Pen shoppes:Attitude,quantity,etc

[Jazzbaby]

Oops! That last bit was supposed to read - I don't even MIND if the staff is grumpy, etc. Sorry. Brain goes too fast for the fingers sometimes.

[meanwhile]

QUOTE (vacuumkid3 @ Mar 4 2007, 11:49 PM)

The pen they sold me, a Touchdown Admiral with the wrong nib, was $70, but my dad got it for me anyway. I didn't know, my dad didn't know, and if the salesperson DID know, they didn't tell me. Completely not worth $70. Luckily it works. However, the nib is very scratchy and I still want to find the right nib!

You should start a thread about this in either Writing Instruments or Sheaffers. People may be able to help you, especially with the nibs scratchiness.

[The Toecutter]

I really enjoy snobby or arrogant salespeople in pen store, or for that matter any store with luxury goods...

 

I know more about their product than they do. Guaranteed. I toy with them and make them think I'm going to buy. Then I don't.

 

I always ask the snooty salesman or lady what pen they use? If it isn't expensive, I ask them why they don't have a good pen? How can you sell pens without having one?

 

I'll go to jewelers and ask the snotty salesman what Rolex he has on? Or what Patek he owns so he can tell me about it from a personal perspective. If they don't have one, but are very snotty anyway, I ridicule them and question their credibity. I'll even go as far as to ask for a more qualified salesperson. I reserve this for the real jerks. It's a BLAST!!!

 

I'm vicious. Really I am. I teach these condescending people a lesson. It's alot of fun.

 

 

I'm the exact opposite to nice salespeople. I show respect and am always courteous. I fully believe in "you get what you give"...

 

 

[Spongebob]

I've had generally good experiences; never encountered any pushiness or snobbery either at my local shop or when visiting shops in other cities on vacation. Usually the salepeople leave me alone. Perhaps I look like someone who isn't going to buy anything anyway!

 

My "local" shop...Fountain Pen Hospital.....is a 40 minute drive + tolls + parking away. So I don't go there as often as I'd like. Service has been quite acceptable, though I recently had to wait 20 minutes to pay for an expensive pen b/c there was only one person to work the register. But no complaints of significance. I'm trying to wean myself off the drive, tolls, parking and sales tax by ordering more on-line. (NO...I've never test driven in the shop only to go home and order on the 'net. Makes no sense in my situation....if I'm there in the shop I might as well pull out the credit card).

 

The local MB boutique is another matter. It's in a mall so maybe they see thousands of browsers a day. Last time I visited--to see a 149--the saleperson said "You know this is the pen that most politicians use!" I generally don't care for MB to begin with, and this just put me over the edge. I won't go back.

 

For me it's about 1) being able to see what I want before I buy it and 2) good service. My tastes are very narrow, so #1 is less of a concern now that I know what I'm after. I've been the beneficiary of some really good online service this month.

 

Bob

[maryannemoll]

Luis Store is the best. Would you believe, they still have mint condition 51s and Snorkels and other pens from the sixties? This is because they have been a pen store since 1948.

 

The owners of the store really know a lot about fountain pens. They ask you what kind you need and recommend the ones they think you'll like. And they kind of feel their way around you. First they engage you in a light chat, bring out some pens for you to try, and only after a while do they show you the pens that are "for you." I suppose they do this to see whether you are serious about using fountain pens or you're just riding on someone else's hobby.

 

But going into the store is such an experience, and service is fantastic. Whether you end up buying or not, you get the feeling that your insight on pens had become much deeper and clearer. The owners like talking about pen and if you have time to spare, you can talk about pens for hours over tea and Chinese candy, and it's always delightful to drop by.

[scout]

I have had tremendous luck with brick & motar pen shops in Colorado. I became converted to 'good' quality pens through my visit with the knowledgeable staff & owner at Colorado Pen Direct in Denver. They don't have a 'showroom' but I found their offices and they were kind enough to show me some beautiful pens, VP, cartier, Omas, Parker, Shaeffer, all sorts. They sell mainly on the web and all their staff know their pens. Since then I've visited the staff at Paradise Pens in the 'cherry creek mall'. They have been tremendously helpful and have even sent a pen + business card holder back to the original manufacturer on our behalf. Plus, it wasn't purchased from them (PP). When in Arizona, I go to "The Raven" in Prescott, AZ. The owners are very knowledgeable and spend as much time with me as I need. All these stores have been helpful over the phone as well. In Boston, specifically Cambridge, I go to Bob Slate Stationary store - a plethora of paper and fine writing instruments. I don't even bother going to the MB store - too snooty & lack of knowlege about their own products. I highly recommend these pen stores - whether you spend 20$ on an acme or $$$$ on Cartier or Dupont, I've been treated kindly and fair by knowlegeable staff.

