Beware Venturous Ozark Cab Toppers

[jsyn]

Venturous Ozark Cab Toppers look AWESOME online. RhinoRack tracks on top. Only weighs 125lb, but with a dynamic load rating of 750lb and a static load rating of 1500lbs. Perfect for large RTTs and awnings. Awesome, right?

Well, BEWARE.

I should note that I have not actually purchased one of these (thank goodness), but that's because the company is so incompetent that I was unable to. I tried VERY HARD to purchase one. I tried their "contact us for a quote" form. I tried their "contact us" form. I tried messaging them on Facebook, which I hate to use but which they update with photos and claims of rebates semi-regularly. ALWAYS BEWARE OF ANY COMPANY WITH NO PHONE NUMBER THAT YOU CANNOT CONTACT. I contacted my local authorized dealer who told me that yes, it's in their system but they've never seen them, never heard of them, and really wouldn't recommend anything from that company.

Next I started looking deeper. Searching for someway to contact them. Here's the basics:

LTA Manufacturing is the parent company, residing at 801 E North St, Ottawa, KS 66067. Glassdoor reviews from employees say that the CEO is an incompetent buffoon who doesn't know anything about marketing. Given that I can't get ahold of any sales person for their products, and cannot figure out availability or options, they're probably right. LTA Manufacturing owns ATC Truck Covers (check here for their 1.3 star Yelp reviews, ouch!), which was recently rebranded as Ranch Fiberglass (check here for their 1 star Better Business Bureau reviews, wow somehow it gets worse)

If you do have some perverse desire to waste your money on a shoddy unsupported product with no sales or support team, LTA Manufacturing can be reached at 1-800-983-2787 (that's also the old number for ATC Truck Covers), but don't expect them to be able to help you.

I just thought I'd put this out there in case anyone else someday does down the internet search rabbit hole trying to find information about this theoretically awesome JT topper.

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[jsyn]

I should note that I looked into product this due to the earlier thread of someone who bought this product and posted photos. And, good for them! Notice they bought something that was in stock at their local dealer, and never had to try and contact the company. If they had, I think their experience would have been MUCH different. If there's one in stock near you and it doesn't have all the manufacturing errors and horrible warps that every single one of the BBB reviews compain about, go for it, as it DOES seem like a cool truck topper. I wish I could get something like that. Sadly... here we are.

I'm moving on and looking for a product with crummier stats but from an actual company to back it up.

 

[Hootbro]

I contacted my local authorized dealer who told me that yes, it's in their system but they've never seen them, never heard of them, and really wouldn't recommend anything from that company.

I wonder why they are even a dealer for them to begin with?

 

[Sigz]

I ordered a Venturous Ozark topper (that wasn’t in stock) and had to be molded - and have had zero issues with it.

 

[Mike5]

I ordered a Venturous Ozark topper (that wasn’t in stock) and had to be molded - and have had zero issues with it.

Same here. Took about 5 weeks to arrive. N

 

[Sigz]

I'm also not sure what the point of this thread is....

I can understand the lack of a sold "contact us" number - but when you order a bed topper - you don't order solely through the manufacturer, you go through a dealer. (Sort of like buying a Jeep...)

But here's the thing - it seems like your DEALER is the one lacking with the information. My dealer, luckily shared the contact # and information for LTA Manufacturing which makes a bunch of different BRANDED truck toppers and accessories. Too add to that - when the truck topper came in and was installed, I also received a contact with all of my paperwork with the same information....

Your second point on the lack of inventory? Well again - that's a dealer problem, not really a manufacturer issue. A JT is a niche vehicle, and I can guarantee you you'll see bed toppers in stock for trucks that are more "normal" truck stuff (F 150s, Silverardos, etc).

My dealer also had ZERO in stock as I believe most do - because you usually put in an personalized order for which you want in your topper (color, windoors, roof rack, etc). My dealer had one DISPLAY model at that was it.

As for the negative yelp and BBB reviews - I don't put tooooo much into them. I mean, there's 4 of each (yes all negative), but in general - more often than not people are going to post negatie reviews on a company VS a positive. And the dig at the CEO - I mean, what CEO of companies is actually viewed in a positive light these days? LOL.

I am one, among a few others in this forum who have had POSITIVE comments since our topper has been ordered. Did I write a review? Nope.

I guess I"m not trying to debate you - but your "warning" for this truck topper company is a little odd relating to some of the concerns you share that ultimately are dealer issues VS the actual topper maker. Again, you literally said - they are a cool and you wish you could get one... Well, can you order one through.... you dealer?

