SMS Auto Fabrics, one of the auto upholstery industry’s leading suppliers of original and reproduction fabrics, has purchased longtime competitor Original Auto Interiors.
In a statement posted to Original Auto Interiors’ website, founder Tom Ames said the sale was due to his planned retirement.
“After 40 years in the upholstery business, I am retiring. … I would like to thank all the loyal automotive trimmers and customers for your patronage and wish you all the best,” said Ames.
Doug Pollock, owner of SMS Auto Fabrics, confirmed the sale.
“I’ve been in the ‘old car’ fabrics business for over 40 years,” said Pollock. “For most of those years, Tom from Original Auto Interiors and I have been friendly competitors. When he approached me about selling the business, it seemed like a logical fit for SMS Auto Fabrics.”
Pollock said he plans to fold Original Auto Interiors into SMS Auto Fabrics’ operation.
Combining SMS Auto Fabrics’ large inventory and reproduction capabilities with Original Auto Interiors’ vast stock would be a boon to customers, he said.
“Customers of Original Auto Interiors will benefit greatly from the much larger selection of materials now available to them,” Pollock said, before expressing excitement for the deal.
“This is a great opportunity for SMS Auto Fabrics to continue to supply the world with the ‘right stuff’ for old cars,” he said.
Ames also believes the sale is a good move for the industry. “Doug has assured me that the same level of customer service you expect and deserve will be maintained,” he said in his statement.
For the many veteran trimmers who’ve known and worked with Ames over the last 40 years, his retirement from the industry is bitter sweet. We wish him all the best and thank him for his many years of dedication to our craft.
Hoping that in the future they deliver when credit from your credit card.
After more then 3 months still no goods received.
Dieter—A new roll of the 57 Ford blue flying dart cloth is being finished up especially for you. It will be done soon. Hang in there!
Doug
Good for you Doug! Congratulations on the purchase. Can’t wait to see what exciting, new things come of this.
Congrats to both! Going to miss Tom and Kevin’s customer service, you guys were awesome to deal with! Best of luck to all going forward! Thank you for being good suppliers to us trimmers in the trenches!
Dieter I wish you luck. I have been kept waiting 2 (yes 2!) years for my order to be completed which has been paid for in full and there is still no sign of it or any indication of a delivery date. Doug has a great way of (not) dealing with customers….
Paul Frost
UK customer of the (allegedly) world renowned SMS Auto Fabrics
Doug took payment in full after he said it would be half down half before delivery.now a year later not only do I not have any seat covers for my car but I don’t have my money . They don’t answer the phone and all business is conducted via email . That makes it easier to screen who they respond too. If anyone reads this review do yourself s favor don’t let them make anything for you in the end you will loose . I was a customer for nine years but I only ever bought fabric from them and took it to my upholster . After contracting them to make covers for my car is when the ripped me off . That’s when I read reviews and found out what thieves they are. Read the reviews
I am pleased to add that my earlier product problems I had with SMS has been now resolved to my complete satisfaction.
These guys are scam artists. Anyone who ever receives what they ordered from SMS should go buy a lottery ticket because you are seriously lucky. Losing Tom and his inventory to SMS is about the worst thing that could have happened to anyone who needs vintage material. Be very very careful, use a real credit card not debit and dispute the charge before it is to late with your card company.
I had read some of these negative reviews about SMS. I had them send me a sample fabric for my 64 Buick and it matched perfectly, so I went ahead and ordered the product. I received it about two weeks later and had it installed and I could not be more pleased. They came through for me. Ed Moul
We ordered a set of seat covers for our 59 ford galaxie and sent the full payment to SMS in March2019 and have not received them as of yet. We were told it would be June when we got them, it is now the end of Oct. and all we get is excuses. They do not answer the phone and one time my wife did get someone on the phone she said she would check on our order, since then only e-mails were received.
We buy seat covers for our 1958 Buick Limited and paid more than 3000 dollars!!!! This was in January 2019. I send alot emails and the answer was end of june. Now its january 2020 and we still do not have them. They sewn this covers in her company and they need weeks to check the status. Sorry what is this for a scam service?? I have alot friends in sweden who has the same problem at this time and we want to this all together.
I filled out the information regarding the vehicle with all of the information, model number, style and colors included. Ordered fabric and was told it was in stock so I had them ship it two day air. Forward three weeks and numerous emails- many unanswered- (as they are not currently answering the phones) and still no product. Kim finally responds with “shipped 2day”. Really? Professional? No. When it came it was not the fabric I ordered and they stated I ordered the gray? No, I used the model and style with the manufacturer etc to try to get original material. Plus they still charged me the two day air after waiting weeks for delivery. I cannot find a way to reach the owner to discuss this with him. I used to order from them frequently years ago, but will not be anytime soon. Doug, please look up invoice 129812 and feel free to reach out to me. Thank you.
Doug-
I am still waiting on my Travelall door panels. It’s been a year.
We either need a refund or get the work finished.
The doors are going on for paint soon.
I appreciate all you have done in the past, but we need to close out this rebuild.
~P.
After reading the write up in Hemmings about Doug Pollock and SMS, I took the plunge and prepaid to order two sets of seat covers for my cars. I was elated when I thought my dream came true; Replica seat covers using original materials made to order with embossing of the crest. Now, I am seriously regretting this and wish I had done the review search on SMS first. I find it contemptible that Hemmings would promote this company. I am not renewing my subscriptions to them.
I was told 4-5 months for completion, they were very anxious to get my money “to expedite my order”. It is almost a year with no delivery and no credible customer service response. I now have two unusable cars without seat covers (they wanted old materials for patterns) and no confidence I will get what I paid for. I have been as patient and reasonable as anyone could expect. I will be working at resolution of this from every method I can.