[Ray-Vigo]

I go out to Bertram's Inkwell and they have a nice shop out in Whiteflint. First rate service and a nice little mall store that has the basic supplies and some nice pens.

 

There's also a nice pen shop in the mall in Columbia MD.

 

Fahrney's isn't bad either.

[georges zaslavsky]

QUOTE (alvarez57 @ Mar 5 2007, 12:10 AM)

QUOTE (georges zaslavsky @ Mar 4 2007, 10:31 PM) QUOTE (alvarez57 @ Mar 4 2007, 10:16 PM) Here's Georges website translated in English  http://translate.google.com/translate?sour...stylos%2ecom%2f Kurt is familiarised with the THIS pen shop we were discussing a while ago. The owner has always been courteous to me and he knows I'm a regular but DO NOT spend big bucks there and knows I get my pens from the Internet. This is the guy I've helped get rid of his Montegrappas. His clerks are very nice younger ladies who have NO idea about fountain pens...and I don't think the owner knows much either . They are mainly a stationary store and I don't know much about paper myself. So, internet suits me better. The owner is a knowledgeable person perhaps you should read this article http://www.stylophilesonline.com/archive/jan03/05old.htm to see the talent, knowledge and good reputation of Mr Andre Mora can't be questionned. Mora stylos is not mainly a stationary store, they repair vintage pens and sell second hand pens something no other penshop in Paris does. Mora has 75 years of existence which in my personal opinion has more credibility than any huge feedback of an ebay seller. Also the shop has not many clerks but one clerk the son of Mr Mora or one of his nephews who also knows his pens perfectly. Sorry Georges, the pen shop I was referring to was not yours, but a local one in New Orleans! Sorry for the confusion! No probs we all make mistakes.

[Woody]

Best shop I've ever been to, Honolulu Pen Shop. Unfortunately, it's owner, Earl Shigemoto, died last month. At this point, I haven't heard of what will happen to the store, if his wife will continue on, or not.

 

Aloha Earl and RIP

[HDoug]

QUOTE (Woody @ Mar 4 2007, 10:28 PM)

Best shop I've ever been to, Honolulu Pen Shop. Unfortunately, it's owner, Earl Shigemoto, died last month. At this point, I haven't heard of what will happen to the store, if his wife will continue on, or not. Aloha Earl and RIP

Earl was the greatest. I'd walk in for a bottle of ink and he'd make me look at all the new stuff. He kept pens inked so you could try them out. He had a vast knowledge of pens, and a love of sharing that knowledge. So I'll ditto, Aloha Earl and RIP.

 

Doug

[adair]

Among the best pen shops that I have ever visited are Bertram's Inkwell in Maryland and the stationary section at KaDeWe, Berlin's enormous and magical department store. Both of these shops have large selections, good prices, and knowledgeable staff. As for Paradise Pens, their pens are regularly over-priced, their staff pushy and not well-informed. I go there strictly for buying ink or cartridges. I don't think that I'd ever buy a pen there unless there were a significant clearance.

 

Online, there are several great sellers, including isellpens, hisnibs, Swisher Pens, and of course Pam Braun.

[ericthered2004]

QUOTE (Srehman @ Mar 5 2007, 12:51 AM)

I've been over to a couple of Paradise Pen stores: one in Denver and another one at the Somerset in Troy, MI. Most of the salespeople have no clue about pens, though one lady at the Somerset PP seemed pretty good about it. Their customer service is not too good, though. I dipped a pen and thought it was working OK, but when I inked it at home, and found it was not working to my satisfaction, I was told to send it to Waterman.

Send it to Waterman? This is something I've never figured out about retail in the US.

 

Back in the UK your contract is (was?) always with the retailer and not the manufacturer, and defective products are the retailer's responisibility. I believe this applies even if the retailer attempts to specify otherwise when selling.

 

I've never been able to find out whether or when a similar rule applies in the US.

