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Good Vendor / Bad Vendor

7K views 39 replies 36 participants last post by  cv67 
#1 ·
Hello All:

I just closed a deal on a 1967 SS I've had my eye on for about six months. I still need to go pick the car up (couple weeks), but I'm already researching various products/parts to make her 'mine'.

To that end, I'd like to gather some opinions on what vendors (and products) are good and which to stay away from. Kinda like a Harbor Freight vs. Craftsman vs. Snap-On comparison in the tool world. I don't mean to denigrate any who find value in HF tools (I have a few myself), but the general perception is HF: so-so, Craftsman: middle of the road, Snap-On: the best. ;)

I see all sorts of online vendors: Ausley's, Don's Chevelle, OPGI, SS396, ad infinitum...

Who should I stay away from?

And are some products good from any particular vendor and others poor? I.e., interior parts from Kim Jong's Super Special Mostly Authentic Chevelle Parts are fine, but stay away from their suspension parts...

I understand any replies will be opinions, but I'd like to get somewhat of a head's up on who's who in the Chevelle replacement parts world.

Just for the sake of a car intro (I previously added a brief introductory post in the New Members area), the car I bought is a numbers matching SS, 325HP, M21, 3.31 Posi, in great shape. The only mods currently are Cragars, BFGs, a cassette 'factory look-alike' radio, and a couple of aftermarket speakers. (Pic below)

Thanks in advance,

Mark
 
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#2 ·
First off, congrats on the purchase. There is a lot of good information here on this site with some very knowledgeable people so do your part and contribute your expertise.

When it comes to vendors, it is hard to specifically say "buy from here, don't buy from here". Everything is going to be based on personal experience. You might find a vendor that has multiple people with bad experiences but you are bound to find people who have had good experiences with that same vendor. I have a friend who has a 71 C10. He will not buy parts of craigslist because of the "issues" he has had. Me on the other hand, I have had nothing but good luck (knock on wood) with craigslist and dealing with strangers.

To each their own. Good luck and again, welcome

:beers:
 
#3 ·
I have bought for my car from the follow places for ;

Suspension
I purchased the following from UMI Perf made in the USA
1964-1967 GM A-Body Suspension
and found them to be of the best looking & quality that I have ever seen/used;
1. UMI Perf 64-67 GM A Body Rear Lower Boxed / Adj Upper Control Arms # 402126
2. UMI Perf 64-72 GM A Body Solid Front and Rear Sway Bar Kit # 403534
3. UMI Perf 64-72 GM A-Body Tubular Upper & Lower Front A-Arm Kit # 403133
4. UMI Perf 64-72 GM A-Body Viking Front Coil Over, Dbl Adj Shocks # A205-550T
5. UMI Perf 64-72 GM A-Body Viking Rear Dbl Adj Shocks # B220
6. UMI Perf 64-72 GM A-Body Tie Rod Adjusters # 2103
7. UMI Perf 64-67 GM A-Body Rear Shock Tower Brace # 4059
8. Also I added the Rear Frame Cross Brackets.
The difference in ride quality/handling , went to firm and stable,
that I have acquired with the great parts from UMI Perf I put on from the previous original type Springs
and Shocks ride which was like riding on a log road,
so it has been a night to day type change in ride and handling response .


Stock Type Parts for Power Steering/Interior/Body/Brakes
https://www.ss396.com/

Performance Parts plus Wheels & Tires
https://www.jegs.com/
 
#5 ·
I've been buying 66-67 Chevelle parts for 8 years on 5 different cars. Vendor satisfaction has changed over the years for various reasons. Currently I'm finding the best "Values" from NPD and Ecklers for body and interior parts. I haven't tried Ausleys, Hinshaws, Don's Chevelles, OPGI, or SS396.com for several years.

Mechanical parts: It's hard to beat Jegs, Summit and RockAuto.
 
#6 ·
I've bought from a lot of different vendors too.
Ground-Up, NPD, Ausley's, RockAuto, AMK Products, Inline Tube, The Right Stuff, Sumitt, Jegs, etc. I have also bought a few things from OPGI but find their prices can be up to 3 times the cost that others charge. OPGI does have a few parts that others don't carry though. All the others I have mentioned were good to deal with and never had any problems if I had to return something.
 
#7 ·
You can enter OPGI part number into Summit Search Engine and buy the same part (from OPGI) at a cheaper price and free shipping if it's over $99. I found out cause I was looking for door handles and some other trim parts, saved couple of hundred by buying the same OPGI parts through Summit.

