My experience of Griffin Kites:

Ordered a 2012 Argo for an upcoming trip to Exmouth.

Received a TRX 2012. No time to return the kite before impending trip so thought i'd give it a go. I found it underpowered, struggled to fly upwind, canopy luffed even when fully powered, fell out of the sky twice while overhead standing on the beach.

I've flown previously; Cabrinha CO2, North Rebel/Rhino/Fuse & Ozone Edge, and this is the worst performing kite I've flown to date. On contacting Chris at Griffin kites and basically saying the kite was a dud he agreed with me and said it was a bridle problem!!!???

Begs the question: so why send me a kite that you know is a dud? and that I didn't order in the first place?

The guy agrees to send me the Argo after I post the TRX back (postage at my cost). Receive the Argo, no bar and lines.... too many weeks have passed now, not going to wait another week or two for the bar and lines to show up and I request a refund, send the Argo back (postage at my cost).

Wait for two weeks after registered post has indicated that parcel has been received and make several phone calls requesting refund before I get cash back in the bank. Refund was for the kite and original postage, no refund of postage for backwards and forwards. All up it was 9 weeks of f..ng about and $50 or so poorer and no kite to fly in between times

Hmmm..... I'm not a Pimp or an 'Anti Pimp' - if there is such a thing - the kite was a bargain and I was recommended it by a mate that loves his and has had no problems but I probably won't be going for another Griffin any time soon.

Thanks for your comments Kitepower. However, just a couple of small corrections:

1. It was the same treatment applied to all of my kites. All of them were pretty resilient, except the Crazy Fly one. You do the math.

2. Witnesses say???? That is total BS. I am kiting 3 times a year close where you guys are. So I am finding it hard to believe I am such a star and people talk about me in your shop.

3. The kite was bought from Europe. I doubt that has something to do with the poor quality of it. Initially the kite was for a business I tried to do back home, but when I realized there is not much wind there, I decided to keep the kite for myself. What's wrong with that?

4. I can guarantee you I am never doing anything on the beach to make me crash the kite there. In fact I am sure I've never crashed a kite on the beach.

5. On a mission to get the kite as cheap as possible??
No man. I had no problems with paying the correct price for 3 Griffin Kites.

Guys, honestly I am sorry for saying something bad about the kites you have business with. I swear I have no intention of pimping any kite. But it's obviously a forum sponsored by a certain group of people with certain interests and truth is not always very well received.

Happy kiting!!

Kitepower Australia said...

GriffinKites said...
Hi, Just a quick reply re the above

Re Mikedobee and "Possibly the most pathetic attempt of a pimp ever" from Berg K1t3r

Mikedobee was riding the other brands above a few months ago, after one of his new kites ripped in half ( 6 months old and a light crash into flat water + shop wouldn't warranty it ) he asked me for a Griffin, I sold him a used pre-production 2013 TRX. He is not a team rider etc and not sponsored to pimp etc.

Mikedobee did not buy the said kite in Australia and was actually given the kite by the brand as he had led them to believe he was opening up a business. He came to us with a full length LE to TE canopy split and quite trashed (well used and roughly) and blamed the kites "cheap material" LOL! The kite is made from the same Teijin cloth as most other quality brands, but the kite had been trashed while Mikedobee was learning and practicing tricks his skill level is not up to. The kite had clear evidence of having been cut by something sharp, perhaps in a crash on the beach, witnesses say there were plenty. The kite then "just split in the air" for no reason at all and was fixed by us. No way there was any legit warranty claim on this kite.
Mikedobee was and probably still is on a mission to get his kites as cheap as possible, end of story. Just wanted to post some facts into this great thread!

Mikedoobee was just owned by kitepower..