Buy It And Try It: Get A Grip

The Get A Grip claims to be the revolutionary new way to have a secure
grip whenever you need it. Let's see if it works.

Because a boat is where the folks behind Get A Grip demonstrate the
strength of their product, we headed out to the Spirit Of Sacramento.
The river boat has been gliding along Sacramento's waterfront for
decades.

The original boat, more than a half century old, was destroyed by
fires in 1996. It was replaced with this paddlewheeler from the Ohio.

I handed general manager Rich Patane the Get A Grip.

"It looks like a phone," he said.

According to the infomercial, it's installed with no tools and can
serve as a handle on any clean, smooth surface. The Spirit of
Sacramento has plenty of smooth surfaces.

Rich first tries making a ladder outside along a wall. He follows the
directions, pushing it against the surface, flipping two switches to
activate the suction cups, but he can't get the Get A Grip to lock on
in three tries.

His crew jumps in, trying it on any smooth surface they can find: on a
beam, on a door, in the bathroom. In every case, "it pulls right off."

Once you read the paperwork, you understand why. Turns out its not
good on any clean, smooth surface as the infomercial states. It won't
work on painted surfaces or wood and it's not to be used outside.

It now makes sense it didn't work on the painted wall in the bathroom,
the wooden door, or the painted iron beam and walls outside.

So what does it work on?

According to the directions: smooth, glazed tile, Formica and glass.
So we tried it on a glass window.

"It's pretty sturdy on the glass," said one crewmember.

We tried it on some Formica on the boat's bar.

"It holds," he said, but seconds later: "It seemed like it popped off
on its own."

The Spirit of Sacramento doesn't have tile, so we return to the
station, where there's a shower. I attach it, and then grip it to help
me up, and it seems pretty strong.

But remember the paperwork that comes with the product. It says, do
not use to provide leverage or stability or to maintain balance while
lifting yourself.

Isn't that the point of the product?

Rich isn't sold on the Get A Grip. He doesn't like how few surfaces on
which it works.

"I honestly think what these guys should do with this is turn it into
a phone, that would be great," he said.

I paid $19.98 for two, plus shipping and handling. I bought it at
FreeGetAGrip.com