Tyler T grips order

[pharmer]

Who'da thunk it? The next "collectible." I'm selling this one as soon as GoneBroker has one go for $1K, and I'll throw in the gun. Joe

 

[Rodan]

Ordered several in Jan 2020... still waiting. Wish I'd read some of the threads first, but still holding out hope I may eventually get them.

If only BK would start making theirs in aluminum...

 

[LVSteve]

I was surprised to see yesterday's date on the OP. I thought when I saw the title this was a zombie thread somebody had dug up.

 

[hittman77]

I'm apparently in the vast huge MINORITY that's never had a problem with their communication or delivery.

Last one I ordered, I phoned them and talked to a real person who answered the phone. No kidding. Sent them a check and got my stuff in pretty short order.

Prior to that I'd made other orders that delivered without a hitch.

No doubt others have had problems .... no disputing that but, none of them were me.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Just an FYI, folks...

If you send a check through the US Mail for merchandise that is never delivered, the US Postal Service has jurisdiction over that. You can file a mail fraud complaint and they will investigate and take action if appropriate.

USPS.com FAQs

 

[GypsmJim]

You don't seriously expect anyone to believe this.

That business is completely dishonest. Right on the website it gives you a number to call, leave a message, or text. It's a scam, the business does not respond to any attempts at communication. The voicemail box is usually full, and he doesn't reply to those or texts.

The website claims in an October 2020 "update" that they are working on the August orders. How about the February orders that are still undelivered?

They can be a small family owned business - and that business is called fraud. They send out a few pieces of product here and there to claim that they are legitimate, and meanwhile spend all the money they are taking in.

A friend is contemplating a criminal fraud complaint against them. The fraud is cute in that they only accept a check, and the amount is usually not enough to go through the hoops to try and collect. Plus they are accepting money from all over the USA and are located in the middle of nowhere.

Absolutely do not send any money to that company unless you enjoy being a victim.

Personally, I DO believe it. Because it happened to me too. Just like that. And, in another case, I waited a year to get it. But, I DID get it.

Maybe fraud is a bit harsh. But then again thats your opinion. If someone thinks fraud, call the poleice.

My classic "pre-" S&W's sport the real deal. So do my Rugers. I only put plastic on a Taurus.....LOL.

 

[rockquarry]

To defraud someone, there has to be intent to defraud. If the guy eventually fills his orders, that's not fraud, though it might be poor business practice. That's not a crime. I doubt you'd get any law enforcement agency interested in investigating something that's not only not prosecutable, it's not even illegal.

 

[Texas Star]

It may not apply here, but a custom knifemaker once cashed my check and failed to respond after the delivery date passed,

I contacted US Postal inspectors and had my knife with an apologetic letter in about a week.

Personally, I won't order from Tyler. I've bought their adaptors at gun shows.

 

[mike from st pete]

The more you pester them the slower they go on your order?

 

[Old Corp]

A definite 'YMMV' place of business.
I sent in my order in May for a simple polished aluminum K-SQ adapter to go on my old M19-3 nickel with Grashorn's.
It came in October. That wait was about what I expected.

 

[Absalom]

For those fond of legal revenge fantasies, read the shipping statement on the website. Here it is verbatim:

"SHIPPING:

Our shipping times vary, depending on the volume of orders that come in at any particular time. We generally estimate a 2 to 3 week ship time, however, it is impossible to predict the volume of orders at any particular time. We generally say 2 to 3 weeks but shipping times can vary at anytime."

That leaves nothing actionable. There are no promises of a delivery date or fixed time frame. You ever tried to hold a contractor to a written estimate in court? And this isn't even that. There's not even a civil action here, let alone criminal, i.e. fraud.

 

[rockquarry]

The more you pester them the slower they go on your order?

No better way to handle such folks. We all need a bit of humility and patience.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

I see the misinformed, and Tomahawk Grip apologists, are out in full force, even citing the "disclaimer" on the website. Here's a few clues for you:

A successful fraud - I say this having investigated high-level frauds over my LE career - will have one or more "outs" the fraudster uses to deflect attention, like his ridiculous disclaimer of varying shipping times. In another part of his website he claims to be shipping the August orders by November. Eleven months later - since January 2020 - with no product and no communication, does not fit his fraud disclaimer.

