Wow, these guys are good. After being shafted on e-bay several times, by a guy who sells out of a "warehouse" in Lousiana and doesn't answer calls, and a local parts yard, I was amazed. Called another nation-wide supplier first. They didn't have any of the 3 parts that were in their catalog. All were "on back-order"-- 3-4 weeks. Got to Ames on line-- great info. Called an 800 number to order. All parts here within a week-- AND they even provided shipping links so I could track the parts through UPS. Going to keep & closely watch their catalog!

Wow, these guys are good. After being shafted on e-bay several times, by a guy who sells out of a "warehouse" in Lousiana and doesn't answer calls, and a local parts yard, I was amazed. Called another nation-wide supplier first. They didn't have any of the 3 parts that were in their catalog. All were "on back-order"-- 3-4 weeks. Got to Ames on line-- great info. Called an 800 number to order. All parts here within a week-- AND they even provided shipping links so I could track the parts through UPS. Going to keep & closely watch their catalog!

I'ved bought from Ames in the past and though thier prices are generally higher than Performance Years, they have delivered them within in a week of the order.

I have also had good luck with their parts! I like that they rate the quality of a lot of the parts, and also give a brief description on many of them. Some of the other venders that I have dealt with don't tell you anything other that the part name, PN, & price :confused:

I've spent a lot of money with Ames and have been pleased. Very seldom have back orders and the deliveries are always on time. Steve runs a first class business.

Your point is interesting 66SSE. I stopped using Year One because their prices were higher than Ames.

[img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img] :rolleyes:

FOR SALE: Pontiac Business- Established 1983. Quality parts, fair prices, good customer service....Identity problem [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Ccass good one. We all love ya but sometimes your not the only game in town. While I currently get most of my stuff from PY I have ordered from Ames before. They gave me a bum Hideaway actuator once and replaced it no problem. On the downside when my car was at the body shop in 97 (for a whole year) I received the front fenders and one was dented. They blamed it on the body shop and would not help me at all. I spoke to Steve Ames about this a year or 2 later at the GTOAA Nationals and he apologized. Nice guy.

You mean we can't get every Pontiac owner to buy everything from PY? :confused: .......

I've known Steve Ames since 1983. He's an asset to the hobby and has built and maintained quite an impressive company.

[ February 13, 2002: Message edited by: Ccass ]</p>

Sorry, CCass. Certainly didn't mean to offend. We all know YOU're the best!! :-)
Since I've blasted a couple of places for poor service, felt it only fair to commend one who did good.

GTOs rule.

Ed

Tim. I came up with a list of parts needed for my 66 last year (over 100), and compared prices for each. PY was lower for approx 55% of the Items. I will continue to order from both though as each has items not carried by the other.

When I first bought my Firebird last year, I bought quite a few parts from Classic, and Ames.
A lot of the prices from Classic were cheaper then Ames, but they "bent me over" for shipping.
Unfortunately I didn't know about Performance then.
The biggest complaint I have with Ames.
The window divider weatherstrips for my bird are junk.
Less then a year after installing, the rubber has already cracked and failed.
the metal backing has started to rust and fail.
Plus the rear bird emblem bolt stud fell off the minute I started to attach it.
I also made the mistake of buying from an "ebay wholeseller"
The trunk weatherstrip is waayy to hard.
my trunk lid no longer fits properly.
I also have to admit, some of the O.E.R. reproduced mldgs. aren't much better.
I'm very experienced in the auto body and paint field.
So I can safely feel confident in what I find to be inferior products.

Chris,how much for this poor downtrodden business??All the best bigpop

I think my comments may have cause some controversy as well as mixed feelings. After reading several posts, and then re-reading my original post, I can see how this my be. I am even surprised than I lost focus in mid-post.
Please allow me to explain.

If you read my original post, you will see that I stated "YEAR ONE". The logical assumption here is that I went too long without breathing and typed this name in response to a post discussing Performance YEARS. It could easily be done as both companies have the word "YEAR" in their names. Freud would have a scientific word for this type of gaffe. I know what most of us would call it.

