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

[Mew]

Very nice :-) I have a similar number of Sailor-made inks, not counting the Kobe inks. I'm not buying many more now, unless something very special appears. Saying that, I managed to pick up another bottle of KN Tanna Japonensis yesterday; it's one of my favourite inks. I have no will-power LOL

 

I have a visit to Japan planned sometime soon. I'll have to time it so it's when you're there and you can be my guide ;-)

 

It's fun being nomadic isn't it?

I guess we are different. Even if I like the color, I don't pick it up.

I saw kingdom note inks being back in stock, yet didn't order any. I'm just too lazy to put in all the transaction details etc that unless I'm getting multiple inks, I don't even bother. I already have enough ink, so let others take some.

Definitely not nice to be greedy.

 

If that's the count excluding kobe, then you have more sailor inks than I have.

 

I'm more of a forced nomad than a willing nomad.

My travel is work related. But it's definitely fun especially when you get to come to Russia.

[migo984]

I guess we are different. Even if I like the color, I don't pick it up.

I saw kingdom note inks being back in stock, yet didn't order any. I'm just too lazy to put in all the transaction details etc that unless I'm getting multiple inks, I don't even bother. I already have enough ink, so let others take some.

Definitely not nice to be greedy.

If that's the count excluding kobe, then you have more sailor inks than I have.

I'm more of a forced nomad than a willing nomad.

My travel is work related. But it's definitely fun especially when you get to come to Russia.

I haven't been to Russia since 1980, apart from a very quick visit to St Petersburg 8 years ago.

[haruka337]

{Sigh}

I really want to try sour cream from Russia.

[Xinyun]

I would say Chinese buyers... but what I can say I appreciate the beauty of the color though it's probably there in my want to rebuy ink

Hmm, let me complete the story. I would say it's not a Chinese.

Actually it's true the sailor is going crazy popular in China especially the diamond shape bottle.

But also China is quite close to Japan in distance there are many private buyers doing this business, so unless the ink is no longer in market or extremely hard to get, the price is quite stable and under 50usd. Myself get hold of a few, the cheapest one I got with 20d.

The ink in ebay auction I have see many time in Chinese 'ebay' and since the dark color is always less popular than light one, and this one is still available on market, this ink you can easily trade or buy below 50d.

However, things gets worse when it comes to popular ones. For example, the most popular ones, diamond bottle Fujiyama blue(please let me know if you wtt or wts ), June bride or mother pink or some old bungbox or pink ones, that no longer available on market... the price goes high. But the highest price I have seen yet is 130usd. And that does not happen too often, many people have them and not really prefer to sell at a high price, so if lucky you can get a June bride diamond bottle for 50d(like me ). And the trade market is also bigger since many have the ink through the year and would like to swap for another color.

So I would be surprise someone in China to buy a dark blue for 184d. I would guess is some collector who is distantly difficult to get a hold of the Japaness inks and really want it.

 

Just to share some international information here.

And please someone who would like to sell or trade the Fujiyama blue diamond bottle please pm me. =D that's my ultimate dream.

[haruka337]

Fascinating, Xinyun!

 

However, I've seen all Bung Box colors available for what roughly translated to (conversion) $30 for 5mls of ink on Chinese auctioning sites. I could not believe it. If I have time this week, with the help of google translate (crude translations sometimes), I'll try and find those auctions, ink sales again. I've also seen someone on Instagram selling 5 ml inks for $35 (shop exclusives).

I haven't come across auctions for ink in the bottle, only ink by the 5ml, but that's only my limited, one day of searching Chinese auctioning sites via google translate experience, so take it for what it's worth.

If possible, Xinyun, do keep us informed of any ink trends when ever you can! It would be most appreciated.

[Xinyun]

But actually I'm surprised there are many people outside Asian is buying so many Kobe and Bungbox and Sailor. ( I checked a little bit back on this thread)

 

Those inks are pretty expensive and troublesome to get outside Asia, if I know well, and as my opinion not necessarily better than noodler, diamine, Jherbin, da, lamy, pelican or thousand of inks that are more accessible in US or Europe. So why?

