fountain pen taboos - don't enter if you're easily offended

[docsamson]

I disagree. My experience with MB is they're much like a lot of pens = average writers. Speaking only about current production pens, I don't see anything special about how they write compared to other modern pens. I think Sailor is a much better and consistent writer, no matter what the cost.

 

All in all, I'm fairly confused about all the MB love. What do people see in that brand that they don't see in others? I can't help thinking it is mostly about status. MB reminds me of Bose, a heavily marketed product that boasts of quality that people believe regardless of the truth. If I'm told it's good, then it must be good. And while I would never consider MB to be of poor quality like I do Bose speakers, I can't help comparing their marketing strategies. Paying for quality is one thing, being gouged is another.

 

In this day and age, with the internet, there's no excuse on settling on the boasts of a brand when all you need to do is a little research and find that there's plenty of great companies that offer goods at a higher caliber and lower cost.

 

I just never understood brand loyalty.

how some people see montblancs as mere status symbols. they claim expertise over novices who indeed view it that way, but in fact they are also uninitiated. mb pens are superlative writing instruments. can you buy cheaper pens that do a lot of what they can do? sure. but can you buy cheaper pens and expect the same writing experience? heck no.

[Aleph]

Just to be an opposite man (but I'm being honest)

 

1. I cannot see the attraction for the standard Montblanc 149. Its a short, fat, standard, run-of-the-mill, overdone, boring style for 600 dollars. It's not even made out of anything expensive (save for the nib). It's a pen for tools who want people outside the pen world to know they have an ohh-la-la Montblanc.

 

2. The markup on fountain pens is ridiculous. Or, at least the markup on crappy fountain pens is ridiculous. Had I money, I would not mind paying 1k+ for some of those beautiful limited editions - they deserve their price. But I'm sure as hell not going to pay half of that for a pen that's not even a fourth as attractive or unique. Sure, we're consumers - but complaints are what stabilize prices. If they put a standard Montblanc 149 at 2000 dollars, it wouldn't sell. As a consumer, I have a right to complain, and that right keeps my prices down!

 

Opposite rant done (no offense meant by the way, and I'm not calling anyone here a tool - unless, well, you know, name is a factor in purchase)

 

I'm not a MB fan either. But FPship is an irrational hobby. And when I see a collection of 149s of different vintages, I can understand the collector although the merest thought of spending money on one doesn't even consider the possibility of crossing my mind. The funny thing about FPs is that you can like or dislike them for completely irrational or individualist reasons. Which I can respect, despite not aggreeing with them. This irrationality is probably one of the charming things about this hobby

[Aleph]

I think any pen over a $100 that uses a cartridge converter is lame. :mad:

 

I think being snobbish about a bloody ink container is lame

[N_Architect]

1. I love Cartier pens but cannot understand why they are not popular in this forum; I guess perhaps because the majority of members here are from the U.S.

 

2. I do not like cheap pens (and cheap stuff in general). I believe that if you have to have something, it has to be the best possible, even if that means you may have to wait long time in saving and then getting it.

 

3. I do not like Montblanc. Too common, too popular, generally not aesthetically pleasing - three reasons that raise 'not to buy' alarm.

 

4. I do not like overdecorated limited edition pens - why the hell would someone go and buy something like that? They will very seldom use it, anyway. Do they think they will take it with them when they leave this world? We come with nothing, we leave with nothing in this life...

 

5. I consider Parker pens fine for what they do, but nothing extraordinarily exciting.

Edited March 26, 2010 by N_Architect

[Kabe]

I hate it when fellow FP users classify our shared addiction as a need. Only for a few with bad hands are they a need. It's a luxury

[WendyNC]

I hate it when fellow FP users classify our shared addiction as a need. Only for a few with bad hands are they a need. It's a luxury

 

Bad arm/shoulder nerve things will get you there, too, although I agree that aesthetics beyond what is needed to get the job done are a luxury. However, on bad days, sometimes the only thing that will do the job is one of those luxurious "lead carrots" which don't get that way from any embellishment.

 

(WendyNC goes off to use her luxuries.)

