Fake Al-Star Concerns

[Inferno2Inferno]

So I decided to climb further up the price notch in the Lamy brand and I decided to purchase an Al-Star from amazon.ca for 49, 95$ CDN which seems to be a regular rate for these pens in Canada. I am just concerned that it may be a fake as there is a lot of stories out there of fake Safaris and Al-Stars going around. My question is does anyone have any experience with fake Al-stars from amazon where amazon itself is the seller? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[rohit1974]

I have not heard of fake Al stars though fake safaris are known

 

HTH

[Linedog]

I have an Al-Star that was purchased from Amazon, it's real in my eyes, I mean to say that from all the fake threads I've read mine looks to be 100% real.

[shawndp]

Inferno - I have never heard of a fake Al-Star, but I have been buying a bunch of Lamy's from Fontoplumo. I got tired of the price my local store charges and needed to feed my Lamy addiction when I saw the Copper Orange. Frank is an absolute pleasure to deal with and shipping out of the Netherlands is fast... Set prices to Euro and go through the motions of purchasing to see the real price as his site is VAT inclusive (around 20%). An Al-Star should hit less than 22 euro - around CAD32 - far less than the CAD52 plus HST they sell for here...

[gammada]

Me too, never heard of fake Al-Stars. Safaris seem to be the preferred counterfeit product. Also, watch out for fake converters (Z24 in particular).

[AndyYNWA]

I also bought my AL-star from Fontoplumo in the Netherlands. Quick delivery and goods prices. I placed my order Sunday evening and received the pen Thursday morning. I also got a 5% discount on my next purchase.

 

An AL-star from Fontoplumo to Toronto, ON, is 26,18 € (delivery 4-14 days) or 28,98 € (delivery 4-7 days). (I picked Toronto since I don't know where in Canada you live)

http://fontoplumo.nl/shop/en/34-lamy-fountain-pens

 

By the way, Dutch VAT is 21%, but this amount is deducted during the checkout.

 

Inferno - I have never heard of a fake Al-Star, but I have been buying a bunch of Lamy's from Fontoplumo. I got tired of the price my local store charges and needed to feed my Lamy addiction when I saw the Copper Orange. Frank is an absolute pleasure to deal with and shipping out of the Netherlands is fast... Set prices to Euro and go through the motions of purchasing to see the real price as his site is VAT inclusive (around 20%). An Al-Star should hit less than 22 euro - around CAD32 - far less than the CAD52 plus HST they sell for here...

Edited September 1, 2015 by AndyYNWA

[shawndp]

Andy - I guess I was factoring in the 5% discount and not the shipping (a very reasonable amount and Dutch Post is very efficient!). Converted to CAD that's around $38 to 39 vs $51.5 + $8 (shipping) + $7.74 (13% tax) = $67.24. The irony of it all is that it is probably faster to get my order out of Europe too.

 

What Al-Star did you get? I'm considering Ocean Blue as my next, if I can stop buying those Copper Orange ones (I have 3).

[AndyYNWA]

Andy - I guess I was factoring in the 5% discount and not the shipping (a very reasonable amount and Dutch Post is very efficient!). Converted to CAD that's around $38 to 39 vs $51.5 + $8 (shipping) + $7.74 (13% tax) = $67.24. The irony of it all is that it is probably faster to get my order out of Europe too.

 

What Al-Star did you get? I'm considering Ocean Blue as my next, if I can stop buying those Copper Orange ones (I have 3).

Yeah, Frank is quick to dispatch.

 

I got a Graphite with fine nib. But I was considering Ocean Blue.

However, in my mind a blue pen limits me to blue inks. A grey pen is more versatile.

Edited September 1, 2015 by AndyYNWA

[mcgeechan]

Yeah Frank is a great guy to buy from.

[UncleEnrico]

Inferno - I have never heard of a fake Al-Star, but I have been buying a bunch of Lamy's from Fontoplumo. I got tired of the price my local store charges and needed to feed my Lamy addiction when I saw the Copper Orange. Frank is an absolute pleasure to deal with and shipping out of the Netherlands is fast... Set prices to Euro and go through the motions of purchasing to see the real price as his site is VAT inclusive (around 20%). An Al-Star should hit less than 22 euro - around CAD32 - far less than the CAD52 plus HST they sell for here...

In Italy it costs 25 euros in normal stores (out of internet), taxes included, it may costs a little less in italian internet stores.

[UncleEnrico]

Interested in Ocean Blue: google for "RelaxingASMR Lamy fountain pen" and you will find an extensive rewiew of the lamy al star ocean blue made by an american, but be careful, it is an ASMR video, you can fell asleep...

[UncleEnrico]

Do not worry about fake lamy, there are of course imitations, but without the lamy logo, they look like but have diferent name. It is not worth to make a lamy fake

[dfo]

Do not worry about fake lamy, there are of course imitations, but without the lamy logo, they look like but have diferent name. It is not worth to make a lamy fake

 

Actually, there are Lamy fakes (with the Lamy logo) in addition to the Jinhao imitations.

[UncleEnrico]

 

Actually, there are Lamy fakes (with the Lamy logo) in addition to the Jinhao imitations.

 

Really?

 

Oh Dear...

 

mamma mia!