But yes, I do agree with you - It'd be nice is the brand VENTEROUS OZARK shared the actual manufacturer information.

But hey - I have no connection with the company other then that I purchased from them. I'm not trying to sell you anything... If you want one, find a dealer that can order you one. If ya don't, find a different brand.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

I'm moving on and looking for a product with crummier stats but from an actual company to back it up.

The gladiator version is VERY (suspiciously) similar to the ARE topper. I mean, it looks Identical. My ARE is great. If you weren't in Vegas, I'd offer to sell you mine.

 

[jsyn]

I'm also not sure what the point of this thread is....

It's really just here as its own post because a single comment giving this information hidden deep inside a long multi-page forum post would've far been less user friendly for the next person who went searching. I tried, I mean I REALLY tried to contact the company. I'm not complaining about lack of inventory, as I don't even know what inventory the company has since I could never reach them! That's the complaint. That's the point. Local dealers sell all kinds of stuff they've never seen before. That's fine if the company is around and supporting their products. If you can ask the company questions first and get answers before spending $3500. No local inventory just means you NEED the company to be accessible, since your local dealer won't know anything. Look at this forum to see how many manufacturers post here! Lots!

I tried every possible way to contact the company. The ONLY information anywhere online was that multi-page forum post on here from someone who purchased one. The company's Facebook page claims many options are available for the product, but they also don't share what any of them are. My local dealer doesn't know either. The company is not actually trying to sell or support their products, and they have a history of making bad products and then changing their name when the bad reviews pile up. That's something people on here should know when they're doing their research.

That's all. If people still want to risk it and order one, go for it! I don't judge. Thanks to me they at least have the company's phone number and can try to call them. If they get lucky and get a great product, I'll just be jealous of them. Nothing wrong with that! I'm only sharing information so people can make a more informed decision. (Which. let's be honest, is more than Venturous Toppers does.)

 

[jsyn]

The gladiator version is VERY (suspiciously) similar to the ARE topper. I mean, it looks Identical. My ARE is great. If you weren't in Vegas, I'd offer to sell you mine.

I'm actually in Cleveland these days, I just haven't updated my personal info on this forum. You really want to get rid of your ARE?

 

[Alpine Warthog]

Cleveland? That's a hell of a move from the desert. I would sell it for the right offer. Check out my instagram, there's pics of it there. It's got a few dings here and there but overall in really good shape. Send me a PM if you're seriously interested after you check out the pics.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Dealers have contact numbers, not manufacturers.

 

[Sigz]

It's really just here as its own post because a single comment giving this information hidden deep inside a long multi-page forum post would've far been less user friendly for the next person who went searching. I tried, I mean I REALLY tried to contact the company. I'm not complaining about lack of inventory, as I don't even know what inventory the company has since I could never reach them! That's the complaint. That's the point. Local dealers sell all kinds of stuff they've never seen before. That's fine if the company is around and supporting their products. If you can ask the company questions first and get answers before spending $3500. No local inventory just means you NEED the company to be accessible, since your local dealer won't know anything. Look at this forum to see how many manufacturers post here! Lots!

- I guess the disconnect from our arguments is that you believe the manufacturing company should have inventory for dealers in stock - even though the caps are made to order, just like most caps are.

- Again, I think it also depends on your local dealer. Like I mentioned, mine was a great source of information for the options I wanted - along with providing the contact information of the bed cap developer.

I tried every possible way to contact the company. The ONLY information anywhere online was that multi-page forum post on here from someone who purchased one. The company's Facebook page claims many options are available for the product, but they also don't share what any of them are. My local dealer doesn't know either. The company is not actually trying to sell or support their products, and they have a history of making bad products and then changing their name when the bad reviews pile up. That's something people on here should know when they're doing their research.

Yeah, the marketing leaves a little bit to desire for. It would be nice if there was a Venturous Ozark direct #, but unfortunately it's a brand of LTA Manufacturing. Again - it would be nice to be more transparent online about it - but like I mentioned earlier, I knew from the get go that Ventruous was made by LTA when I was inquring with my dealer about one.

That's all. If people still want to risk it and order one, go for it! I don't judge. Thanks to me they at least have the company's phone number and can try to call them. If they get lucky and get a great product, I'll just be jealous of them. Nothing wrong with that! I'm only sharing information so people can make a more informed decision. (Which. let's be honest, is more than Venturous Toppers does.)

