MSCustoms
Its not just a Truck
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2013
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Sms auto fabrics has what you need but are over $100 a yard for material
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Sms auto fabrics has what you need but are over $100 a yard for material
Have you ever had to deal with SMS?
They don't have a very good rep in the auto upholstery world. In fact, many trimmers will only order from them as a last resort, if at all. Myself included.
I once had to wait for 19 months for 5 hides of leather from them. Which had to be pre-paid for. At an exhorbitant price.
'Cape Buffalo' hides. Factory original leather for a '60 Buick Electra 225 Convertible. A vehicle owned by the owner of the largest GM dealership within 250 miles! A man well-schooled in how to get things done. His calls to SMS produced no results.
They are very good at offering up some pretty creative excuses.
"The raw hides are on a slow boat from Africa to the tannery in Australia."
7 months of 'slow'? Sent via a 2-man Kayak?
"The tannery is having trouble with the dye lot." Plausible. But this is being done at the same tannery that did the original run of hides for GM back in 1960! They did thousands of hides back then, now they're having problems with the process on 5? They fell back on that excuse for 9 months.
"They're stuck in Customs. Something to do with 'CITES' ((the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.)
Nope. Not on the list, and Customs officials would only need 5 minutes to figure that out. But SMS blamed that on another 3 month delay.
During this fiasco, I got so frustrated with this company, that I actually drove to their location to rattle their cage. 8 hours & 465 miles, one way.
That's just one episode I've endured with them.
My Dad's '52 Chevy required a year & multiple samples sent back & forth, which where ALL wrong. I needed a whole 4 yards! Of a material that allegedly according to them, is a fairly common fabric.
They NEVER answer the phone. Call them. Leave a message. They may return the call in a day...or a month. ...and when she does call back, she`s packin`attitude.
The voice on the phone is supposedly the daughter of the original owner of the Co., yet she has no idea of what is in her inventory.
"I'll have to go look for that." In a wharehouse that contains millions of yards of material.
Questions are met with scorn & disdain. Big attitude.
Apparently, there are no formal records, either physically written down, or on computer. I believe this to be called `The Open-Pit Filing System`.
When you ask for 'some' samples, they will bombard you with anything and everything within the color spectrum specified, whether it's right, wrong or even kinda-sorta remotely close.
They say that they actually manufacture original style materials. Have their own looms & related equipment. Want some? That'll take a year. Minimum.
They can't keep employees. They've had an ad for wharehouse help on a couple of upholstery forums for more than a few years. (Ten years on one, alone!) It'll disappear for a couple of months, & then re-appears. It`s run more often than not.
In 40+ years, I have never dealt with such a frustrating company.
I will never deal with SMS again.
Apologies for the rant. You hit a soft spot! Lol!
Saw someone selling a truck on Facebook and the interior shot showed Garnett Red High Back Bucket Seats. I have a 1990 Chevy Sport with low back seats and would prefer the high back ones - common in the 454SS models of the day.
I posted a message to the owner asking him if he'd consider selling/swapping the seats. Offered him cash for his seats and my seats in exchange so he could sell his truck with something to sit in.
He asked me what I'd be willing to pay and I took a stab in the dark and said $225. I have no idea what they go for so I took a S.W.A.G. (stupid a$$ wild guess) off the cuff.
He seemed to consider it for a moment but then begged off.
So to the question, did I offer too much, or not enough? What are they worth - anyone care to share a thought?
Since I put it out there, if you're near NJ and have some to offer, I'm obviously interested.
Sorry to hear about your health probs.
Mom's a 45+ year survivor after 2 bouts. She's coming up to 91 years old. It CAN be beat. Attitude is a big part, which you seem to have right.
Positive thoughts your way.
I refuse to use the the term OBS!
I'd be interested in the seats.
Fellow Canuck get any preference? Would that get my foot in the door? Lol!
I don't care about their condition.
Wet, bent, burnt, or broken.
Doesn't matter.
I have the technology to make 'em purdy again.
Sorry to hear about your health probs.
Mom's a 45+ year survivor after 2 bouts. She's coming up to 91 years old. It CAN be beat. Attitude is a big part, which you seem to have right.
Positive thoughts your way.
I refuse to use the the term OBS!
I'd be interested in the seats.
Fellow Canuck get any preference? Would that get my foot in the door? Lol!
I don't care about their condition.
Wet, bent, burnt, or broken.
Doesn't matter.
I have the technology to make 'em purdy again.