Need Assistance Finding Grip-On Pliers

[Stuey]

Okay, I am searching for Grip-On's relatively new ErgoGrip pliers (product # 727-08). They are described on Grip-On's home page, and on Gray Tools' website - link.

I contacted Grip-On, and their US distributor got back to me suggesting one place, but it doesn't look promising. They also suggested that some local places such as Snap-On or Grainger might be able to special order them. I'd like to avoid a special order since importing one tool a) will take an obscene amount of time, and b) will likely come with a high premium price as well.

So, could you guys please be on the lookout for this tool for me? I'm still searching for it, for ToolGuyd review and personal review purposes, but thus far I cannot find any retailer that carries it as normal stock.

Thanks!

 

[Stuey]

I just received a quote for $115.80 to order one tool...

Maybe I should just wait until these pliers go mainstream, but it may be a while.

 

[kidatari]

Ooo, I've never seen those before. Hopefully someone knows where to source those, as they're pretty neat

 

[Bo Heck]

looks like a good idea but how many people are really going to give it a whirl at over hundred bucks? not me.

 

[garfunkle24]

Stuey

Those pliers are actually on sale at the moment up here in Canada, for $34.95cdn until the end of January. See the flier here: http://www.graytools.com/pdf/Picture%20Perfect%20Promo%202008%20-%20EN.pdf.

Maybe one of us Canadians could buy and re-ship to you. I'm sorry, but I do not have the time at the moment.

 

[bchee]

Stuey

Those pliers are actually on sale at the moment up here in Canada, for $34.95cdn until the end of January. See the flier here: http://www.graytools.com/pdf/Picture%20Perfect%20Promo%202008%20-%20EN.pdf.

Maybe one of us Canadians could buy and re-ship to you. I'm sorry, but I do not have the time at the moment.

Stuey I can see why you want those. They look cool.
This site is awesome. Well, the internet in general is awesome.
You could save a lot of money if someone up there is willing to ship to you. Or maybe you are close enough to drive there

 

[Stuey]

Stuey

Those pliers are actually on sale at the moment up here in Canada, for $34.95cdn until the end of January. See the flier here: http://www.graytools.com/pdf/Picture%20Perfect%20Promo%202008%20-%20EN.pdf.

Maybe one of us Canadians could buy and re-ship to you. I'm sorry, but I do not have the time at the moment.

Yep, that's one of the places I tried, but there are no Gray distributors local to me, and I assume that even if there were, they might not carry such a new tool.

I don't like putting people to too much trouble, or I would have asked. Plus, it's better to have a continuous supply to direct others to if/when I'd review them.

Stuey I can see why you want those. They look cool.
This site is awesome. Well, the internet in general is awesome.
You could save a lot of money if someone up there is willing to ship to you. Or maybe you are close enough to drive there

The $116 price was likely factoring the tool cost and fees associated with importing it.

I suppose that the Gray price of $35 is what the tool would go for in the US once it's released/distributed.

Maybe I'll give Chad's an email to see what they can do.

 

[FNFS2000]

I've gotten a bunch of grip-on years ago from chadstoolbox, they have since stopped stocking it, but told me a few months ago in my last inquiry they could still special order items for me.

 

[Stuey]

Chad's got back to me very quickly. They said that it would cost $57.90, but the minimum quantity is two, or one plus any other specialty product from the importer they get their goods from.

Hmm... $57.90*2 = $115.80, the same quote that I received previously. However, the other quote I received didn't mention the "min quantity is two" clause, but c'mon, how many Grip-On USA importers can there be, and the numbers are too close to be only coincidental.

I am very please with their response, but alas, such a price is a bit too high for a "wanted" tool. I think that I'm just going to have to wait for it to become available at my usual retailers, or if I become too impatient, I'll see if someone's private offer still stands.

*sigh, defeat*

Well, at least something positive came out of this - Chad's email response promptness impressed me quite a bit.

 

[Merkava_4]

Stuey, do you have any of the Grip-On pliers yet?

 

[Stuey]

Stuey, do you have any of the Grip-On pliers yet?

