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Fpn Pen: Status Update, May 7

Admin

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Dearest members of the fountain pen nut house, and especially those who voted for an FPN pen already :D,

 

It has been some time since an update, so we thought it would be time to do so. Let us go through the options remaining one-by-one, with an indication what to expect.

 

1) FPN LE Passaporto

We currently have reached a total of 200 Passaportos, if we add Chrome and Gold Coloured trim together. Based on our discussions with Stipula, considering a split of approximately 150 Chrome ones and 50 Gold coloured ones, we should be able to get both produced. For the Gold coloured ones that would mean no nib selection possible however, only an M nib will be available. For the Chrome version there will be the option of an F or an M nib.

Gold and/or titanium nibs will unfortunately not be available, as we would need at least 100 votes for each, which we don't even get close to.

Even so, it would still mean both pen options will be produced.

gallery_17_12_19574.png

gallery_17_12_59417.png

 

2) FPN LE Modello T

Here too the total is approximately 200 pens. Considering the votes, a gold coloured option is not in the cards, and neither is a gold nib. Also, palladium section ends (close to the nib) would make it extra expensive considering the relatively small numbers, so we do think that an azurite section from barrel threads to nib end is the way to go. However, we will have the option to select the clip jewel as we'd want to, and the nice thing is that that won't add to the cost. Currently there are about 65 MOP clip jewel choices, and about 135 azurite ones. Therefore, also two models.

gallery_17_12_62692.png

gallery_17_12_91772.png

 

3) FPN LE Etruria

Here it gets a little more complicated. It looks like we can and will do both the cellulose acetate version, and the azurite version. Considering the overwhelming majority for PF systems, they would be made as piston fillers.

We did ask whether it is possible to have a choice of nibs on any model between the 14K rhodinated ones and the 18K duotone ones, but we haven't received a clear answer yet. Furthermore, we have learnt that maybe, on a select few, it would indeed be possible to use vermeil trim rather than silver trim, but here things are not 100% clear either.

IOW, we will certainly produce both an azurite, and a blue cellulose acetate version, and both in silver trim and 14K rhodinated nibs, just that we don't know yet if other choices are available too, for nibs and trim.

 

gallery_17_12_50273.png

gallery_17_12_54646.png

 

 

Next there are two important issues still remaining, and that is how we handle shipping and VAT etc. Shipping appears rather expensive outside of the USA (€ 10) and the EU (€ 10), namely € 35 for any country except USA and EU. We are therefore still looking at shipping alternatives.VAT is another problem because we are not a registered company in Europe. This could possibly mean that VAT will be levied on all pens, at the Italian VAT rate of 20 %. We are also checking if this somehow can be prevented or handled differently.

 

Until we are sure about the solutions for VAT and Shipping, we will not be able to complete our web store yet, and the same really is true for the Etruria voters.

 

We have agreed with Stipula to try and resolve all outstanding question by means of a telephone conversation if we can't move quickly enough with our current email exchange. However, this will not (yet) solve any VAT or shipping issues.

 

Summarizing, it looks like we will produce

- both Passaportos

- 2 Modello Ts, with azurite section, one with MOP clip jewel and one with azurite clip jewel

- at least two Etruria models, the silver trimmed azurite and cellulose acetate ones, and possibly also a few vermeil trimmed ones of each

 

And we still have a few outstanding issues/questions

- nib options for the FPN LE Etruria

- shipping options

- tax issue

 

As mentioned, we do hope to resolve the remaining questions and issues next week, hopefully early next week, so we can finally go ahead with the ordering process, on our soon to be FPN Store. :D

 

HTH, warm regards,

The FPN Admin Team

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RMN

Heya Wim.. Is looking good.Glad you found the emails. Sorry for the delay I caused... :headsmack: :thumbup: (was worth it to me... :thumbup: ) Great work. I still hope to get the 0.9 italic on that Etruria.D.ick

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xuan87

It seems like you guys are planning to set up a store to sell the pens. Does this mean all pens are not a one-off production, or do we have to pay and order the pens before they can be made ( meaning committing to the pens by a predetermined date with no option to buy more at a later date)? Thanks.

