Falconry Hoods International's Hood Blocks

[GriffMJ]

Hi All

In light of Ken Hooke's descision to cut the price of a full set of his "Chinook" hood blocks to $475 + Shipping !!!!! ...... I must write this review of his blocks and the kind of service I received on paying $920 plus shipping plus the VAT of £120 into the UK for a full set 5 months ago.

To say that I am HYPER ****ed off now is an understatement!!!!

These blocks were initially promoted as the "Best blocks on the planet....." Dennis Maynes being the "alleged" creator of this hood block. Expecting the highest quality and standards the following is an account of what I received and the kind of service that I received after paying TOP DOLLAR..... I will also describe the trouble I have had trying to get a Pattern that actually works on these blocks and also the kind of fit these blocks provide..... I have asked Ken Hooke & Dennis Maynes on several Occasions to provide photographic evidence of a "chinook Hood" on a Raptor ..... and to this day I have not received such proof!!!! Something I think you will agree would be easy enough to provide if the Pattern and the blocks fitted so well.... I have e-mails and pictures to back up all I am about to put down in this thread.

I will be selling my full set of "Chinook Hood Blocks" on e-bay very shortly.......

[AndyYounger]

Griff
it just goes to show that we are all susseptable. i always want the best for my birds as you obviously want to make the best. you have baught an item that you were told was the best,as i would have! now that he has fallen on his face he has reduced the price to try and sell off any blocks he has before eveyone finds out!
Just keep your chin up and keep making the quality that i now regard as the product which everone should aspire to.
Andy

[GriffMJ]

Thank you Andy..... I think your right in what you say about price reduction.

I use as an example the American hoodmaker Steve Tait and his hood blocks...... these blocks were sold at just over a $1k when they first came out a few years ago... and they have always held their price...because the blocks & patterns were excellent. They can now be purchased from Mikes Falconry supplies ...and they are still commanding a price that is over $600 for 24 blocks.... the fact that Ken Hooke has reduced his price to such a level in such a short space of time speaks volumes!

[Saker-Clive]

Griff, could you not 'adjust the patterns or draw some 'new ones' up to fit the blocks?????? that way, you will have a product perfect to the blocks........or are the blocks un workable with any variation on pattern? (don't forget, I'm not a hood maker;) )

[GriffMJ]

Griff, could you not 'adjust the patterns or draw some 'new ones' up to fit the blocks?????? that way, you will have a product perfect to the blocks........or are the blocks un workable with any variation on pattern? (don't forget, I'm not a hood maker;) )

Clive.... i have drawn up three to four different patterns.... I have even received numerous patterns from Dennis Maynes...... they just dont give a good enough fit! I have managed to make a pattern I thought was the one....but its made Sabs a bit hood shy.... if I show him that hood he goes nuts!

I have managed to sell two hoods from the original patterns that I received ...and they were made for a Chilean Eagle/Buzzard.... a large hood....so the fit was ok...... but as soon as you get down to medium falcon size....thats where the problem starts.

I have sent out three different blocked hoods to fit falcons on three occasions Rollins, Tait & Maynes ..... and on each occasion the choice has been either Rollins or Tait.....never the Maynes..... the comment has always come back that the fit was poor compared to the other two! I have just had one yesterday.... Gyr/Pere female I sent the choice of three... and the Rollins size 11 was chosen (Tait 19 and Maynes 20 being the others) ......worst fit was the Maynes!

[Saker-Clive]

Ok thanks, so basically the blocks are no good for anything really................

[SakerJack]

Hi Ken



This is the list of blocks needed in my e-mail 4/9/05



As stated in a previous email …the blocks that are not up to standard are #4, 7, 14, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34….. they all look like this and they are all sticky and not drying out…. I cant use them….. can you replace these please.


Block 14 is the size that fits Sabs….so I cant make him a Chinook hood until I get the block L



The finish quality is the same as the Rollins blocks from Hawkmasters in the new blocks….definitely NOT brush painted as in the first set you sent. I think I am going to sell this set and then re order another set from you, by the looks of it, as this is the quality I wanted.





Best regards

Griff




(BFC Supporter & WHC Assoc)

Tel: 00 44 (0)1162 301680

Mob: 00 44 (0)7813 522421

http://www.m-jhoods.co.uk

Griff , I am not going to go and tell the whole story on ourdealings with the blocks, 14 were damaged and I replaced everyone with what you openly admitted with a better block. I too have all the evidence and you have also admitted that you had to re-do all of Rollins patterns as well ,I did not, as we agree we like our hoods a certain way. This was the last mail I recieved from you regarding the blocks, you seemed happy in fact you were GOING TO ORDER ANOTHER SET FROM ME!!! Or have you forgotten this mail?Are you more HYPER_****ED that I dropped the price? Nothing was ever mentioned of the blocks before I dropped the price.
By the way I found a local source of Dura-stone, and I have a system down now that I can produce these blocks quickly.
Sakerjack
Ken Hooke
Falconry Hoods International

[GriffMJ]

Ken.....dont you think I really want these blocks to work!!

The whole story is going down in this thread Ken...... no bullshit from start to finish ...I will let people judge for themselves.

People are judging these hoods on their merits.... I am making the hoods as per you original pattrerns and I have not sold one (for falcons)...... the choice has always been Rollins or Tait!

When it comes down to money.... YES I am ****ed off.... how would you feel Ken...... you have litterally halved the price within a year!!! Your either selling a **** load of blocks sets to justify such a reduction....OR selling **** all and need to cheapen so much to get people to buy them! You cant be selling a **** load of them ....cos we havnt seen any Chinook hoods on this side of the Atlantic!

Oh and BTW ....14 blocks were not "damaged" they were just made in such a poor way that I was not prepared use them in the state they were in (and i tried to)...... basically I was promised a Ferrari and got a Trabant!

[Hawkmaster]

Griff can you put up a comparison picture of the three blocks and their hoods?