When In Paris, Buy A French Pen....

June 30, 2012

Hello All,

Our family vacation this year was the Normandy coast of France with a few days in Paris. So, I thought since there are no longer any pen stores in Tampa Florida, (I don't count Mont Blanc boutiques...) I would seek out a store in Paris. The first was closed for construction (Mora Stylo) and I was very disappointed but, as we were walking down the Chanselise and stopped at one of the may cafes, I spied a stored named Elysees Stylos Marbeuf on a side street. After consuming our libations, we strolled over to the stylos store (stylos plume is French for fountain pen). It was a cute little shop and the store clerk was very gracious and patient with me and my broken French. I know I paid way to much for a Waterman Hemisphere (60 euro) but, having the opportunity to actually try out a pen before I purchase it was a real treat and to do so in Paris, made the whole experience very special. Frankly, if my wife was not in attendance, I probably would have bought a Dupont pen as well.

Sincerely,

Steve

June 30, 2012

Yes, a B&M makes all the difference. Enjoy the pen.

June 30, 2012

That price depends just on the version, and seems about right for normal shop-prices (B&M-stores)

You can get cheaper online, but then you cannot try the pen, inspect the nib you get etc.

So I guess you had a regular deal and a good experience.

D.ick

November 22, 2012

So I have been meaning to post this but just keep loosing track of time. Engineerboy, I noticed the date you posted June 30 this past summer and realized that I was at Elysees Stylos Marbeuf the day before you and bought a Hemisphere as well. I was on vacation with my family and it seemed like all the pen shops in Paris were closed or being renovated, then my wife, with here eagle eyes, spotted the store and we jumped off a bus and got there about an hour before its closing time. I was in heaven..my wife stayed outside. The people were very helpful and I got a pen I now love. Waterman Hemisphere "Made in Paris" bought in Paris.

November 23, 2012

I definitely agree with the Brick & Mortar approach. I have bought pens in different shops over the last 20 years in the Paris area, with different experiences

In Paris, I have been to:

- Point Plume, was selling very high-end pens. It was near the Champs-Elysées. When I bought my Waterman Edson there, I felt like I was annoying them with my el-cheapo, which made me stop going there. Expect politeness above 2000€ a piece.

- Gibert Joseph, on Boulevard Saint-Michel. That was a very long time ago, I bought a Pelikan M1000. More a "supermarket" than a "real" pen shop nowadays, but they have choice.

- Styl'Honoré : near the Louvres, very sympathetic and knowledgeable owners. Bought a Stipula T and a Visconti Homo Sapiens there.

- Mora Stylos : near the Jardin du Luxembourg; huge selection, prices often a bit high, but choice is there. I got a Parker Duofold Centennial, a ST Dupont Montparnasse and an Oldwin Classic there.

In Versailles,

- La Havane : sympathetic and very helpful owner. I went in to buy a Delta pen they didn't have in stock, they contacted the Delta salesman and I could try the pen 2 days later. I finally didn't take the pen, but I bought a Pelikan M900 Toledo instead. Very nice selection of all the major brands.

- Gibert Joseph : A smaller shop than the one in Paris, the clerks don't know a lot about pens, but are polite and trying to help. I bought my Montblanc 149 there, when they were still selling these pens, and my Parker Sonnet fountain pens.

- Versailles/Parly 2 mall : Le Cigare Et La Plume. The owner is a very sympathetic and helpful person. I bought a Montegrappa Nero Uno, a S.T. Dupont Défi, and nearly all my S.T. Dupont limited editions there. They have a nice selection of Montblanc pens and accessories, S.T. Dupont Pens and accessories, Dunhill, Montegrappa, Cross and Porsche Design pens.

- Versailles/Parly 2 mall : BHV. It's a department store, they have some nice pens, but the clerks changed some years ago, and I stopped going there. There is one BHV in Paris/Hôtel de Ville which is bigger, but I've never been there.

In Saint-Germain-En-Laye:

- Another Gibert Joseph : It is hard to find a clerk there, but it is a good place to go during the sales. I found a few Waterman pens with 50% off over the years there.

- the now defunct Point Plume : I only bought one pen here, the Montblanc Poe. The owners didn't give me much respect back in the day, so I never went back.

Here's my experience with the pen shops in the Paris' area.

Edited November 23, 2012 by olivier78860