Crash Dummy

I realize we should all work with the vendors of this site, but when the funds start getting low I need some bargains as long as we are talking apples to apples on the quality of the parts. And I am speaking strictly about vette restoration parts.

So... is it against the rules? I am looking to redo the leather seats(with new seat foam) in the '71 and have found prices all over the place from $499 to $386 on just the seat covers(pair) alone. And the seat foam prices are anywhere between $169 to $129. Some are vendors of this site and some are not. The problem is I really don't know if they all offer the same quality or some are just marking their items up more to cover their overhead or make more profit.

Jack71

Lots of people talk about price as long as you dont bad mouth a vendor. Some have price guaratees anyway. I've had good luck on EBay too...

Crash Dummy

Jack,

The question really is... I got the following prices:

Supplier A: $499
Supplier B: $469
Supplier C: $455
Supplier D: $399
Supplier E: $386

I need to know if Supplier E is selling the same parts(probably drop shipped like all the rest from the same remote supplier) and unless I give the supplier names some probably can't tell me *yea* or *nea*. This is not anything like sniping (1) item off of E-bay.... it could make some suppliers look pretty bad compared to others. This can be a pretty influential forum for future purchases as you & I know.

79VetteMike

:iagree:

Corvette ED

The Two most popular vendors are Al Knoch or Corvette America. They make them and sell to all of the other Corvette vendors.

From talking to shops that specialize in Corvette restoration, if you want NCRS go with Knoch, if it is a driver go with Corvette America.

crf311

Better watch out for the shipping and handling charges from some of ther low price people. I was hit with a 15.00 s/h for a 3 lb. part. :mad I use UPS lot at work and checked the rate and the UPS charge was 3.00. So some times the cheapest price is not the way to go. I now get all the charges up front and then make my choice.

Dalannex

I say post the names and see if it is the same quality or not. If one vendor is more expensive than another then name names and they can step up to the plate, supporting vendor or not. I think that the fact that the forum has reached the point where we have to worry about such things is pathetic.

-Justin

Crash Dummy

And you don't pay for the bandwith to this site or have vendors who pay to be listed here. It was just a question.

The best price I got was from "The Last Detail". Should I expect to get the same parts that others supply?

LT1driver

I have dealt with Last Detail and they are outstanding, never heard bad about them, products are top=notch :D

Desertdawg

Also remember, most of the vendors probably don't read every post on the Corvette Forum (last count 51691 users, 622833 threads, 7032022 posts.)

So if you are hoping for a price match, or discount, don't hold your breath.
The best thing you can do is try to get one of them to do a group purchase, it never hurts to ask.

randy814u

*non-supporting vendor link removed*
I have had good luck with these people.
I do not know about seats though.
:seeya

****
See my reply below. Vendor talk if fine, but please avoid links to non-supporting vendors.
Dave


[Modified by ddecart, 9:35 AM 9/3/2003]

gmcclurg

:iagree:
Willcox has great prices on Corvette America products and the after sale service was very good. Did the whole interior last winter, had a problem with one part, they corrected it, no problem.

ddecart

As long as you post facts regarding the pricing and vendor bashing is avoided, there is no problem with posting price comparisons. As we've been through before, avoid links to non-supporting vendor sites please.
:thumbs:

Crash Dummy

I'm not looking to get any vendors to match prices... just attempting to match quality to the prices. I ended up e-mailing the supplier with the lowest price and they answered that they only sell Corvette America leather seat covers. I have carpet due in this afternoon from the same supplier and if it is first rate I will order the seat covers, seat foam & probably seat belts from them tomorrow. The highest price by the way was Mid America.

76Frankenstein

You may want to email forum member sdixon - he gave me outstanding support for my C.A. interior, even though I must have been the most PITA customer he's had to deal with :yesnod:

Big Fish

I'm not afraid to ask a vendor to match a better price, especially if that vendor has other things I want to order at a reasonable price. Shipping costs start to add up fast and if you buy things from say 4 different vendors because the price was better, you still need to factor in the shipping. Some are just downright too high, I really don't understand why, and many are probably getting their inventory from the same place.