Sailor's Full Ink Lines Including Shop Exclusives Compiled In A Post?

[Pensei]

Following up on the post before this one, I'm confident that if any of the Sailor Four Seasons inks were sold as a LE at a high price, everyone would rave about their quality and beauty. The fact is, they are magnificent inks. This remark is neutral concerning the LE's. I can certainly understand the human nature that wants what it is told it can't have.

[Barkingpig]

When I first began reading about Sailor inks here, the "Seasonal line-up of inks" was JUST evolving to the CURRENT one. Users were squealing to stockpile their favorites from the LAST line-up which included, Apricot, Grenade & Epinard; the "former" line-up was STILL being lamented, as the existing one was soon to be replaced, "BUT remember that Rikyu-Cha & Kin Moukusei," as their currently available favorites were soon to be "history."

 

It is all I have ever known about Sailor inks, regular or "Special, Pen Shop" editions, users LOVE them & talk about the discontinued colors years afterward; now Sailor is returning "old favorites" to expand their current Seasonal inks. I would say they are a "company that is doing something RIGHT." As much as users revere Parker PENMAN ink, it has NEVER been returned to production.

 

I spent the extra cost to get a bottle of Rikyu-Cha when available from a Japanese seller, instead of waiting for the October "return to the states," everything I had ever read about this ink was true & it was worth every cent to experience the ink. I had paid Atsu MORE $ to get Cigar & it was "available" @ a time Rikyu-Cha was no longer being made. In a few months they are offering "old favorites" @ the current prices of their "seasonal line-up of inks;" I appreciate that & look forward to enjoying Kin Mokusei & Waka Uguisa when Engeika ships my order.

[white_lotus]

I think folks are right when they say the Sailor craze is all about LE/bespoke/store-exclusive inks. They want what they can't get. And the few people that actually obtain them say they are amazing. Further fueling people actually wanting them.

 

The next ink waiting to be used is the new Rikyu-cha that I ordered along with my Kingdom Note inks. Along with the mystery ink that is my Noodler's American Aristocracy.

 

Maybe Sailor should rethink their store-exclusive ink idea. As in scrap it. Have a half-dozen or so "Inks of the Year" based on some theme whether like the Kingdom Note "Creatures of Japan" or the "Colors of Japan" based on a city (Kobe) or region (Ishida Bungu). And then every year come out with a new series and make them readily available in Japan, North America, EU. There will always be those that feel they need to hoard or will bemoan the loss of their cherished ink two years later, but you'd probably have less of a craze over the inks.

 

Or just expand the lineup to 30 inks or so a la Iroshizuku and just have them available all the time.

[Tinjapan]

But here again, we are telling Sailor to change their busness model to fit us, when we are not their target market. The purpose behind shop exclusive inks is to increase traffic to the stores that carry them. Why go way out of the way to Shosaikan, BB, Morita, Kobe, Yoshida for ink if you could just go to the Sailor website and order? Just because the stores are in Japan, it does not mean they are easy to get to for those living here. These stores need something special to draw customers.

 

As pen prices are the same at dedicated pen stores, discount large volumn chains and sales a different matter, it is not unusual for these stores to score a pen sale to a customer who stopped by for their store exclusive ink.

 

Discontinuing shop exclusive inks would hurt the stores possibly leading some to fold and Sailor itself by decreasing outlets for its products.

[Barkingpig]

I enjoyed perhaps 24 bottles of Sailor inks during my first year of purchase, after the shortages became apparent, & Atsu ignored my last request for an ink he had said, "might be hard to get," which I subsequently saw him selling it as "21tgif" on Ebay, for perhaps higher prices than he felt would be possible thru individual sale; I went on a "Sailor Hiatus." I enjoyed ink from several other makers & simply "watched the feeding frenzy," from safe distance. In the PAST year I have only purchased 2 Bung Box inks, which is a big change from 24 the year before. I heard the explanations that "this ink was NEVER meant for sale outside Japan," I heard some posts here saying the Shop limits were nothing to worry them because they were able to work "around them." I really just felt bewildered & sad about the change of Sailor being an available ink for me.

 

THEN, I read a post here, & please forgive me I cannot attribute the author of same, but it was an explanation of the tradition of the numerous Pen Shops in Japan & beautifully relayed reason for their existence. I was fascinated & charmed by individual shops in different towns wanting to offer a "unique" ink representing something about their region/home-place which visitors could purchase, take home, use & serve as a pleasant reminder of their visit to that "Shop." Sailor was making this possible from a cultural standpoint, not necessarily a business decision, of a way to SELL more ink, but to create & maintain a broader interest in same ink. As a country with a great history of appreciation/use of fountain pens, ink & use of same, it seems like a brilliant marketing tool, without artifice. "Pure & simple, enjoy a bottle of ink, not sold elsewhere, remember your visit, each time the ink is used AND maybe they will visit again?"

