Top Lids - Incorrect Timeline & Poor Communication

[christinna77]

1. Ordered a basic lid on April 29.
2. Got an email on May 2 saying they started cutting the lid, and shipping would happen within 2–4 weeks. I planned stocking my DT around this timeline.
3. It’s now June 6 and I still don't have the lid. I just got an update it finally shipped, but not via the FedEx International Priority Insured I paid for, but the cheapest possible option: FedEx International Ground. It won’t arrive until at least June 12, and I have no idea if it’s even insured.
4. I emailed them last weekend letting them know, again, that I really need the lid to arrive this week already. Received no reply at all, 5 days later.

I planned my setup around the lid arriving on time and paid extra for fast shipping. Now I'm out of time and have to transfer QTed fish into the DT without a properly fitting lid (my old one doesn’t quite fit with the new lights), and just hope none of them jump out. I'm sorry, but for the insane amount of money they charge for the most basic lid, I expected them to be WAY more responsive and the lid actually arriving on time.

 

[christinna77]

Update: My lid finally arrived on Friday. Unfortunately, I can't recommend it if you want a true tight fit - ALL cutouts, even when it's on the standard non custom ones lids, come with a 1/4" tolerance (only mentioned under "Custom Lids" section on their website, which is super misleading). That's a huge problem:

1. The light mount inserts force the lights too far apart.
   
   
2. There's the 1/4" mm gap all around the cutout (even larger on the side if not centered) - I can stick a finger through, so a smaller fish can easily jump out.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

I selected the NooPsyche K7 PRO III lights from the standard options - there's nothing custom about my lid. Since these lights only use this particular mount, the cutout should have matched their exact dimensions.

Top Lids insists this tolerance is necessary and "standard", but it completely fails the advertised "Make jumpers and crusty carpet surfers a thing of the past" promise. They offered to produce another custom insert, but want me to pay for it plus international shipping to Canada, which isn't worth it.

I ended up designing and 3D printing my own inserts, and they fit perfectly. I don't plan to order from Top Lids again. I have one more nano lid on the way (ordered before I knew about these issues), but after that, I'm done.

 

[christinna77]

Another update:

The feeder cutout doesn’t fit at all. It’s not just a gap issue - the cutout is too shallow. I specifically selected the Hydros feeder cutout when I was purchasing the lid, and I’m using a Hydros feeder, but it’s completely useless.

I contacted Top Lids about this one week ago to give them time to address it, but got no response. This lid was expensive and has way too many defects. I'm not sure what to do at this point.