The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk never mind

lost intrest

I usually get frustrated and pick up the phone and call to get prices and availability when I need a part. The bad side to calling is getting an "order taker" on the phone that doesn't have a clue what most of the parts are. In fairness to the vendors most of them do have knowledgeable people that are available if you ask for them.

Yep, I do. Try American Classic Truck Parts that support Stovebolt. Their's is really basic. It helps to know the part name you may be looking for to narrow your search, but often I just plug in my year truck and scan the categories by truck section. I've also spoken by phone with good results.

I completely agree with you, Denny

Jim Carter's website is useless for searching.
This is sad, because they have the widest selection of parts, and their customer service people are among the best.

Chevs of the 40s used to have a very friendly/logical interface - no more. Their customer service people are usually good.

Even Classic (Truck) Parts (Chevy Duty) does not provide a URL-link for the result of a general multi-result search (their search feature is very good, however). Their customer service people are usually good.

American Classic Truck Parts is good, but it seems to take a few extra steps to get to part (compared to Classic Parts). I usually do not link to them because their pictures and descriptions are not as helpful as the other vendors listed above.

Nonetheless, the competition is good and that benefits all of us.

Many of us have different needs and preferences - that is also good for competition that benefits all of us.

I agree with your assessments. Some of the sites appear to be designed by high school students with search results to match. Especially frustrating when you know they have what you want. Sometimes I like to build my shopping cart as I run across things there or as my build progresses then place the order. Did that the other night at the Filling Station but when I went back a day or two later found they tossed my cart. Gee, thanks for that. But I am glad I can eventually find so much - eventually.

Dennis

I typically use Classic Parts and then price check against LMC. Both are pretty user friendly.

I agree, some of the others are a bit cryptic

might just be youse with the AD trucks, I find all of them workable for TaskForce parts, just have to poke around sometimes to find which category they park specific parts in .... no harder than the GM Master Parts Catalogs

and Dennis, the carts persistence depends on the cookie on your 'puter, if you toss your cookies, the "cart" is gone

Bill

Dennis,

Sometimes the persistence is due to your computer's/browser's setting. However, I do not delete cookies and I find the same "disappearing cart" problem you find (with many, but not all vendors/sellers). The seller's software/server is often the cart-deletion culprit.

Just curious. When you all buy from these sites do you set up a username and password? I do. That seems to help for repeat look sees.

That is a good observation/question, Drew.

I have lost carts (and have carts persist) with and without an account/login.

Denny,

I totally agree with you on the poor web design for most all...no all of the aftermarket vendors. Using their search functions often results in no "hit" or they pull up random junk. I am all about the competition in the market place, so I spend my money with the retailers that serve the customer the best. Part of the service is the ability to locate the items of interest most efficiently. I think they should peruse McMaster-Carr's organization, online parts search, item descriptions, price, and expedient service. If any of the Chevy reproduction companies changed to the McMaster-Carr business model, they would get all of my business.

Paul

Denny,

I agree!! McMaster-Carr is the BEST!! Grainger is not to bad either. I use to use McMaster-Carr quite a bit for those hard to find items and for parts needed for modification.

Tim

Totally agree about McMaster-Carr. They have a depot in NJ, so if I order in the am, I get parts the very next day!

I usually send away for the paper (hardcopy) catalogs. Pictures and part#s makes it simple.

I find the downloaded pdf catalog from Jim Carter easier to use than the website, then enter the part number in the search bar. Still aggravating but works easier for me.

.....their belief is the longer you look, the more you buy

.....a certain fellow tried to help JCarter with his but Jim just wouldn't listen. Now he's paying the price.
I too like Classic Parts and American Classic. The Truck Shop is about as bad as Carters, or worse in some ways. Just my .02.

You can't build a truck/car/airplane without McMaster-Carr!


Weeds

I agree that McMaster-Carr is the best! But the Car and Truck site in Orange, Ca. is pretty easy, if you click on the catalog that is for your particular truck/year. It shows pictures just like a paper catalog and is very reasonable on prices, and easy to find your part.
Also if you request, they will send you a paper catalog, that is just like the ones on the site.

Denny (and all)

I usually pull down pdf's of the vendor's catalogs and search there for parts. I keep an excel sheet with parts comparisons for price and availability.

When I'm ready to order, I just use part numbers and the sites tend to work pretty rapidly.

The spreadsheet helps me plan and helps me keep better track of wants vs needs. It also aids discussions of the ongoing project with my better half.

The downside is that I know far too well how much I've spent and on what. Then my wife reminds me its a hobby and recreation as opposed to an investment.

Have fun.

Bill, we can't take it with us. I think its time we meet up again for some BBQ. I was over in your neck of the woods tonight.

..back on topic, for some reason I just can't get the hang of he Truck Shop catalog. I don't have a puter in the shop so I keep a paper one out their anyway and then just call to place an order. I hate comfusers more than DG.

Talking of wasting time Denny,I was making up a small order for some stainless garnish trim screws and a host of other smaller interior parts for the '50.
I spent over 40 minutes carefully surfing the site selecting said parts and saving them to my shopping cart.

Long story short,I proceeded to checkout only to be presented with the comment...

"International orders,please call."

There goes an hour of my life I wont get back.

(I'm working on a New Zealand Gallery story currently! Speaking of "calling," I finally got Verizon international -- was only $10/month for 300 minutes. Trying to do some of these via email is just too hard. We are getting more and more overseas submission which is great. I have to remember to Google "what time is it?" before I plan my call!

Yea, I think the International Bolters are a special lot!

Peg

Not wanting to get too political Denny but given recent events concerning our independance in Scotland i'd happily immigrate if you folks would have me!
My wife on the other hand? Not so much......
I even have a wee business plan all worked out (in my head at least)

Coincidentally my Dad was offered a job working for F*rd in Dearborn in the late 70s and we very nearly made the move but due to unforseen health problems within my family sadly that plan never came to fruition.
What could've been......but then I may have gone to the 'Dark side' in that instance.


Thankfully there are vendors here specializing in AD truck parts but they tend to concentrate on the more common bulky stuff like grills,bumpers,rust repair panels and tailgates etc,but when you get down to the smaller detail stuff it's not so good.

One of the the biggest problems is not only shipping/import costs but timescale,waiting weeks for parts in some instances is no fun.

In saying that, I do also miss being able to go to a specialist store or having a root around a boneyard and having a face to face conversation with a real live person or even the junkyard dog...!

To be honest I have had it relatively easy compared to some of my European cousins.
Most of the other countrys you mention did in fact import or build CDK kit Chevys and GMCs so they have a slight advantage in some respects with perhaps Japan being the exception.