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1960bus
Samba Member
Joined: September 15, 2005
Posts: 285
Location: UK
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 Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 9:39 am Post subject: SMS Auto Fabrics |
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Has anyone, anywhere, ever had a good experience with them?
They pretty much have a monopoly on the supply of any restoration fabric worldwide and I can only find bad reviews. I received some samples really quickly but I have zero confidence anything would be dispatched quickly if I placed an order particularly as I'm not in the US.
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Dan
1958 Ghia Vert
1960 RHD Deluxe Microbus
1966 RHD Devon Kombi |
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EverettB 
Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000
Posts: 69809
Location: Phoenix Metro
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c21darrel
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2009
Posts: 8211
Location: San Dimas
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1960bus
Samba Member
Joined: September 15, 2005
Posts: 285
Location: UK
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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I wonder if it's quicker for just fabric though? There products are amazing but the customer service seems to get the worst feedback I've seen.
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Dan
1958 Ghia Vert
1960 RHD Deluxe Microbus
1966 RHD Devon Kombi |
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djway3474
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2011
Posts: 2582
Location: The Real NDK So Cal
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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When I made the order for the door panels and matching fabric, they shipped my fabric right away. Loren ordered fabric but I am not sure if he only put a deposit down, whereas I paid in full.
Don't order stuff like welting though. They charged me 3.50 a yard where the exact same stuff in the proper size is only .55 per yard locally, I discovered the hard way 
It is just the promised delivery time VS delivery date that has been the problem so far. That and they made me pay in full up front. |
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Loren
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2004
Posts: 1700
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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| I ordered vinyl and a set of door panels on 9-12-13, paid in full and still don't have any of the products I paid for. Dwayne and I have been contacting them on a regular basis and the completion date keeps getting pushed further and further into the future. I have seen their low light door panels in person and they are fantastic, but the wait time is ridiculous. Dwayne got his vinyl fairly quickly so they might be faster at sending vinyl than making door panels. All of the reviews I have read state that they have long wait times. |
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djway3474
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2011
Posts: 2582
Location: The Real NDK So Cal
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Loren I think it is your turn to send them a note LOL |
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c21darrel
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2009
Posts: 8211
Location: San Dimas
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djway3474
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2011
Posts: 2582
Location: The Real NDK So Cal
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| Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 11:16 am Post subject: |
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I have seen Lemke mats and I have seen SMS panels. I don't think he works at all. They may be slow but they got quality.  |
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djway3474
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2011
Posts: 2582
Location: The Real NDK So Cal
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| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 3:24 am Post subject: |
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| Apparently SMS now has no idea when the panels will be ready |
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1960bus
Samba Member
Joined: September 15, 2005
Posts: 285
Location: UK
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| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 4:02 am Post subject: |
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Someone should offer to go down there. Pick the vinyl off the shelves get their aluminum dialectric press tool, cut the vinyl and put it in the press and make it for them.
I wonder if a bulk buy would make them realize it was worth their while. I don't quite understand how the accountants can keep up with this take the money and deliver 2 years later deal.
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Dan
1958 Ghia Vert
1960 RHD Deluxe Microbus
1966 RHD Devon Kombi |
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c21darrel
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2009
Posts: 8211
Location: San Dimas
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68vwfasty
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2014
Posts: 277
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 12:10 pm Post subject: |
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Stumbled across this thread (type 3 guy) and thought I would share my experience.
I live very close so I drove down to their facility. I just wanted fabric and I knew what I wanted. So it was very easy as they showed me the roll and I said yup that's the stuff and they cut it and I was on my way. Not cheap though but less than I had seen on the Samba posts I had read.
Customer service was OK. Gal at reception and other guy in office area ( maybe owner) were friendly. Guy who brought the material up to show me and cut it was not so much.
So I think getting fabric would be very easy. I can't speak about actually getting panels.
Although the building was pretty big I am guessing that this is somewhat a mom and pop type operation with a big backlog of orders. Mollala is a pretty small town and it looked very much like the employees had worked here for years and years.
