Armadillo Designs Aluminum Hardtop

[Ninjak]

In all honesty, since they are a small shop, I honestly believe their website has not been updated with proper language. Since I do work in that realm of the industry, I understand what happens when you do not have a dedicated marketing team to update every aspect of your business when it changes.

I watched the prototype that Tyler(BroncBuster) had on his Rig while he rolled down the hill. He honestly said, and i believe it watching that video, that it helped him not be injured. This again was the prototype and was not even all the way installed with latches.

I believe I will receive a good product, one that fits. Everyone who has received the top is not all influencers. They are people who have decided to drive to the shop to get it installed. If I did not live 20+ hours away, I too what have done the same. Looking at the install video, and the fact there is one, shows that the whole "you cannot put it on yourself" is not quite accurate.

As with the nature of these Bronco's everything is hidden and covered with some type of paperwork saying "well if this, then its that" Hell even Ford approaches this the same way. I am not going to worry on this, and when my top comes, I am sure it will be what I paid for. I will use it off-road, and if something happens, I will deal with it accordingly.

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[SierraBronco]

@mcinfantry I really want to. Are you involved? Can you provide more clarity?

These young dudes and their incubator have the scent of some bad Kickstarters I have backed. Still don't have that 3D printer but there were trade shows and media as well as a handful of deliveries. Sound familiar?

That was a single digit percentage of the Armadillo investment, so ya know, different risk profile. Especially when I see all these posts about people who ordered in June and still do not have their top, "but just wait, yours is next in production." I've seen the coverage and Armadillo's posts, and find them wanting. They are "building" these on somone else's equipment using other people's money while funding their own media tour. Read their site. Read their Terms & Conditions. Tell me I am wrong. It is a "forum" after all.

@SierraBronco gets it. They have skin in the game and are holding the muddy end of the stick, at least for now. Hopefully that changes...

They are "building" these on somone else's equipment using other people's money while funding their own media tour.

It’s funny-I called them out privately for this very thing. They are using our money to party in Vegas, living it up trying to be internet influencers. Post after post after post yet not returning emails/messages to the customers. He said that he doesn’t make every post and a lot are scheduled. Welp…that is time that could’ve been spent returning a message to a customer, rather than trying to get more up-front payments. Of course the partying in Vegas is referred to as a work trip. Alright dude-what you tell the IRS is between you and them. I really don’t care. But perhaps instead of the big promotional tours, booths at sema, and influencer parties, your focus should be on the customers that have already handed you a nice chunk of cash, especially given the ADV fiasco. Don’t get mad at your customers when they call you out publicly. It was the only thing that finally got a response.

The optics aren’t so hot when you won’t publish a phone number for the company, but an Internet personality gets a direct line. Meanwhile…paying customers have unanswered emails and messages. Not an awesome look.

 

[stampede1]

In all honesty, since they are a small shop, I honestly believe their website has not been updated with proper language. Since I do work in that realm of the industry, I understand what happens when you do not have a dedicated marketing team to update every aspect of your business when it changes.

I watched the prototype that Tyler(BroncBuster) had on his Rig while he rolled down the hill. He honestly said, and i believe it watching that video, that it helped him not be injured. This again was the prototype and was not even all the way installed with latches.

I believe I will receive a good product, one that fits. Everyone who has received the top is not all influencers. They are people who have decided to drive to the shop to get it installed. If I did not live 20+ hours away, I too what have done the same. Looking at the install video, and the fact there is one, shows that the whole "you cannot put it on yourself" is not quite accurate.

As with the nature of these Bronco's everything is hidden and covered with some type of paperwork saying "well if this, then its that" Hell even Ford approaches this the same way. I am not going to worry on this, and when my top comes, I am sure it will be what I paid for. I will use it off-road, and if something happens, I will deal with it accordingly.

There are too many direct contradictions that are irreconcilable. It transcends the usual corporate legal CYA word salad. If they couldn’t clean up the legal defense verbiage at least somewhat, I wouldn’t touch that product.

 

[indio22]

There are too many direct contradictions that are irreconcilable. It transcends the usual corporate legal CYA word salad. If they couldn’t clean up the legal defense verbiage at least somewhat, I wouldn’t touch that product.

Back in school I had a part time job in retail, which included dealing with disgruntled customers and returns. Having seen what goes on with some questionable customers, if I were selling something, I'd have a lawyered up sales contract that protects from every possibility and then some.

 

[SierraBronco]

Back in school I had a part time job in retail, which included dealing with disgruntled customers and returns. Having seen what goes on with some questionable customers, if I were selling something, I'd have a lawyered up sales contract that protects from every possibility and then some.

You gotta admit this shit is pretty comical. They should have just said “for display purposes only. Installation on vehicle will void the warranty”

 

[Splint3r]

@SierraBronco's commentary, though maybe a little off the cuff is actually not far from the truth of what the terms represent. It is not just the word salad, it is the combination of words, their meaning and contradictions.

Anyone who thinks this type of language is ok because they had a customer facing job or sees big corporations doing "similar" things (not the same) should read the stuff on this page and consider that it was probably not written by a lawyer, or if it was, Armadillo Designs might think about seeking different representation. It looks like a mix-up of extracted terms.

