Breaking News: New Parker Model To Be Launched

[Ernst Bitterman]

May I offer a silly tinfoil hat line of thought? Newell-Rubbermaid's grand panjandrums have decided that they've got too many subdivisions in writing instruments. If Parker spends a lot of money on R&D and promotion on a stupidly designed and madly overpriced new breed of pen, this can then be pointed to in shareholders' meetings as the failure of the management of that brand, and Gentlement, harrumph, we must cut off this diseased limb &ct.

 

Zero actual evidence, almost pure speculation, AND it's on the internet. How can it not be "true"?

[richardandtracy]

I'm forecasting a big fail here.

A big fail at FPN, almost certainly.

In the wider world? Not sure. If the pricing is right, it may work for Parker.

 

However, my initial view is that the style sucks.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[stuartk]

It looks like a technical pen with a metal hood...I think this is why people view fountain pen users as being pretentious. The reason why we use fountain pens is not because we want to be seen with them, but because we ENJOY using them.

 

It looks like a Pilot razor point with a bunch of added trim. Not something I'm going to want to use.

[Gobblecup]

As far as I can tell, the target market for this product is anyone who has an irrational fear of fountain pens, yet wants to be seen writing with something that looks like a fountain pen.

 

Good luck with that.

 

 

It looks like a technical pen with a metal hood...I think this is why people view fountain pen users as being pretentious. The reason why we use fountain pens is not because we want to be seen with them, but because we ENJOY using them.

 

Plus one, and plus one. The people at Parker clearly no longer know what it is they are selling to who.

 

I'm really ashamed of this generation, and more so because I'm part of it!

[Anne-Sophie]

Quote

Using Parkers' new 5th Mode refill, this pen provides an extremely smooth writing experience and brand new 5th Mode pen platform. The unique refill has several advantages including a fluid, regular ink flow, no leakage in high altitudes and adaptability to personal writing style with its soft, felt-tip writing feel.

 

 

I think the target market are frequent flyer's fountain pen users who do not want to take their fountain pens with them.

The people at the Parker division have been studying the patents and reading FPN

 

Especially thread like this one Flying with a 149

Edited September 19, 2011 by Anne-Sophie

[nxn96]

The photo of the refill helps make sense of what the pen is all about- a feed and cartridge that fits into a "fixed" nib. Interesting concept.

 

If it works, Parker might have a "winner", but I would think the "fit" is at the lower end of the Parker line; not at the higher end of the Parker range where it appears to be placed. Put one of these in an Urban or IM, I'd probably try one. At something north of $150, I'll let someone else try it first.

 

It's also worth noting that at least Newell/Rubbermaid is trying to come up with new innovations that (again, if successful) might breathe new life into a brand that has been struggling for a time.

[Chevalier]

I have no clue at what market segment this thing could be possibly aimed. I hope they aren't trying to found their own new segment now, because this might be prone to fail. The novelty effect might work though ... I am really curious to see this thing, and if anyone will buy it.

 

I hope they didn't tailor a pen that unites the downsides of all other writing instruments. If the tip is what I think it is, then it'll be hard to write with it for people without a decent and stable hand (or the hammerfisted and hookpaws).

 

I am really curious now, I hope it'll appear on the market soon.

 

Oh yes ... @Parker

The leakage at high altitudes argument? $180 for the pen and $8 for a refill? Really? You should have tried this system on the below $30 range.

Edited September 20, 2011 by Chevalier

[krbmsw]

I have no clue at what market segment this thing could be possibly aimed. I hope they aren't trying to found their own new segment now, because this might be prone to fail. The novelty effect might work though ... I am really curious to see this thing, and if anyone will buy it.

 

I hope they didn't tailor a pen that unites the downsides of all other writing instruments. If the tip is what I think it is, then it'll be hard to write with it for people without a decent and stable hand (or the hammerfisted and hookpaws).

 

I am really curious now, I hope it'll appear on the market soon.