The truth is that I was oxygen deficient but not in the manner it seems. When I first became interested in Pontiacs and their preservation/restoration, I was introduced to Year One as a source for Pontiac parts. I used them for a while until I became aware there were other vendors that sold Pontiac parts. I found out that Ames existed as well as Performance Years. Both dealt in one make only and both had prices lower than Year One. I left Year One and never went back.

When I read the post by 66SSE, he mentioned price being a big factor in choosing P YEARS over Ames. I read that post and locked in on the "Year" in
PY and thought about my past experience with YEAR One and their prices being higher than others. My boo-boo. I stayed locked in on Y1 when I made my last statement about Ames pricing being lower than Y1. Several days later I return to see discussion that centers around PY having higher prices than Ames. I read back and the brouhaha started after my post. Simply put, I stated and meant Y1 even though the discussion was about PY.

I realize that this explanation sounds feeble. It even sounds feeble to me. I can get blunt at times, but even this old southern boy has enough sense to not knock the man whose business is providing this Pontiac forum. You don't bite the hand that feeds you. If I felt Chris was out of line with his prices, I would shop elsewhere. The last thing I would do is slap his face on the forum he provides for all Pontiac fans.

Chris, I apologize to you for my mistake and the feelings it has caused you being it was made in public. I meant no disrespect to you, the participants in this thread or your business. I have bought form you in the past and will continue to do so in the future because of your competitive prices and the excellent quality of your parts. 66SSE, I also apologize to you for my confusing post. If I "got your gander up" I am truly sorry as I did not mean to. I was proceeding along with the mis-thought that there was someone out there who thought Y1 was cheaper than Ames. PY unfortunately got drawn into the middle of this already confusing post.

Y1 provides quality parts for those wishing to buy. The only qualm I have with them is their higher prices.

I've droned enough to prove to everyone that I'm a babbling idiot now. I respectfully submit myself for company punishment. Sorry guys. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif[/img]


Tim

I'll drink to that... ;-)

PY rules.

Ed

AMES Parts- can't find them on Yahoo (my bible)
Y1 - gave me the bums rush
PY gets my business first, except a couple of times when interior parts ran too long for the upholstery shop last year, Classic got some of the business, but cost me $ dearly in shipping to Canada.
NPD came to the rescue for seat foam, (2days from MI to Toronto by std UPS - cheap $ - unheard of) when they said he had foam & didn't - they goofed - otherwise I would have been sitting on a box in the car for a week or more.

Well, guess that I'll be honest.

I've bought a lot of parts from Ames and have always been happy with what I've received. Only once did I run into a problem with them and that was with customer service. It really made me hopping mad at the time.

That lead me to my first purchase from PY. To be honest, I had never really even heard of PY until I started to cruise the web car sites. By then I was a loyal customer of Ames. Now it is a 50-50 chance of who I'll buy my parts from.

Either way, if I can avoid it I will not use a non-Pontiac specific company again. I used Classic once - and they screwed up that order.

But, my next few orders will be with PY
(I need to get a set of chrome exhaust extensions for my 74 'bird [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] )

Tim, No offense taken. It's good for me to see what customers like and dislike about the other companies as well as ours. It helps motivate us to be better. My post was all in good fun. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

I always refer my customers to Performance Years first! I could use a bunch more catalogs! I never seem to keep them long around here! :eek:

I order from PY...I'd only order from Ame's if PY did'nt have what I need. I do this because PY sponsers this BB which has been an invaluable asset during the resto of my car. When calling in my order the people have been very helpful and courteous....and all my parts have been recieved in a timely manner and in good shape...Ames seems a good source also...but the this site tips the scales to PY for me..... [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Why PY rules:

1. They only sell Pontiac parts.
2. They're very knowledgeable.
3. Their prices are consistently the lowest.
4. Most (90% or more) of the time the parts are in stock.
5. If they don't have it in stock, the parts are on backorder for a short time.
6. Shipping costs are low.
7. They keep introducing new parts.