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wimg
Heya Wim.. Is looking good.Glad you found the emails. Sorry for the delay I caused... :embarrassed_smile: :P (was worth it to me... :D ) Great work. I still hope to get the 0.9 italic on that Etruria.D.ick
:DYes, I did, and had some more exchanges :D. BTW, I really suffered next day, ok same day really, although the hayfever didn't help either. Very enjoyable, the delay, however :D.Warm regards, Wim
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wimg
It seems like you guys are planning to set up a store to sell the pens. Does this mean all pens are not a one-off production, or do we have to pay and order the pens before they can be made ( meaning committing to the pens by a predetermined date with no option to buy more at a later date)? Thanks.
It will still be a pay and order before they can be made, but the store will help us in making it easier to keep track of who ordered what and where, so yes, committing to the pens by a minimum predetermined number rather than a date, with no option to buy more later (unless we get enough people interested for at least another 100 pens in order to commit to another production run).Warm regards, Wim
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Feanor

Oh, and what are the engravings going to be? presumably just the plurality?

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WendyNC

:embarrassed_smile: :P :D I'm really tickled that it seems we'll be able to get the Passaporto with the gold tone trim. While I remain willing to switch if necessary, I'm tickled with the present developments.

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Scriptorium Pens

Scriptorium Pens

Posted

Heya Wim.. Is looking good.Glad you found the emails. Sorry for the delay I caused... :embarrassed_smile: :P (was worth it to me... :D ) Great work. I still hope to get the 0.9 italic on that Etruria.D.ick
:DYes, I did, and had some more exchanges :D. BTW, I really suffered next day, ok same day really, although the hayfever didn't help either. Very enjoyable, the delay, however :D.Warm regards, Wim
I was wondering about a .9 italic, too. I love my Stips with those nibs!
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GirchyGirchy

GirchyGirchy

Posted

Will a vote in the previous polls be required to be able to purchase one of the pens? Since I voted for the silver-trim Modello T with the azurite stone, am I guaranteed one of those?

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Bipedallou

Bipedallou

Posted

Wow! What good news it is to know we are getting very close to being able to place orders. Having patience is a virtue I'm told, and I'm trying to develop mine...this project is helping me to do that :D so I guess there is more to be thankful for. But the delay is also igniting a desire for more than one pen now. Is it possible when orders are actually being taken to make a decision to get two instead of just one? Or do you need to have a commitment up front before the voting is closed? Well I certainly am looking forward to being able to buy at least the one PassaportoI voted for.:P Wim, and The FPN Admin Team, Thank you for all the work you are putting in to making this a reality. :embarrassed_smile: Lou

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Gobblecup

Gobblecup

Posted

Do the lower prices apply if 200 are made for an entire model, or just for each variation produced?I am very happy to see my choice and vote will be made (Etruria Celluloid, Silver trim, 14k 1.1 Italic :P) ... now to find another $200! :doh:P.S. I really hope something can be done about the VAT for us worldwide members... :embarrassed_smile:

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WOBentley

WOBentley

Posted

Awesome news..really looking forward to these pens! A big thank you to all who are working behind the scenes to make this happen!Dave

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Delphideo

Delphideo

Posted

It's great to hear these news, but I also hope the shipping issue is resolved, that's over half the price of the Passaporto alone to international non US/EU members. It really makes me stutter on buying two passaportos or a passaporto and a Modello T.

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Maja

I'm a little confused about the shipping situation---ie. " € 35 for any country except USA and EU".....Does this include Canada?If so, it's rather steep, eh?Wim, thanks so much for the update!

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Maja
It's great to hear these news, but I also hope the shipping issue is resolved, that's over half the price of the Passaporto alone to international non US/EU members. It really makes me stutter on buying two passaportos or a passaporto and a Modello T.
Exactly! My little Passaporto purchase ($59 USD base cost, if 200 were made) sounds like it might wind up costing a heck of a lot more than that.Also, I'm confused about where these are going to ship from---the Stipula factory directly...or some retailer (online/brick & mortar) in Italy or ??? I've never bought pens directly from a pen company without a retailer being involved...
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Feanor
I'm a little confused about the shipping situation---ie. " € 35 for any country except USA and EU".....Does this include Canada?If so, it's rather steep, eh?Wim, thanks so much for the update!
I'm not 100% sure on this so you'd need to check the details, but if you're near a border, you should be able to have it sent to you at a US post office just across the border, and they're required to hold it for 30 days for you to pick up.Not sure how exactly you'd need to address the envelope, but apparently it's still done quite frequently along the appalachian trail.
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CatBookMom

CatBookMom

Posted

I think I voted for the MOP jewel on the Modello T, but I would be very happy with the azurite one. I don't truly have a preference, just picked one. Am I locked into the MOP? Would it help the process if we MOP voters switched?

