Curious as to where you look to buy your parts.

[Busted Knuckles]

Several years ago, I bought the remaining inventory from MEPCO in Murray, Utah. Don had spent years roaming the country buying the parts inventory of closed AMC Jeep Dealers, he retired back in 2007.

Mepco has continued on (changed names as well), but with his son at the wheel, they got away from the NOS stuff, and got into the hard core building of extreme rigs, mostly newer stuff. I came along and bought the old NOS inventory they no longer wanted

For a short while after 2007, I peddled the parts on fleabay. I stopped selling on fleabay, because of several changes they made there.

As some may have noticed allot of other sellers peddling NOS and used CJ parts also have taken flight.

Heres my pickle, I think the time has come for me to start selling again, (I spent the last two years moving and finishing a house) but Im not sure where to go with my wares, so I was hoping I could pick up some minor feedback from you guys and gals as to which general direction you look for you parts.

(By no means is this a solicitation to sell parts to anyone on this forum, Im aware of the classifieds here and have used them a couple times in the past, please dont PM looking for anything)

Im not looking for vendor names, just avenues you tend to wander down for parts.

IE: a jeep junk yard, Hemmings, amazon, fleabay, online retailer, local brick and mortar, my buddy hooks me up,...something else Ive not thought of ?

My main product is obsolete new old stock AMC/Kaiser/Willys, but I also sell some new re-pop stuff that is from OMIX and Crown, to round things out.

So Im looking for some direction as to where you look for parts for youre CJ specifically, for that is the bulk of my inventory, figured Id ask where CJ buyers look for their parts, instead of finding out possibly the wrong way, the hard way. I think I know what the answer is, but I just thought I would ask.

Thanks for youre time and input, Bill

 

[mtnwhlr]

I start with Quadratec

 

[hdgapeach]

All of the above in your I.E. list except Hemmings. Never thought about that source.

If I utilize fleabay, I generally buy from individuals and not the auction stores.

My searches usually start with google for price comparisons. Next is the call to my local guy at the CARQUEST (that used to be NAPA and is fixin' to go back since Advance bought out CARQUEST).

I do have a great source just south of Griffin, GA. Been a while since I've had to travel over there for anything and I would shop more frequent if he was closer. He has loads of original stuff he accumulated when he worked on the AMC assembly line.

 

[Busted Knuckles]

I start with Quadratec

All of the above in your I.E. list except Hemmings. Never thought about that source.

If I utilize fleabay, I generally buy from individuals and not the auction stores.

My searches usually start with google for price comparisons. Next is the call to my local guy at the CARQUEST (that used to be NAPA and is fixin' to go back since Advance bought out CARQUEST).

I do have a great source just south of Griffin, GA. Been a while since I've had to travel over there for anything and I would shop more frequent if he was closer. He has loads of original stuff he accumulated when he worked on the AMC assembly line.

So Mtnwhlr is a one stop shopper, online, HD, you shop like I do, beating all the bushes looking to see what turns up.

In general, and off my subject just a little, I used to own and run a 6 bay garage, was a Napa Auto Center, many years ago. Heres a little input on that subject, Napa's private label stuff, which is almost everything, is the same off shore no-name stuff you can get for a fraction of the price from other outlets. Just an FYI. Same goes for Oriellys, Carquest, Advance, pick youre chain, all selling the same stuff.

Dont be shy, shop them all, if its from Asia, chances are extremely good, that is made in the same plant.

Example, my neighbor is putting a wheel bearing in his 3500 Dodge 4x4. I roll up and ask where he bought the bearing. "Napa", what did you pay ? "$410". I take my phone, about a minute later, I show him, here is your bearing for $119.00 freight included. Both where off shore parts, the Napa box did say "Napa", bearing had no name on it, box said china.

On the same note, one of my best friends, has his own shop, 20 years now, ASE Master Certified, he used to be a Napa auto care center. His warranty claims got so bad, he threw Napa out after 15 years. He was like " I dont care if the parts are free, Im tired of loosing my butt on warrnty work".

Napa is not what it used to be.

thanks for your input fellas !

