Sheet Metal parts on the shelf in the U.S. ? Options

[Literati914]

Not looking for any political opinions from the following:

I got sticker shock on the shipping of a few sheet metal parts for my next restoration when I enquired at Restoration Design. Then I remembered - duh, tariffs. No big deal I'll get this stuff from PMB, they're US and I should have considered them first anyway! .. well they apparently don't actually stock them and so again shipping is from Canada and also comical. No reason to ever buy sheet metal from them though IMHO.

I then call Automobile Atlanta and get a low-key brag about how AA makes most of their own sheet metal, was first to do so, etc. etc. I ask the guy on the line to check stock on 4 items before placing my order on-line, just to be sure they were in stock. One item was not available (but y'all make them right?). Anyway I placed the order for the three items (rear trunk floor, the small parking brake pivot piece, and the interior lower firewall complete (which is inconveniently sold as two pieces from AA for some reason). The online shipping for this order was around $50 which seems about right, but there was a note that it could increase a little once the package was made up. After placing the order I get a note saying that shipping is going to be $415 !! - That is close to what Restoration Design was going to charge, plus they had the pieces that AA didn't, so..

I've shipping a set of heat exchangers not all that long ago for a fraction of that shipping quote.. so I know these items can't be that high to ship within the states. Tariffs are the only thing that has changed.

Anyone actually stock these ?

[mepstein]

Shipping should have been $50 ish. They are trying to scam you. I just sent an expensive muffler from CA to PA. I’m shipping it in a 120 qt cooler because it will provide a lot of protection and I can reuse the cooler. Shipping cost $108 and the dimensions are 39x19x19. I can send a 915 transmission x-country in that same cooler for less than $300. Bruce/bdstone914 recently sent me a front bumper. Again, CA to PA. Cost was $98 and that included $1500 insurance. Shipping has gone up a bit but not what you were quoted. I can get an 911 engine from PA to TX for for $415 It’s either gross misunderstanding or a cash grab. Either way it’s not right.