Hi friends,
I ordered some T-Grips back in Feb 2024. No response from the company to my inquiries and no refund after asking for a refund.
As a result, I recently filed a complaint with the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office about Tyler T-Grips. My complaint is pending and we are waiting for a response from Tyler T-Grips.
The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office indicated to me that they have not received a sufficient number of consumer complaints to conclude that there is a "pattern" of bad conduct, and they indicated that the only way to establish a pattern of bad conduct is for the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office to receive multiple complaints.
So, if you have been waiting a long time, or have asked for a refund with no response, etc. I suggest you fill out the simple form linked below and mail it to the address at the bottom of the second page of the complaint form. The more people that complain the more likely the Oklahoma Attorney General will do something.
Here is a link to the form, which takes a few minutes to fill out. The OK AG's office responded to my complaint in less than 2 weeks, so they are pretty efficient.
You do not have to suffer in silence or lose your money. There is no charge to file a complaint.
https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/complaints/2021_consumer_complaint_form.pdf
So, what is the AG saying now? It has been nearly 3 months.
As I posted above, I frequented the actual store when Melvin was alive and even had him make custom leather for me. But I have not seen him this century, think he died 25 years or so ago.
As many have stated a guy named Brian Mathews, created a totally new corporation and carried on the manufacturing of the T Grips and other products. Here is his incorporation data.
The volume of orders overwhelmed this guy and there was a fire or tornado that caused additional delays. Not sure which maybe both, I have read. The website then said this.
"""" We understand if you are unable to wait for your order and w refund please follow the instructions above. As to exact time frames, we do not always know exactly when the ebb and flow and influx of orders may be coming. Therefore, our production often swells, slowing times for completion, so please be prepared for unannounced delays in shipping. Otherwise, anyone that has ordered, your items will be coming, hang in there the maker extends his personal guaranty in this regard . We are sure you will enjoy your T-Grips and Trigger Shoes, we hope to see you back soon!""""
And then this:
"""""
- Please notify us via TEXT MESSAGE or through US mail to the following address for all order cancelations/refund requests: TOMAHAWK GRIPS PO BOX 492, NEWALLA, OK 74857. Please take note, it is mandatory that simple civility and common courtesy be maintained at all times. We have a zero tolerance policy for any threats, profanities or mean hateful speech towards any employees. If you choose this path you will be banned from ordering in the future, per the maker. Thank you.
- 405-625-4992""""
A search of the corporation shows it was established in 2014, and appears to have been dissolved and no longer exists.
The address listed is likely Brian's home at the time. Harrah is the nearest city to the unincorporated area known as Newalla. There is nothing I could find to show the year it folded.
Newalla is only 4-5 streets long as mentioned above, just a tiny neighborhood. And it did experience major damage in April 2024.
The reports indicated that Brian Mathews was a nephew to Melvin Tyler, others said he was a son in law.
And for what it is worth, Mr. Mathews has been sued before, but the process server never could find him to get him served.
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A name search has indicated that perhaps he has moved out of the area. It is also important to note that other than the one case, he has not been sued and has no criminal record. Nothing is pending.
So, if the AG is telling anyone they have filed something civil or criminal, it is not showing up. Keep in mind, there is no such thing as a company called Melvin Tyler.
And by the terms of the contract/ordering form people have agreed to an unlimited time frame in which to get their orders. They have 2 options. To request a refund or to sue him in small claims court.
There is no mail fraud or similar remedy available, because the cost is considered trivial, no US attorney is likely to prosecute.
Also, most people understand when they order across a state line, that there is always risk, their only option in a civil case is to go where the product is and to sue the company.
And that is where this problem probably is.
Last, I do not have access to bankruptcy filings. You must pay a big fee for those records on line. And if he filed bankruptcy that federal case prevents the AG of a state from taking any action.
So, anybody have any news of recent activity? I would sure not order from him. There is no patent that applies and anyone can make these, just must not be much demand.
