So, Has Anyone's Twsbi Not Broken?

[Blue_Moon]

Just a note. Philip from Twsbi contacted me and is sending replacement parts. I have to say their customer service is awesome.

 

 

TWSBI's customer service receives outstanding accolades. But the question remains - "Why should it have to be so good?" Translate that into "Why should so many people have to keep relying on their outstanding service?" Why can't they just improve the quality of their pens, so all these people can stop taking advantage of this wonderful customer service?

[Legal Eagle]

 

TWSBI's customer service receives outstanding accolades. But the question remains - "Why should it have to be so good?" Translate that into "Why should so many people have to keep relying on their outstanding service?" Why can't they just improve the quality of their pens, so all these people can stop taking advantage of this wonderful customer service?

 

I agree with you completely Blue Moon. So far my TWSBI's have been holding up just fine. I use a leather pen case, and baby all of my pens regardless of the price. So if one of my TWSBI's suddenly cracks I'll be shocked and rather disappointed in the brand's plastic quality, but so far so good.

[sail1942]

Here's TWSBI's guarantee:

 

Oh!! and a quick FYI, your product's warranty NEVER runs out!! We will fix and repair it for as long as you want to own it. We back our products and customers 100 percent.

 

You can't beat that.

[Blue_Moon]

Here's TWSBI's guarantee:

 

Oh!! and a quick FYI, your product's warranty NEVER runs out!! We will fix and repair it for as long as you want to own it. We back our products and customers 100 percent.

 

You can't beat that.

 

I disagree. The warranty might be wonderful, but take for example, Franklin-Christoph's warranty. It's a lifetime warranty (not to mention their warranty transfers to a new owner - without any paperwork - if service is needed), but you don't hear about people having to use it all the time because their pens are not breaking. Not only F-C, but with many other companies, you don't hear of so many people having to use the warranty. The warranty doesn't excuse TWSBI from poor QC.

[maisonBWN]

I bought a 580 last year and it is still running fine. I've disassembled it once for cleaning this year and reassembled it with no issues. Here's hoping to another flawless year of use.

[cnnlim]

I have a 580 with the section broken within first few months of careful usage. Replaced the section and not long after I have a cracked barrier and cap. Yet to get it fixed.

[tinkerteacher]

I suppose it was only a matter of time before I joined the club.

 

I have two Minis. One, a beater pen with an italic that I put all kinds of nasty, staining ink in and general heap abuse upon. The second, with a Pendleton Brown BLS, I baby and use to spread FP addiction to unsuspecting victims.

 

Guess which one has now developed hairline cracks in both the barrel and front section along the casting seams?

[EBUCKTHORN]

I've had only two minor, immediately rectified, problems with my MINI and I like the pen a lot. On the other hand I certainly believe all the complaints that have been listed. It's discouraging to learn of them with regard to a company and line of pens for which I've had high hopes. I've been told the TWSBIs are made from polycarbonate. I know from personal experience that, as sheet material, it is really tough stuff, but it seems that thin molded sections can be problematic. I wonder whether that's the nature of the material or a reflection of TWSBIs level of ability. Comments such as mine don't contribute to a solution but, perhaps, enough of them will convince TWSBI of the precariousness of their situation.

[Pjotr]

Have a TWSBI Mini which I bought as a first piston filler. Love the size, feel and weight. Unfortunately it refuses to write more than half a page with a broad nib. Their customer service has been excellent and so has the retailer who fitted a different feeder, tweaked the nib etc etc but alas it just won't work. After half a page of writing it dries up and I have to tweak the filler knob to push ink in to the feeder then it's OK for half a page and so on. Bit of a bummer. Works fine with a medium nib but I like broad.

Edited April 29, 2015 by Pjotr

[FOUR X FOUR]

I've never had any cracking issues with Twsbi. However, the fins on the feed for all Twsbis is very thin. If you accidentally grab the nib and feed front and back you wil likely crush the fins

[shadesofbrown]

You're far more likely to make post if you've got a broken pen than if your pen works fine, hence the extra exposure of problem pens. I'd love a 580 and Vac700.