Disclaimer: I don't work for Summit, I'm just a cheap bastard that researches every vendor and checks prices, coupons, discounts or any other possible way to save money. :grin2:
 
#8 ·
There are vendors that I have bought plenty from and never had an issue with. MOST vendors are pretty good. The ones I use the most are Summit and NPD but have purchased from Ground Up, Ausleys, Hinshaws.
There is only one dispicable vendor that I will NEVER do business with again. As a matter of fact they are the only business of any kind that I have ever contacted and reported to the Better Business Bureau. However vendor bashing is not permitted on this site so let's say I would never get IN LINE to do anything with them. Liars and thieves.
 
#9 ·
For mechanical engine and powertrain stuff depending on when needed and warranty, local auto parts store or rockauto. For performance, Jeggs and Summit. For some resto, SS 396, OPGI, Yearone, etc... Interior, Legendary. Tires and wheels, local Discount tire.
 
#10 ·
I do think most Chevelle vendors carry the same restoration parts. I always shop around since prices sometimes vary a lot. Through the last 25 years I’ve used OPG, Ground Up, Ausleys, Speedway, Summit, etc. I also use eBay (since 2000) since prices are sometimes better and I earn eBay bucks.
 
#11 ·
Thanks guys. I appreciate the input.

I'm familiar with, and do buy from Summit, Jegs, Rock Auto, etc. I have a '98 Jeep TJ that I've heavily modified, so those sources are well known.

I don't want to encourage vendor bashing at all, so if there's anyone (or place) I should be leery of, feel free to send me a PM.

Disc brakes and suspension are areas I'm looking at immediately. I've perused UMI and SC&C's sites (and have ordered Mark's book). It's been awhile since I drove a 60's era car and I've become very accustomed to the modern car handling traits. The '67 was "interesting" to say the least... :wink2:
 
#14 ·
Good advice about trying to go through Summit. Shipping costs kill a lot of what seems like good deals.
I tend to get most of my stuff from OPGI and NPD. Year One typically seems to be the most expensive option so I haven’t bought from them in a long time. I’m willing to pay more for a better product but paying the highest price doesn’t seem to guarantee the best product.
 
#15 ·
I buy most of my stuff from NPD. They have the best customer service IMO and free shipping if your order is over $300. Plus they seem to stock more parts than any others so can ship right away. There are some I won't buy from due to bad experiences but I won't vendor bash on here. If you PM me I'll tell you who they are. The vendors sell mainly the same parts so to me the difference is in customer service, price, shipping cost, and time to ship.
 
#16 ·
bottom line is there is only one or maybe two manufactures of each reproduction part. so all the vendors sell the same stuff. look for customer service, shipping and return policy, and location that suites you the best. most if not all the vendors I bought from come to a huge semi local swap meet. if they treat me right there I will continue to use them
 
#19 ·
I've had good luck with Summit for performance parts, The Right Stuff for brakes, and Ausley's for sheet metal, trim parts, and interior. Bought a few items from NPD, never a problem.
 
#20 ·
The shipping and customer service from Summit has been fantastic for a decade. A while back I bought two Procar seats at several hundreds each. The head rest on one was damaged during shipping. Summit started an immediate return and shipped out a replacement before UPS even had the chance to pick up the damaged one. For about a week I had three Procar seats sitting in my living room before UPS finally showed up.

Also, it seems that Summit has great discounts on Mondays. I was pricing things all weekend, almost bought a bunch of stuff, but at the last minute held off. The next day on Monday, Summit ran a $100 off $1000 or more promo. I've noticed that a lot of vendors across industries do similar things to boost the start of the week.

Also know that while it's fantastic to be able to get almost any part you need brand new -- something that didn't exist 20 years ago -- that about 50% of the time these repop parts need some kind fiddling to make them work. The last thing I bought was a dome light. The outside looked good, but the bracket was molded too tall and I had to file a lot of it down. The plastic was noticeably thinner, too. Overall though, it works fine.
 
#21 ·
Back in the day when I was building my 67 SS I used mostly https://www.ss396.com/ and NPD. Great prices and excellent customer service. I loved https://www.ss396.com/ because I lived on Long Island and they used to be located there so I could actually pickup parts same day. For performance parts I used a lot of people but Summit was my go too vender. Fastest shipping and great customer service. Even if I ordered the wrong part they would make things right.
 
#22 ·
Mark,
I certainly dont do restorations for a living but my only advice would be before you buy anything see if you can find an NOS piece on ebay or elsewhere. Between my Chevelle and my Wife's Riviera when I need a part that is the first thing I try. Yes its more expensive but it is well worth it when the part fits and works properly the first time. And it is pretty amazing how many NOS part are still out there :)


Thats my 2 cents.
 
#24 ·
I'm going to run the risk, and the certain eventuality, of seeming horrendously biased and self-motivated here. But I'm honestly going to put my "100% objective hat" on, and make some points that I either know to be true, or at least have (in general) experienced over the decades of my involvement in the parts industry..

