Experiences With Martemodena

[Bill P]

Many of the Auction items are now

US $39.90

shipping

to the US

But you know the shipping going in to an auction , so it should factor in on how much you are willing to pay in total for an item.

[FriendAmos]

  On 5/25/2016 at 9:50 PM, lbrlux said:

To Brazil the shipping is US$ 49.90!!!

 

Yes, for Europe to Brazil, that's incredibly cheap for DHL shipping of a box (and the Delta boxes aren't small!).

[Bill P]

  On 5/25/2016 at 9:50 PM, lbrlux said:

To Brazil the shipping is US$ 49.90!!!

Pelikan M400 has shipping to US $49.90 #162084347986

 

Shipping:

$49.90 Expedited Shipping from outside US | See details

See details about international shipping here.

Item location:

Albareto, Italy

Ships to:

Worldwide See exclusions

[Frozz]

i bought 2 pens from MM, a Delta dolce vita Oversize (won the auction) and a Dolce vita IT Demo piston filler (from their website store)

and i got to say all is good, smooth and on their way to me. Both pen bought/paid on Sunday Night and shipped tuesday morning GMT +8 which i am guessing since it's DHL (yes MM shipping is a little high) will be on the next business day delivery.

 

yup so very pleasant mail exchange with them too regarding nib sizes and other options. I now hope my pen arrives in perfect condition especially the NIB.

 

i din't know they will take out the ink bottle or is it only shipments to the US ?
cause i am also into collecting nice looking glass bottles.

[Angel91]

Sorry to ask, but I see bids finishing soon with prices as low as 10$. I know then you have to add shipping and VAT (I'm in Europe), but isn't that really cheap? Do they really sell you the items for that price?

 

 

[DustyR]

In my limited experience, yes (I've bought two pens at their website prices and got two for low bid amounts, plus the shipping, of course).

 

  On 6/16/2016 at 4:20 PM, Angel91 said:

Sorry to ask, but I see bids finishing soon with prices as low as 10$. I know then you have to add shipping and VAT (I'm in Europe), but isn't that really cheap? Do they really sell you the items for that price?

 

 

[Bill P]

Yes, if there is no reserve they will sell it to you for whatever the last bid price is...BUT you have to closely examine the shipping cost...I have seen it as high as $60 to the US for one pen (usually the auction Pens)...and they will not combine shipping on multiple items purchased...on their Buy it now I have seen the shipping for one pen as low as $8 to the US... (same pen as $60 shipping when being auctioned)

 

When I bid/purchase from them I just add up the shipping, the customs fee (if applicable), and then determine what I am willing to pay in total...and then I back into the max I am willing to pay for the item...bid amount, shipping, customs = total I am willing to pay.

[DustyR]

Same here, Bill. You have to factor the shipping as part of the price (it is a big damn box, though... ;-)

 

  On 6/16/2016 at 4:27 PM, Bill P said:

Yes, if there is no reserve they will sell it to you for whatever the last bid price is...BUT you have to closely examine the shipping cost...I have seen it as high as $60 to the US for one pen (usually the auction Pens)...and they will not combine shipping on multiple items purchased...on their Buy it now I have seen the shipping for one pen as low as $8 to the US... (same pen as $60 shipping when being auctioned)

 

When I bid/purchase from them I just add up the shipping, the customs fee (if applicable), and then determine what I am willing to pay in total...and then I back into the max I am willing to pay for the item...bid amount, shipping, customs = total I am willing to pay.

[mulrich]

Some of their pen auctions have reserve prices. Shipping will be more expensive for auctions, I'm sure to make up for the lower prices.

[Angel91]

I've realized anyway that most of the auctions are for USA, so that's where they charge more for shipping, I wonder why .

For Europe there are only buy it now options, which still are quite low, but not that much.

[Bill P]

  On 6/16/2016 at 5:07 PM, Angel91 said:

I've realized anyway that most of the auctions are for USA, so that's where they charge more for shipping, I wonder why .

For Europe there are only buy it now options, which still are quite low, but not that much.

Not sure I am understanding your comment..

 

Anyone in the world can bid on the auctions, it is not limited to USA...and similarly anyone in the world can use the Buy It Now option, it is not limited to Europe...?

