What inflluenced you to select your vendor

[70cst]

Many times I have seen post asking where to buy or what vendor do we recommend. If you go to the Vendor sticky you see we have lots of Vendors that support this site. I have used mostly WES at Classic Heartbeat but have also used Tim at Christians Classics and GMCPauls. I am doing this poll not because I was asked to do so but I have been in sales and marketing for about 30 yrs and I have a preconcieved idea the way the poll will go...but I thought I would ask. What influences you when you buy a part from a Vendor.

[CG]

I like using the local guys PICKMUP (Frank), and Classic Hearbeat (Wes), that way I can just drive down and pick up my parts. They are both around 70 miles from me.

I have used some of our other guys when these two haven't had what I needed, which is very rare.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I try to buy everything I can at the Autofair and other swap meets.

It's amazing the difference in quality sometimes. I picked up lots of inside lower door panels and several were really floppy and flimsy with rippled edges, then the ones I bought have much smoother curves and much thicker metal.

I almost don't care about price anymore, I've had to buy some many parts 2 or 3 times I try to get the best I can on the first shot now a days

[BigDaddyDave]

When you consider that most vendors get their parts from the same source price is whats left. I use the boards vendors when possible, but there are times that our vendors prices are much higher than others. Customer service is everything to me, yet some vendors expects you to fill out an order form and mail or fax it in without talking to anyone. Who in their right mind is going to send money for a parts, without being able to ask questions about the parts?

[72chevyk10]

whenever i need somthin i go to wes hes only about 10miles from me and can help out with stuff i dont know how to do.

[Mondo]

Early Classics is in Fresno... I usually order from their on-line catalog but if I have a question they know the answer and I've actaully gotten my parts the next day (if calling in the morning). They're my first choice but have ordered from others and have actually been satisfied with all the vendors (Brothers has taken the longest for parts to arrive for some reason).

Also, getting the right part has a lot to do with getting answers on this forum first. Take door weatherstripping for example, I had better luck with the push-on type rather than the original glue-on type.... got that tip from here.

[LockDoc]

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I usually deal with Arts Classic Truck Parts in Indianola, Iowa. Mainly because he's close but I'm happy to say he meets all of the other criteria listed also... I'm a happy camper.

LockDoc

[red71c10]

Got two local shops that sell parts for these and other classics. I can save money on shipping, and can compare prices from one shop to the other. I do have about 5 parts catalogs and the main reason for that is certain vendors will have parts that no one else has. The upper door panel trim is a good example. Almost everyone sells the chrome version only, but Brothers offers the paintable version that I'm going to need for my truck when I get around to the interior. They are $15 less for a pair, and why buy chrome just to scuff it up and paint over it when I don't have to?

[Hottrucks]

I try to spend local if I can then use the board venders....but I'm building a driver so used is good too.........

[fastom]

I have purchased most everything from Early Classic. Great company, great customer service, fantastic bunch of guys!

An example of my experience with them. I purchased all the replacement sheet metal from them (hood, fenders, all fleet bed pieces, tailgate, etc). Over a year and a half later I was fitting the tailgate and hood with no luck. I called Mark and asked if the sheet metal from Goodmark fit properly. He told me that sometimes they didn't. Mark asked me to bring them back, he found used parts in his yard that fit perfect, no rust or damage. He sold me used parts for a fraction of the new A YEAR AND A HALF LATER!

I may pay a little more from them but I know I will always be taken care of.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

I use wes always... That guy will bend over back wards for you and talk your ear off about these trucks all day long and has fast shipping great prices and a pretty nice bbq to boot.

[cparman]

There is a chevy supplier about 100 miles from here, and they have two ladies that usually answer the phone. I try and have part numbers, abut don't always. these two ladies are VERY sharp and I think of them first because of their knowledge of old GM parts. If they do not have it they will usually try and help me find someone who does.

[eightbanger]

Having a first hand knowledge about the Trucks we all drive, as they own and work on these Trucks also, thats the best reason for me. Having a friendly nature and willing to help you with any queries you have is real important to me too. Wes at ClassicHeartbeat is who I use, but I have also used the bigger suppliers namley ClassicParts.

[vectorit]

1. Suburban parts
2. Parts availabilty
3. Price

[PanelDeland]

Actually it's combination of all 4.I have one vendor I do almost all my business with these days but have used a couple others before I met him.The vendors on this BB have always got my vote.The first vendor I ever used was in the Houston area and I did not know of the BB at that time.I got good service from him and think he would have been a BB vendor except that he was not into computers and was closing out.
Some examples of why I like the BB vendors are
1. I have seen them help with problems with parts bought from other vendors(almost all of them at one time or another)
2.I usually buy from the vendor I use because his prices are fair and he does me right(I'm sure if I was as close to others as I am to him and used them they would also)
3.I've seen BB vendors steer people away from sub par parts
4.I know most of the vendors here build trucks also and have shopped the parts available for the best Value-not always the best price(some things are of lesser quality)
5.I have seen most vendors here bend over backward to make a sale "right"

Why go somewhere that you're not sure of?