* The notion of "everyone is basically selling the same stuff" will only serve to sabotage/compromise the finished quality and detail of your restoration. It is an urban myth that just won't go away, and probably never will. The complexity of these parts catalogs, the breadth and depth, of ours and all of our competitors, cannot be overstated. There are SO MANY categories and sections and instances and examples where at least two, and maybe three or four reproductions of a specific part, from huge stuff like sheet metal, to small stuff like lens gaskets or fastener kits, have competing toolings at competing manufacturers, and/or various multiple sources... Manufacturers/suppliers that you've likely never heard the names of, because "brand-marketing" has so-horrendously convoluted and confused this industry and hobby, especially since the racing parts suppliers have dived-into re-selling the product-lines of other branded retailers, who are actually just re-packaging, branding, and re-selling merchandise from a vast array of suppliers. Bottom-line, the differences between restoration parts supplier A and B and C and D are massive, sweeping and scattered all throughout the catalogs and websites. We feed from over 1,000 different manufacturers/suppliers alone. What we have been doing for over 40 years, is REFINING OUR SOURCING, which is the exercise of learning where the "best" of a specific item is being made, and sourcing as-directly as possible to that "best" piece or kit or bag of screws. It has been a decades-long evolution and effort. And I do not state that to brag on NPD, because I would have to imagine that all my competitors have evolved to a degree. But it's that degree that would really separate one company from another to another, as in how much priority they've truly dedicated towards quality-sourcing, and how much success they've achieved in the effort. Man, I'm getting wordy here, I apologize, but this is a heavy subject for me. And if you're quality-minded with your Chevelle, hopefully it's a heavy subject for you.

* This is where I have a hard time walking the fine line. But suffice it to say, one should consider who they're buying from, and whether or not they are as restoration-dedicated as it takes to truly and aggressively practice "best-quality sourcing". If they are simply a massive clearing-house, re-selling other suppliers' ENTIRE product-lines lock, stock and barrel, then that's a big indicator. The answer is "no", they're not. They're just data-dumping entire files into their system, the equivalent of shoveling coal into a furnace to make the fire (revenues) hotter. No thought is placed towards "let's not carry these bezels from ABCD, because WXYZ supplies a far-better bezel".

* That's not to say that there aren't instances where you know precisely what you're buying, the source and manufacturer is known, and it's known that no better-alternative exists, and you can save money. I'm certain those instances exist all over the place. But it's not easy being sure.

* Sheet metal is a good example of how you can get sideways. Most hobbyists only know U.S.-based importer brand-names. But the reality is, that there is a huge network of factories in Taiwan making the stuff, and a large amount of instances where there are two or three competing toolings for a specific part. No single manufacturer is the default "best" on every part. So sourcing for "best available quality" is complicated. We do our best to sort it out. Others just play the brand name game with the U.S. importers. The former approach is far better than the latter.

I did the exercise for about a half-hour, comparing one supplier's website pricing to what their same merchandise was being sold for on another larger supplier's website. And I found pricing to be all over the place, less expensive, more expensive, BOTH way too expensive. A total hodgepodge.

OK, I'll shut up.. ;) I just felt compelled to chime in, and assure you that "it's not all the same stuff". No, not even close. From tie-rods, to fenders, to weatherstripping to lenses and emblems, there are multiple levels of quality out there... Some of it at similar prices such that you'd never know the diamonds from the coal. It's quite vast and complex.

Your dedicated restoration parts specialists are where the rubber hits the road with best-quality sourcing practices, and some have been much better than others. Caveat Emptor.

Thanks for letting me participate.
 
#25 ·
I'm going to run the risk, and the certain eventuality, of seeming horrendously biased and self-motivated here. But I'm honestly going to put my "100% objective hat" on, and make some points that I either know to be true, or at least have (in general) experienced over the decades of my involvement in the parts industry..

* The notion of "everyone is basically selling the same stuff" will only serve to sabotage/compromise the finished quality and detail of your restoration. It is an urban myth that just won't go away, and probably never will. The complexity of these parts catalogs, the breadth and depth, of ours and all of our competitors, cannot be overstated. There are SO MANY categories and sections and instances and examples where at least two, and maybe three or four reproductions of a specific part, from huge stuff like sheet metal, to small stuff like lens gaskets or fastener kits, have competing toolings at competing manufacturers, and/or various multiple sources... Manufacturers/suppliers that you've likely never heard the names of, because "brand-marketing" has so-horrendously convoluted and confused this industry and hobby, especially since the racing parts suppliers have dived-into re-selling the product-lines of other branded retailers, who are actually just re-packaging, branding, and re-selling merchandise from a vast array of suppliers. Bottom-line, the differences between restoration parts supplier A and B and C and D are massive, sweeping and scattered all throughout the catalogs and websites. We feed from over 1,000 different manufacturers/suppliers alone. What we have been doing for over 40 years, is REFINING OUR SOURCING, which is the exercise of learning where the "best" of a specific item is being made, and sourcing as-directly as possible to that "best" piece or kit or bag of screws. It has been a decades-long evolution and effort. And I do not state that to brag on NPD, because I would have to imagine that all my competitors have evolved to a degree. But it's that degree that would really separate one company from another to another, as in how much priority they've truly dedicated towards quality-sourcing, and how much success they've achieved in the effort. Man, I'm getting wordy here, I apologize, but this is a heavy subject for me. And if you're quality-minded with your Chevelle, hopefully it's a heavy subject for you.