[kazoolaw]

 

 

290 replies and 10000+ views in 5 days (I'm good at mathematics if the numbers are in plain view).

 

FPNers sure needed to offload stress

 

 

No, it only means people love to talk at length about themselves, given the slightest excuse.

gary

[guild]

Lamy service is non-existent. They don't respond to emails, and don't return calls when they say they will.

[dflorida]

Say what you will about Mont Blanc pens, they do a terrific job of advertising. I have one and enjoy it immensely but I don't think it is worth anywhere near what it sells for. To my mind, they're the Harley Davidson of the pen world. Overpriced, under performing and sell like gang busters because of an advertising campaign that has sought to convince you that you just aren't complete without one.

Parker 51. I've had two of them. I couldn't wait to own one and then couldn't wait to get rid of it. I tried it a second time because I thought that I must have missed something the first time around. Nope. I consider the Parker Vacumatic just as worthless and one pen model that absolutely qualified for being discontinued.

Maki-e pens!! Someone is really having a good joke on the FP fraternity with these overpriced abominations.

Whew. I feel better.

[rhosygell]

1. There is no such thing as an "important" pen.

2. Having tried several assorted MB's they are nice enough writers but hopelessly overpriced in my opinion as are Omas and Montegrappa. Aurora has the edge at this level.

3. Each to his own really - I use pens daily in the office, often pens that would raise an eyebrow or three amongst collectors - especially a 15PSF as a daily knockabout!

4. Some cheap pens are truly atrocious, equally some very expensive ones are almost as bad!

5. Some iconic pens e.g Parker 51 do not suit me at all - I find them absolutely vile in every way.

6. I fail completely to bond with any Parker pen for some unfathomable reason

7. If all else fails, get a vintage Waterman or Wyvern, they invariably work and write well.

8. If you want to collect pens, get the pens that you like to use - not the ones that "should" be in a collection, otherwise you will always be disenchanted.

9. Price is not everything

10. Learn to do your basic repairs & maintenance if at all possible.

[bushido]

Maki-e pens!! Someone is really having a good joke on the FP fraternity with these overpriced abominations.

Whew. I feel better.

 

as a admirer of maki-e pens, i can say you epitomize the whole purpose of this thread. bravo!

[haziz]

I disagree. My experience with MB is they're much like a lot of pens = average writers. Speaking only about current production pens, I don't see anything special about how they write compared to other modern pens. I think Sailor is a much better and consistent writer, no matter what the cost.

 

All in all, I'm fairly confused about all the MB love. What do people see in that brand that they don't see in others? I can't help thinking it is mostly about status. MB reminds me of Bose, a heavily marketed product that boasts of quality that people believe regardless of the truth. If I'm told it's good, then it must be good. And while I would never consider MB to be of poor quality like I do Bose speakers, I can't help comparing their marketing strategies. Paying for quality is one thing, being gouged is another.

 

In this day and age, with the internet, there's no excuse on settling on the boasts of a brand when all you need to do is a little research and find that there's plenty of great companies that offer goods at a higher caliber and lower cost.

 

 

Curious you should use Bose as an example. Most audiophiles would not touch Bose with a ten foot pole, but that's another story altogether. I am not trying to extend this to Montblanc, with which I have little experience. My brief exposure to the 146 and 149 showed them to be competent piston fillers if somewhat over-priced. The 149 is also in my view oversized, even the 146 is a little big for my tastes.

 

Sincerely,

 

Hany.

Edited March 28, 2010 by haziz

[bushido]

I disagree. My experience with MB is they're much like a lot of pens = average writers. Speaking only about current production pens, I don't see anything special about how they write compared to other modern pens. I think Sailor is a much better and consistent writer, no matter what the cost.

 

All in all, I'm fairly confused about all the MB love. What do people see in that brand that they don't see in others? I can't help thinking it is mostly about status. MB reminds me of Bose, a heavily marketed product that boasts of quality that people believe regardless of the truth. If I'm told it's good, then it must be good. And while I would never consider MB to be of poor quality like I do Bose speakers, I can't help comparing their marketing strategies. Paying for quality is one thing, being gouged is another.

