I reached out to SMS in December of 2018 for seat upholstery, headliner and door panels for my AMC wagon. The interior is a fantastic array of pink, brown, metalic silver and white. The headliner arrived in a few months. My door panels are due maybe early 2021. The seat material is an unknown....
SMS lead time
- Thread starter Pistol Pete
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440sportfury
Active Member
I spoke to a friend of mine last night he has been waiting three years for his door panels and headliner. He is the type of guy who calls them continuously. I don't have any proof but I have my suspicions that when Elaine on the sienfelds put the Soup Nazi out of business. He plied his other trade making interiors for SMS. If you pester them by calling to often no door panels for you. His car is immaculate no expense spared he is just missing his door panels and headliner. If you call too often I believe you go to the bottom of the pile whether your nice or a complainer If you need work done by them make it your first priority and be nice
bluefury361
Old Man with a Hat
Yea, dealing with them after placing an order is like dancing on a bed of nails. You need to be nice even though their inconfidence makes you crazy and want to yell....!
Their sense of logic is totally different than most folks. I sometimes wonder if SMS is like a restricted access institution.
Their sense of logic is totally different than most folks. I sometimes wonder if SMS is like a restricted access institution.
I was so damn mad at SMS when they sent me a blue vinyl top for a 1969 Charger. The funny thing is that Mopar never ever had a blue vinyl top for a Charger. I ordered the top about 8 months in advance of volunteering my car for wedding pictures for my nephew in Milwaukee. We ended up using my brother's 1969 Dart GTS.
73Coupe
Senior Member
I have been very patient and cordial with SMS with every interaction, so far.
However, with the constant disappointment I'm experiencing, they are slowly turning me into a militia member.
However, with the constant disappointment I'm experiencing, they are slowly turning me into a militia member.
Anyone had door panels reproduced elsewhere? Next questionwould be, how much $?
I just ordered a complete headliner from them, based on the sample they sent me. Do you have a picture of the headliner/material differences in your case? Any update on the vinyl top?
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bluefury361
Old Man with a Hat
Good luck with that. Why do you think they are so back logged? Their the only game n town, (If you want it right). And, as Steve pointed out, Finding people talented enough to preform that work ain't easy. Its an art.
73Coupe
Senior Member
I think I have some photos, and will post them. What material is your headliner that you're replacing? The mesh fabric?
I returned the bunk vinyl top last week after receiving a return label 1 month after receipt of said top.
EDIT with pics:
The fabric sample attached to the paper they no longer have. This is the cream colored mesh material.
They only have the mesh fabric in the beige colored material which is pictured against the cream sample.
Because of the color bust, they made me lighter colored headliner in a different material that is similar in color to the cream sample. I also still have the beige headliner.
Instead of alerting me that they did not have the correct material, they just made two headliners out of non-matching material. I feel cheated. You said that you were in contact with Doug himself? Do you have his email or phone? I'm just dealing with the cleanup department.
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Great, look fwd to it. Yep -- see the picture below.
Since the roof dimensions of your '73 NYB and my '72 NYB are the same, I hope that they have learned from their experience
73Coupe
Senior Member
Great, look fwd to it. Yep -- see the picture below.
View attachment 423057
Since the roof dimensions of your '73 NYB and my '72 NYB are the same, I hope that they have learned from their experience
The more I try to help them, the harder they fail.
I suggest placing your expectations very low, that way you won't be as disappointed.
Hey John, I do know an excellent upholstery guy in Victorville that can make your headliner and even install it for you if you can leave your car with him. I also hear he is just as good at doing vinyl tops and given the work he did when doing some headliner conversions in two of my C body wagons (got rid of the perforated hardboard junk that Chrysler put in them) he is incredible and the headliners are just perfect! He has been doing this over 30 years now and likes doing the older cars like ours most of all (he does a lot of customs and modern vehicles as well).
He could also make up a set of both for @ayilar as well and then he could have the installations done back East - you would just have to get him the correct material that you would want to use in both cases.
Then there would be no issue with whether the headliners or vinyl tops would be made up properly/match as original.
Just be sure the vinyl top on your car currently is exactly original - I can't recall whether it is the original one or not when I saw it when you were here recently but I think it was.
You would need to make an appointment with him somewhat in advance of the work being done, so perhaps on your next trip down here to visit your parents in the desert, that timing might work.
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73Coupe
Senior Member
Thanks Steve. The headliner in your T&C was excellent. The problem is I'm sort of locked in with SMS because it was pre-paid.
Do you know if he makes vinyl tops with heat-sealed seams? I have an original top on mine. SMS is making it again for the third time, we'll see what happens next....
I sure hope they finally make it right for you AND that they port their knowledge over to Buttercup's V1Y top
Yes, Scott, the guy that has had them done in the past told me he does heat seal them. If you decide to go that route, I will find out for sure before we proceed.
Having an original top on yours will assure it is made exactly correct with the seams in the correct locations. SMS has been lame in that regard too.
Hopefully SMS will come through for you guys this next time...........................
I received an email directly from Doug, but the reply-to address is info@sms... I did not talk to him, only to Leslie (who took my order).
I have tried to talk to Doug directly myself - never was successful. I am sure you can understand why..............................
I sure would hate my job if I were either Leslie or Kim and had to take all the negative calls day in and day out.................
I am happy to report that the SMS V1Y headliner for my 1972 NYB, Buttercup, came in today and that it fits. See details here. It shipped on March 2, 10 weeks after the initial order was placed. Given that Christmas and New Year fell in that period, I am a happy camper.
PS: The two SMS employees with whom I communicated were helpful and had a sense of humor. Great experience overall -- it was my first but won't be my last.
PS: The two SMS employees with whom I communicated were helpful and had a sense of humor. Great experience overall -- it was my first but won't be my last.
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