Sailor Pro Gear Classic = Misaligned Logo On The Cap.

[qazz]

So, there is this Sailor Pro Gear Classic model which I personally like very much.
On a picture it looks like this:

Note that the anchor logo on the cap and the clip are nicely aligned with each other.

However, when I received one from nibs.com last spring, the logo was rotated with respect to the clip by about 30 degrees. I was rather disappointed, since it looked ugly to me, but since the shipping cost was relatively high for me I decided, instead of returning the pen, to try to rotate that part myself using pliers. I succeeded but scratched the pen noticeably in the process. Sigh.

This year I decided that I want one more Pro Gear Classic with a different nib size, so I asked nibs.com whether I can be sure that I wouldn't get a pen with a misaligned logo this time. The answer though was quite surprising, I was told that

due to the amount of orders we get each day, we cannot open every box in inventory just to find a pen with the Sailor logo aligned perfectly to the clip

and then

if you place an order and are unhappy with it, you can send it in for a store credit

I then asked how it could be agreed with that statement on the webpage that says:

We take care to make sure that the fountain pens you buy from us will not just be beautiful to look at, but will also serve you for enjoyable day after hand writing.

and was answered that it was only about optimizing and customizing the nibs and since I want something that they can't control, they're probably not the company for me.

So,
1) if you're going to buy this or a similar-looking pen model, be aware that you may easily get one with a misaligned logo, since nibs.com doesn't see it as a defect.

2) I wonder if it's seen as a defect by Sailor itself. Owners of similar Sailor pens, do you have this issue as well?

 

3) Any recommendations on an online shop that sells Sailors and is more scrupulous about this kind of issues?

Edited March 4, 2018 by qazz

[Wolverine1]

Nib.com is a very reputable pen vendor. Just because a logo is turned 30 degrees, does not make the pen defective. Instead of insulting the good folks at Nibs.com, go to a brick-n-mortar store, and inspect the pen you want to buy, make sure it meets your "standards" and buy it. Because, most online dealers wont play along with your whims.

[Inkling13]

Ditto. Being that most pen shops have gone the way of the dodo, nibs.com represents a pillar of our pen world, in tens of quality and service. I have never had a bad transaction with them. You are better off flying to Japan and buying this pen in person.

 

Would it be appropriate for admin to lock this thread?

[Driften]

If it's true I don't think nib.com saying they don't have time to check each pen is wrong. They have time to adjust the flow on the nib before sending and how hard is it to look at the cap while they have the box open. What they are saying is they don't have time to be bothered to put the pen in a pile to send back to Sailor. It also implies they get lots of pens like that and its hard to go though and find a good one.

 

The customer should never be the QA department especially on a company that says they provide extra service for the price they are charging. (free nib tune)

[Inkling13]

Just mathmaticall speaking, if these logos are stuck on at random, as Pelikan logos are, you have 1/360 chance of having one the way you want. Nobody can survive making pens with that margin of "defects". However, I am also certain that Sailor does service your pens from Nibs.com, as I have had a sterling 1911 sent back and forth for repairs to Japan. If you buy one, and it's not right, I'd take it up with Sailor. Nibs guarantees a good writing experience. Not whether or not the logo isn't oriented the way you had expected it to be. Also, don't take pliars to anything again...

[Uncial]

I've asked pen stores (not Nibs.com) to test pens for me and examine issues such as alignment of patterns etc, never had a problem. Never received a curt response, only 'happy to' or something similar.

[Uncial]

I just checked the four Sailor's I own and all the anchor's are aligned properly. I think you may have just been unlucky with this one.

[inotrym]

edit: Instead of over-analyzing and participating in what will probably become a flame, I decided to just offer some useful information.

 

Andersonspens.com have the yellow Pro Gear available.

They are well known around here for their service (I am in Europe, so I haven't personally tried them).

Shoot them I message. I think they will be willing to help you out.

Edited March 4, 2018 by inotrym

[hari317]

The logos are well aligned on my sailors, as well as Pelikans. The mb snowcap is randomly aligned.

