Availability Fountain Pens Pilot

[marklavar]

Where I live in Germany, it's very difficult to find japanese writing products in general.

Even finding a Pilot cheapy roller for the office is an ordeal: everywhere you get the choice between Faber-Castell, Pelikan, Rotring, Staedtler.

As for FP, the brands available are the ones mentionned above + Lamy, Parker, Waterman and MB.

I asked Pat what shipping charges would be to send me a Sailor. She kindly asked why I didn't find one in Europe.

But here you have the choice between paying a lot more (not even mentionning shipping charges) or buying somehting else because most japanese brands aren't available at all.

 

I don't think it's a Pilot policy. In France (meaning Paris), it's not that difficult to find a Pilot Custom.

Sailor and Platinum are a bit more on the rare side.

 

 

It's a similar picture in the UK. The Pilot VP/Capless is quite easily available, but not the other Pilot fountain pens. However, Pilot and Uniball rollers are everywhere. Sailor and Platinum pens cannot be found anywhere, and even Pelikan pens are limited to specialist outlets. Cross is very popular here (for some unknown reason), and Parker, Sheaffer and Waterman are also pretty common as well. Montblanc is easily available from upmarket department stores and their own boutiques. As for Italian pens, I have seen Delta, Omas and Montegrappa in a few luxury stores in London; Visconti is more easily obtainable.

 

[meanwhile]

It's almost certainly a business decision: the big money to be in fountain pens in the West is in branding small sticks of black plastic as status symbols rather than in writing instruments like the 823, or works of art like Pilot's Makei. Pilot probably consider that a Japanese brand won't have the necessary romance of a French, Italian or English one, especially when it is also associated with disposeable pens. If this is the case, I'm suspect that they're right.

 

Could be the case. Certainly the FP market is orders of magnitude smaller than the auto market. But it is what it is to those companies that choose to compete there. And Toyota has proven that a substantial percentage of Americans will pay for quality at both ends of the cost spectrum, aside from those looking for sexy Euro cars.

 

Almost everyone is forced to pay some attention to quality rather than prestiege when it comes to cars, due to cost, safety, and reliability. This isn't the case with fountain pens - they don't kill you or leave you stranded if they go wrong, and $600 for a me-too badge for the socially insecure is easily affordable. The people who buy most high end fountain pens wouldn't know a high quality pen if it slept with their wives - that's why they buy Mont Blanc.

 

So I still feel that there's little that Pilot could do that wouldn't be a waste of their time.

Edited June 4, 2007 by meanwhile

[Nihontochicken]

$600 for a me-too badge for the socially insecure is easily affordable. The people who buy most high end fountain pens wouldn't know a high quality pen if it slept with their wives - that's why they buy Mont Blanc.

 

Aw, c'mon, quit holding back, let yourself go and tell us what you really think.

:roller1:

 

In four decades they still aren't providing many fountain pens to the stereotyped American barbarians.

 

I believe the proper terminology is "red-haired orangutans".

[mr T.]

Where I live in Germany, it's very difficult to find japanese writing products in general.

Even finding a Pilot cheapy roller for the office is an ordeal: everywhere you get the choice between Faber-Castell, Pelikan, Rotring, Staedtler.

As for FP, the brands available are the ones mentionned above + Lamy, Parker, Waterman and MB.

I asked Pat what shipping charges would be to send me a Sailor. She kindly asked why I didn't find one in Europe.

But here you have the choice between paying a lot more (not even mentionning shipping charges) or buying somehting else because most japanese brands aren't available at all.

 

I don't think it's a Pilot policy. In France (meaning Paris), it's not that difficult to find a Pilot Custom.

Sailor and Platinum are a bit more on the rare side.

 

 

It's a similar picture in the UK. The Pilot VP/Capless is quite easily available, but not the other Pilot fountain pens. However, Pilot and Uniball rollers are everywhere. Sailor and Platinum pens cannot be found anywhere, and even Pelikan pens are limited to specialist outlets. Cross is very popular here (for some unknown reason), and Parker, Sheaffer and Waterman are also pretty common as well. Montblanc is easily available from upmarket department stores and their own boutiques. As for Italian pens, I have seen Delta, Omas and Montegrappa in a few luxury stores in London; Visconti is more easily obtainable.

 

I noticed here on FPN that a lot of people like the Pilot Prera, 78G, Knight and Custom series. If one wants to buy these these here in The Netherlands seems to be 2 options: 1. travel to Japan or 2. buy them at a online penshop. Most of the Pilot fp products are still not in B&M shops here. Because of that fact, I contacted Pilot here in The Netherlands with the request to bring these pens on the market here (so I could buy one of these at the local penshop). The answer from Pilot was that the Knight should be available at Pilot dealers here. The Custom series will not be available here (as probably in the rest in Europe). The answer from Pilot didn't mention anything about the Prera or the 78G. So if the Prera will be available here is still unclear. I can see why online penshops are gaining in popularity.....

