Inky T O D - Do You Ever Try Before You Buy?

[amberleadavis]

Do you always buy samples first? Do you read the reviews first? Are you one of the lucky ones that can go to a store and try an ink out before buying?

 

Tell us how you pick your next ink.

[mikeschu]

Samples and trying it out first-hand whenever possible, but if I read enough reviews I can get away with buying a bottle blind.

[Fabienne]

This time I tried a sample first. Glad I did. I am not as impressed with Kon-Peki as most people are and so I am saving a lot of bread. I should do this more often.

[dgturner]

I sample my inks prior to purchase whenever possible; I have had the pleasure of being able to perform dip testing in store at Daly's Pen Shop here in Milwaukee before the advent of ink samples for sale online. Having said that, I have purchased inks sight unseen.

[william2001]

How can you sample an ink bottle?

-William S. Park

[Scootz]

I try a sample before buying a bottle whenever possible. Reviews help narrow down which samples to try, or fill in when samples aren't feasible.

[Joane]

In the past twenty years or so, the only ink I bought blind was P.W. Akkerman China Town Red, which was acquired through a local group buy. I picked it from Akkerman's online colour chart and was not disappointed. Glorious colour and perfectly behaved ink. Other than that I buy what is available in local stores and tend to use mainly one brand at a time. I have "gone through" Parker, original Sheaffer (and would probably still be using it if it had been kept the same), Waterman (same comment), Omas, Aurora, J. Herbin (for a long time) and, presently, am enjoying a few colours in Montblanc. These were all purchased locally and usually they will let you check the colour inside the cap.

[ac12]

I read the review, then I get a sample to verify or disprove my thought on how the ink looks.

If the sample works out, then I get a bottle.

 

This method works because several times, I have been able to decide to NOT buy a particular ink after sampling it.

 

Although there have been a few times where I went from review directly to the bottle. But I admit that was a gamble.

In one case, I did NOT like the color, but I was able to sell the bottle to a friend for the price I paid, so no loss.

 

The reason I sample is, my pens in many cases does not match the pens used by the reviewer. What I really do not like is when the review is done with a B or BB or BBB pen, and my preferred nib is an old Parker F (Lamy XF). The color of the ink lines from a WIDE nib will usually not look like the ink line from a narrow nib. And some of those wide nibs are WET, again a difference with my pens.

[WaskiSquirrel]

I like to get samples. I will sometimes use reviews, but mostly just to answer questions I have about an ink I am already interested in trying.

[Runnin_Ute]

I try to sample whenever possible.

 

Since coming to FPN, the first bottle I took a chance on without doing so was Noodler's Apache Sunset. I just bought Levenger Pomegranate - no reviews or samples available unfortunately. But it looks like an interesting ink. It was on sale for $10 shipped - their Semi-Annual Sale. I had tried a Waterman Florida/Serenity Blue in a cartridge so I wasn't going completely blind on that purchase.(it came with a Phileas I bought from the Classifieds back in Dec 2012) Also with the purchase of my first P51 figured an ink with the properties of that ink would be a good idea. Both arrived the same day.

Edited July 13, 2014 by Runnin_Ute

[maksim]

First few bottles I bought just outright after reading the reviews, Waterman Florida Blue, Aurora Black, Iroshizuku Yama-Budo.

 

Other Inks I have bought after trying out samples, such as J Herbin Bleu Nuit, Rouge Hemitat, the 1670 Ocean Blue.

 

In the grand scheme of things, Ink is cheap, there are far worse ways to spend $20. I will make myself use some inks for different stuff.

 

Is it nice to try a sample before you buy? Sure.... but is it a deal breaker? Absolutely not. Especially when you factor in that inks will look completely different on different paper and from different pens. Trying them is part of the experience.

[Vgimlet]

I am 90 percent in the sample before you buy column. With some exceptions, like when I see an ink and know that it must be mine, like Apache Sunset, and Yama-dori.

 

edited to add - I do read reviews too.

 

But now I mostly buy samples before I buy a bottle. And it's too fun to be trying all those colors, especially now I'm using different sized nibs. Like broads, and calligraphy pens. (Even though Japanese fine nibs will always be my true love..) It's amazing to my ink-geek self to see how different the same ink can look.

Edited July 14, 2014 by Vgimlet

[alarickc]

I usually just buy a bottle first, but I do occasionally buy samples.

[JulesSilvan]

I usually read reviews first or if it's a particular colour I'm after check out colour swatches on websites, pick out the ones that most appeal to me and then read reviews. Then it's time to purchase samples.

 

Sometimes there are no samples to try and I'll risk a full bottle, this risk worked out well with the Kobe inks - I'm quite smitten with the Kaigan Stone Grey and I like the others I bought too.

[Taiin]

I'd rather buy a small sample and make sure I really like the ink before taking the plunge and buying a whole bottle. I just placed an order for a large group of samples from Goulet Pens, since I am interested in a purple ink for notetaking. There were so many purples to choose from, so hopefully I fall in love with one!

 

 

I sample my inks prior to purchase whenever possible; I have had the pleasure of being able to perform dip testing in store at Daly's Pen Shop here in Milwaukee before the advent of ink samples for sale online. Having said that, I have purchased inks sight unseen.

 

The only time I was at Daly's (the new location) I definitely went home with a bottle of Noodler's Fox after seeing it on paper in person! When I lived in Milwaukee, I hadn't been turned to fountain pens yet, and now I only visit the city sporadically to visit friends. From what I read, store was at Grand Avenue Mall when I lived in the city. I probably passed it without noticing, since I used to get fresh fruit from the little stand in the mall near Linens N Things.

[Charles Rice]

I've never bought a sample. Most of the time I walk into the store and judge the ink by the color in the bottle. The only ink I have purchased mail-order is Manhattan Blue.

[Ted A]

I prefer to sample. There are always differences in the pens and papers that reviewers use compared to me. Sometimes inks look too similar to what I have so I don't need another ink like that.

 

But there are some inks that one just can't get samples of easily.

[Robert B]

I voted that I always buy samples, But after I look at the fade scans you put up, and

read reviews.

I did recently buy some ink samples, and just went ahead and bought a bottle

of Diamine Ancient Copper. And was not disappointed .

[load81]

Depending on where you live it can be difficult to try before you buy. In my case I mostly read a review or two and buy a bottle. It's to much hassle to me to get a 2 sample before I buy a 5 bottle.

[AllenG]

I usually take a chance and just buy the bottle.

Before long I am going to the local art college with a shoe box of inks I'll never finish and make some kid's day.

Edited July 13, 2014 by AllenG