Montblanc Starwalker At Costco

[Tasmith]

The Costco in Newington, VA has Montblanc Starwalkers!

 

 

 

 

[Studio97]

I didnt think MB sold outside their boutiques. $340 at MB. Is the one at costco something different?

Edited May 6, 2017 by Studio97

[Tasmith]

Montblanc does sell through select retailers other than their own boutiques.

 

How Costco acquired these I don't know.

 

Don't know if there's a difference as I'm not familiar with Montblanc ballpoints.

Edited May 7, 2017 by Tasmith

[EclecticCollector]

I've seen this at various Costco locations across the US for many years now. Only ever the ballpoint, and only ever this trim.

[888007888]

I've seen this at various Costco locations across the US for many years now. Only ever the ballpoint, and only ever this trim.

I too have seen this exact Monblanc at a few of my local Costco locations. Only this exact model. The model is the StarWalker Midnight Black ballpoint pen.

[Lelouch]

Amazing! I shall have to take a look the next time I head in, though I'm honestly not sure what section to look in for these

[zaddick]

Amazing! I shall have to take a look the next time I head in, though I'm honestly not sure what section to look in for these

I usually see them in the watch/jewelry case, near the less expensive stuff.

[Tasmith]

I usually see them in the watch/jewelry case, near the less expensive stuff.

 

That is where I saw it.

[dadbar]

Montblanc must have had a glut of inventory on these. It's probably a good way to ditch excess stock in a hurry.

[penman1914]

I'm pretty sure that these are knock-offs. All of my Montblanc boxes have are ivory colored. These are white which, along with the absolutley ridiculous price tells me they are absolute fakes. Just MHO!

[Tasmith]

I'm pretty sure that these are knock-offs. All of my Montblanc boxes have are ivory colored. These are white which, along with the absolutley ridiculous price tells me they are absolute fakes. Just MHO!

 

Probably gray market.

 

I've read Costco does sell gray market items at a discount. The manufacturers don't like it, but they tolerate it because Costco sells so much of their product.

[Lloyd]

Manufacturers can't stop them. Omega (watches) sued Costco, unsuccessfully, to try to stop them.. Nowadays, some Costcos carry watches by Rolex and Patek, too. They're authentic but they don't have a manufacturers warranty.

[WmEdwards]

I checked our local Costco, and they did not have these (at the moment).

[Robert Alan]

I'm pretty sure that these are knock-offs. All of my Montblanc boxes have are ivory colored. These are white which, along with the absolutley ridiculous price tells me they are absolute fakes. Just MHO!

They are not "knock-offs!" Costco would never sell such a item. The Starwalker ball point is an authentic Montblanc (the packaging matches packaging I received at a Montblanc boutique) and, over the years, Costco has indeed sold gray market Montblanc, Waterman, and Pelikan pens. In the 1990s, Costco sold Montblanc Meisterstuck #164 ball point pens (approx. $90), Waterman Le Man 200 fountain pens, and early Pelikan M800 fountain pens (for $80!).

/Robert

Edited May 19, 2017 by Robert Alan

[Tasmith]

I checked our local Costco, and they did not have these (at the moment).

 

One thing about seeing an item at Costco is that it may only be available for a very short time.

 

I've purchased items one week and went back the following week only to find they were sold out.

[Misfit]

Costco has tremendous buying power. I saw a documentary where toy makers were trying to get their toys in Costco. Costco gave feedback and the toy makers made changes. It was a big deal for the toy makers who got their toys in Costco.

[mulrich]

A BP Starwalker was my first nice pen. I haven't used it much since discovering fountain pens but it's still one of my favorites.

 

There's no way costco would sell knockoffs, I'd even be surpirsied if it were grey market.

[sketchstack]

In the garment industry (and others), there is the "third shift". This is where a genuine product is created at an overseas factory contracted by the actual brand name company. Except "third shift" products are made without the consent of the brand owner, and can be sold on whatever market the factory desires.

 

For example, Luxury Brand X might contract 10,000 handbags to be created--but the factory might actually make 15,000 and then sell the extra 5,000 handbags whoever they please. This is in violation of the agreement that Brand X made with the factory, but technically they are genuine products.

 

Edit: It's worth noting that if some of these semi-legitimate goods enter legitimate distribution channels, it can be quite difficult for even well-intended retailers to recognize them as genuine or not.

Edited June 7, 2017 by sketchstack

[Lloyd]

The Costco in Nashua, NH, had a black-faced two-tone Rolex Daytona (non-ceramic bezel) for ≈$15k last weekend...and you didn't need to buy 'em in bulk!