About

Dur-Bul Instruments

Dur-Bul Instruments is a collection of musical devices and electrical test equipment designed for ease-of-use with an aim to empower, not capture, the user. Modularity, ease of automation, unhindered integration into larger systems, and consistent design of user interfaces, both of front panels and in software APIs, are major goals for Dur-Bul Instruments. A special emphasis on usability by persons with little or no vision or with other disabilities keeps our products disciplined and free from many frustrations such as forced software updates or a need for an internet connection.

Every single one of our products can continue operating during a cloud outage, and many can operate without being connected to a computer at all. None of our products transmit data to us after purchase for any reason. Dur-Bul Instruments is a brand of NC Semiconductor LLC of Durham, North Carolina, a 100% employee-owned engineering firm unbeholden to any billionaire or private equity organization.

Shipping

We ship our products using USPS Ground Advantage to any location within the United States from Durham, North Carolina. Shipping costs are calculated at the time of checkout and rates vary by destination. For special shipping needs or other purchasing inquiries contact us at purchases@dur-bul.com.

Warranty

If a product fails due to defective components or workmanship, it will be replaced or repaired at no cost, including shipping. To arrange for warranty service, contact warranty@dur-bul.com.

Returns

Products may be also be returned for any reason within 30 days of delivery to the customer. The original purchase price including sales tax but not including shipping will be refunded. Return shipping is at the expense of the customer. For questions regarding returns, contact returns@dur-bul.com.

Accessibility

Access and independence for individuals with disabilities is very important to us. We understand that many barriers to participation for individuals with disabilities arise from the ignorance or callous unconcern of decision makers who prioritize novelty over usability; we aim to be intentional about accessibility for as many people as possible and remain resolutely unconcerned with the latest trends in product window-dressing. We include embossed representations of front panels labeled in braille with every instrument sold. Our packaging also contains braille labels to make it easier to sort out an order's contents.

We strive to use consistent design language on our front panels and have a strict no touch screens rule. In addition, we avoid short-and-long-push and similar input methods as well as color-coded and audio-only output methods. Wherever it is possible, we ensure that our products' state does not change unless the user intentionally changes it. Using our products in a lab setting with a screen reader is possible. We do not push software updates or change user preferences at any time. Our products are ready to use out-of-the-box by people with and without disabilities and should not require any assistance in setup. We believe these and other considerations make our products less frustrating and more pleasant to users without disabilities as well and hope that you will agree.

Data Privacy and Autonomy

Customers own the things they buy from us. No Dur-Bul Instrument transmits user data to us or any third party. None of our products require any central services to be running to enable use; simply turn them on with or without an internet connection. Many of our products can be controlled from very low-performance computers and rely on open standards for communication. We strive to use human readable file formats where possible, and never store data on any device other than the instrument itself and the computer connected to it. None of our products require a subscription or other recurring payment to use. In summary, we view our products as tools to sell to someone who can use them to solve their problems, not as platforms for extracting rent.

Pricing

Our pricing is determined by the cost of producing our products, including our own material costs and reasonable wages for our workers. We do include an additional margin for wages and costs associated with development of future projects. We do not pay dividends to outside investors, nor do we keep profits for our founders beyond their ordinary wages. Not everyone at Dur-Bul Instruments works the same number of hours per week, but the ratio of the highest to lowest pay in terms of an hourly rate is less than 3, including our founders.