What Was Your Last Impulsive Pen Acquisition?

[Penguincollector]

21 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

Well, if the nib is bad, at least they're pretty easy to replace, and the nib assembly comes apart.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

  I think it’s probably fine, it was just hard to tell what material it is from the pictures. I hope it’s gold, but I don’t mind Octanium and don’t have any plated ones. Width will be the other surprise. 

[austinwft]

This Sage Green Admiral now waiting re-assembly!

 

[Checklist]

Looks nice!  Should be fun.

[alexwi]

1 hour ago, austinwft said:

This Sage Green Admiral now waiting re-assembly!

 

 

I see I'm not the only one who ends up with extra parts when I take something apart and put it back together.

 

I never had it happen with a pen, though!

[inkstainedruth]

I have the opposite problem.  I have LOST parts to pens when I've disassembled them.  

What's driving me bonkers is that I'm missing some of the inner parts to the ebonite Konrad (like part of the piston assembly.  Thought they were all together on the shelf on my desk, but cannot find them to save my life.... 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Boston Brian]

I would not dare take a pen apart, I would be sure to lose some of the parts or all of them!  I have a problem as they day on this side of the pond, walking and chewing gum at the same time! Coordinated, I am not! 

[Rosendust]

Why do I constantly waffle about getting either a Pilot Vanishing Point or Decimo?

 

Why am I like this??

[inkstainedruth]

I dunno.  Is it the price?  Can't decide between the two models?  Having trouble finding the color that just speaks to you?

I love my two Decimos -- a Vanishing Point is a bit too heavy and awkward for my hand --  but my husband loves the used Vanishing Point I found in an antiques and collectibles shop a few years ago, once I swapped out the F nib assembly on it for an EF one. 

They aren't cheap, and I had a bit of trouble with the original Decimo's door not closing properly at first once I swapped out the nib assemblies between it and the VP (then LOST it  after that got fixed) but I was able to get a replacement one (in the color I wanted) from a vendor in Japan on eBay (and for less money -- even with paying for economy airmail shipping from Japan -- since I didn't have to pay the US distributor markup).  And liked it so much that I sprung for a dark blue one, with a stub nib, once that color became available in the US.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Doc Dan]

I bought myself a Christmas present on the spur of the moment: A TWSBI Diamond 580 White Rose Gold II with a 1.1 Stub Nib. 

It writes as smoothly as my Smoke RG II. Here it is filled with Diamine Bougainvillea. 

[Puddinhead]

I recently purchased a 580 ALR TWSBI, my first TWSBI and first demonstrator, with a stub. It is a smooth pen, yes; I filled mine with Pelikan Saphire.

[Puddinhead]

26 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

I dunno.  Is it the price?  Can't decide between the two models?  Having trouble finding the color that just speaks to you?

I love my two Decimos -- a Vanishing Point is a bit too heavy and awkward for my hand --  but my husband loves the used Vanishing Point I found in an antiques and collectibles shop a few years ago, once I swapped out the F nib assembly on it for an EF one. 

They aren't cheap, and I had a bit of trouble with the original Decimo's door not closing properly at first once I swapped out the nib assemblies between it and the VP (then LOST it  after that got fixed) but I was able to get a replacement one (in the color I wanted) from a vendor in Japan on eBay (and for less money -- even with paying for economy airmail shipping from Japan -- since I didn't have to pay the US distributor markup).  And liked it so much that I sprung for a dark blue one, with a stub nib, once that color became available in the US.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Nice find for you on eBay; I cannot prompt myself to purchase anything on eBay for fear of being scammed. I'll admit, it has been years since I bought there, so maybe the whole transactional process has changed for the better in 20 some years!

[Puddinhead]

Trying to figure out the process of inserting photos. My latest acquisition - TWSBI 580ALR Navy with Pelikan Saphire.

[Gloucesterman]

1 minute ago, Puddinhead said:

Nice find for you on eBay; I cannot prompt myself to purchase anything on eBay for fear of being scammed. I'll admit, it has been years since I bought there, so maybe the whole transactional process has changed for the better in 20 some years!

Your perceptions may be a bit dated. If you are considering a purchase, check out how many sales the seller has made: how long they have be selling; what's their satisfaction rating from buyers and even go in to the files a read comments. In addition, I usually use paypal to pay so I feel like I have some back-up in case I have a feeling of being scammed. My only real negatives have been a Chinese pen for $1.00 (free shipping) that was overpriced and an Eversharp skyline that I dropped and broke after unpacking it - my fault.

 

Thus far (over 300 purchases - of more than pens and related stuff) my experiences have bee very positive when purchasing on the Bay.

Practice "caveat emptor" - buyer beware and common sense.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

YMMV, of course...

[inkstainedruth]

37 minutes ago, Puddinhead said:

Nice find for you on eBay; I cannot prompt myself to purchase anything on eBay for fear of being scammed. I'll admit, it has been years since I bought there, so maybe the whole transactional process has changed for the better in 20 some years!