 

 

 

[MYU]

I have to agree with Stan. It seems to me that it's all a matter of numbers. Pilot distributes those items it feels will sell well in the target markets. Fountain pens are an "exception" item that are not in relatively high demand. Granted, they're not necessary making entirely different products for mixed markets (e.g. Namiki/Pilot Bamboo have very subtle differences), so there's no stuck inventory problem. But there is a certain overhead in making items available for sale--Pilot seems to be conservative about it. On the one hand, it means exclusivity for those who manage to obtain an item not sold in their home market. But then it can create frustration when it comes to getting maintenance or parts.

 

Incidentally, was there a specific stretch of years when Pilot did not sell any fountain pens at all to Europe or the USA? If so, what were they?

[CharlieB]

I don't understand what the problem is that the previous posters are trying to fix. There are a number of Japanese eBay sellers who regularly list a full line of Pilot pens, including the Custom 74, the Custom 823, the Custom 845, the Custom 742, the Custom 743, and Custom 745. These dealers will ship the pens to any location in the world. Buy the pens, enjoy them, and quit complaining.

 

I've recently purchased five Pilot pens from eBay sellers, and I'm very pleased with both the prompt service and the high quality products.

[burmeseboyz]

I don't understand what the problem is that the previous posters are trying to fix. There are a number of Japanese eBay sellers who regularly list a full line of Pilot pens, including the Custom 74, the Custom 823, the Custom 845, the Custom 742, the Custom 743, and Custom 745. These dealers will ship the pens to any location in the world. Buy the pens, enjoy them, and quit complaining.

 

CharlieB, I think most people are just more hesitant about buying gray market pens rather than having them be distributed by a company with full warranty support. I read a thread in the repair forum about a member's custom 823 having a crack in the barrel and costing a fortune to fix. This kinda stuff scares me because what if my 823 had some problems that I needed to get fixed. I take good care of my pens but you always get flukes or bad production runs that should be covered by the warranty. That said, I'm more hesitant of buying gray market items.

 

However, you are absolutely right about the awesome service of some japanese ebay sellers.

[chibimie]

The culture of Japan is fascinating, especially to a western mind. Japan was not open at all to contact with foreigners until 1853, when US Navy Commodore Matthew Perry opened trade with Japan. Prior to that time, any seaman who had the misfortune to be shipwrecked and wash ashore in Japan was summarily thrown into prison.

 

In the 1970s & 80s, I was on active duty in the US Navy, and made a few stops in Japan. It was interesting to me that in the port cities, some of the restaurants, coffee shops, or other shops selling various merchandise had signs posted prominently at the front door, stating in 3 inch high block letters, JAPANESE ONLY! Prior to being allowed to leave the ship, we were all cautioned about this, and strongly counseled not to violate this stricture.

 

Having observed the behavior of some of the Americans in the "liberty areas" (read sailor town, bars and hookers) of these cities, I full understand their sentiments. I have also observed similar behavior from proprietors in US cities where navy ships tie up and unleash people looking for a "good time" which they will be hard pressed to remember the following day.

 

We look at their culture from the outside, and think they are overly prideful, and exclusionary, because they think their culture is superior, when we know for a fact that OUR culture is superior (tongue firmly in cheek here). Perhaps the reason they do not seek a market for fine fountain pens in the US is their perception, not wholly incorrect based upon their limited exposure to Americans, that Americans would have no appreciation for such fine items. Sort of a "pearls before swine" attitude. I cannot, however, speak to why they might have the same attitude toward other countries.

 

Donnie

 

I appreciate Donnie's sharing here, and wish to add my two cents from a slightly different perspective. 'Fair-trade-based' calls (esp in the 1980s) for commercial openness on the part of Japan notwithstanding, since the 'opening up' of Japan in the mid-nineteenth-century, Japanese have been more interested in learning about, knowing, and owning foreign made objects (from French pastries to German engineered everything) than just about any country in the world. To stay close to our concerns, you can observe that in the availability of virtually all the major fountain pen brands in the world there. (The well well known Japanese fetish for brand name items of all kinds--Prada, Gucci, etc--is an unsalutary example of this tendency carried to excess.) I am guessing that in other fountain pen producing nations (e.g. France, Italy, Germany) the degree of interest in other foreign pens is far lower than what you find in Japan. This too, must partially explain the relative absence of Pilot pens in Germany, and not just the lack of interest on the part of Pilot. German pen companies don't have to spend a lot of money to generate foreign pen interest in Japan, while the Japanese pen company would have to do so in Germany.

 

[Tony the Tiger]

My only experience w/ Pilot directly has been unpleasant. I bought a new Custom 823 from a fellow FPN'er in AZ, who bought it new from a Japanese dealer. When it unexpectedly fell apart after only 2 months of use, Pilot USA was virtually useless in getting it repaired. It's being returned to me, so I can explore other options for repair or replacement. It's really a shame, because I just loved that pen, as well as my VP.