Just sharing. Not sure this is really helpful. But I would go there again if I needed materials. |
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John Moxon
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Joined: March 07, 2004
Posts: 13952
Location: Southampton U.K.
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Karly
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2002
Posts: 641
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 2:12 pm Post subject: |
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I can't believe 2 years.. that's ridiculous - for something they apparently have in stock! I just have trouble believing anywhere is that busy that they can't produce a set of door cards for two years (and if they are then they must be able to hire more people). Surely there's other places with the supplies/ability to make your door cards (trim tec?).
The only way I'd wait is if the car resto was a long way off interior and it's not holding anything up.. but there does become a point where you need to do the interior! Plus if they can't do it in that time length why make you pay in full?
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1960 Beetle ''Heidi" daily driver
1964 Karmann Ghia project |
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HouseofGhia
Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2005
Posts: 855
Location: Salem, or
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| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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| John Moxon wrote: |
| 68vwfasty wrote: |
...Mollala is a pretty small town and it looked very much like the employees had worked here for years and years.
Just sharing. Not sure this is really helpful. But I would go there again if I needed materials. |
Thanks for that...would seem a personal visit for material is the way to go.
Mollala is just 30 miles from Salem so I'm wondering if Mike Gregory has used them much? I'll PM him and see if he has anything to add. |
SMS is located in Canby which is a few miles North of Molalla....still relatively close to my shop. I had heard of the long wait times as well but experienced it first hand on two sets of 58-60 panels I ordered. The wait was right at 14 months.
I have some panels on order right now as well and I think I'm close to that wait again.
I get good pretty quick replies to my emails. I'm able to show up in person from time to time, and they are always nice and helpful.
Dwayne and Loren.....I'm planning a trip to sms fairly soon to look at some material for another project, I'll ask Doug about your panels.
On the subject of payment...SMS has never asked for full pmt from me....half down, half when done.
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House of Ghia specializing in Karmann Ghia parts, service, and restorations. www.house-of-ghia.com |
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djway3474
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2011
Posts: 2582
Location: The Real NDK So Cal
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| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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| HouseofGhia wrote: |
| John Moxon wrote: |
| 68vwfasty wrote: |
...Mollala is a pretty small town and it looked very much like the employees had worked here for years and years.
Just sharing. Not sure this is really helpful. But I would go there again if I needed materials. |
Thanks for that...would seem a personal visit for material is the way to go.
Mollala is just 30 miles from Salem so I'm wondering if Mike Gregory has used them much? I'll PM him and see if he has anything to add. |
SMS is located in Canby which is a few miles North of Molalla....still relatively close to my shop. I had heard of the long wait times as well but experienced it first hand on two sets of 58-60 panels I ordered. The wait was right at 14 months.
I have some panels on order right now as well and I think I'm close to that wait again.
I get good pretty quick replies to my emails. I'm able to show up in person from time to time, and they are always nice and helpful.
Dwayne and Loren.....I'm planning a trip to sms fairly soon to look at some material for another project, I'll ask Doug about your panels.
On the subject of payment...SMS has never asked for full pmt from me....half down, half when done. |
thanks Mike. SMS required both Loren and I to pay in full. |
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HouseofGhia
Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2005
Posts: 855
Location: Salem, or
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| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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interesting....
I've always wondered why the process takes so long....maybe I'll inquire the next time i'm there . My current panels are still in the mounting stage which is where the bottleneck is I think.
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House of Ghia specializing in Karmann Ghia parts, service, and restorations. www.house-of-ghia.com |
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68vwfasty
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2014
Posts: 277
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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Canby, sorry meant to type that. Thanks for the correction Mike.
Hope to visit House of Ghia when I take my car to the Bug In. |
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HouseofGhia
Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2005
Posts: 855
Location: Salem, or
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| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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| 68vwfasty wrote: |
Canby, sorry meant to type that. Thanks for the correction Mike.
Hope to visit House of Ghia when I take my car to the Bug In. |
that sounds good.....just a few months away...cant wait!
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House of Ghia specializing in Karmann Ghia parts, service, and restorations. www.house-of-ghia.com |
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