[Angel91]

When I set in the shipping options Spain, all the bids disappear and only the buy it now options remain.

 

I'll check again, if you say it isn't like this.

[Bill P]

I am certainly not saying it isn't like you describe..I have just haven't experienced, and I wasn't sure I was understanding you correctly.

 

Maybe they don't ship to Spain? or they haven't configured their ads for shipping to Spain?

 

I would send them an email and ask..

 

I have had to send them emails regarding orders and they have been very responsive...

 

Be aware though that there are 2 entities...I don't know their exact relationship...there clearly is a relationship...

 

martemodena and martemodena-europe (2 different entities on ebay)...and the replies come from different people representing each entity too..

 

Bill

[Angel91]

You're right, I'm checking now there are 2 entities. I've written to martemodena to see what they tell me about the shipping. What strikes me is seeing those items at 1USD (for example) that are about to end, and noone bids. I'm really afraid of bidding because it all seems very tricky.

[FriendAmos]

  On 6/16/2016 at 9:53 PM, Angel91 said:

You're right, I'm checking now there are 2 entities. I've written to martemodena to see what they tell me about the shipping. What strikes me is seeing those items at 1USD (for example) that are about to end, and noone bids. I'm really afraid of bidding because it all seems very tricky.

 

There is nothing tricky about them. However, the people are not running a charity, and if one wins a very nice pen for $1, one should not express shock at having to pay $60 for other costs (shipping and handling). In general, even with what some claim to be high costs, the buyer generally "wins"; so one should look at the whole picture. Of course, anyone who is concerned about such costs (or other unstated "trickery") has the option of simply going elsewhere.

[da vinci]

I won an auction for a used pen. Clear communication from MM in reply to questions before winning the auction, so factored in the very high cost of shipping and no complaints there.

 

Description of the item was not overly helpful. Plating loss to clip was difficult to see in the pictures and not mentioned in the description which used words to the effect that this was a high grade of quality pen. My comment therefore is to exercise a lot of care when reviewing the pictures.

[Bill P]

  On 7/30/2016 at 9:12 PM, da vinci said:

I won an auction for a used pen. Clear communication from MM in reply to questions before winning the auction, so factored in the very high cost of shipping and no complaints there.

 

Description of the item was not overly helpful. Plating loss to clip was difficult to see in the pictures and not mentioned in the description which used words to the effect that this was a high grade of quality pen. My comment therefore is to exercise a lot of care when reviewing the pictures.

What Pen did you purchase from Marte?

 

Shipping is incredibly high on several of their auction items...can't justify it.

[da vinci]

  On 7/30/2016 at 9:26 PM, Bill P said:

What Pen did you purchase from Marte?

 

Shipping is incredibly high on several of their auction items...can't justify it.

It is high but I asked questions first and went into it with my eyes open. The total I paid for the pen and postage combined was satisfactory and effectively meant the pen was cheap in my view.

[OngL]

Apart from daylight robbery in shipping, the total price can be reasonable. The main issue with MarteModena is extemely poor and unhelpful post sales service.

 

If pen is not as described, they will make thousands of excuses that they are not at fault. Finally, you can request for return but shipping may not be covered.

 

If pen is Ok, then all is well. Medium to high risk vendor. It also try to sell directly from website and offered a coupon. EU VAT is included even as it should be am export. The sales then explained that there is a tax in my country of 40 percent while the law said 7%. Finally, it mentioned this is our corporate policy to charge tax.

 

I would avoid this seller unless one if feeling lucky

[Cordovian]

I've never had a problem with MarteModena even with post sales service and they've always been friendly and prompt with responses. I even returned a Starwalker to them (at their suggestion) that the ruthenium plating had peeled off the nib. They returned it to me with a new nib and a stamped warranty card from the dealer that did the repair. Did not expect that at all considering I only paid a total of $275 for the pen.

 

Regarding their shipping rates and VAT; just like any purchase you make you have to take all factors into account before deciding to proceed. If the total amount is above your walk away number then walk away. Keep this in mind too...if they put more of their profit in shipping than in the product itself it can help keep the value of the item below the threshold for customs to charge import tax or, at the very least, reduce the amount levied.