 

In this day and age, with the internet, there's no excuse on settling on the boasts of a brand when all you need to do is a little research and find that there's plenty of great companies that offer goods at a higher caliber and lower cost.

 

 

Curious you should use Bose as an example. Most audiophiles would not touch Bose with a ten foot pole, but that's another story altogether. I am not trying to extend this to Montblanc, with which I have little experience. My brief exposure to the 146 and 149 showed them to be competent piston fillers if somewhat over-priced. The 149 is also in my view oversized, even the 146 is a little big for my tastes.

 

Sincerely,

 

Hany.

 

the logic is good all around here. i like mb and they are expensive for what the pens do. but sailor isn't cheap either, even for fp enthusiasts much less the avg joe out there. it's all relative.

[LinusL]

Sure, Sailor isn't cheap. But comparing entry level to mid level pens of Sailor to MB, you're not even close in price range. I haven't tried out any MB pens myself, but I'd say there's more value to performance in Sailor pens compared to MB.

 

With that said, I'd love to try an MB pen, some I'd even want to own (Kafka FP). But I don't think I'd ever pay that kind of money for the pens because they're way overpriced in my opinion.

 

Also, Bose is horrible and I agree with the comment about audiophiles not wanting to touch them. Their headphones are horrid (even the high end ones).

[WendyNC]

Maki-e pens!! Someone is really having a good joke on the FP fraternity with these overpriced abominations.

 

There are a couple of those jokes that I'd love to have played on me! (Nakaya Ascending Dragon being very high on that list.)

[bushido]

Also, Bose is horrible and I agree with the comment about audiophiles not wanting to touch them. Their headphones are horrid (even the high end ones).

 

i'm not an audiophile but when i first listened to those tiny bose speakers in the 90s i was blown away. the sound was incredible. since i'm not an audiophile however i was never willing to pay that much for a set of speakers.

[bushido]

Maki-e pens!! Someone is really having a good joke on the FP fraternity with these overpriced abominations.

 

There are a couple of those jokes that I'd love to have played on me! (Nakaya Ascending Dragon being very high on that list.)

 

[ethernautrix]

I haven't tried out any MB pens myself, but I'd say there's more value to performance in Sailor pens compared to MB.

 

 

 

Based on...?

 

 

Just asking a question, me.

[AtomicLeo]

I will second the Pelikan rant. I don't see what all the fuss is about. I own a few because I like demos, but none of them come close to my Sailors or Rotrings. I've had horrible experience with Pelikanos and the M200 pens. For the same amount of money spent on an M800 you could have an outstanding Italian or Japanese pen that writes right out of the box. I cringe every time I see a newbie wander onto this forum asking what to buy and half a dozen posts claiming Pelikan M200 is a great starter pen. Run away! Buy a Lamy, a Sailor, anything BUT a M200.

 

I also don't like Clairefontaine paper. I've tried three different journals that had this paper, Quo Vadis Habana and two Rhodia Webnotebooks. The Webbies were OK but wouldn't lay flat like a Moleskin, but the Habana was just awful. Every pen and ink I owned skipped like crazy, even my beloved 1911 Sailor. Clairefontaine is too white and has no character. It's like writing on wax paper. I've had better luck with recycled paper found in cheaper B&N journals.

 

And while I'm on a roll, why anyone would use an ink that wasn't at least waterproof just baffles me! I mean, what is the point? If a splash of water erases the writing you might as well with a pencil!

 

LOve Noodler's and Private Reserve inks. The more saturated, the better!

 

*SIGH* Now I feel better.

[mahkie]

Also, Bose is horrible and I agree with the comment about audiophiles not wanting to touch them. Their headphones are horrid (even the high end ones).

 

i'm not an audiophile but when i first listened to those tiny bose speakers in the 90s i was blown away. the sound was incredible. since i'm not an audiophile however i was never willing to pay that much for a set of speakers.

 

This reaction was carefully cultivated by a lot of marketing research by Bose. They are VERY picky about how their speakers are shown off, and will not allow sellers to compare Bose speakers to other speakers.

 

Basically, Bose has learned how to exploit psychological biases to give the appearance of high quality.