SMS Auto Fabrics DO NOT USE THEM

Discussion in 'Interior City' started by WILDCAT1966, Jul 2, 2007.

  1. WILDCAT1966

    WILDCAT1966 Well-Known Member

    Hi Guys Let me tell you a nightmare.Do not order any door panels from SMS Auto Fabrics.I ordered door panels on December 15th and have still not received them.When I ordered them I was told 10 to 12 weeks for delivery.Well 16 weeks go by.I called them and was told 2 more weeks.20 weeks go by I called them.They said 2 more weeks.22 weeks go by and I called them.And would told again 2 more weeks.I called June 15th and was told they would be finish that day and shipped today or monday.So today July 2 I called and asked where the door panels were.And was told they would be shipped this thursday.Well I told them to cancel the order because my customer had came and pick up his car and went elsewhere.They said that the panels where mine and I should understand that this are custom panels.Will see I put a claim in on my credit card for a refund.Beware guys if you used them. Gary Mellin Jr
     
  2. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    The reports I have seen indicate that for custom panels the time frame you experienced is not out of the ordinary. I am not sure there is an alternative vendor for this type of work. I know several Wildcat owners have said they have recieved a good result from SMS although it took a long time.
     
  3. SpecialWagon65

    SpecialWagon65 Ted Nagel

    Yep, I just checked my thread on the Wildcat; I think it took them over a year to get mine done. They are pretty much the only game in town; I have not come across anybody that does the heat press process.

    My upholstry guy Hates Them, has many bad experiences to share.

    I like them, every order I give them seems to work out OK.

    A situation like yours- sounds like you were contracted to do the job-
    very unfortunate. The customer may still come back if they find out there is very few if any alternatives and you were not the one responsible for the delay!
     
  4. buickbonehead

    buickbonehead WOT Baby!

    They took about 8 mos. to do my panels. They screwed up one of the trim pieces, but made it right in the end. Panels turned out beautiful.

    If you do find someone else who "does" them, don't be surprised if they are sending them to SMS. If I was to do it again, I'd use SMS and be prepared to wait.:Do No:

    Rick
     
  5. Sportlark64

    Sportlark64 Dyna-Mo-Hummmm

  6. Duane

    Duane Member

    Guys,
    To do a heat sealed design that is not currently available means you have to build a set of dies specifically for each part. So if you need a set of front and rear door panels that would be 4 different heat seal dies. (You don't even want to know the costs of the bars that press the designs in.)

    Then you need to make the door panel boards, etc. and put everything together. This is a very expensive and time consuming job.

    When I had my upholstery shop running (Classic Car Interiors) I got requests for this type of thing all the time. I rarely did this type of work, unless I figured I could sell more of the same type. Often the guys/customers would contact other owners so we could get a few orders together to cut the costs and make it worthwhile to do.

    Most of the people would go into shock when you told them the prices so it went no further. The others would wait until I had time over the winter to build the dies. (I averaged between 8 months to 1 year to create new short-run designs.)

    Frankly, I don't know how SMS can afford to do this for one-offs, unless they are banking on future sales, or charging enough to pay for the tooling.

    There were times when I had over $5000 invested in the tooling costs for the seats and doorpanels for 1 specific year design.
    Duane
     
  7. SpecialWagon65

    SpecialWagon65 Ted Nagel

    I was looking for the smiley that has its eyes popping out on its head!
    .
    That is excellent information. I was amazed at the SMS panels that they made. The 65 Wildcat Deluxe has some mylar trim that that turned out perfect. The time was long but the results were excellent.
     
  8. rlcokc

    rlcokc Well-Known Member

    Does SMS make the panels that Legendary sells?
     
  9. Brad Conley

    Brad Conley RIP Staff Member

    No, they do not.
     
  10. BUQUICK

    BUQUICK I'm your huckleberry.

    We had SMS make some Chevelle 300 door panels and the quality was great, the price was reasonable for such special parts, and the time was about double want was quoted. We now know that if we do a car that requires them to make us door panels, we will order them the day the restoration begins and hope they arrive by the time th car is completed.
     
  11. lapham3@aol.com

    lapham3@aol.com Well-Known Member

    One of the other guys into '66 cats had real problems with them about a year ago-screwups/lies, ect-along with the big prices and time frame involved...well, sounds like they need some competition!
     
  12. evil16v

    evil16v Midwest Buick Mafia

    It would probably be best for them to explain this to a customer rather than tell them two weeks..... two weeks.... two weeks.... the customer doesn't know any better. some of us can... but not most. If they know why it'll probably be alright.
     
  13. 65specialconver

    65specialconver kennedy-bell MIA

    does sms have a website?im kinda stuck looking for panels for my cali gs(post).:Do No:
     
  14. SpecialWagon65

    SpecialWagon65 Ted Nagel

    I used these guys on the same project for sewing the seats together.
    Ron Fryer is a Buick guy too, but he has since sold the business to retire.
    Since he is out there near SMS, I had him "doing" the door panels- as in he took them over to SMS and negotiated with them, interpreted their BS for me...a low pay job for him with all the phone calls to find out when the things would be done.

    Jamie, I thing SMS can help...they had the patterns for my 67 GS Cali(=Special (basic) interior). :beers2:
     
  15. grumpy225

    grumpy225 Well-Known Member

    SMS had the exact headliner material for my Electra. I ordered it 5 weeks ago, they said it would be ready in two weeks (a common quote as I've learned here). I'm still patiently waiting...oh well!
     
  16. richopp

    richopp Well-Known Member

    I have not had any dealings with SMS in years, but many years ago when I was fixing up a 2-seat Benz conv. I needed some very specialized cloth tape for the pillar post rubber seals that goes at the bottom of each seal. SMS was the ONLY company that had the right stuff and sold me a small roll (you only need about 6" of the stuff) for a very cheap price. Of course, this was a stock item and sent mailorder, but no complaints on my end.

    Regards,

    Richard
     
  17. jimbobbuickboy

    jimbobbuickboy Well-Known Member

    I used them to do the seat covers and door panels in my '57 Olds. It took almost twice as long for them to complete the job as what they originally told me.......but the wait was worth it. Yes, I was upset that they didn't meet their timeframe. But the product was outstanding. I'd do it again in an instant......
     
  18. grumpy225

    grumpy225 Well-Known Member

    For what it's worth I got my headliner from SMS yesterday and it looks good. I ordered it in early June. Should have it installed in a couple of weeks. Ken
     

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