 

I have thought about that post a lot & believe it has made sense for me what I had formerly viewed as a LESS than pleasant change, "they took away my ink & didn't even want me to have had it in the first place!" I think I was viewing a business model based on cultural tradition, & judging it from a American viewpoint of commerce.

Because we have enjoyed a Global economy sometimes we don't always know or remember there are differences existing "just BECAUSE" it IS a Global economy.

 

I love the Bung Box Sweet Potato Purple I waited over a year for & am happily awaiting the expanded "Seasons line of inks." I hope whoever gets the Shop Inks will enjoy & appreciate their qualities with equal enthusiasm. I thank the poster who explained the tradition of Japanese "Pen Shops" here.

[Mew]

People have been told multiple times that they are not the intended/target market of sailor. So, sailor doesn't have to care about whether these are hard to get for some and impossible to get for others.

 

Also, I see somewhat of an 'entitled' attitude with people. The non-target markets getting these is more of a privilege. Even if you pay more than the retail price of these inks, it would still be a privilege, and not something you would be entitled to.

[migo984]

However ink is made, regardless of color, availability or price, Sailor inks flow the best from any pen I put them in. JMHO. Thank you, Sailor, for a top notch product!

So true. And their consistency between bottles is also very hard to beat.

[jmccarty3]

Allow me to play devil's advocate a moment.

 

Perhaps what we have is not a calamity, but an opportunity for other ink makers to fill. We have talented people, including Konrad, Robert Oster, and many others, who ought to be able to reverse engineer what gives Sailor inks their excellent properties (not that the current Oster and KWZ inks are problematic). If customers outside of Japan want something badly enough, other knowledgeable and diligent makers ought to be able to find a way to provide it. Surely there is nothing magical about the process.

 

As Sherlock Holmes once said, "What one man devises, another may discover."

[white_lotus]

Well I won't get into a debate as to whether it's appropriate whether people outside the locals should be able to purchase custom inks, pens, or other products from a particular shop.

 

Sailor is not the only ink maker with excellent inks. KWZI, Noodler's, Diamine, Akkerman, MB, Pilot, Pelikan. And those are just brands I personally own. I may even be forgetting a few. There are others that are quite popular as well.

 

While Sailor inks were 25% of the fills in my pens so far this year, KWZI was at 23%, Noodler's 15%, OS and Akkerman 5% each, and various others totaled another 25%. So I use many other inks and they're all very good.

[haruka337]

Allow me to play devil's advocate a moment.

 

Perhaps what we have is not a calamity, but an opportunity for other ink makers to fill. We have talented people, including Konrad, Robert Oster, and many others, who ought to be able to reverse engineer what gives Sailor inks their excellent properties (not that the current Oster and KWZ inks are problematic). If customers outside of Japan want something badly enough, other knowledgeable and diligent makers ought to be able to find a way to provide it. Surely there is nothing magical about the process.

 

As Sherlock Holmes once said, "What one man devises, another may discover."

I think many of us are aware of most non-Japanese ink makers and, in fact, have them. Sailor aside, my inventory houses 15 or 16 ink brands. None of the non-Japanese brands are had in the quantity of Sailor inks, but I have more non-Sailor than Sailor inks. I have brands that provide a lush color range and one that writes more smoothly than Sailor (Franklin-Christoph Inks!), but no other brand, to date, marries color to writing experience the way this Japanese ink producer does. Since most of the thread's participants seem to have a focus inks, I feel, because of this, there's a greater appreciation for Sailor inks in general.

 

I agree, there's nothing magical about the process of creating inks--it's all chemistry. However, Sailor has only one ink master that produces all shop exclusive inks but BungBox and Kobe (up until last year). This gentleman has an eye for color, a fantastic understanding of chemistry (refined by experience)--with this comes a level of intuition that's imperative to making the inks we all adore. For me, no other ink maker has come close to Sailor's ink master, though, none have yet to commit the years that he has to his craft. In time (lots, and lots of time), I imagine they will come close.

 

-

 

I agree with Mew about the privilege we have in buying shop exclusive inks, considering, at times, locals have not had a chance to buy when some of us have. Staying mindful of this, I never buy more than 1 bottle of any shop exclusive color. I don't buy entire sets to "complete a collection" and typically buy after discussing with another ink enthusiast about the inks. I NEVER sell a bottle for more that it's original value, though I typically resell for much less. I'm not knocking others that don't do what I do, as they typically are generous with their inks and bottles and will oft have dry-spells in buying new Sailors--that's their approach to the issue and I respect that.

 

I'm thankful Sailor creates the inks that they do, both standard line and shop exclusive; it's made this hobby of ink, pen and paper such a joy. To think that it all started with a bottle of Sailor Tokiwa-matsu.

[zchen]

中国人躺着也中枪啊。

And I thought a topic on Japanese ink wouldn't be a place people take shot at Chinese people. (this is a joke，not serious)

 

 

Mean while, back at the ranch.