 

Oh yes ... @Parker

The leakage at high altitudes argument? $180 for the pen and $8 for a refill? Really? You should have tried this system on the below $30 range.

 

We're such a small segment of the pen market (fountain pen users) that I doubt we're the true target market. From my days as a creative (writer) in advertising, I can tell you that it is very rare for a company of this size to release a new product without having researched it to death in order to determine who their target is and whether or not they will appreciate the benefits of that product. Of course, that same research process has created some pretty awful products.

 

It will be interesting to see how this one turns out. Luckily, living in the Chicago area, at least one of our pen shops should have a demo model for testing. I really am curious.

[ObserveClosely]

As far as I can tell, the target market for this product is anyone who has an irrational fear of fountain pens, yet wants to be seen writing with something that looks like a fountain pen.

 

Good luck with that.

Are you kiddin' me? This is an enormous and yearning niche. This new pen'll be bigger than the microchip. Buy Parker stock.

 

J

[nxn96]

Back in the day, the cartridge was introduced as "the solution" to the perceived mess and inconvenience of having to fill a fountain pen from a bottle of ink. To an extent, it worked and continues to work in its way. However, it did very little to stem the overall decline in fountain pen use that began once a reliable ballpoint design (another Parker innovation, by the way) was marketed. Also, among many fountain pen people, cartridges are the filling systems people love to hate. If this new design works, it might be the first new successful fountain pen filling system design since the introduction of the c/c systems 50-55 years ago. Given Newell/Rubbermaid's significant investment in the writing instrument business, a winner here can migrate across many brands and price-points.

 

That assumes it works, and is successful in the marketplace. At $8 per refill, if it doesn't last longer than a 5-pack of Parker cartridges that cost $5-6 a pop, it's hard to see the long term economics for relatively the same level of "ease".

 

An interesting analogy might be the Parker Rollerball. When it was first introduced as part of Parker's "Systemark" line back in the mid-1970's, it was a pretty decent pen. I thought so, and used one pretty regularly for a number of years. However, it was never more than an "OK" writer and the refills never lasted near as long as the price suggested. Once Parker, Inoxcrom, etc. introduced gel refills that would fit a retractable Parker bp pen, I lost interest in rollerballs as my fountain pen alternative.

 

As I noted in an earlier post, I think it's a mistake for Parker to introduce this new refill concept in a pen that costs upwards of $150. That truly limits the number of people who are willing to give it a try. When Parker introduced their bp and c/c systems, they did so at the lower price-points and let the technology migrate upwards to the premium lines as acceptance took hold. It worked. Here, they seem to be doing quite the opposite.

 

Still, I wish them well and hope to try one out once they make the concept available in the lower price brackets.

Edited September 21, 2011 by nxn96

[Sean]

Hmmm... Dont know what to think? At this price point, I'll let the well off folks give it a whirl first. I dont think it is an ugly pen, per se, just a little odd. Now if they were to drop this design into the "big box" stores for @ 20-25.00, I could see folks buying them for the interesting design/novelty of the pen. Who knows, it might be interesting?

 

 

-Sean

[Ernst Bitterman]

If this new design works, it might be the first new successful fountain pen filling system design since the introduction of the c/c systems 50-55 years ago....

 

The analysis is right, but this one error might make you want to rethink-- it's not a fountain pen(except in the VERY broad "internal supply of ink" meaning that also applies to BPs). The ultimate end of the refill sticks out beyond the "nib" and is the actual point of interaction with the paper. There's some useful pictures in this German puff-piece.

[Chevalier]

This refill isn't likely to last as long as a pack of cartridges, because the tip (as long as it really is what we think it is) won't last that long. The biggest problem might be, that complete pens featuring this technology are half the price of a new Parker refill.

 

@krbmsw

 

Fountain pens aren't a small market segment, not worldwide. I don't know many people that don't own at least one decent fountain pen, friends from the States are the only exception. Sure, the ballpoint and rollerball segment is bigger, but I don't think ballpoint and rollerball only users will like this new pen, at least at this price, with $8 refills. Most of them already think it's crazy to buy a $20 fountain pen ...

