Offer your parts-sourcing advice.....

To my fellow restorers,
One thing I've found out about Parts Dealers is that they source their parts from different manufacturers, so naturally different Dealers will have different quality parts.
You need to be real careful when ordering parts and ask a lot of questions.
If it's at all possible VISIT the place where you want to get parts and look at whatever you're thinking of buying, see where it was made, check out the fitment and quality.
If they offer a low-cost and a high-cost of the same item (especially Chrome stuff) go for the better one.
I keep a few different catalogs on hand and compare prices.
Many will price-match.  And don't overlook you local auto parts for all kinds of things, they often can get catalog items for less.
I recently received a catalog from EASTWOOD. OOOH...all kinds of neat things....
But their prices !!!
I compared sanding disks, paper, hardware, paints and coatings to my trusty McMaster-Carr catalog and found they were much less expensive.
You may be able to find things at Graingers as well.
One example- I saved some money on hardware, buying from McMaster.com
5/16 x 1" grade 8 bolts (which our cars are loaded with)
(box of 25) was about $7.00! VS. $3.95 for 4 in a catalog.

Can you offer any parts-finding stories?
Any ideas?
Post 'em up  

i have a few more... i usually just for parts info... and numbers to walk into the parts store with..

dormanproducts.com       there are 5 or 6 ways of searching for stuff.. including downloading PDF sections of the catalogs..  so be sure to click into the catalog section.. if you have a high speed net connection... these people are also the HELP people.. the stuff at every parts store on red cards..

auveco.com/   these people have a giant catalog..    much of it for the upholstery industry..  but there are some hard to find parts trim clips there.