But OK, how about a refund? That's right in the UCC (Uniform Commercial Code). You can't get one because he doesn't reply. Sorry, the disclaimer argument is nonsense.

Another apologist: "Stop pestering him" or "patience". So... waiting for 6 months, then politely contacting him with no answer over the next several months - that's "pestering"? Not only is that answer ridiculous in a business context, it's another excuse of this fraud.

In a successful fraud, SOME people do get what is promised. This is what keeps the fraud going. If nobody received anything, it wouldn't last long. Like any good Ponzi scheme - eg Bernard Madoff - some people do indeed get is what is promised. Then they say "see, it's legitimate". I'm sure Brian Matthews has a few customers he fills an order for now and then to maintain his appearance of legitimacy. The majority lose their money.

This fraud is pretty good. Take a look at the google earth map of his big business. Out in the far end of a county, near another county line, down a little dirt road. Big website though! Most orders from out of state, no credit cards that you could get a charge back from.

The USPS Inspection Service is overworked, and this would be a low priority - a case worth under a 100 bucks. Same with the county sheriff, and you are an out of state resident calling in a $59 fraud. But that $59 - 100+ times over a year - is a nice piece of change for turning out a small handful of these things a couple times a year. Pays for the website and plenty else.

There is an infamous seller of web gear that does the same thing. I won't mention names but a little searching will enlighten those interested.

Again, I encourage people who have not received anything from Tomahawk Grips to contact the USPS (long shot) and the Oklahoma County Sheriff Department (better bet).

 

[Ranger514]

I was stiffed by Tyler T. Over a period of several months, I placed two succesive orders for adapters, neither of which fit my 66-3 properly. I returned both, advising they check the batch for defects, before exchanging the last a new adapter. Never heard back. Wrote again, asking for a replacement or refund. Never heard back. Sent an e-mail to the OK BBB, registering a complaint. Never heard back. Since then, I've only bought the older, boxed Tyler T grips online. Surprisingly, they fit my 66-3 and other Smiths perfectly. Go figure.

 

[Absalom]

I see the misinformed, and Tomahawk Grip apologists, are out in full force, even citing the "disclaimer" on the website. Here's a few clues for you:
........

You know, this cause really needs an activist. Your experience investigating high-level fraud makes you perfect for this, and since you seem to be pretty emotionally invested in nailing this fraudster, you shouldn't mind the effort.

You could found a proper victims organization, have a website, gather testimonials and funds, maybe even hire a local lawyer, and start pestering local authorities as a group. That might offer a better chance of succcess.

 

[ddixie884]

This has happened for years. I don't think anyone has lost their money, yet.......

 

[CH4]

My buddy ordered one in October, 2019, the checked was cashed immediately. He's called and texted a few times, but hasn't heard a peep.

 

[Rodan]

Well, it's a Holiday Miracle!! Look what showed up in the mail today:

Order was placed (I had to go back and look) on January 3rd, 2020. But it finally showed up...

 

[SuperMan]

...things have never been the same since Melvin sold the business to his niece and her husband. They let the help go because they couldn't make enough money to make a decent profit and pay the help so tryed doing it all themselves...it just never worked out. They were always behind.

I was one of their distributors...one of only three I believe. Used to order $3-4k dollars worth of product at a time...didn't get your one K-frame round but in six months...try sweating out not getting $3K worth of product in six months...

After I stopped doing business with them I heard they had sold the business and he had died (can't remember if it was before or after the sale). This is the person they sold it to...

And since product is still being delivered it isn't likely any fraud suit is going to go anywhere...

I've said it before...if this guy just sold all his product on GunBroker or ebay he could avoid all the bad press... Put out what you actually have in invantory, let it go to the highest bidder and then ship it... He would make more moeny and zero complaints...

Bob

 

[Mercury]

Rodan,
Your post gives me a glimmer of hope that my order, which was placed in February of 2020, will be arriving soon.
Happy Holidays!