[70cst]

Great feedback.

[special-K]

I see the last two choices as the same answer.If you are knowledgable,have quality parts,and are friendly you will have an excellent reputation.If cheapest price is that important you could end up with either the last or first option.Prices are standard on like parts.I know when someone is high and won`t buy.If I get a discount from a friendly(dishonest isn`t friendly)knowledgable vendor selling quality parts,that`s just icing on the cake.I don`t mind a vendor making money.I want them to stay around.
Location is key on big stuff.I`ve bought from more than I can remember and only after feeling good about it.
I avoid the mass-marketing multi-line vendors and give my money to the small guy.I like to deal with person who`s pocket my money goes into.

[Green Machine]

I've bought by price and had to pay twice when it didn't work. Rubber parts seem to be a problem. Bought some vent wing rubbers from a cheap place, now vent windows are not fun to statrt with. The rubbers fit like crap, and had to tear the doors apart again and the wings to replace with rubbers from a site vendor. What a PAIN !!! Anybody make a gas tank gromet that lasts longer than a year ???

[70cst]

Originally Posted by special-K

I see the last two choices as the same answer.If you are knowledgable,have quality parts,and are friendly you will have an excellent reputation.If cheapest price is that important you could end up with either the last or first option.Prices are standard on like parts.I know when someone is high and won`t buy.If I get a discount from a friendly(dishonest isn`t friendly)knowledgable vendor selling quality parts,that`s just icing on the cake.I don`t mind a vendor making money.I want them to stay around.
Location is key on big stuff.I`ve bought from more than I can remember and only after feeling good about it.
I avoid the mass-marketing multi-line vendors and give my money to the small guy.I like to deal with person who`s pocket my money goes into.

#3 Quality and Knowledge of parts-Friendliness.
#4 Reputation-competitive prices, they are honest and they bend over backwards to meet expectations.

The differrence between #3 and #4...
Three can have higher priced parts but because of the quality of parts and other factors you would go to #3 verses #4.
#4 The parts may not always be the best avaliable but they are up front with you. ie: there are differences in these parts but there are times when one doesn't always need the best quality in a part.
I agree Special K...3 and 4 are very close to being the same. Did I explain myself out of a potential boo boo?

[Rollie396]

The first one is the only choice that doesn't matter to me....the rest are hard to choose from.

[dan42]

For me, many times the ability of being able to see exactly what I'm buying is a big plus because I know that if they give me that part, it's the right one. If there's just a description, I will rarely buy it - I hate sending stuff back because it's the wrong part. That's one of the reasons I like using LMC.

[El Jay]

I generally call Wes when I need stuff.
I make the call, place the order, give him a CC#; and the stuff is on my front porch within 3 days.

Now, when I had to replace almost all of the front end sheet metal on my Chevy, I went to Matt's Classic Bowties in Concord, CA.
I ordered what I needed and then had to wait until they placed a "stocking order."
But, I saved dang near $300 in shipping. That made the delay well worth it IMHO.

[Daves72'GMC]

Since the first day I got my truck and now after the frame up restoration done,Bill Athey at with Athey's truck parts in Virginia, has always been honest and gone out of his way to help me with my truck and found parts for my 3/4 when no one else could get the parts. I highly recommend him. I've also bought some parts from Tim Christian at Christians truck parts, he is also a great person to do business with and very helpful.

[cwgreen1971]

I have gotten parts from LMC, Classic Industries, and Early Classics. I was happy with all of them. I did just find a place just up the street and got a full floor for a great price. I wish I would have known sooner. My lasy shipping charge was $426. I got all new metal I just hope it all lines up when I go to put it back together. You guys are starting to scare me a little about aftermarket doors, fenders etc. not fitting very well...

[El Jay]

I wrecked my truck & really screwed up the front end!

Jerry & I were trying to reassemble it & nothing at all would line up.
When we realized that it had been wrecked before I bought it, we just stopped where we were; & I ordered new inner fenders and a core support from Matt's.
All the stuff he/they sell is Tri-Plus.

I, honest to God, was truly afraid about the fight I was going to have to reassemble my truck.

I won't lie and say it was a "piece o' cake" to get it back together, but it was a damn sight easier than I expected after all the horror stories I heard about using aftermarket parts.

That's my .02, Bro.