I don't really know why there is "risk" just you read 4 reviews on yelp/BBB. There really is no RISK. The scare tactic of "beware" to buy form this company is a little over the top in my opinion.

But hey, I'm glad you have made your decision to forgo LTA/Ventrous and look elsewhere. Good luck.

 

[jsyn]

like I mentioned earlier, I knew from the get go that Ventruous was made by LTA when I was inquring with my dealer about one.

Yeah, that seemed to be the biggest problem -- I did NOT know it is made by LTA and most people coming here to research this product in the future will probably only know that because of this thread. So yeah, maybe my wording was a bit excessive, but 2 weeks of trying to get ANY answers from a company only for them to ignore ignore ignore had me pretty pissed off. There are a LOT of companies out there selling fake or half-assed crap that looks good for the first couple months before it breaks or falls apart, and the primary hallmark of them all is that they hide who their parent company is and they don't ever reply to any attempts at customer communication. Contact Forms on their webpage they never reply to. No phone numbers ever listed. All the things Venturous does.

Seriously -- I'm not bothered by their lack of inventory. Hell, nobody has inventory right now. I'm bothered by their lack of transparency.

Google wasn't telling me squat, I had to search the mailing address listed on Venturous' Facebook page just to see what companies shared that mailing address, then research deeper. It took a lot of time and effort to learn the basic information I started this thread with, which is why I posted it, so others wouldn't have to waste all the time I did. That's the point of this entire Forum -- when one of us wastes hours of our lives to learn something, we then share that learning with others. And, yeah, if you're buying from a company that does not respond to ANY of a customers' attempts at communication for weeks -- that counts as "high risk" to me. Whether it does to you -- well, that's up to your own personal risk assessment.

I appreciate your concerns with my wording. And I'll take them to heart and try to be more judicious with my "beware"s in the future.

 

[jsyn]

Dealers have contact numbers, not manufacturers.

It's funny, I disagree wholeheartedly. If I'm interested in buying a Rugged Ridge product, for example, off Quadratec.com, I can reach out to Rugged Ridge for more information. And I do. Every random dealer in every random location doesn't have experience with every product and can't answer every question. And when you ask a dealer a question and they ask the company and the company responds to the dealer and then the dealer responds to you, that's called the "phone game" we played as kids, and every kid can tell you how poorly that method works. You NEVER get the right information the first 15 times.

That's what the Venturous company name is for: marketing the product, which includes providing basic information to potential customers. If they can't handle that.... maybe all those Glassdoor reviews from employees claiming their CEO is a buffoon who knows nothing about marketing are right?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It's funny, I disagree wholeheartedly. If I'm interested in buying a Rugged Ridge product, for example, off Quadratec.com, I can reach out to Rugged Ridge for more information. And I do. Every random dealer in every random location doesn't have experience with every product and can't answer every question. And when you ask a dealer a question and they ask the company and the company responds to the dealer and then the dealer responds to you, that's called the "phone game" we played as kids, and every kid can tell you how poorly that method works. You NEVER get the right information the first 15 times.

That's what the Venturous company name is for: marketing the product, which includes providing basic information to potential customers. If they can't handle that.... maybe all those Glassdoor reviews from employees claiming their CEO is a buffoon who knows nothing about marketing are right?

Some do, some don't.
Most I've dealt with do not, or, they have a "find a distributor in your area" button.
It's not common to have actual manufacturers respond directly.

Go contact the company that makes Alien sunshades for Jeeps.
https://alien-sunshade.com/

I've dealt both personally and professionally with hundreds of companies over the years - you'd be surprised at how difficult it is to find any contact information for some of them.
It's not a rule or even common that manufacturers deal with first level customers. You should work tech support for a while for a company - the dopes who call in and waste the time while dealers are better equipped to deal with that type of thing.

CEOs are not supposed to know about every level of a company as far as being able to fill each and every role. They are to surround themselves with people they can rely on who DO know about marketing.
Again, take reviews with a grain of salt - some are people with a lot of anger to vent, some just don't know what they are doing and blame someone else, some are difficult people to work with, and some don't know or understand the role of a CEO.
Heck, my boss in IT couldn't do even 1/4 of the things I knew and could do. He surrounded himself with subject matter experts and was a good manager/boss. He didn't have to know things - we did.
I actually trained him on a few things - and a year after I left he thanked me for the book I put together on one of our major software systems - he was able to follow it and roll out critical updates. So, should I have complained that our boss in IT couldn't even do software updates across dozens of servers?

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