 

[mstar]

When you mention your inventory and ties with some repop manuf. I think well how about if you had a web based business with a list of the inventory
and prices.Probably most internet users are going to use a search engine to locate a stock pile of NOS parts.Unless you have a part no. going to the local auto parts store is a waste of gasoline.I am having a hard time grasping what your goal is with this inquire.BTW best of luck and I for one would love to see your inventory list. Regards, mike s.

 

[007]

I get part numbers down and I always check Amazon first. I'm a Prime member so I get free two day shipping on all Prime products with overnight just $4 more in most cases. What I can't get there reasonably I source using the most popular outlets mentioned.

You too can sell on Amazon if you wish and they can warehouse your items as well in some cases.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hedgehog]

The more local the better. The internet is ruining the little guy.

 

[lutry]

Ebay is the only way for me from Europe to look
for NOS AMC parts...

 

[Busted Knuckles]

I am having a hard time grasping what your goal is with this inquire.BTW best of luck and I for one would love to see your inventory list. Regards, mike s.

Thanks for the input Mike.

My goal is, to place myself into the "stream".

My options are to open my own online store attached to nothing or no-one, and relying on Google index my inventory to be found. Start selling on fleabay again (hoping not to). I can also sell through Amazon.

If I am to learn that the CJ buyer is mostly buying from lets say from 2 retailers, then my other option is to be done with it, and have a local auction, and dump it all in one day, which is my last resort, but the idea has crossed my mind.

The inventory sits in a 2000sqft buiding, and its shelved and pallet racked to the ceiling, Id like the space back, I was going to use it as a body shop, and for painting. Id like to get back to building jeeps, which includes painting them.

To sell the parts locally, I would be past retirement age, and still have most of it, which brings me back to dumping it.

As far as the list, Ive never inventoried it, I just grab a box, look up the applications, and list it. Don did provide with a partial list when I purchased it, but Ive never referenced it or used it.

 

[Busted Knuckles]

I get part numbers down and I always check Amazon first. I'm a Prime member so I get free two day shipping on all Prime products with overnight just $4 more in most cases. What I can't get there reasonably I source using the most popular outlets mentioned.

You too can sell on Amazon if you wish and they can warehouse your items as well in some cases.

Thanks for the input,...

Thanks for that, I actually tried amazon for about 90 days, from a seller point of veiw, with NOS, it does not work well. They have a known library of "stuff" none of which mine fits into (the nos). They dont like you adding your own images, and then your listing is so buried in other garbage, the main thing I dont like about it, as a buyer its so busy with other garbage they are trying to sell you. I didnt like the way their shipping costs are structured either. Forced me to take more money than was necessary from some buyers.

As a seller, I really dont dig, my buyer being bombarded with 24 other products while looking at mine, as an example.

And the crown/omix, they buy at such a discount, their sell price, is below my buy price on re-pop parts. So its not made for a good match, I can forget about buying any new parts to make available, because they are 15-20% under my cost to sell, and keep in mind they are making money ! They buy real cheap, and yes, their service is good.

I shop on amazon, myself as well, but as a seller is a dismal experience, about as bad as fleabay.

 

[Busted Knuckles]

The more local the better. The internet is ruining the little guy.

Ebay is the only way for me from Europe to look
for NOS AMC parts...

HH, You cant find NOS locally.. try as you may, unless you live down the road from me or less than a handful of other yo-yos like me. The internet has resolved that problem, and at the same time it has killed the little guy as you have suggested, but it also makes a world of products available that you might otherwise never even knew existed or you could get ahold of.

Lutry, yes Europe. Im one of those US sellers you probably dont care for, but let me shed some light. Ive tried time and again, to ship to Europe, and it goes like this. "Shipping is expensive, please pack the part lightly to save on shipping", that gets followed up with "my part is damaged, I want my money back". So that does not work out, Im money ahead to throw the parts away.