 

Regards,

Eric

[jpolaski]

QUOTE (ericthered2004 @ Mar 6 2007, 06:29 PM)

QUOTE (Srehman @ Mar 5 2007, 12:51 AM) I've been over to a couple of Paradise Pen stores: one in Denver and another one at the Somerset in Troy, MI.  Most of the salespeople have no clue about pens, though one lady at the Somerset PP seemed pretty good about it.  Their customer service is not too good, though.  I dipped a pen and thought it was working OK, but when I inked it at home, and found it was not working to my satisfaction, I was told to send it to Waterman. Send it to Waterman? This is something I've never figured out about retail in the US.   Back in the UK your contract is (was?) always with the retailer and not the manufacturer, and defective products are the retailer's responisibility. I believe this applies even if the retailer attempts to specify otherwise when selling.   I've never been able to find out whether or when a similar rule applies in the US.   Regards, Eric 9 times out of 10 the retail establishments here is the US carry a limited warrantee, ie you get a 30-90 day window in which to exchange, return, or have the store fix. After that is usually the remainder of a 1 year period in which the manufacturer is responsible for the well being of the product. Most stores DO sell an extended warantee for an extra year or two with a no questions asked repair or replace clause. Hope that helps!

[FrankB]

The thing that grabs me absolutely the wrong way is that these full price retails outlets like Paradise Pens say they charge retail to provide excellent knowledge of pens and outstanding customer service. I can only scoff at their attitude. When neither is provided, why did any of us pay full retail?!

 

Again, I am basing my attitude on Paradise Pens. I know full well there are good shops, and some even excellent. I have yet to see one, though. - That having been said, there are several on line vendors that I have had only excellent dealing with. I am so very grateful for the technology that allows me recourse to those on line sellers.

[handlebar]

QUOTE (FrankB @ Mar 6 2007, 04:14 PM)

The thing that grabs me absolutely the wrong way is that these full price retails outlets like Paradise Pens say they charge retail to provide excellent knowledge of pens and outstanding customer service. I can only scoff at their attitude. When neither is provided, why did any of us pay full retail?! Again, I am basing my attitude on Paradise Pens. I know full well there are good shops, and some even excellent. I have yet to see one, though. - That having been said, there are several on line vendors that I have had only excellent dealing with. I am so very grateful for the technology that allows me recourse to those on line sellers.

And here again,this depends on "which" store.I have been to two paradise Pens stores with splendid results and knowledgable service.The Portland store has a good staff and i usually visit when the owners are there.They certainly know their stuff.

Therefore,one cannot judge the chain by a few stores.

 

JD

[Titivillus]

QUOTE (handlebar @ Mar 6 2007, 08:26 PM)

QUOTE (FrankB @ Mar 6 2007, 04:14 PM) The thing that grabs me absolutely the wrong way is that these full price retails outlets like Paradise Pens say they charge retail to provide excellent knowledge of pens and outstanding customer service.    I can only scoff at their attitude.  When neither is provided, why did any of us pay full retail?!  Again, I am basing my attitude on Paradise Pens.  I know full well there are good shops, and some even excellent.  I have yet to see one, though.  -  That having been said, there are several on line vendors that I have had only excellent dealing with.  I am so very grateful for the technology that allows me recourse to those on line sellers. And here again,this depends on "which" store.I have been to two paradise Pens stores with splendid results and knowledgable service.The Portland store has a good staff and i usually visit when the owners are there.They certainly know their stuff. Therefore,one cannot judge the chain by a few stores.   JD And that says a whole lot about the stores

[amadeus06]

Now that you all have fun and reviewed and bashed on pen stores and their employees I will do the same from a "Pen Fanatic/Pen Sales Associate" point of view.

 

I've worked as a Pen sales person since i was 17 years old which means I've been selling $500 pens for close to 4 years now. At least in my case, i believe i am well informed on most of the pens i sell. I will do anything possible to make your shopping experience as pleasant as possible. I will special order anything that i can manage within my power, for you. I will give you the best deal i can, as long as it makes sense for you and for my shop. If i don't know the answer to a question that you ask me in my shop I will take go online and look it up for you, or i will call the company itself if possible, if the above steps fail i will take your number or email and i will contact you with the answer as soon as i can. Now the steps above will only and solely be implemented if you are not a "pen-hole".

 

The definition of a "pen-hole" is a Pen fanatic/enthusiast/supporter/or just passerby-er, who is incredibly irritating and will not, I repeat will not get 100% of my attention nor help, not because i don't want to help them but because you make it impossible for me to do so. Here forth are the many types of "pen-holes" that exist and should become extinct

 

