Tyler T Grip company shutdown - shipping again

I'm glad I bought quite a few in the past 5 years or so, because now you'll be seeing "Got a T-Grip for under $100!" posts:eek:

The prices are gonna quadruple when people start getting wind of this......I though paying $30-40 was too much, I won't be buying any more of them for the prices the used ones will start to go for.
 
pinkymingeo said:
I don't get it. Somebody passes on a crazy rumor and all of a sudden there's advice to call the OK Attorney General, and more advice not to send Tyler money. I've bought five T-grips from Tyler over the last couple of years. They're friendly, helpful and honest folks. Payment is in advance and your T-grip arrives in about 3 weeks. Right now they're changing locations, not running to Tahiti with some guys thirty buck check. Lighten up!
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I have personally dealt with Tyler since 1980 and never ever had a problem until 2009. Back when I had an FFL in Florida I would purchase 20 or 30 at a time. I had hoped that all the problems they were having would go away so I could purchase some more but sadly it does not look like it will.

There are several other threads in the forum and at other locations were people have been waiting up to a year. The excuse of the move is only the most recent explination for all the problems.

From what I have been told, the OK Attorney General's Office has ordered them to either refund monies collected or give purchasers their orders. They are not to take any more orders. I do not understand why the website is up.

I most sincerly hope the company comes back. In my lifetime I have unfortunatly seen too many good gun companies go out of business.
 
JayBird686 said:
Man you would think someone with a Cnc machine could start cranking these out. I imagine there are no patents on these.
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The one my father bought in the '50s was cast. The patents have to be long dead on that one. I have friends with both machining and casting experience that I'm inclined to ask about the process of duplicating these things. They can use mine as a sample if need be (it's for a K frame). Think I'll call 'em tomorrow.
 
I have seen the same situation time and again. The Old Man builds up a great product and company. He dies and the heirs aren't motivated to provide the product or are too sorry to work for the profits from the company. They want all the profit, but all for no work.

Send a copy of each style to a Chinese manufacturer and you will likely have a connex full ot the adapters before Tyler can send you one.
 
I hope they can get their act together and start producing. Melvin Tyler, the origanial owner was a nice guy. He stocked and sold wooden replacement grips and they were nice. That is what my Dad's Police Positive has on it now.
He ran a gunshop at Frontier City for awhile and a long time ago I bought a very clean 20 gauge Lefever Nitro Special from him for
$47.50. I think I still have the receipt and wish I still had the gun.
 
pinkymingeo said:
I don't get it. Somebody passes on a crazy rumor and all of a sudden there's advice to call the OK Attorney General, and more advice not to send Tyler money. I've bought five T-grips from Tyler over the last couple of years. They're friendly, helpful and honest folks. Payment is in advance and your T-grip arrives in about 3 weeks. Right now they're changing locations, not running to Tahiti with some guys thirty buck check. Lighten up!
Click to expand...

Lighten up? Look around. There are a multitude of customers that have paid Tyler good money only to be given one bs story after another and, after months and months and months, no product. Now Tyler will not even answer the phone or return calls.

I wouldn't send them a plug nickel until they get their act together!
 
I sent Tyler a check on February 1st for two adaptors. The check cleared the next week. As of 0710 hours, 20 April, still no grips.
 
Moving to a new location is not a valid reason to ignore your customers. How hard would it be for them to change phone message to something in the order of " Hello, you have reached Tyler's Manufacturing. We are currently moving to our new facility and are unable to process orders at this time. We hope to be up and running by XX date. Thank you for your patience."

Also, if they are indeed staying in business, why can't they update their website?

Placing an order with Tyler's at this time is a pretty big gamble, however, it is your money.
 
I also believe I would wait untill this all comes out in the wash. As much as I like the Tyler T grip, I hope another one of you guys/girls does come out with there own T grip, If you are the only one making a product in the market then you dont have to worry about anything, but with competition you will either get your act together or move on.
 
With a manufacturing background, I've kicked around the idea of making a product similar to the T-grip (and I'm sure I'm not the only one here) but the problem is recouping the investment and realizing profit. We're talking about a small casting operation, finishing equipment and expensive raw material (aluminum and copper). To illustrate, let's say a $5K investment to get up and running, one would have to sell 200 grip adapters at $25 per just to cover the initial layout, and that's not considering what's in the product itself, time/labor, overhead and unforeseen costs associated with running a small business. Even for someone with all the equipment already in place, a stockpile of aluminum and plenty of free time, he'd have to sell a lot of them, and not only a lot of them initially but continuously, to make it profitable and worth doing.

It's doubtful 100 grip adapters per month change hands out there right now. Trying to break into the market and double or triple that demand somehow, month after month, to stay afloat isn't feasible. Although the grip adapters are popular, they're still a small niche product in a larger revolver market that is slowly shrinking, not growing, over time.
 
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Sounds like this job might require some Chinese people.
 
-db- said:
With a manufacturing background, I've kicked around the idea of making a product similar to the T-grip (and I'm sure I'm not the only one here) but the problem is recouping the investment and realizing profit. We're talking about a small casting operation, finishing equipment and expensive raw material (aluminum and copper). To illustrate, let's say a $5K investment to get up and running, one would have to sell 200 grip adapters at $25 per just to cover the initial layout, and that's not considering what's in the product itself, time/labor, overhead and unforeseen costs associated with running a small business. Even for someone with all the equipment already in place, a stockpile of aluminum and plenty of free time, he'd have to sell a lot of them, and not only a lot of them initially but continuously, to make it profitable and worth doing.

It's doubtful 100 grip adapters per month change hands out there right now. Trying to break into the market and double or triple that demand somehow, month after month, to stay afloat isn't feasible. Although the grip adapters are popular, they're still a small niche product in a larger revolver market that is slowly shrinking, not growing, over time.
Click to expand...

Pretty much the conclusion I've come to. It's a darned shame about Tyler.

I really like the T-grip and need a few more, but given the situation I may have to come up with something else.
 
-db- said:
Although the grip adapters are popular, they're still a small niche product in a larger revolver market that is slowly shrinking, not growing, over time.
Click to expand...



That is kind of the bottom line. Most people carry automatics now and young guys I meet think revolvers are relics of a bygone era. I hate to see the T Grip go. I am very fond on them and only have a few. I left one on a J frame I sold an old friend the other day but would not have done that for just anybody. Maybe Tyler will work through their troubles but it has been ongoing so long now it doesn't look good.
 
I probably have half a dozen T-grips, but most of them were bought on eBay. The price might escalate, but at least you are usually assured of getting them.

John
 
For those who are thinking of manufacturing them, why not in injected molded plastic? There are so many plastic's on the market now, surely there are some well suited for this, ( and they could be any color). Of course there is still the problem of investment start up cost and return on investment. If there is a manufacturer out there that is already in business, and could just create another product line.
 
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