[1937w]

I'll go with MEANWHILE. Here in Manhattan (as well as several places in the outer boroughs) expensive Japanese pens and other high end products are a commonplace. Not selling Japanese products in other locations is almost certainly a business decision; there is no evidence that culture, history or xenophobia play any role. The U.S. is awash in Lexus cars, Nikon cameras, and top quality Japanese audio gear. The stockholders/owners of writing instrument companies are interested in making money and staying solvent, that requires that product sales be maximized.

[chibimie]

I'll go with MEANWHILE. Here in Manhattan (as well as several places in the outer boroughs) expensive Japanese pens and other high end products are a commonplace. Not selling Japanese products in other locations is almost certainly a business decision; there is no evidence that culture, history or xenophobia play any role. The U.S. is awash in Lexus cars, Nikon cameras, and top quality Japanese audio gear. The stockholders/owners of writing instrument companies are interested in making money and staying solvent, that requires that product sales be maximized.

 

No one would dispute that it is largely a business decision. You are free to make an outright dismissal of cultural or historical factors, of course, but that doesn't mean that they are irrelevant. (The attribution of xenophobia here is yours, not mine.) If any company has to make marketing decisions in a foreign country, these days they pay close attention to cultural factors of the target nation. And in the case in question, if Germany does not have a historical inclination to almost zealously import what it considers the best of what other countries have to offer (this is a hypothetical--please!), then Pilot (in this case) might think twice about choosing to expend energy in exporting pens there. On the other hand, if like Japan, Germany DID happen to be so inclined, then that in turn may well help determine any marketing decision. I have not stated that historical/cultural considerations EXPLAIN this phenomenon--only that they might profitably be brought into the mix.

Edited May 3, 2008 by chibimie

[Taki]

My only experience w/ Pilot directly has been unpleasant. I bought a new Custom 823 from a fellow FPN'er in AZ, who bought it new from a Japanese dealer. When it unexpectedly fell apart after only 2 months of use, Pilot USA was virtually useless in getting it repaired. It's being returned to me, so I can explore other options for repair or replacement. It's really a shame, because I just loved that pen, as well as my VP.

Did you see the reply in Ujuku's message board?

 

Plunger-type CUSTOM 823 ... contributor：Michael contribution day：2008/04/21(Mon) 22:57 No.204

 

Hello Ujuku,

 

I hope that all is well with you. I purchased a couple of Pilot Custom 823 pens from you in the past. One of the pens has suddenly broken down after only a couple of months of use. Can you repair such pens or would they be fixed by Pilot in Japan for free if there is a defect in the pen? Any help you could provide is appreciated.

 

Michael

Re: Plunger-type CUSTOM ... - Tadashi Yamada 2008/04/22(Tue) 00:00 No.205

Dear Michael

The pilot will repair pen for free if there is a defect in the pen.

Please append the photograph and explain details of the breakdown.

Best Regards

Tadashi

 

Are you going to pursue this route? Hope Pilot in Japan will help you out.

Edited May 4, 2008 by Taki

[Tony the Tiger]

Yes, my 823 is hopefully on it's way back from Pilot USA now. Once it arrives, that is the route we're going to pursue. I thank everyone for their interest in my dilemma. I really want to get that pen back to it's original condition, w/o having to basically buy the pen again, in repair fees, etc. I'll keep you posted.

[gwaldo]

While I would love more readily-available access to Pilot (in particular) Fountain pens (as well as FPs in general, it is not currently viable. (It doesn't help me that I live in upstate New York, so the closest pen store is about 3 hours away...) The main reason in the US is that despite people wanting to be "green" (I so hate that term...), they don't know any better than to buy a pack of cheap disposable ballpoints. If they want to buy a "nice" pen, they'll buy a pack of G-2's.

 

Parker or Cross ballpoint pens like you'd find at an office-supply store? Those are gifts for college graduation or a promotion. (To be fair, I did see a couple of FPs at a Staples recently.

 

The reason that Pilot doesn't have a FP presence in the US is because we - my good pensmen - are a niche. With that in mind, keep in mind that FPN has the potential to be an echo chamber. The single best thing that I think that we could do to encourage the market to grow is to tell everyone that you know about the benefit of Fountain pens. Go for the "green" factor. {wretch} Both environmentally and economically. (This would not to bring up your pen collection budget.

 

Keep a few Varsity pens around as handouts. Even drain them of their awful ink and refill them with something that you like. Show them how bulletproof ink doesn't run, or show them the awesome colors available!

 

Give away the cheap-(bleep) chinese pens that you have sitting around that you bought because you were curious. Each pen given away is potentially a new FP fan, and will likely get sucked into our sick obsession, too!

[Pelikan_FP]

The lack of Pilot FP in Canada is even worse than the US. The only ones most stores carry would be the Vanishing Point if at all but what about all the other lovely ones like the custom 823's, eh? Alas, we are a very niche market and from a business viewpoint, I can understand what Pilot is doing but still, it sucks.