-The Frugal Shopper:(AKA "THE LIBELLIANS") This is one of the most irritating pen people around. They tend to think they know everything about pens, which i don't mind. The problem in these people are that they want a pen that looks like a Cartier but costs like a bic. This can be incredibly irritating. Usually I after finding whether it's a gift, or you treating your self, and after finding whether you want a Bp, Rb or FP. I ask you if you want to be brand specific or if you have a price range. I can work with any price range. Give me 2.5k and ill brake you a deal on the Visconti alchemy. Give me twenty dollars and ill direct you to a decent Lamy or Pelikan. But it's amazing the number of people that will run to the Montblanc Case and yell out "something about 20 maybe 30 dollars " ... Then after i direct them to the right location they look at me like I'm insulting them. Then i get the most irritating question EVER! "Why are these pens so expensive?" Which kills me to have to bite my tongue every time from having to reply "you know Walgreen's is just around the corner", Instead i have to go into a well prepared monologue in which i explain the materials, hand craft work, detail and quality of these pens. It never works. This group of people seldom buys anything, If they do they tend to walk away with a simple fisher bullet, or sometimes you can talk them into a bad quality pen like Conklin or Libelle, which are cheap very much like the people buying them. (NOTE: I DETEST the two latter mentioned brands and i will never sell you one unless you specifically ask for one)

 

- The Deal Pusher (AKA "The Sceniums"): There are two subsections of these people. The ones that are usually nice through out the sale until i mention the price, and the ones that are regularly nasty through out the procedure. The second is the most common. These people will not accept any reasonable price what so ever. I understand these pens are expensive and like i mentioned before, it is not at all my main concern to rip you off. If i can make a good deal for your pen i will do it. I will never sell you a pen for 70% off the retail price! That makes no sense what so ever. First of all i have never gone into another shop and asked right off the bat "I want those pants right there but ill only pay half for them". These people tend to forget that for a pen shop to stay open, it must produce a profit somehow. Yes, I understand that you saw that starwalker on ebay for only 50 dollars, but one, i cannot match that price, two, Montblanc doesnt make them with polk-a-dots all over them, so i cant order you one, and three, NO i will not give you the matching cufflings for free. Maybe if you buy the actual pen from us i will throw in a couple of refills, but i will not give you a matching pen... In any case, i will only offer a discount off the retail price, if you ask kindly if there is any available discounts, or if i like you. If i like you, which means you didnt give me any problems, or your a repeat customer or you actually bothered to say hi back when i greeted you then i will usually give you a decent discount even without telling you.

 

- The Snobs: (AKA MONTBLANC) These people will not listen to you! They ask you a simple question and interrupt your answer everytime with another until they get bored and walk away leaving you in a state of confusion. After i've decided they dont want my help and i go help somebody else, snobs will usually stamp over in your direction and will demand farther attention. In the end I end up walking behind this person, who not at all wants to hear what i have to say or want my opinion and just wants me to open up the cases for them, this is especially irritating because they dont offer a smidgen of respect for me and i cannot help the other customers who i'm scared they will think i dont want to help. In my opinion these are the most irritating pen customers. They wont want my help and will not allow me to help others. Good thing about snobs is that they usually dont stay for long and if they purchase anything they will purchase MontBlanc and MontBlanc alone because that is the only brand name they recognize other than Cartier and they dont bother to hear what i have to say about omas dupont montegrapa or visconti.

 

-The Nonsensical: (AKA Retros) Nonsensicals are quite common. I usually get one at least twice a week. They look like the regular pen shopper, but with a small exception of a detail....they dont have sence. They will ask you. "But does the Dolce Vita come in pink?" and i will answer "No, ma'am they come in black resin with orange and sterling silver trimmings, and they come in black resin with an orange celluloid body and again a sterling silver trimming" to which they will reply, "does it come in a Pink trim?" and i will reply "no" and they will reply "what about an orange with pink?" to which i will blink in a stupifing trance and reply "no, see they make it in the dolce vita, and the soiree. One is orange with black, the other is black" To which the nonsensical customer will sigh in a manner of understanding and reply, "ah...but will they make it like navy blue?...with pink?...". I will scratch my nose and say "No" and she will say " oh ok, well if i get the black one can i get one with the MontBlanc logo on it?"

 

-The boyfriend: (AKA CERVANTES <dont ask>) These Pen shopper are named after a classic customer i had once. He was in his early 30's and he held his girlfriend against his side tightly with his hand around her waist. He went around my shop looking at the pens and he would point at the pens and instruct his girlfriend about them. Then he called for my attention and he began to ask me questions about pens, to which i answered to the best of my ability. Then he began asking me about brands i have never heard off, brand to which slowly i realized he was making up and just trying to make himself sound real smart in front of his girlfriend. After he was done with me he kept going with instructing his girlfriend, i kept an ear shot away just to hear his lesson. I almost burst out laughing after confessing to his girlfriend that he had purchased a 5k Libelle a couple of years back. In truth these group of people must be called "The fibbers". They usually will take my time up by talking to me and tell me false stories about pens and their collections. It's not really problematic exactly but they usually demand attention and will not relinquish you from their boring fake stories which is very time consuming. Again not allowing me to help others.