Well, the seller had 100% positive feedback ratings, which made me feel more comfortable in the transaction.  And, in the back and forth with the seller (whose English was not great but way better than my mostly non-existent Japanese), the seller warned me that due to the time of year (I was ordering the pen around Thanksgiving) there might be a longer time than the "normal" 10-14 days for Economy Air Mail from Japan to the US.  The package took... 11.  Eleven days from someplace in Japan to the mailman knocking on my front door because I had to sign for the package.  I was able to track it through Japan Post until it got stateside, was in and out of US Customs in a matter of a few hours, and then was able to track it through USPS until it was out for delivery. 

I would ABSOLUTELY buy from that seller again if there was something I wanted.  I wish I could say the same for a couple of US-based sellers....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

ETA: We're not allowed to name and shame bad vendors on FPN.  But I had a bad experience with a vendor who had THOUSANDS of transactions -- but NOT 100% positive reviews.  And the vendor decided to be a jerk and I got PO'd.  So filed a dispute.  Which was adjudicated in my favor in a matter of HOURS.  Got to keep the items, got my money back.  But was NOT then allowed to provide feedback by eBay.  Which made me wonder how many OTHER people were in the same boat as me....  And should have posted negative feedback BEFORE filing the dispute(s)....  

I also got jerked around by another vendor -- who DID have 100% positive ratings.  Only basically lied to me about having the item in possession (in fact, claimed to have two), and cancelled the transaction two days after agreeing to my offer.  And THAT time?  I complained to eBay and got told "Oh, no, you can't file a dispute -- you got your money back didn't you?" (Mind you, I heard from PayPal BEFORE I heard from eBay....).  And in that case?  I said, basically, "HOLD MY BEER!" and did it ANYWAY.... Because I don't know if the seller got a better offer or it was a case where the seller did NOT have the item at all (or thought they could easily get the item).  And that seller was the ONLY one with 100% positive ratings (well, not NOW) and the only one in the US.  But clearly did not negotiate in good faith.  If you don't want buyers to make offers, don't give them that option.  And then don't renege after you've agreed to the buyer's offer.  

[SLinkster]

I have a couple of things in my basket at Levenger, including a TW "Classic Royal" that's discounted ~25%. I was being impulsive until I got to the commit payment screen and saw the shipping cost, which nearly as much as the discount.

 

Does this count? LOL

[Misfit]

@SLinkster the thing about Levenger is they put pens on sale at different discounts. Earlier this year, the discount was 31% or 33%. Eventually they get to the point where the color is discontinued.  If you can wait that long, you’ll get the best deal. I like the Carrara, but will wait for a price under $40.  I think that can happen. 

[SLinkster]

@Misfit I can definitely be patient. Usually I'm so patient I forget I might want a thing and it's sold out from under me. I won't be heartbroken if I don't get that pen - or any of the other things in my basket. 

[Puddinhead]

6 hours ago, SLinkster said:

I have a couple of things in my basket at Levenger, including a TW "Classic Royal" that's discounted ~25%. I was being impulsive until I got to the commit payment screen and saw the shipping cost, which nearly as much as the discount.

 

Does this count? LOL

I'm in agreement; These days I tend to be reserved in purchasing anything, giving more consideration before laying out the coin. After careful thought, I realize I don't need more stuff, but it's things my covetous self wants more than needs!

[DilettanteG]

Having missed out on Pelikan M205 Amethyst back in 2015 which has quite disappeared, aside from an extremely optimistic seller on eBay that wants $2K for the pen and ink set, I seem to have decided I need to get all the colors of M200 and M205 demos I can before they also disappear. For ... reasons.

 

Why am I like this?

 

So, when ordering a M200 IB and a M200 1.5mm italic gold plated nibs from Germany I decided to toss a couple of pens into the box because shipping to the US is pretty pricey. I now have an Aquamarine Pelikan M205 with an EF Nib and a Pelikan MC110 Calligraphy pen set with 1, 1.5.and a 2mm italic all in steel on order as well. Hopefully they'll work well in my M205 while also matching the fittings. Priorities, man!

 

That makes 84 fountain pens in my collection. That's too many, isn't it?

[Doug C]

1 hour ago, DilettanteG said:

Having missed out on Pelikan M205 Amethyst back in 2015 which has quite disappeared, aside from an extremely optimistic seller on eBay that wants $2K for the pen and ink set, I seem to have decided I need to get all the colors of M200 and M205 demos I can before they also disappear. For ... reasons.

 

Why am I like this?

 

So, when ordering a M200 IB and a M200 1.5mm italic gold plated nibs from Germany I decided to toss a couple of pens into the box because shipping to the US is pretty pricey. I now have an Aquamarine Pelikan M205 with an EF Nib and a Pelikan MC110 Calligraphy pen set with 1, 1.5.and a 2mm italic all in steel on order as well. Hopefully they'll work well in my M205 while also matching the fittings. Priorities, man!

 

That makes 84 fountain pens in my collection. That's too many, isn't it?

Not at all.  I have sold off most of my collection but still have a couple hundred. 

 

But then again,  I'm not well...