 

My personal reason is my craze of collecting bottles, so I would be really happy to get the full collection of old diamond shaped Bungbox. But if it's for the ink itself I would only buy 3 or 4 of my favorite colors, I prefer noodler and diamine better.

 

So it surprises me that instead of choosing some ink closer to home, many bought Kobe instead??? Why??? Just curious.

[haruka337]

For Kobe? It's the color range and the problem free ink and much more affordable than other shop exclusive inks (roughly half the cost).

Sailor, who makes all the shop exclusive inks, just makes a good product. Great lubrication for pens, wonderful color, shading and (sometimes) sheen and very few duds (in my opinion).

Diamine is a fine ink line that I'm warming up to more and more. I'm on the fence with Noodler's, but it's a matter of preference, though they do have stellar colors available!

[Xinyun]

The

Fascinating, Xinyun!

 

However, I've seen all Bung Box colors available for what roughly translated to (conversion) $30 for 5mls of ink on Chinese auctioning sites. I could not believe it. If I have time this week, with the help of google translate (crude translations sometimes), I'll try and find those auctions, ink sales again. I've also seen someone on Instagram selling 5 ml inks for $35 (shop exclusives).

I haven't come across auctions for ink in the bottle, only ink by the 5ml, but that's only my limited, one day of searching Chinese auctioning sites via google translate experience, so take it for what it's worth.

If possible, Xinyun, do keep us informed of any ink trends when ever you can! It would be most appreciated.

Ah, I know what you are talking about!!! Yes! I know that auction, quite famous in our ink group.

 

That's due to the ink and the bottles, there is a trend to collecting diamond shape bottles now in China and the ones in action is 女子十色, hmm, girls in ten color? That's a old seiers and somehow become quite popular, both the ink and bottle are hardly see on trade market, and many are desperate to get one. So what is expensive is not ink inside, it's the bottle, and pink, cream, orange and yellow are especially popular. You can trade a new 'cream' in that series for almost what ever sailor color you want. Even a 20% one you can trade for a new Bungbox June bride or first love.

 

And also, China is big, there are rich people in all areas. There are people always willy to pay.

A empty popular diamond shape bottle can sell for 100d, as long as you willing to wait for someone rich appear to buy it.

But I bought and trade most of mine by 20-40d, depends on the popularity.

[Xinyun]

Any btw, the common price for popular 5ml sailor ink without bottle is 4d. Kobe a little bit cheaper.

 

With the bottle that can increase a LOOOOOT.

[Xinyun]

And actions are probably the worst way to find cheap inks. Usually, I do first, there are on Chinese Twitter weibo we have our platform of sharing selling and wtb wtt info. We do the contact there first and open a quote on second hand website Xianyu to pay.

Or it's also possible to directly post a post with price on Xianyu and whoever interested just pay for it. But if the price is low it can be sold in few minutes so you have to be fast and right time. The one left unsold on the website for days usually is high price.

Just for your information, if you are curious.

[vanishsophie]

Hmm, let me complete the story. I would say it's not a Chinese.

Actually it's true the sailor is going crazy popular in China especially the diamond shape bottle.

But also China is quite close to Japan in distance there are many private buyers doing this business, so unless the ink is no longer in market or extremely hard to get, the price is quite stable and under 50usd. Myself get hold of a few, the cheapest one I got with 20d.

The ink in ebay auction I have see many time in Chinese 'ebay' and since the dark color is always less popular than light one, and this one is still available on market, this ink you can easily trade or buy below 50d.

However, things gets worse when it comes to popular ones. For example, the most popular ones, diamond bottle Fujiyama blue(please let me know if you wtt or wts ), June bride or mother pink or some old bungbox or pink ones, that no longer available on market... the price goes high. But the highest price I have seen yet is 130usd. And that does not happen too often, many people have them and not really prefer to sell at a high price, so if lucky you can get a June bride diamond bottle for 50d(like me ). And the trade market is also bigger since many have the ink through the year and would like to swap for another color.

