Shady tactics, privacy concerns, and customer service issues.
I had a truck bed drawer (TruckVault) installed by Chuck at Top This. I planned on having him install a camper as well but backed out. After the installation, I discovered they had filmed my vehicle to market the business without my permission. It's a custom vehicle, very sought after, that I'd customized myself, and had to be made to order by Dodge. I'd intended to commercially use my vehicle at overlanding and outdoor shows. Top This made a several minutes long video review of my vehicle, without my knowledge, and posted it online to their Facebook page and others eventually getting seen by around 50,000 people.
On the day of install, I spoke to Chuck to see if they could do the installation and told him I was in a hurry to meet family at the coast, a four hour drive. He said they could and quoted me 1.5 hours to do the install of the TruckVault, which left plenty of time to get to the coast. It took over 3 hours. Chuck stated it took longer because they were "extremely busy" that day and had "fit me in last minute". Afterwards, I had wondered what took so long since the installation should be quick and easy, and they quoted 1.5 hours, and I was the only person in their waiting room. Later, I found out that some of the extra time I'd waited was time they were completing a video review of my vehicle, all without telling me or getting my consent.
About a week after the install, friends of mine see a vehicle "just like yours" on TruckVault's Facebook page which I thought was strange since my vehicle is custom with a unique design, none of the design is stock, and to my knowledge unique. Imagine how surprised I was to find it actually was my vehicle and was being used for marketing Top This! It was a video Top This had shared publicly on their Facebook page featuring Chuck himself narrating it and pushed to a number of his vendors pages.
When I spoke to Chuck about my concerns he said he couldn't understand why I was upset and refused to make it right for delaying me while he filmed my vehicle. I asked for refund of the labor charges to make up my additional wait or he could pay whatever was customary price for marketing, he refused to negotiate. I asked if he made deals with other customers as I'd seen several videos on his site, he said he did, but refused to extend similar marketing refunds back to me.
Anyways, if you are looking to do business with Top This be aware your vehicle and property might be posted publicly online and without your knowledge or permission and be used in their company advertisements. If you have a custom vehicle or design be prepared they may use it for their own marketing. They are willing to make you wait while are filming all this too. He also provided enough information to link back on his Facebook page to my own account even indicating I stored "valuable items" in the vehicle, not cool.
I did get a full refund of my other purchase with them, a camper shell, I suspect because Chuck knew legal action was potentially forthcoming. If you are a hunter, outdoorsman, designer, business, or private citizen, and concerned with your privacy or designs I'd stay away from Chuck and Top This. The video went on to be viewed by around 50,000 people nationwide including being picked up by a major manufacturer.
I've since gotten quotes from a number of other dealers was able to get the same camper shell all for about $500 less than Top This so...shop around. read more