Then there is the shipping time and the "where is my part ? I paid for it two week ago, its not here ?, where is it ?" Like somehow, Im supposed to provide the ship name, its Longitude and Latitude, and an ETA ? I get tired of the emails, because they reek of " Im really wondering if you sent the part or not ?" Suggesting fraud. Anyway, about 3 out of 5 European sales have problems, I dont knowingly get into problems, I actually try to avoid them.

That said, I appreciate your time you took to leave a reply.

 

[lutry]

Lutry, yes Europe. Im one of those US sellers you probably dont care for, but let me shed some light. Ive tried time and again, to ship to Europe, and it goes like this. "Shipping is expensive, please pack the part lightly to save on shipping", that gets followed up with "my part is damaged, I want my money back". So that does not work out, Im money ahead to throw the parts away.

Then there is the shipping time and the "where is my part ? I paid for it two week ago, its not here ?, where is it ?" Like somehow, Im supposed to provide the ship name, its Longitude and Latitude, and an ETA ? I get tired of the emails, because they reek of " Im really wondering if you sent the part or not ?" Suggesting fraud. Anyway, about 3 out of 5 European sales have problems, I dont knowingly get into problems, I actually try to avoid them.

That said, I appreciate your time you took to leave a reply.

I can really understand your points here and can imagine that you are
done with it.
Nevertheless I really care about each seller, because I have an US delivery
address. I do not have my stuff sent to Europe, but being collected
in the US at a company that repacks my boxes into one once a month
and send that with Fedex to me.
I am never in a hurry, because I buy my NOS spares in advance

 

[rufus1138]

im a google and general research fiend, no telling where i buy my parts most of the time, so far all my consumable maintenance stuff has and will continue to come from autozone, carb kit, fluids (i know this is super minor), soon to be buying a new dizzy cap and rotor. most other stuff ive been pricing from aftermarket manufacturers and places like morris4x4 and QuadraTrac (sp).

 

[cj7inthetwigs]

I tend to look at Quadratec, etc. Ebay sometimes ,but am leery of ebay. As a seller, I charge a few different flat rates myself to ship overseas . My packing is far above any major company I have ever purchased from. I figure packing cost into the price of item and shipping. If someone in Europe wants to pay my price, I will sell to them. I demand tracking numbers and usually insurance too. I love to support the little guy and buy local to. Always search for American made, but sometimes its less stressful to hit up google and price check than even think about driving into town. My 2¢,thanks.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

 

[Busted Knuckles]

I can really understand your points here and can imagine that you are
done with it.
Nevertheless I really care about each seller, because I have an US delivery
address. I do not have my stuff sent to Europe, but being collected
in the US at a company that repacks my boxes into one once a month
and send that with Fedex to me.
I am never in a hurry, because I buy my NOS spares in advance

Now that you mention that, I have sold stuff, that shipped to a "forwarder" on the east coast for foreign buyers, but only once or twice. Ive was fine with that.

At the same time, I can put myself in YOUR shoes, I would not appreciate being discriminated against. I have made exceptions over the years, If I could have good exchange with the buyer via email, with good English, and if the part they wanted did NOT lend itself to easy damage I would sell and ship, but only after a talk about their expectations on shipping time. I found the farther north in Europe the parts went, I had less problems. Ive also shipped to Australia, to the Dutch Antilles, and New Zealand without problems.

So fundamentally, I fine with shipping abroad, but I found buyer expectations can easily exceed real word logistics, and then they want to hang me out for their unrealistic expectations !

 

[hdgapeach]

So Mtnwhlr is a one stop shopper, online, HD, you shop like I do, beating all the bushes looking to see what turns up.

In general, and off my subject just a little, I used to own and run a 6 bay garage, was a Napa Auto Center, many years ago. Heres a little input on that subject, Napa's private label stuff, which is almost everything, is the same off shore no-name stuff you can get for a fraction of the price from other outlets. Just an FYI. Same goes for Oriellys, Carquest, Advance, pick youre chain, all selling the same stuff.

Dont be shy, shop them all, if its from Asia, chances are extremely good, that is made in the same plant.