 

-The Know-it-all: These are usually Pen Fanatics who are not at my shop to shop around. They are there to talk. Now, just like any work place, it is not okay to have your friends come over and chat up with you while you do your work. At my shop, it's a very cool atmosphere and we dont mind chatting up and geeking out on pens with any customer. It's great having someone come in and actually know more about Pelikans than i do. Or correct one of my many monologues. I love that. But some of these people do not understand that this is a job and i cannot talk to you about the magnificence of Parker pens for 3 hours. I have paper work to do, i have things to ship and i have customers to help. If you want to geek out with me, send me an email ill give it to you. If your looking for me to find you a rare pen through the vendors just write me a note but i don't have all day for one single customer. Yes, i will look at your collection and tell you what i think, i will show you my personal collection but only and only if it doesn't stop me from doing my work.

 

Those among other are the main "PEN-HOLES" They are incredibly irritating. If you do not get satisfying customer service from me, it's because one of the personalities above fits you!

 

Now as a customer i have been to several Pen shops. My local Pen shop if i dont include my own Is "Flax art store". They have two really knowledgeable girls working behind the counter. One who happens to be one of my close friends (Estella), the other (Bjor) Is a gem! She knows her pens left and right! A bit obsessed with Pelikans but thats okay i have the same problem with Namikis and Viscontis. They dont have a huge selection but enough to keep me entertained. When ever i go, i fight myself from chatting up with the girls there because i know sthey have a job to do and she probably wouldn't appreciate me taking up her time. I will only ask questions if i really dont know the answer. I rarely buy a thing from them since i usually can get things at cost from my shop or sometimes cheaper still online. But they are great! But Flax is great! Great selection of inks too!

 

Also, i have a MontBlanc boutique near me. Now those people are snotty. First of all their selection is horrible and constantly run out of their own refills, so they send people my way all the time. Every time i go there i make sure the older lady is working. I think her name is Mary. She is wonderful, she is not a complete expert on MontBlanc (well none of the staff is), but she is the friendliest. All the others are really snotty and conceited and usually wont even look up to look at you unless you ask for help. Their Manager especially is extremely nasty. I recently heard from one of the dealers, that Never has that MontBlanc boutique ever made a profit! They just keep them there i guess for prestige and brand name advertisement.

 

I wont review my own store, cause...well, im not a customer here.

Edited March 7, 2007 by amadeus06

[maryannemoll]

That was such a humorous, ah, cross-section of pen-holes! The Cervantes really cracked me up. Thanks so much for that insight. I suppose we never really assess ourselves as shoppers, but the salespeople do get the brunt of our judgement most of the time.

[handlebar]

Quite a response amadeus.I can relate.I sold pens and stationary in the late 80's when the main brands in my shoppe were Mont Blanc,Cross and Shaeffer.Same type of customer and that now goes with my current job at a lumberyard as regards tools,etc.

Those of us who have been in retail for a fair number of years(25+ years here)know exactly what you are speaking about.

 

Being a salesman myself,i ALWAYS try to be kind and patient with salespeople when i shop.Exceptions being the rude salespeople.Everyone has a bad day.So i usually give them the benefit of the doubt.If it happens twice,well i still forgive.Third time:Thats enough.

 

Thanks for the comments.

 

JD

Vancouver,Wa

Edited March 7, 2007 by handlebar

[acfrery]

 

QUOTE (amadeus06 @ Mar 7 2007, 12:54 AM)

-The Nonsensical: (AKA Retros) Nonsensicals are quite common. I usually get one at least twice a week. They look like the regular pen shopper, but with a small exception of a detail....they dont have sence. They will ask you. "But does the Dolce Vita come in pink?" and i will answer "No, ma'am they come in black resin with orange and sterling silver trimmings, and they come in black resin with an orange celluloid body and again a sterling silver trimming" to which they will reply, "does it come in a Pink trim?" and i will reply "no" and they will reply "what about an orange with pink?" to which i will blink in a stupifing trance and reply "no, see they make it in the dolce vita, and the soiree. One is orange with black, the other is black" To which the nonsensical customer will sigh in a manner of understanding and reply, "ah...but will they make it like navy blue?...with pink?...". I will scratch my nose and say "No" and she will say " oh ok, well if i get the black one can i get one with the MontBlanc logo on it?"

Did you say it does not come in pink?

 

http://www.fountainpenhospital.com/images/delta_images/DE84340.jpg

 

 

Great analysis. Thanks a lot!

 

Alejandro

Edited March 7, 2007 by acfrery