 

Btw. Parker states that it was actually research that led to their new pen. I'll have the chance to test one soon and I'll try to do so without allowing my prejudices to influence my judgement.

Edited September 21, 2011 by Chevalier

[radellaf]

I love Pilot razor points, though I wish they'd make the feeds transparent like they did with the V-5/V-7. The lighter colors like pink and cyan are beautiful.

 

That said, yeah, I don't understand introducing it with only a high end model.

 

But, I do think fountain pens, even cartridge fill, _are_ kind of messy. If you're not real careful with them so as to never drop one or even let it land a bit too firmly on the table, they get ink in their caps, sometimes quite a bit. Hooded nibs answer that problem,

[ianyer]

Honestly I just don't get it. I understand why all the pen retailers are jumping on board as they just want to increase revenues. But to say "a new writing technology" has been invented is just ridiculous. All I can see is a fine line refill with a faux nib. So I guess it is aimed at the people who think it is cool or sophisticated to write with a fountain pen but are not inclined to actually try a fountain pen. Any true fountain pen user (who writes with fountain pens for the writing experience) will not be drawn to this pen. That leaves the vast multitude of pen users who are currently writing with ball points or felt tipped pilots. It seems unlikely that they will spend $100+ for this new writing technology. I think all you need to do is buy a roller ball pen, insert a fine line refill and you've recreated the "new technology".

[Russ Prechtl]

I only have one word to say:

 

WHY??????? :hmm1:

[79spitfire]

To be honest the tip looks like the tip on the "Sharpie Pen" disposable that can be had for a few dollars at the big box office store.

[mikerph]

You know, we may all be looking at this all wrong. Remember the T-1 (and the VP)? They were revolutionary but flawed and didn't last long. Now, they are worth much more as a collectible than other contemporaries. I say we all grab one--put it away and wait for the day it is discontinued and we will have a bonified rarity!

[krbmsw]

This refill isn't likely to last as long as a pack of cartridges, because the tip (as long as it really is what we think it is) won't last that long. The biggest problem might be, that complete pens featuring this technology are half the price of a new Parker refill.

 

@krbmsw

 

Fountain pens aren't a small market segment, not worldwide. I don't know many people that don't own at least one decent fountain pen, friends from the States are the only exception. Sure, the ballpoint and rollerball segment is bigger, but I don't think ballpoint and rollerball only users will like this new pen, at least at this price, with $8 refills. Most of them already think it's crazy to buy a $20 fountain pen ...

 

Btw. Parker states that it was actually research that led to their new pen. I'll have the chance to test one soon and I'll try to do so without allowing my prejudices to influence my judgement.

 

@Chevalier

 

I can see that. I forget that outside of the states, fountain pens are much more widely used. And actually, in my statement, I'm agreeing with you about the research piece. I'm sure Parker has put significant resources into determining who their target market is and what niche this pen will fill. No company their size skips that step.

[tonybelding]

You know, we may all be looking at this all wrong. Remember the T-1 (and the VP)? They were revolutionary but flawed and didn't last long. Now, they are worth much more as a collectible than other contemporaries. I say we all grab one--put it away and wait for the day it is discontinued and we will have a bonified rarity!

 

That's indeed possible.

 

Also. . . Even though it's easy to look at this gadget and make fun of it, I'm still curious.

 

We don't know exactly how the tip is constructed. My impression is that it looks like some plastic-reinforced fiber-tip pens that I remember from the early 1970s (before rollerballs started to catch on). They were finer, firmer and more durable than regular felt tips, and not bad writers when new. Applying too much pressure would wear them out pretty fast, though. If Parker have taken that technology and put it into a springy "suspension" with some give to it. . . It could be decent.

 

OK, I still can't imagine wanting to use it instead of a fountain pen. But I can see how some people might like it.