[J85909266]

I just bought a Vac 700. This thread gave me the sads.

[JonSzanto]

I just bought a Vac 700. This thread gave me the sads.

 

Don't be silly. My 540 is going on somewhere around 4 years old, never a problem, still in regular rotation, still a fabulous pen to use. Things happen, of course, but as a rule you never hear again from all the people who have precisely ZERO problems going down.

[JonSzanto]

However, the fins on the feed for all Twsbis is very thin.

 

Like about a million other pens. Worried about crushing fragile feeds? Don't ever work on vintage pens, my friend.

[J85909266]

Don't be silly. My 540 is going on somewhere around 4 years old, never a problem, still in regular rotation, still a fabulous pen to use. Things happen, of course, but as a rule you never hear again from all the people who have precisely ZERO problems going down.

Good to hear! I'll remain optimistic. I see members posting pictures of TWSBI pens in use all the time. If they all cracked, nobody would buy them, right?

[JonSzanto]

Good to hear! I'll remain optimistic. I see members posting pictures of TWSBI pens in use all the time. If they all cracked, nobody would buy them, right?

 

I'll be very honest: I don't know what to make of it, other than the total ease for people to whine on the Net . I'll only say the following...

 

I got back into pens about 5 years ago, started here at FPN, and it was in the early days of TWSBI. It looked promising, and that became (at the time) my highest cost pen purchase. I have kept it in use for the intervening years, and I have gone from 2 pens to well over a hundred. I've never had to have anything done to my pen, and while I'm careful with objects, I'm not an abject prissy or anything.

 

I've seen these reports, on many forums and venues. I don't doubt that there have been material failures, and that things need to be fixed and designs strengthened. But I've also never seen a reasonable request made of the people there that didn't get handled quickly, and I've seen a lot of damage done by absolute numbskulls. I really hope it works out for you, it should be a solid purchase, and the one thing we can always remember is that it isn't a Pacemaker implanted in our chest - if it has a problem, it isn't the end of the world.

[Freddy]

Still-Zero-Zip-Naught-Nada-Zilch....Nothin'................

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/215012-so-has-anyones-twsbi-not-broken/?p=3245877

 

Fred

who is listening to Hommy by Larry Harlow - out doors

summer time in the City at The Lincoln Center for the

Performing Arts

[Reevers]

No problems with my 580 & 580 AL.

 

My Diamond Mini feed cracked and a new part was sent FOC. The new feed seems to be from a different grade of plastic compared to the old and is currently without issues.

[GSteer]

Just to pipe up on the positive side. I've five 540's (Blue, Orange, Smoke, 2x Clear), a Mini (Clear) and a 580 AL (Orange).

 

The AL is new but the others I've had since they were released and not a single one of them has had any cracking issues. I do keep them in cases/sleeves, don't throw them around, don't overtighten them and do service them when required. The mini has lived in a jacket pocket for a few months at a time.

 

The only issue I've had so far was a stuck piston in a 540 which was my own fault due to excessive testing use and lack of maintenance, a quick service sorted it.

 

You don't always hear the positives as has been mentioned so wanted to chime in.

[gwyneddd]

 

TWSBI's customer service receives outstanding accolades. But the question remains - "Why should it have to be so good?" Translate that into "Why should so many people have to keep relying on their outstanding service?" Why can't they just improve the quality of their pens, so all these people can stop taking advantage of this wonderful customer service?

 

My patriotic flag button TWSBI 580 "broke" only that the dog chewed the end. And the kind folks at TWSBI sent a replacement end. That's better customer service than I got from Cuisinart, who wanted me to pay shipping there and back for a broken bowl (handle broke in six months. Flimsy. Cheaper to replace by simply ordering a new bowl from Amazon.)

 

So I just bought a NEW 580 in green from Goulet and I can't wait to get it. TWSBI is my favorite pen at the moment.