Got My Pelikan M805 Ocean Swirl. Boy Am I Disappointed!

[TSherbs]

.... This was confirmed almost instantly on release by the many, many retailers who stated it here and elsewhere and even on their own web pages.

 

Gouletpens.com does not. Not anywhere that I could find. Nor does the Pelikan web site. But I did not check other retailers.

[Erik Dalton]

I guess I got lucky with mine. Seems just fine. None the less, sometimes I get the feeling that Pelikan takes us for granted, and puts less effort into nibs, form, and fit then they use to. I won’t even go into pricing.

I love my Pelikan pens, but I examine every new pen and nib thoroughly upon receipt.

[praxim]

The information I found about the pen's features was here on FPN. It was after pre-order, with ample time to cancel or switch, which my vendor would have done without demur. I was happy to continue. When it arrived, it met my expectations in terms of pattern and [lack of] alignment, and more importantly in depth of colour and variation, so aesthetically the pen made me content.

 

Inked, the 805 performed exactly as I would expect from a modern M8xx, based on a prior sample of two, and to my satisfaction for its uses.

 

I think Alanshutko summed up the marketing problem well. For buyers, the knowledge or risks were available, and usually they are free to send it back or sell it on if their prior analysis failed. Getting one's knickers in a knot because one does not like the pen is to me a bit daft. I manage not to like quite a few pens without losing sleep over it.

[Uncial]

Gouletpens.com does not. Not anywhere that I could find. Nor does the Pelikan web site. But I did not check other retailers.

 

Goulet states the following on their website under the pictures of the pen:

"Just like in the deep sea, bright spots alternate with dark spots, mimicking the light that radiates and is found in the ocean. Each writing instrument is truly unique."

They have the very bright lit official Pelikan photos too but they are interspersed with their own that clearly show darker bands. What they don't state in the text is that the bands present on the cap and barrel won't necessarily match up.

 

Pelican doesn't have it on their own website because they no longer list the pen there. The information will still be in the history of their Instagram ( and presumably of their Facebook page if they have one, I haven't checked).

[TSherbs]

...Pelican doesn't have it on their own website because they no longer list the pen there.

I saw the pen there two days ago, with very large images. In the Souverin line.

[sargetalon]

Pelikan's new website is certainly not easy to navigate and looks a mess but here is the link to the Ocean Swirl;

 

https://www.pelikan.com/pulse/Pulsar/en_US.FWI.displayShop.252844./souverän-805-ocean-swirl

[jekostas]

Pelikan's new website is certainly not easy to navigate and looks a mess but here is the link to the Ocean Swirl;

 

https://www.pelikan.com/pulse/Pulsar/en_US.FWI.displayShop.252844./souverän-805-ocean-swirl

 

And as mentioned, every pen shows the coloured sections lining up, and not a single picture of the darker parts of the material.

[Uncial]

Pelikan's new website is certainly not easy to navigate and looks a mess but here is the link to the Ocean Swirl;

 

https://www.pelikan.com/pulse/Pulsar/en_US.FWI.displayShop.252844./souverän-805-ocean-swirl

 

Thank you. I think I might have been looking at different site. They don't show the dark areas in pictures, but do mention it in the text.

[SoulSamurai]

 

Thank you. I think I might have been looking at different site. They don't show the dark areas in pictures, but do mention it in the text.

When I read the description and it mentioned "dark areas" I tgought they were talking about, well, the fact that it's a green pattern against a dark background rather than solid green. It doesn't read to me like saying "the pattern you see in the photos is only on parts of the pen, there's parts where it's just dark with no real green". But then of course the marketing dept isn't going to say that.

[TSherbs]

The Pelikan info on this pen doesn't even look like real photos to me.

[BeckonRay]

When I read the description and it mentioned "dark areas" I tgought they were talking about, well, the fact that it's a green pattern against a dark background rather than solid green. It doesn't read to me like saying "the pattern you see in the photos is only on parts of the pen, there's parts where it's just dark with no real green". But then of course the marketing dept isn't going to say that.

 

Yes, Marketing will be focused on selling. With regards to this pen, for some owners, the darker areas beautifully highlight the florescent areas while others would like it all bright teal.

 

But personal preferences aside, preponderance of actual reviews and comments since release have called out Pelikan's dubious marketing in how the pen was represented.

 

While I love the pen and tend to think this will grow in popularity as initial release aspects fade; I equally think Pelikan needs to be more clear in their advertising.

 

Here is the kicker: I don't think Pelikan will change their marketing approach, because they are doing brisk business in spite of the grumbling and two more pens released around/since Ocean Swirl have the same kind of marketing shenanigans.

 

Their recent "white transparent" release showed a classy "ivory" white and the real one is a flat white color. If you thought they would do better after the flack with M805 OS, and the white transparent; no, their most recent M600 Turquoise/white is also the same flat white material that was advertised as a more complex ivory. This may also be due to photoshop dumbo's with no ill intent bumping up saturation and vibrancy to make their pictures "pop". Somewhere between the different rungs of photographer, marketing staff, up to the decision maker, it is possible they go with the most flashy representation. But I think someone at the top has to wake up and say, this is overdone, try to represent what we are selling.

 

But among us users, there are always suckers who will argue that flat white plastic color in the best thing ever. So there is no incentive for Pelikan to change its tactics.

 

When I say the Ocean Swirl appeals to some, including me, I am only speaking of this particular pen. I don't give them blanket cover from all their dubious marketing.

 

At the end, as a buyer, see the pen in person, do research, and if it doesn't meet your expectations, make sure you can send it back. Pelikan's Marketing will eventually get the message.

 

.

Edited May 3, 2018 by BeckonRay

[paradigm]

Several times having got into a similar situation now I try to always look bright shining marketing photos, highlighting a deep structure, and necessarily dark amateur photos made in the twilight.

The magic of a bright photo in a softbox instantly disappears!
Before us there is a usual fountain pen, with poorly selected design and indistinct color.

And now I try to buy only by personally examining the goods in the store in different light, and cutting it in my hands for a little longer.


p.s. I personally liked the photo with a lighter lid and a darker body, even more. But on the photo and bright videos with a strong podstvetkoj on successful variants of drawing they look absolutely in another way, than attract people to themselves!