread. Craig Sanford at Carver equipment was a first class act! I purchased a used 2004 Kubota BX2300 from him 2 months ago. He made sure everything was like new on it and really went out his way to make sure the sale was excellent.
This economy stinks...
This economy stinks...
veresjwv
Silver Member
roamerr - I agree 100% I hate to here this news!! I purchased a L3400 from them back in May (Al Murray) wonderful people to work with. They bent over backwards for me and gave me a great deal saved a good amount over my local dealers. We have 3 dealers in this area relatively close to me and all 3 were way above the carver quote and within several dollars of each other.
Well I sure will miss them, I wish everyone at Carvers the best of luck...........roamerr
Silver Member
I do really love the little BX23. Plenty of power and will work great for my uses with the 60" MM mower and FEL. Craig Sanford also was able to find me a 4' Bushhog for only $300. To show how far they went when I picked up the BX23 they noticed the float funtion would not stay in float unless held by your hand. The previous owner removed the indent ball. They fixed it on the spot by replacing the valve with a new one. I was very impressed since it was a 2004 model being sold as is. Craig offered me lunch, gave me a few Kubota hats, and made sure I knew that they stood behind my new-to-me BX23.
manganos
Platinum Member
I hate to see this too. I bought a Kioti from Steve as he was WAYYY cheaper then anyone else and he gave me a great trade in price on my BX22. I just contacted him a few weeks ago to try and get a price on a new machine and didn't get a response. I was surprised and ended up buying a machine from another dealer I had heard great things about. Hopefully he was ready to sell anyway
manganos
Platinum Member
A little more info I just found....
Dunn Business Closes After 50 Years
By BRIAN HANEY
Of The Record Staff
A Dunn business has closed after 50 years of selling and servicing utility vehicles and equipment.
Carver Equipment at 1600 S. Clinton Ave., which traded ownership to Sanford Machinery Co. Inc. last year, has shut its doors.
The business was owned and operated by Sanford Machinery President Craig Allen Sanford. Mr. Sanford purchased the company from Dunn businessman Steve Carver last October.
News of the closing reportedly came from employees that Mr. Sanford had �erminated doing business at the location. The company had approximately six full-time employees.
Just one day before the announcing the business closing, Mr. Sanford filed a report with Dunn Police alleging a former employee at the business stole between $30,000 and $40,000 worth of equipment from the business over the past year.
The report indicated the business had no inventory computer system and the dollar figure was solely based ç™»n the loss that the business had taken within the past year.
The building did not have surveillance cameras until several months ago when an employee reportedly advised Mr. Sanford that parts 努ere going out the back door ... and weren稚 being paid for.
It is unknown if the loss indicated in the police report had anything to do with the business closing. Mr. Sanford did not return a message left on his cell phone by presstime.
Carver Equipment was founded in 1959 by Mr. Carverç—´ father. Mr. Carver took over the business in 1981 when his father died and handled operations until last year when he sold the business, and the Carver Equipment name, to Mr. Sanford.
展eæ±*e of course very disappointed for Mr. Sanford and for the devoted customer base we created over a 50-year period, Mr. Carver said.
While he sold the business, Mr. Carver maintains ownership of the property and said he is looking for a new tenant. He said there has been a good deal of local interest from people wanting to establish a new dealership on the property.
å…¸hese are very tough economic times on a lot of small businesses, but because of our customer base, I fully expect to have another dealership up and running soon, he said.
Dunn Business Closes After 50 Years
By BRIAN HANEY
Of The Record Staff
A Dunn business has closed after 50 years of selling and servicing utility vehicles and equipment.
Carver Equipment at 1600 S. Clinton Ave., which traded ownership to Sanford Machinery Co. Inc. last year, has shut its doors.
The business was owned and operated by Sanford Machinery President Craig Allen Sanford. Mr. Sanford purchased the company from Dunn businessman Steve Carver last October.
News of the closing reportedly came from employees that Mr. Sanford had �erminated doing business at the location. The company had approximately six full-time employees.
Just one day before the announcing the business closing, Mr. Sanford filed a report with Dunn Police alleging a former employee at the business stole between $30,000 and $40,000 worth of equipment from the business over the past year.
The report indicated the business had no inventory computer system and the dollar figure was solely based ç™»n the loss that the business had taken within the past year.
The building did not have surveillance cameras until several months ago when an employee reportedly advised Mr. Sanford that parts 努ere going out the back door ... and weren稚 being paid for.
It is unknown if the loss indicated in the police report had anything to do with the business closing. Mr. Sanford did not return a message left on his cell phone by presstime.
Carver Equipment was founded in 1959 by Mr. Carverç—´ father. Mr. Carver took over the business in 1981 when his father died and handled operations until last year when he sold the business, and the Carver Equipment name, to Mr. Sanford.
展eæ±*e of course very disappointed for Mr. Sanford and for the devoted customer base we created over a 50-year period, Mr. Carver said.
While he sold the business, Mr. Carver maintains ownership of the property and said he is looking for a new tenant. He said there has been a good deal of local interest from people wanting to establish a new dealership on the property.
å…¸hese are very tough economic times on a lot of small businesses, but because of our customer base, I fully expect to have another dealership up and running soon, he said.
Well I'd say between the employee theft, selling cheaper than everyone else, and not owning the building or land, "and assuming those werent cheap to rent", I guess I can see how this could have happened real easy.
Craig was a handshake deal type of guy and I know that can only go so far in todays world.
When I bought my machine from him he brought it to me and no money or even a deposit was given until it hit my yard, he took my word that I would pay him when he got here, and I did.
Craig was a handshake deal type of guy and I know that can only go so far in todays world.
When I bought my machine from him he brought it to me and no money or even a deposit was given until it hit my yard, he took my word that I would pay him when he got here, and I did.