Example, my neighbor is putting a wheel bearing in his 3500 Dodge 4x4. I roll up and ask where he bought the bearing. "Napa", what did you pay ? "$410". I take my phone, about a minute later, I show him, here is your bearing for $119.00 freight included. Both where off shore parts, the Napa box did say "Napa", bearing had no name on it, box said china.

On the same note, one of my best friends, has his own shop, 20 years now, ASE Master Certified, he used to be a Napa auto care center. His warranty claims got so bad, he threw Napa out after 15 years. He was like " I dont care if the parts are free, Im tired of loosing my butt on warrnty work".

Napa is not what it used to be.

thanks for your input fellas !

Reason I'm partial to the CARQUEST / NAPA store for "brick and mortar" shopping is primarily the customer service, correct part the first time, overnight part orders if needed, career employees and discounts just because they like me .

Overseas parts are something we're all going to have to get used to regardless of what store they come from. Where I value NAPA & CARQUEST more than the other chain stores is they know me and all my vehicles and more important, they know what and where to find what I need and even know part numbers by memory a lot of the time. The Advanced store has new kids behind the counter every time I go in there. And I hate having to train employees each time I go to a store. I mean, we're talking about kids that don't have a clue what a carburetor is and have never heard of AMC! And the majority of the time, if I don't carry the affected part with me for comparison, the kids will provide me with the incorrect computer provided part. That results with me making two 26 mile round trips to the "cheap" part store for one part. With the price of gas these days, that doesn't exactly mean cheap to me. And as a bonus, my CQ / NAPA guys will drop an ordered part by the house if one of them happens to be headed my way. Can't beat that out here in the sticks where I live!

 

[Busted Knuckles]

Reason I'm partial to the CARQUEST / NAPA store for "brick and mortar" shopping is primarily the customer service,

I remember those days, its been 20 years for me, since I knew a part man, on a first name basis.

 

[Hitman1881]

Knuckles.... I think the first thing I would do is inventory and organize. Then set up my own online store. You can't sell it if you don't know if you have it. Lots of places online you could advertise and sell your wares... Forums, message boards, Facebook for sale and swap sites. Good luck and I for one would love to browse a cj nos website for treasures.

 

[mtnwhlr]

Knuckles.... I think the first thing I would do is inventory and organize. Then set up my own online store. You can't sell it if you don't know if you have it. Lots of places online you could advertise and sell your wares... Forums, message boards, Facebook for sale and swap sites. Good luck and I for one would love to browse a cj nos website for treasures.

 

[Busted Knuckles]

Knuckles.... I think the first thing I would do is inventory and organize. Then set up my own online store. You can't sell it if you don't know if you have it. Lots of places online you could advertise and sell your wares... Forums, message boards, Facebook for sale and swap sites. Good luck and I for one would love to browse a cj nos website for treasures.

Ive never inventoried it, from the stand point, it just takes too much time. I took me a week, working 8-10hrs a day, to remove the parts from the totes they where put in for shipping. I did open just about every box, and have a look see, and threw some stuff away, but a week just to get them on the shelf. Id spend a month or two just recording part numbers, and looking up each piece and verify its application. Most of what I have is CJ, but there is J truck, commando, FSJ Wagon, Kaiser/Willy mixed in there.

Ive already flushed most of the pre-74 parts out in lots, but it needs to be sorted again.

Keep in mind, that with each part number, I have to know what it is, to find it in the proper section of the parts illustrations, and then go to the group number, and then I get the application if it has not been superceded. Anyway, it takes way too much time. Ive found it easier just to pull it out of a box, and list it. So basically, a list will never exist, unless I keep track of what I sold, that would be the only way it would "pay" to have a list. Yes it would be nice, but its not in the cards.

Its a slow process to identify each part, that and I could never put it all up for sale at once, I could never get it all shipped. I have found that about 50 parts a week keeps me busy for most of the day for 5 days, or basically listing and selling/shipping 10 items a day, anymore than that and it gets away from me, being a one man operation.

Im real particular about getting things shipped preferably the same day they are paid for, at the very latest, the next day. Prior to recently moving, I could drop my packages at the UPS facility up to 10pm. I had a friend who worked there, so I would run all my packages over there right before I went to bed.