So I would be surprise someone in China to buy a dark blue for 184d. I would guess is some collector who is distantly difficult to get a hold of the Japaness inks and really want it.

 

Just to share some international information here.

And please someone who would like to sell or trade the Fujiyama blue diamond bottle please pm me. =D that's my ultimate dream.

I knew at the end of December (If I remembered correctly) there was a massdrop for Fujiyama Blue Diamond bottle with and pen holder. I think the price was 70USD or a little higher without shipping fee.

Somehow for me, the main purpose to buy those exclusives because the diamond bottles did look so pretty.

Also like what Haruka mentioned, some particular inks are local store exclusive, so not all of them would like to take reservations or ship internationally. That might be the reason for those private buyers to increase the price into a crazy level.

There is one more interesting thing just happened this morning I think. One private buyer get manhunt on twitter by a secret Japanese (But I would say his competitors) because his prices for the インク工房 special design ink bottle are quite bit ridiculous, so his competitors probably try to use this way to stop his business? I guess.

[white_lotus]

Thank you for sharing your information as it's good to get different perspective. Diamine and Noodler's do make some very good inks, but as you say they are very easy to get here in the US/EU. The Sailor inks are really nice with their qualities and the store bespoke inks really broadened their range. And I think the themes were very well thought out with each store. I personally like how lubricated their inks are, and how they flow, and of course the beautiful colors.

 

Now I think that Sailor doesn't want to make these inks so widely available. When people here in the US (including on this forum <gasp! horror!> were buying 7 and 10 bottles of Pen and Message Cigar, I think that was when Sailor decided enough is enough. So now we have crazy prices on the secondary market, if you can get the inks.

[vanishsophie]

Thank you for sharing your information as it's good to get different perspective. Diamine and Noodler's do make some very good inks, but as you say they are very easy to get here in the US/EU. The Sailor inks are really nice with their qualities and the store bespoke inks really broadened their range. And I think the themes were very well thought out with each store. I personally like how lubricated their inks are, and how they flow, and of course the beautiful colors.

 

Now I think that Sailor doesn't want to make these inks so widely available. When people here in the US (including on this forum <gasp! horror!> were buying 7 and 10 bottles of Pen and Message Cigar, I think that was when Sailor decided enough is enough. So now we have crazy prices on the secondary market, if you can get the inks.

I knew there was a Chinese seller made 8 pen message ink (I cannot remember how many bottles for pen message, either 7 or 8) for a total price of 3200+CNY, which will be around 500USD without shipping I guess.

[Tinjapan]

I don't think Sailor made any descision to limit production, unless I missed that part of the discussion. First, demand for these shop exclusive inks went through the roof as overseas buyers found ways to get a hold of them. Second, the bottle production issue.

 

Many are not at all conserned about which bottle the ink comes in but as we see here, many are. I do not know this piece for sure but it fits the puzzle. It seems that the jewel bottle is part of the Sailor specialty ink image. I do know that KN tried early on to switch to the standard Sailor bottle but Sailor resisted. I also know that Sailor tried very hard to find a new supplier for the jewel bottle. New suppliers were easily found, but none who could produce the exact same, at the same quantity and quality for the same price and, a big issue, domestically.

 

Also, Sailor is not seeing any of this extra money from the auctions. Those are all after market resales. Sailor still charges the same. KN inks in the standard Sailor bottles are the same price as the jewel bottles were. BB has increased their price but I believe they are the only ones to do so, yet. Sailor is not making any extra money off of these auctions.

 

Sailor has even put out statements that if the resale of bespoke inks from the ink blending events continues, that they will suspend or even end this service. Sailor does not seem to be all too happy over the secondary market value of their inks.

[white_lotus]

There's a Cigar thread here where people are saying how many bottles there were buying. I understand that many weren't speculating on the ink, but still. At 2160 yen, ten bottles before shipping is only $191. Should have been less than $25 per bottle with shipping.

 

In the past, many of these inks were readily available on the store websites for weeks if not months. There were a few exceptions such as Maruzen. But now, you have to be on a list, or special order, even if the store will allow online orders. And the ones that do, sell out in hours it seems.