I thought I mentioned it elsewhere, but yes, I did order some G-Os.

 

[Merkava_4]

I thought I mentioned it elsewhere, but yes, I did order some G-Os.

Ordering some and having them in your possession are not the same.

 

[Stuey]

Ordering some and having them in your possession are not the same.

Yes, they are in my possession, and in less time than it would have taken me to find a local distributor. =P

 

[Merkava_4]

We need pictures Stuey.

 

[Stuey]

We need pictures Stuey.

Haha, all in due time. I'm almost ready to put up my own review about Gearwrenche's magnetic extensions. The only obstacle are the photographs - it's darn hard getting things exactly right.

I'll take G-O pics when I've used them enough to offer a fair review. That, and I'm considering which other styles to order.

 

[bchee]

how about picts now and a review later? They don't have to be exactly perfect either.

 

[Merkava_4]

I'll take G-O pics when I've used them enough to offer a fair review.

I could take them and clamp them on something one time and tell you if they're any good or not.

The design of my Crescent pliers are perfect and I can't think of anyway to improve on them. One of these days I'm gonna get to the bottom of why Cooper Tools ceased production on them.

 

[superautobacs]

Chad's got back to me very quickly.
.....
I am very please with their response, but alas, such a price is a bit too high for a "wanted" tool. I think that I'm just going to have to wait for it to become available at my usual retailers, or if I become too impatient, I'll see if someone's private offer still stands.

*sigh, defeat*

Well, at least something positive came out of this - Chad's email response promptness impressed me quite a bit.

I'm always impressed with Chad's promptness with email responses, as well as the live chat feature on his site (although, he often comes short of answering all the questions I have ).

I learned about Grip-on from Chad's site and decided that I want to try out their omnium grips. I saw Grey Tool's promotion and the HK-SET4-89 hands free kit was an item that I was interested in as well.

I will contact the local distributor that's participating on the current promotion to check out if they have what you and I want in stock. If you wish, I can purchase the ErgoGrip and ship it to you.

On a side note, have you looked at the new Wiha Inomic pliers in the 2009 catalog that have a spring operated locking mechanism? It's also ergonomically shaped.

 

[FNFS2000]

WIHA USA refuses to import the inomic pliers last I heard. I've contacted several dealers for the last couple years. They look awesome, its too bad that WIHA USA is not operated by WIHA corporate there are a lot of things available in europe that we can't get here. And the the chinese rolls and cases WIHA USA uses stink!

 

[Stuey]

I'm always impressed with Chad's promptness with email responses, as well as the live chat feature on his site (although, he often comes short of answering all the questions I have ).

I learned about Grip-on from Chad's site and decided that I want to try out their omnium grips. I saw Grey Tool's promotion and the HK-SET4-89 hands free kit was an item that I was interested in as well.

I will contact the local distributor that's participating on the current promotion to check out if they have what you and I want in stock. If you wish, I can purchase the ErgoGrip and ship it to you.

On a side note, have you looked at the new Wiha Inomic pliers in the 2009 catalog that have a spring operated locking mechanism? It's also ergonomically shaped.

I appreciate the offer, but I'm going to try to be patient and wait for US distributors to start stocking the ErogGrip. That, and about 70% of my desire for them are for review purposes, ~30% for personal use; it doesn't make sense to review them if only few others were able to find them locally either. Thanks, though!

WIHA USA refuses to import the inomic pliers last I heard. I've contacted several dealers for the last couple years. They look awesome, its too bad that WIHA USA is not operated by WIHA corporate there are a lot of things available in europe that we can't get here. And the the chinese rolls and cases WIHA USA uses stink!

I gave up on finding the inomics a while ago. That, and at the time of their UK release I felt that their price was a bit too steep. Now, only a handful of places list them, and it's at $40 plus $20 import fees.

I remember being frustrated that there were a few other Wiha tools that aren't available in the US. Most of these instances were of somewhat minor tools. With the way Grip-On is touting the ErgoGrip on their front page, I get the impression that it's going to be a mainstream release, or at least that's what I'm hoping for.