Brands You Will Never Buy From

[Pelikan_FP]

Wow, not a single post against Pilot/Namiki or Nakaya That's awesome! I would have been surprised if Nakaya showed up given their reputation on this board *cough, *cough ethernautrix

 

One day I shall own one of thee-Nakaya.

[teenytina]

I am really disappointed with Parker since Sanford bought them out. In the '80's, I sent a FP that my grandfather gave me and while they could not fix it, they did send me a free FP along with my grandfathers pen for sentimental reasons. Now that the pen they sent needs service, they just say that that model is no longer in production and can't help. So now, Parker is off my list. I am interested in TWsBI piston filler but $60 USD?

 

I have two TWSBI's now and love them both. I even picked up a Bad Boy with Angel's Wings from Pendleton as an extra, and fancy extra, nib, and LOVE it. The stock nib and Pendleton's nib both are smooth. I have gotten one, though, that needs some fiddling - different ink or smoothing, I'm not sure. But if you order from Gouletpens, I think they smooth the nib before sending? Not sure. Ordered both of mine from TWSBI direct and their customer service has made me happy so far. GouletPens has never disappointed fwiw.

[wspohn]

I am really disappointed with Parker since Sanford bought them out. In the '80's, I sent a FP that my grandfather gave me and while they could not fix it, they did send me a free FP along with my grandfathers pen for sentimental reasons. Now that the pen they sent needs service, they just say that that model is no longer in production and can't help.

 

Isn't life tough? What do you people expect? A free pen for life every time an old pen wears out?

 

Have you stopped buying cars because no manufacturer keeps parts availability for old models much past about 7 model years? Can't get that new axle for your Model T and they refuse to give you a free new car, so screw them?

 

That sort of attitude is very self centred and any manufacturer that attempted to service antique and superseded pen models would probably be in financial difficulty pretty quick and wouldn't be around to sell you a new pen anyway.

 

If we are able to buy parts and get service for old 1980s models, it is usually because they made enough of them that there are still stocks. You can still find Parker 75 NOS nibs, for instance, but AFAIK when existing stocks are depleted, that's it, they aren't making any more. That's the way it is with all consumer products and if you happen to own a model that wasn't made and sold in large enough numbers that there are lots of spares floating around, you go without.

 

If you really get your nose out of joint when a manufacturer tells you they can't supply parts for a 30 year old pen (or watch, or car, or....) I suggest that you never buy anything that isn't made in huge numbers.

[ethernautrix]

Wow, not a single post against Pilot/Namiki or Nakaya That's awesome! I would have been surprised if Nakaya showed up given their reputation on this board *cough, *cough ethernautrix

 

One day I shall own one of thee-Nakaya.

 

Nakaya? What's Nakaya?

 

 

:-)

 

I wouldn't be surprised if there are some who won't buy a Nakaya or who have and then were disappointed. Nakaya isn't for everyone. No brand is for everyone. Somebody is bound to be dissatisfied. I would be suspicious of anything that received a 100% delighted rating. Not saying it can't happen, but I would be skeptical.

 

I can't think of a brand I will never buy, even if I had tried it and been disappointed. You never know. I try to stay open for pleasant surprises.

[Tokugawa]

Let's see,

 

Danitrio - over-rated bling, not a 100% Japanese pen, and no shibui whatsoever.

All Chinese pens

All Italian pens.

All French pens.

TWSBI - self cracking pens

Platinum Preppies - self cracking pen caps

Franklin Christof

Conway Stewart

Parker

Shaeffer

Cross

Jack Row - arriviste, not Faberge quality.

 

Of course, should improvements occur, this list is dynamic. :hmm1:

[Cepasaccus]

As I do now know what's out there:

 

- Never again a new pen. The vintage stuff is much more interesting, esp. the prewar pens. They do have patina and a history. An real flex nibs are very interesting to write with.