 

I'm not in Japan, so I don't know if stores are getting the number of bottles they've ordered, and if that is the same as in the past, or not. Would Sailor make much more for them, in order to meet demand? I'm not sure.

 

The only way to keep the secondary market prices reasonable is to make the inks available in the primary market. Or so it seems to me.

Edited February 19, 2016 by white_lotus

[Tinjapan]

Can't make enough for demand if they don't have the bottles to put it in.

 

Also, Japan still lives under the mistaken belief that they are isolated. I am sure that by limiting a wide range of colors to shop exclusive lines that they had no idea that people from overseas would find a way to get them and that people living with in Japan would help get them out.

 

Though by no means universal, there is an idea that some things Japanese should be enjoyed in Japan only. Perhaps that plays a part with ink too.

 

AND, as I understand it, all these shop exclusive inks are hand blended by mr. Ishimaru himself. So, if he was without bottles to mix his ink into for a year, then he has a year's worth of ink to blend on top of this year's production.

 

Perhaps it could be summed up as a very small, exclusive niche market that suddenly went global AND suffered a supply problem soon after going viral.

Edited February 19, 2016 by Tinjapan

[Tinjapan]

Xinyun

 

People often want what is not easily obtainable and disregard that which is. That may answer some of Sailor's shop exclusive inks popularity outside Asia.

 

I do not know it was Chinese, someone here said it was, but I was online to buy the latest line of KN inks went that sale went live. I quickly got a couple of colors in my shopping cart only to see them vanish from it as I tried to grab other colors. They were taken out of my online shopping basket and in the end I gat not a single bottle of a single color of the five offered. Still haven't been able to get any of these.

 

For the past three sets, I just walked into the store and walked out with them. Can't do that any more. I can't even reserve a couple of bottles for this year's Maruzen pen fair despite having membership in their pen club and a LE Maruzen pen on order.

 

Somebody is buying up all these inks and selling them on the secondary market in such a way that even we "locals" can't get them at the original point if sale at the original price.

 

But again, not necessarily Chinese. I guess I should say that hope that there aren't bus loads of ink tourists in line at Maruzen from the evening before waiting to bum rush the place and grab all this year's ink, as I understand was the case with the newest KN inks.

Edited February 19, 2016 by Tinjapan

[white_lotus]

Yes very good points Tinjapan. Though one would think that Sailor could get as many of the standard bottles as they would want since all or nearly all of the current stock being delivered is in those bottles.

 

I remember that Mr. Ishimaru was the one and only ink maker for the store exclusive inks, but I thought someone mentioned that they were going to more general production when the standard bottles were used. Maybe that was just rumor. Certainly having one person making the global, viral supply would present order fulfillment issues.

 

The situation is what it is. I hope you're able to get your Maruzen LE inks without camping out in advance.

[Tinjapan]

I think you are right that if they switched to standard bottles right off the bat that the supply problem could have bedn avioded and now that you mention it, I think that you are also correct in that Sailor switched to assembly line manufacture of the inks in the standard bottle.

 

Two points here. The difficulty in find a new source for the jewel bottles was not known a year ago. I believe they thought that they could much more easily find a new producer. I am also sure that the jewel bottles was pne of the selling pounts of these shop exclusive inks and the inavailability of them must of caused serious contract renegotiations.

 

The second point ties into the selling points of the shop exclusive inks. Being able to offer a hand blended ink is much more appealing than a "manufactured" ink and this is another selling point that has changed. But what about poor mr. Ishimaru? Shifting from him to machines to produce these inks takes a huge chunk out of his business.

[white_lotus]

Agreed, the jeweled bottles were special, but if they had been filled with ordinary Sailor blue there wouldn't have been the demand. The inks are special, had special bottles, exclusive to one store even if some of the inks at different stores were very similar. So people must very much still want the ink, and it's exclusive connection to a store. I know for myself it's really the ink, but the store connection is extra.

 

Also Sailor may be experiencing problems scaling up Mr. Ishimaru's recipes.

Edited February 19, 2016 by white_lotus