I noticed that Voice has listed their Sailor Collaboration inks on their Rakuten shop again. Ordering is limited to 1 bottle each of course. I did order them just before posting here.....

 

Eggplant Purple

Azuki Mochi

Sakura Mochi Green

Bouron Brown

 

 

Also please note that while pictures still show the older vase bottles, I'm pretty sure they switched to the regular jar bottle now as shown the Japanese version of the webpages.

 

Voice also has stock of Rikyu Cha if any one is interested

(Limit of 1 bottle applies also).

Edited September 8, 2016 by zchen

[Mew]

Yes, they have switched to regular bottles. Also, prices have dropped back to regular 2,160 yen. They had raised it to 2,592 yen earlier during the last restocking.

[saskia_madding]

With the exchange rate being so bad for Canadians, I find I'm getting pickier about the inks I bring into Canada. At first, I put all those inks in my cart. I almost hit the buy button, but then paused.

 

I tend to loathe Sailor brown inks. The writing sample on the one they had a picture of didn't wow me with the quick writing portion, and I do write fairly quickly. So, the two browns were out.

 

The purple, while pretty, didn't look more thrilling than the SankoDo or Usagiya ones I have, and often Sailor's lighter purples have too much light turquoise in them for me. So that one was removed from the cart.

 

Lastly, the green. SO lovely. I wanted it! Except it looks awfully similar to several Sailor greens I already have, so ultimately i let that one go too.

 

 

SIGH!

[white_lotus]

The craze is over! (or ending).

[haruka337]

I don't know about that. If only.

[haruka337]

[...]

 

...Ordering is limited to 1 bottle each of course. I did order them just before posting here.....

 

[...]

 

While I know many are not thrilled with the "one bottle per", I think it gives locals a fighting chance. As I understand it, if well acquainted enough with the shop, they can get a few extra bottles which would be deserving of local, loyal customers. I have such a relationship with a local high-end liquor store and a yarn shop.

[Mew]

With the exchange rate being so bad for Canadians, I find I'm getting pickier about the inks I bring into Canada. At first, I put all those inks in my cart. I almost hit the buy button, but then paused.

 

I tend to loathe Sailor brown inks. The writing sample on the one they had a picture of didn't wow me with the quick writing portion, and I do write fairly quickly. So, the two browns were out.

 

The purple, while pretty, didn't look more thrilling than the SankoDo or Usagiya ones I have, and often Sailor's lighter purples have too much light turquoise in them for me. So that one was removed from the cart.

 

Lastly, the green. SO lovely. I wanted it! Except it looks awfully similar to several Sailor greens I already have, so ultimately i let that one go too.

 

 

SIGH!

Bourbon isn't really in the colour range I like.

Azukimochi is nice, but I have a lot of brown inks, some which are better. But I am not unhappy with it.

Sakuramochi is okay, but I don't like it that much. Shade green, and some Kobe greens are better.

Eggplant purple is useless. I agree that Usagiya and Sankodo blues are better.

 

I regret purchasing 3/4, don't regret Azukimochi. Also, I paid 2592 yen as compared to 2160 yen which is the current price.

They are just lying in the ink box and are never used. But they make up the ink and diamond bottle numbers.

[fireant]

 

It is with no small amount of discomfort that I read disparaging remarks about these people and the organizations they represent. It pains me especially when some of the commenters are people with whom I have had personal correspondence and owe a debt of gratitude to.

 

I really believe that most posting negative comments have little notion of the realities these companies are currently facing. Hopefully my humble efforts here may help to fill the gap in understanding.

 

Thank you for this reminder Tinjapan. It's easy to forget in these days of instant (ala Amazon Prime like delivery service) the idea that one must wait for what one really wants.

 

For me, sometimes the wait makes receiving my item so much better!

[zchen]

 

While I know many are not thrilled with the "one bottle per", I think it gives locals a fighting chance. As I understand it, if well acquainted enough with the shop, they can get a few extra bottles which would be deserving of local, loyal customers. I have such a relationship with a local high-end liquor store and a yarn shop.

 

I'm perfectly fine with limits, after all it's their product and they can sell which ever way they see fit. I'm just a simple consumer, It probably helps to control my horder tendencies too.

 

Also I don't actually go out of my way for stuff, the only shop special inks I have are 3 of the Kobe (one of which is the LE Gogh Cobalt back when it was available) and 2 of the KN (but multiple bottles because I picked it up second hand as a lot). Now I have all 4 of the Voice onces coming becaue I like all of them and don't think I have similar ones in my collection, plus Rakuten has a 888 yen off coupon right now.

Edited September 8, 2016 by zchen

[Pensei]

Thanks for the links, zchen. I ordered the Eggplant. I thought it looked pretty good, although with no reviews on FPN (that I could find) and only that small photo from the vendor, this will definitely be a case of being surprised one way or the other. I'm continuing with my theory that you can't have too many purple/violet/etc. inks.