* This is where I have a hard time walking the fine line. But suffice it to say, one should consider who they're buying from, and whether or not they are as restoration-dedicated as it takes to truly and aggressively practice "best-quality sourcing". If they are simply a massive clearing-house, re-selling other suppliers' ENTIRE product-lines lock, stock and barrel, then that's a big indicator. The answer is "no", they're not. They're just data-dumping entire files into their system, the equivalent of shoveling coal into a furnace to make the fire (revenues) hotter. No thought is placed towards "let's not carry these bezels from ABCD, because WXYZ supplies a far-better bezel".

* That's not to say that there aren't instances where you know precisely what you're buying, the source and manufacturer is known, and it's known that no better-alternative exists, and you can save money. I'm certain those instances exist all over the place. But it's not easy being sure.

* Sheet metal is a good example of how you can get sideways. Most hobbyists only know U.S.-based importer brand-names. But the reality is, that there is a huge network of factories in Taiwan making the stuff, and a large amount of instances where there are two or three competing toolings for a specific part. No single manufacturer is the default "best" on every part. So sourcing for "best available quality" is complicated. We do our best to sort it out. Others just play the brand name game with the U.S. importers. The former approach is far better than the latter.

I did the exercise for about a half-hour, comparing one supplier's website pricing to what their same merchandise was being sold for on another larger supplier's website. And I found pricing to be all over the place, less expensive, more expensive, BOTH way too expensive. A total hodgepodge.

OK, I'll shut up.. ;) I just felt compelled to chime in, and assure you that "it's not all the same stuff". No, not even close. From tie-rods, to fenders, to weatherstripping to lenses and emblems, there are multiple levels of quality out there... Some of it at similar prices such that you'd never know the diamonds from the coal. It's quite vast and complex.

Your dedicated restoration parts specialists are where the rubber hits the road with best-quality sourcing practices, and some have been much better than others. Caveat Emptor.

Thanks for letting me participate.

I was a loyal NPD customer well before Rick joined here, but I really appreciate how active & transparent he always is on the forum. I've always had great service from NPD & I assume their sales reps follow the lead of the man in charge. :thumbsup:
 
#26 ·
On the other hand, I feel like its a great thing that someone does reproduce most of the parts for my Chevelle. Early Mustangs are almost as good, early Camaros are probably the most reproduced. It makes owning one lots easier and more fun. Contrast the amazing support and parts for a Chevelle, to that for say, a 59 Oldsmobile. That was one of the reasons I bought a Chevelle in the first place.

No complaints here. I have had good experience with Ground Up, Summit and American Muscle. Autozone, Carquest, etc, stock a lot of basic parts for Chevelles also. For whatever amazing reason, I can order stuff from Summit at 8pm and it will arrive by 6pm the next day!

Its magic!
 
#28 ·
I have bought from AMD, Summit, Ted Williams, Inlinetube, Ebay and many more. All have been very good. HOWEVER, I bought a roller OER tach from JEG's and the first 3 just wouldn't work regardless of what I did with filters etc. Taking apart a 68 Chevelle dash with gauges and AC is a bitch and that statement is an understatement. Well after working with OER, Pertronix and JEGs only Jegs stepped up to the plate, reimbursed me for my purchase, ordered a new one under their dime ($279) sent it to Redline Gauge Works and had it modified to digital for $325 and authorized 2 day shipping at another $34 bucks all on their dime. Because they knew about all the pain I went through and no other manufacturer stood up they paid over $650 to give me a working tach on their dime. Now that is customer support taken to a level I have never experienced in 50 years.
 
#29 ·
As a person that's recently been buying and installing a full array of parts, I can/would appreciate more transparency from suppliers where possible. I LIKE that OPGI lists 3 different makers of interior replacements, a sort of good, better, best. Trying to find the best, or at least a quality heater core, for a recent example was a lot of work. As Rick noted above, prices can be all over the place for what at least appears to be the identical article.

I will say that I've dealt with a bunch of the names mentioned above including the local O'Reilly's to the boutique stores and everyone has been great about returns and customer service in general.
 
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