Favorite Parts Supplier, Who get's the 1st shot at your biz? Options

[kdfoust]

All the discussion in the thread about online buying got me wondering. What supplier do most people in this forum prefer? I know who I always call first. What about you?

Have fun,
Kevin

[Zeke]

We have a place here in Long Beach not too far from my house called Foreign Unlimited. They are a typical street and off road VW parts house and have mostly stuff for the type I engine. However, I have found that they will go all out to help out anyone with VW needs. I have gotten great prices and not had to pay any shipping on items purchased there. The guy even found me a new synchro slider for my 901 trans. Met Pelican's price and once again, I did not pay shipping. I have bought gauges, gaskets and engine parts as well.

The thing that got me the most was when I was installing a used European Motorworks header nad needed copper gaskets for the stub pipes to header tubes. I asked everyone where to get these including Chris Foley (RacerChris). They all said buy some copper sheet and make them. I did. It took an hour to make four. Next time I went to Foreign Unliminted, there the gaskets were, hanging on the wall. Thicker, nicer and open on one side of the bolt holes so you could slip them in with the nuts and bolts already in place. NOW, I ask them first. Then I work down the line.

I'm still impressed with Performance Products for more Porsche specific items. They offer urethane suspension bushings in street and race grade. When I bought mine from Pelican, they didn't know the difference. So, I bought some from Performance and sure enough, they were much harder. I gave the others away. That all having been said, I have spent more money at Pelican than the rest. Mostly because of the BBS. But now, we have 914CLUB.

[Scott]

Out in the SF Bay Area the 2 best places I can think of are High Performance House (Rich Bontempi) in Redwood City or Parts Heaven, Porsche Auto dismantlers in Hayward.

[SirAndy]

HPH and EASY ...

[Blynes]

As I gussed Auto Atlanta didn't fair too well.

I have no experience with them but have been told that Hussy is not a bad guy.

Too bad he doesn't get involved in this forum and create some satisfied customers.

We need all the good resourses we can get.

I hate chasing parts when my car needs work.

Just a thought.

Bill Lynes

[madd_dogg_914]

You should add another option to the list FLICS (Friendly Local Import Car Shop) That is where I always try and go, because if I order by 10am the stuff will be there by 1pm THAT DAY!!! If I am in the middle of a project, there is nothing better than getting what I need, later that day. Plus they have a machine shop. Although, if they fall through, then the second part of my answer would be Pelican Parts.

-Chris

[Joe Bob]

We just lost our local Euro/VW parts shop due to retirement.....now we only have Kragen and Manny, Moe and Jack.....

GPR and PP, get the first call....then a few searches for a better rate if I have the time.

AA would not get he sweat off my balls.....

[914gem]

I always check with a local parts store called Roy Rogers, if they can't get it I go to Pelican. For hot rod stuff I go to Rich Johnson in Plano Tex. As for AA, they can go take a flying (IMG:style_emoticons/default/finger.gif) I have never had any good come from them.

[Red-Beard]

AA would not get he sweat off my balls.....

Mikez Ball sweat - I am way to visual a person for such references ....

James (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon8.gif)

[airsix]

Stock OEM stuff: Pelican
Upgrades: Paragon

For OEM stuff Pelican has always been very helpful, fast, and well priced. They've taken some heat lately, but I haven't had reason to complain.

For performance upgrades Paragon has not only always had the parts, but the knowledge to go with them. That can be priceless. Very very good prices to boot.

-Ben M.

[rhodyguy]

given my last go round with them, not tweeks. we'll see tomorrow if the 2-3 day delivery is only 3 days late. i thought i'd go to gpr and check out the prices, nope, site under constuction.

kevin

[Aaron Cox]

Pel. parts gets firtst shot w/ me. if they dont got it i try perf.prod. or ebay.....then to tweeks or AA. AA has alot of hard to find stuff tho. such as replacement door handle rivet screw things. (changing a right side door handle to a left side by changin the door pull itself. )

[Dave Cawdrey]

FLAPS, EBAY, PP...

[Lawrence]

In order:

Paragon, Stoddard, Zims.

I'll be placing an order this week, probably with HPH or Paragon.

-Rusty

[anthony]

For a quick purchase of oil filters, gaskets, plugs, anything Bosch, I go to Small Car World in Albany. They've usually had everything I've needed over the years for all my cars: various VW Squarebacks, '77 BMW, '94 VW Jetta, '94 Toyota truck, and the 914. Their prices are also better than Pelican 90% of the time on tune up stuff. For example, I redid all the vacuum hoses and it cost less than $1/foot. Pelican tries to get $3/foot for the same stuff.

For catalog stuff I've given Pelican most of my business. When Performance has their 15% off sales they beat Pelican. I think Wayne is wrong to say we have to call to get a price match. It's too much trouble to get the EXACT SAME PRICE. They should offer an incentive to call in if they can't reprogram their web site.

Paragon has gotten some of my business too but I thought shipping was a little slow. There was probably something that wasn't in stock in my order but I wasn't in a hurry and was happy with the transaction.

I've never tried Tweeks or AA. I wish HPH was closer to me. When I buy used stuff it's usually at swap meets or from other 914/Roadglue guys who are parting out cars.

[Gint]

I've given Pelican a good deal of my money. It's been 6 or 9 months or so. I'm not thrilled about the stories I've been hearing of late regarding their service.

I spent $1k on parts from Rich Bontempi (HPH) and had Brad transport them to Dunkle's in L.A. while I was catching the swap/show action and dropping off a 1.7 motor to Burr. I met Rich once and toured the shop. I know I can tell him "I need a watchamadinger for a 74 2.0/4 and I don't know the size" and I KNOW I will get the right part.

I made one purchase from Jason at Paragon. Great guy, good service. I'll have to do more business with him in the future.

I made one purchase at GPR in the past. No complaints. I will give them some $$$ also.

I'm not very tolerant of poor customer service. I've never purchased from AA, and I most likely never will.

[SirAndy]

I wish HPH was closer to me.

hmmm, where in the bay area are you? it takes me less than 30 minutes to get there either from oakland (home) or SF (work) ...

Andy

[anthony]

I'm in El Sobrante. Without traffic it takes a minimum of 1.25 hours to get to Redwood City. Any other time with traffic it's impossible. Spending $8 on gas and putting 100 miles on my car negates any shipping charges I'd have to pay from the usual vendors.

[Aaron Cox]

i have had no trouble w/ any of the above listed companies. tweeks and AA are a little slow to ship. performance products is a little bit expensive and had a 3 month backorder on my springs, but PEL. parts has my business #1 because they are so punctual. here in a day or two!

[Brad Roberts]

I have quickly figured out who actually builds cars and who pushes parts. Its all in the sales people... Gint nailed it with his HPH reference. People who build/service the cars turn out to be MUCH better with parts sales than anybody with a wharehouse. You get what you need every time..

Now..if he would just step up and get a real shipping person and have UPS pick up every day he would be all right.

I buy from GPR (because the owner is a 914 guy)

I cant believe I heard the name "Roy Rogers" this means you are close to "Skip Page". I used to buy my parts from "Roy Rogers" when i was in North Texas. Good place.. owned by a preacher.


B