- Never again a Montblanc. The brand is to common for me as I am an individualistic person. The brand costs to much also on vintage pens. And they us the pen serial numbers only to protect themself from their customers, not to protect their customers. Not a good service. But I do like their inks, the black-blue or midnight blue (or whatever it is called) and the Irish Green which is apparently the only green ink which is water resistant.

 

Yours truely

Edited September 19, 2012 by Cepasaccus

[The Good Captain]

Mauser: their 7.62 isn't the same.

[79spitfire]

Mauser: their 7.62 isn't the same.

:ltcapd:

[kronos77]

I almost swore off Noodler's pens for ever until I did a little tinkering and turned my flex pen into my everyday writer.

 

Waterman is a brand I will not buy again. It was my first "expensive" fountain pen, at 130.00 and it leaks. My 5.00 and 10.00 pens write as well and don't leak.

 

I will probably never buy Montegrappa simply because "Rocky" is now endorsing them. I can't possibly take them seriously nor can I possibly buy one and maintain my self respect.

[arcaneradio]

Bic, Papermate, Pentel, Biro, Pilot. These are brands I don't buy from.

No more cheap green retractables for me.

[Regulateur]

It will take time before I buy another Montegrappa. I bought a Montegrappa Miya a year ago. I had trouble with it right from the beginning. Returned it twice to be repaired. The second time, the pen was sent back to Italy; it came back 5 months later (yeah, f-i-v-e) with still the same flow and converter leakage issues.

[Montague]

Own two MB (146, 149), both pre-owned.

Been lucky I guess, they write very well, never had a problem.

I had the foresight to change nibs to my preference when service was still reasonable (ie. 10 years back), now it would be much more expensive.

 

Agree that they are way overpriced, both for prices & service.

Visited the MB boutique in Sydney Australia last year, and they would not even talk to me.

Spent about 20 mins in the shop looking around, then left.

 

More generally, I agree with previous posts here - no point in saying "never again" when they can't service a Vintage pen, or when we're talking about a $20 or lower pen. For anything more than that, that feeling would be certainly justified.

[Jack Row]

 

Jack Row - arriviste, not Faberge quality.

 

 

Hi Tokugawa,

 

I am pleased to introduce myself to you.

 

It is interesting to hear that you are fortunate enough to be a discerning collector of legendary Fabergé pieces and even more extraordinary that you have had the opportunity to travel the world, in order to compare their work to mine. Nor was I aware that you are a master goldsmith with the intuition to measure the quality of my work from a few photographs, assuming that you have never held one of my pieces in your hand?

 

What is even more amazing is that you can discount the entire work of every artisan and brand of an entire country, writing them all off on nationality alone.(pardon the pun). What about a German national, working in France, with his or her brand being based in Italy? Would you consider buying a pen from them?

 

If you are ever in the UK, you have a friendly invitation to visit my studio and observe the 8 weeks of craftsmanship that goes into producing each of my made to order writing instruments.

 

Warmest of regards,

 

Jack Row

[Glenn-SC]

If you are ever in the UK, you have a friendly invitation to visit my studio and observe the 8 weeks of craftsmanship that goes into producing each of my made to order writing instruments.

 

Warmest of regards,

 

Jack Row

Your sarcasm is impressive!

 

I have never used on of your pens, but everyone is entitled to their opinion and if Tokugawa doesn't like your pens (irregardless of how much time you put into making it) then he doesn't like your pens.

 

Attacking people who don't like your product is not the way to get others to try your product.

[ethernautrix]

Everyone's entitled to his opinion yada yada yada... I liked Jack's response. I have no beef with Tokugawa or his list (it's his list), but I enjoyed Jack's response, and I threatened him to get an invitation to his workshop, and it worked. So... you know... the next time I'm in the UK (which, given the pattern, might be a few years), I'm looking forward to enjoying a tour of his workshop and a close-up look at his pens, which might look impractical for my use, but I do admire the craftsmanship and I like the well-placed sparkle. (Gemstones appeal to my inner magpie.)