 

I think you should have informed them about the misalignment first time around itself. I have some excellent pens from them but really I find their response to you unacceptable.

[Bluey]

I have some excellent pens from them but really I find their response to you unacceptable.

 

It could all be concocted. I find it a little odd that someone who is bothered about the placement of the logo would take pliers to their fountain pen.

[Freddy]

Welcome...............Qazz......interestin' handle{qazz}...Please enjoy your time here........

 

Fred..

False light...............................................................and listenin' to Al Martino...........................

[Uncial]

As someone else mentioned, there are others who sell what you're after and you can message them about the alignment. Even the greatest sellers are allowed an 'off' day, but there's no point festering over it. If you feel it's poor or under par service, put it behind you and shop elsewhere and keep enjoying the pens.

[Corona688]

Perhaps the metal clip is movable. It's such a minor problem it's hard to imagine complaining over it when other places will sell you pens which don't write...

Edited March 4, 2018 by Corona688

[woleizihan]

They said this pre-sale, agreed to give full store credit in the case you don't like it, and was honest about what they can/ cannot do. Sounds like a good seller to me.

[tinta]

I've had such a misaligned logo on the cap of a Sailor Sapporo Mini. Almost a quarter turn off.

While the Mini was a lovely little pen, the "wonky anchor" did bother me a bit, but not enough to put a wrench to the cap jewel. Returning the pen to the seller was one viable option, but doing that seemed expensive at the time.

 

I learned to live with this "wabi-sabi" element till I sold my Mini a few years down the road (but not for this particular reason). The Sailor 1911 models (standard or large) do not sport such anchor logos on their caps. This may be the way to go if you otherwise like the Sailor experience. I personally prefer the balanced cigar shape of the 1911s to the Pro Gear's flat tops, but that's just me.

 

Corona688, you suggested to rotate the clip. In both the 1911s & the Pro Gears, the clip is keyed into a slot in the cap, below a ring & as such cannot be rotated.

[pararis]

Three sides to every story...

[Marcwithac]

Although I am hesitant to weigh in on this kind of thread, I feel compelled to share my most recent experience with Classic Fountain Pens (a/k/a Nibs.com). I had ordered a Nakaya pen (Naka-ai Cigar Jidai Nuri) from their website. The pen had a unique weathered look created by applying black urushi over red, resulted in a very cool lined pattern (I tried to attach a photo but kept getting an error message). When the pen was ready to be shipped, the sales team at CFP reached out to let me know that the actual pen had a different appearance - the lines were less pronounced, in fact virtually non-existent. This was not surprising as each Nakaya is made by hand and, therefore, unique. The sales team was checking to see whether, given the difference in appearance, I still wanted the pen. In fact, I did not and the order was cancelled for a full refund. Although I'm sure I would have been able to return the pen, I greatly appreciated the thoughtfulness CFP showed in reaching out to me first. So, obviously, my experience with CFP was very different from Qazz's experience.

[aardvarkbark]

Hi and welcome. I have four ProGears and the anchor aligns with the clip on each and every one.

 

Have you been to this site:

 

http://www.sailorpen.com/contact.html

 

It lists contact info for the company, the Europe distributor, and, if you click on any of the countries on the right side of the page, all of their retailers globally. Maybe you can find a seller who will give you a better price, take the time to check the cap, and offer less expensive shipping.

 

I suggest you share your experience with Sailor too (they have responded to a couple of questions I have had over the past year), and see if they might replace your cap. Never hurts to ask.

 

I've had very good experience with The Writing Desk in Suffolk UK (www.thewritingdesk.co.uk). Anna is delightful and has provided me with very attentive personalized service.

[jar]

You should have sent the pen back to them if you were dissatisfied or at the very minimum called them to register your issue.

 

Once you decided to take any other course the result is most certainly yours and yours alone.

[minddance]

You should have told them about your problem immediately when you spotted it. I am sure any decent pen vendor would do something to make things right for you.