I am not a lawyer and despite the last response, not here to run these folks down, but to raise the question about what they are doing based on the evidence we can see. Also, to ask people to think critically about if they are going to get that for which they bargained. Hopefully many will come forward with their experiences: good or bad.

The optics, as has been pointed out, are not currently favorable so I have my money sitting on the sidelines for now. I don't hate them for promoting their product just as long as it is not vaporware and they are taking care of business.

I would love to have something that looks like and performs like they have shown on the internet but right now it is a lot of show, not much go and there are legitimate concerns about whether they intend to stand behind their product. I was hoping these young folks would step in and defend themselves with some real promises, not disclaimers, some real information and not just deflections. That is what good companies do, even young ones.

 

[ScLeCo]

I also am not a lawyer but I would be willing to bet money that whoever wrote that "disclaimer" isn't a lawyer either.

 

[stampede1]

I also am not a lawyer but I would be willing to bet money that whoever wrote that "disclaimer" isn't a lawyer either.

But they play one on TV...

 

[mcinfantry]

They are "building" these on somone else's equipment using other people's money while funding their own media tour.

It’s funny-I called them out privately for this very thing. They are using our money to party in Vegas, living it up trying to be internet influencers. Post after post after post yet not returning emails/messages to the customers. He said that he doesn’t make every post and a lot are scheduled. Welp…that is time that could’ve been spent returning a message to a customer, rather than trying to get more up-front payments. Of course the partying in Vegas is referred to as a work trip. Alright dude-what you tell the IRS is between you and them. I really don’t care. But perhaps instead of the big promotional tours, booths at sema, and influencer parties, your focus should be on the customers that have already handed you a nice chunk of cash, especially given the ADV fiasco. Don’t get mad at your customers when they call you out publicly. It was the only thing that finally got a response.

The optics aren’t so hot when you won’t publish a phone number for the company, but an Internet personality gets a direct line. Meanwhile…paying customers have unanswered emails and messages. Not an awesome look.

No I didn’t buy. Ill never pre buy again.

i personally think 14 moths of salaries and overhead eats up profits fast. At 2000 tops at $7000 would put them around 14,000,000??? 10% ni ‘think’ would be a phenomenal ROI… so what 2 million. I bet at BEST it’s 5%. 1,000,000. Doesn’t take long to burn it all up… just FYI..

lets see all the tops delivered. Let’s see TRUCKLOADS at the powder coater. Hell, call the local powder coasters and ask how long it would take to powder coat a top. I did on archtype and was told 1 day, MAYBE 2. To powder coat and entire frame. HIS OWN powder coated didnt have weeks turnaround time.

deliver the tops. Prove me wrong. Deliver ALL THE TOPS.

 

[CarlSpackler]

Dude, bro, dude bro come on bro its like brooo, dude.

 

[SierraBronco]

No I didn’t buy. Ill never pre buy again.

i personally think 14 moths of salaries and overhead eats up profits fast. At 2000 tops at $7000 would put them around 14,000,000??? 10% ni ‘think’ would be a phenomenal ROI… so what 2 million. I bet at BEST it’s 5%. 1,000,000. Doesn’t take long to burn it all up… just FYI..

lets see all the tops delivered. Let’s see TRUCKLOADS at the powder coater. Hell, call the local powder coasters and ask how long it would take to powder coat a top. I did on archtype and was told 1 day, MAYBE 2. To powder coat and entire frame. HIS OWN powder coated didnt have weeks turnaround time.

deliver the tops. Prove me wrong. Deliver ALL THE TOPS.

All the more reason to not have a sema booth and partying. If you have something good, let the product sell itself by getting it to the customers. I really don’t give a shit about gaudy truck-rice sema builds with fancy paint and a bunch of bolt on accessories. “Hey look! It has a red dash and a bronco toolbox!” Ooooooooooo.

Honestly the best marketing they’ve had was broncbuster rolling on his and the thing held up nicely.

 

[mcinfantry]

All the more reason to not have a sema booth and partying. If you have something good, let the product sell itself by getting it to the customers. I really don’t give a shit about gaudy truck-rice sema builds with fancy paint and a bunch of bolt on accessories. “Hey look! It has a red dash and a bronco toolbox!” Ooooooooooo.

Honestly the best marketing they’ve had was broncbuster rolling on his and the thing held up nicely.

Dude, bro, dude bro come on bro its like brooo, dude.

Interestingly broncbuster doesnt seem affiliated with them, probably a fluke. im sure.

 

[Ninjak]

Interestingly broncbuster doesnt seem affiliated with them, probably a fluke. im sure.

You do know he runs their top on two of his RIGS?
It does not means he has to sell the tops.

 

[SierraBronco]

You do know he runs their top on two of his RIGS?
It does not means he has to sell the tops.

@mcinfantry At one point I believe he was a reseller for them. Certainly could make one think the situation is even spicier if that has dissolved before tops are consistently being shipped to customers.

 

[Snacktime]

Pyramid scheme, shady business address and nut swing. I predict bankruptcy when orders stop coming in.

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