[ethernautrix]

P.S. If someone doesn't like something I make, that's cool. But if someone makes a crack about it, I probably will respond. I see nothing wrong with Jack's responding to a potshot.

 

Not that Tokugawa was necessarily wrong in expressing his opinion, but you makes yer potshot, you takes yer chances. He got called on it. It happens. This doesn't have to dissolve (or degenerate) into a (bleep - oh, this word was censored. It might alternatively be called a urinating contest, but metaphorically speaking) contest. It might -- and that might even be amusing -- but it isn't inevitable. If I were Tokugawa and had plans to visit London, I would certainly accept the invitation to tour Jack's workshop.

Edited September 21, 2012 by ethernautrix

[tonydent84]

For me, the companies are Parker and Lamy. Lamy just for the designs. None of them appeal to me. Maybe a little, but not enough to spend anything more than $50 on (but this may change in the future, I don't know). Parker, on the other hand, just keeps disappointing me. I started off with their Vector, which wasn't a disappointment at all (probably the best modern Parker I ever wrote with). Then the Latitude, which I got replaced several times -- horrible quality. Then the 100, which I ended up getting a refund for because of how scratchy the nib was and how bad the flow was. Then the Sonnet which has such a bad flow in specific directions, even after I got it checked out by a nib meister. Also a couple of Frontiers that would dry up on me at the worst possible times. I was tempted to get an IM, but after hearing the mixed reviews, I decided to stand clear.

 

 

But I do love my vintage Parker 45's. And I would have no problem with buying Parker's gel and ballpoint refills. However, even their ballpoint "bodies" I don't like that much. And while I like the way the rollerballs look, I don't like how they perform.

 

 

 

[dali3464]

Carrying on the controversial spirit of Tokugawa and Mr. Row's posts (I anticipate I'll get strung up by my ankles for this statement!) I have to admit I can't imagine ever buying a Nakaya or any urushi-finished pens. Now I haven't ever owned a Nakaya (or the like) nor do I doubt that they are fine writing instruments, I just don't get East Asian lacquerware. Being of Chinese extraction, my parents had a certain fondness of traditional Chinese lacquerware and ceramics which always seemed chintzy to me.

[MrsWeetag]

I generally avoid Noodler's inks now.

 

+1 I use Noodler's inks but will never buy a noodler's FP again.

 

 

Ditto! I was sadly disappointed, especially for the price.

 

 

[ethernautrix]

Carrying on the controversial spirit of Tokugawa and Mr. Row's posts (I anticipate I'll get strung up by my ankles for this statement!) I have to admit I can't imagine ever buying a Nakaya or any urushi-finished pens. Now I haven't ever owned a Nakaya (or the like) nor do I doubt that they are fine writing instruments, I just don't get East Asian lacquerware. Being of Chinese extraction, my parents had a certain fondness of traditional Chinese lacquerware and ceramics which always seemed chintzy to me.

 

 

A long, long time ago, so long you probably don't remember, I said this:

 

Posted 19 September 2012 - 09:25 AM

 

I wouldn't be surprised if there are some who won't buy a Nakaya or who have and then were disappointed. Nakaya isn't for everyone. No brand is for everyone. Somebody is bound to be dissatisfied. I would be suspicious of anything that received a 100% delighted rating. Not saying it can't happen, but I would be skeptical.

 

There'll be no stringing up from me over this.

 

I had the same kneejerk reaction to Japanese maki-e. (It was kneejerk for me.) But my mind got turned after holding some amazing Danitrio pens about four years ago, and I'm as surprised as anyone (anyone who knew me during my early years of fountain pen use until about four years ago) that I favor the Nakaya urushi pens as much as I do.

 

That's why I never say never. Well, I don't never say never say never, but I try real hard not to. Cos I don't know. And I know that.