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wimg
Heya Wim.. Is looking good.Glad you found the emails. Sorry for the delay I caused... :embarrassed_smile: :P (was worth it to me... :D ) Great work. I still hope to get the 0.9 italic on that Etruria.D.ick
:DYes, I did, and had some more exchanges :D. BTW, I really suffered next day, ok same day really, although the hayfever didn't help either. Very enjoyable, the delay, however :D.Warm regards, Wim
I was wondering about a .9 italic, too. I love my Stips with those nibs!
That is still one of the subjects of discussion, whether we can have 18K nibs on all of them, by choice, so either a 14K nib, or an 18K nib, and either in any type/nib width ... :DWarm regards, Wim
Link to comment
wimg
Wow! What good news it is to know we are getting very close to being able to place orders. Having patience is a virtue I'm told, and I'm trying to develop mine...this project is helping me to do that :D so I guess there is more to be thankful for. But the delay is also igniting a desire for more than one pen now. Is it possible when orders are actually being taken to make a decision to get two instead of just one? Or do you need to have a commitment up front before the voting is closed? Well I certainly am looking forward to being able to buy at least the one PassaportoI voted for.:P Wim, and The FPN Admin Team, Thank you for all the work you are putting in to making this a reality. :embarrassed_smile: Lou
Hi Lou,If you really would like to buy more than one, let me know backchannel, and I'll make a note of it. As FPN, we only have very limited funds, so we will only have very few extra pens made. That means that it is best to let me know in advance.And thank you very much for your kind words.HTH, warm regards, Wim
Link to comment
wimg
Do the lower prices apply if 200 are made for an entire model, or just for each variation produced?I am very happy to see my choice and vote will be made (Etruria Celluloid, Silver trim, 14k 1.1 Italic :P) ... now to find another $200! :doh:P.S. I really hope something can be done about the VAT for us worldwide members... :embarrassed_smile:
Officially, each variation produced, but that is no longer true for Passaporto and Modello T. The modifications on these are such that we can incorporate all in 200 pens pricing, AFAIK now. So, slightly more for the Gold coloured Passaportos, but other than that , likely as indicated.With the Etrurias it is a different story, as it is a completely different pen with a lot of manual work, which varies with the different materials. However, we are trying to get them all at 100 pens or better prices. :DHTH, warm regards, Wim
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wimg
Awesome news..really looking forward to these pens! A big thank you to all who are working behind the scenes to make this happen!Dave
Thank you, Dave! I'll pass the message on to the team!Warm regards, Wim
Link to comment
wimg
It's great to hear these news, but I also hope the shipping issue is resolved, that's over half the price of the Passaporto alone to international non US/EU members. It really makes me stutter on buying two passaportos or a passaporto and a Modello T.
Fully agreed - which is why we are working on a solution for that. If need be, they will be shipped to a centralized location first and shipped on from there. We are investigating, and when we know more, you can be sure we will notify all present here.Warm regards, Wim
Link to comment
wimg
It's great to hear these news, but I also hope the shipping issue is resolved, that's over half the price of the Passaporto alone to international non US/EU members. It really makes me stutter on buying two passaportos or a passaporto and a Modello T.
Exactly! My little Passaporto purchase ($59 USD base cost, if 200 were made) sounds like it might wind up costing a heck of a lot more than that.Also, I'm confused about where these are going to ship from---the Stipula factory directly...or some retailer (online/brick & mortar) in Italy or ??? I've never bought pens directly from a pen company without a retailer being involved...
The idea was to have them shipped by Stipula - however, this last information means we are investigating alternatives, provided they are viable alternatives. When we know more, you can be sure we will inform everybody here.Warm regards, Wim
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wimg
Do we know the timeline for orders?
Hopefully by the end of the upcoming week, mostly depending on shipping alternatives and VAT issues which have to be incorporated in the final pricing and web store, and preferably as quick as possible after that - that's all the information we have right now.Warm regards, WIm
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