Coating Peeling Off - Dialog 3

[nahhush]

Dear All,

 

I am writing to you guys in desperation today. A few days ago I wanted to use my Dialog 3 (Black Matte Lacquer) again. I pulled it out of the pouch and tried to open it. It wouldn't budge. So I undid the pen first, removed the rear side, then the Ink Converter, then unscrewed the Nib section.

 

Took normal Tap water (Room Temperature) a Glass Bowl and left the entire Pen in it for 5 - 6 mins. Then reassembled the entire Pen "AS IS" and tried the same. To my surprise, nothing was working.

 

Well before I put it back in the pouch I thought atleast I should wipe it dry. So used a MicroFibre Cloth to wipe of the excess water and I was Shocked ! The black paint started peeling away.. .

The same is happening with the Top End as well. It started coming off from the 2 parallel golden line finishes... Then by the end of the 2 minute half of the Black is out.

 

Guys, please help me with this issue. Atleast the whole outer body has to look alike. What can be done to salvage this?

[sentience]

Yikes, this sounds like a nightmare!

 

If it's an option for you, my first instinct would be to take the pen to my local Lamy retailer to see what they'd advise. I'd be too scared at this point to try anything else myself.

[Astronymus]

Yeah, contact Lamy. Maybe there is something wrong with this batch.

[dapprman]

Another for contacting Lamy - not sure what the route is for India, whether it goes through a 3rd party (such as for the USA) or if it's directly back to Heidelberg (as for those of us in the UK and Europe). If the latter then they'd probably either repair it or send a replacement - only catch is they can be slow and their comms are poor, but they do have a habit of ignoring warranty dates and (in my case) confessions of user error (I dropped mine and dented it).

[Calabria]

Contact Lamy. This is a total material failure. I suspect they will take care of it for you, but you'll probably have to be patient.

[nahhush]

This is not the first Dialog 3. The First Black Dialog 3 also which was Black had similar issues. Those cropped up in a mere 3 week period.

 

Got that replaced with a Palladium Finished one. That faced a closing issue. So once the Pen was opened it would retract at all.

 

Got the Black one again... Now this.

 

I have a few other Lamy Pens... (2000's, Safari etc) but somehow a big big let down is their most classy pen of all....

[nahhush]

But do you guys think the Lamy Customer Care will Support? I mean India barely has a Lamy Presence at all... I have written to them in the past and they seem less than interested to revert.

[nahhush]

 

Your message has been sent

We will process it as soon as possible. If necessary we will get back to you.

 

[nahhush]

This is what annoys me... They clearly state if necessary, we will get back to you! How rude.

 

Guys, I wanted to know what can we use to remove the entire black coating... If Lamy decides not to provide a replacement to me I cannot simply throw away the Dialog 3, ultimately its an amazing instrument. I would like to use the Steel Finish one... So please help me here...

[AidenMark]

This is what annoys me... They clearly state if necessary, we will get back to you! How rude.

 

Guys, I wanted to know what can we use to remove the entire black coating... If Lamy decides not to provide a replacement to me I cannot simply throw away the Dialog 3, ultimately its an amazing instrument. I would like to use the Steel Finish one... So please help me here...

 

 

It's not rude at all.

 

And respectfully, would it not be better then to wait for their response before posting here soliciting methods to strip the pen of its coating?

[nahhush]

Dear Sir,

 

This isn't the first time this has happened. Had I not liked using Lamy I wouldn't have purchased them in the first place. I appreciate their craftsmanship, the quality and the very product itself. I simply love them - dare I say I find their product even better than other established brands and hence prefer to use only Lamy.

 

But as they say History has a habit of repeating itself. This is the 3rd Dialog 3 wherein I have faced issues and hence the agitation.

 

I am very sorry if I have hurt anyone... It was absolutely unintentional.

[Calabria]

I recommend patience. Personally, I wouldn't want a homemade strip job pen. Send them a reminder and wait for a response, in due time they will answer and replace your pen. I'm pretty sure of that seeing all the posts here on Lamy service.

 

That said, I'm sorry about the malfunction of your dialog3. Mechanical failure seems pretty common with this pen which is disappointing. I also wonder if climate can affect the mechanism which seems to have many moving parts.

[RMN]

Actually, I am interested in seeing a picture of this disaster.

 

 

D.ick

[1nkulus]

Not experienced any such issue yet. If true, I wonder if there is a QC department at Lamy?

 

I am really hoping that the OP has had extreme bad luck.

 

Actually, I am interested in seeing a picture of this disaster.

 

 

D.ick

+1

[nahhush]

Hi Guys,

 

I apologise for the delay to respond, was travelling for work and hence I couldn't come back to you guys.

 

Waited for LAMY to revert to my query. No surprise there - they haven't.

 

Anyway, I have attached 2 pictures of the same Pen.

 

The Rear looks as though nothing is wrong with it, they minute you flip it you realise just how bad the pen has gone. Surprising the Metal finish is fantastic.

[Astronymus]

Looks like wear from slipping it into a pocket as the clip is in the exact line of damage. The coating can't withstand the abrasion, it seems.

 

Btw. it's holiday time in Germany. The support staff might be thinned. I could imagine the answer will take some time. I would try another contact attempt mid August.

[gerigo]

Repairs

For all Lamy writing instruments corresponding spare parts are available which can be obtained in all specialised retail shops.

 

For small repairs please refer to your local retailer who has a comprehensive range of spare parts for Lamy writing instruments on stock.

 

In case of more difficult repairs please return your pen to our Service Centre. Please post your faulty writing instrument and its components to following address:

 

C. Josef Lamy GmbH

Repair-Center

D-69111 Heidelberg

 

Please indicate your complete address and telephone number with each repair you send us to enable us to carry out the requested repair immediately and to your complete satisfaction.

 

This is what I got from Lamy when I tried to search for service or repairs.

 

Couple thoughts. If this is the second time this is happening, you might want to look why this is happening to you? Although any metal that is coated that has a chance of flaking off, I have not read as much that this particular pen suffers from this issue. Then again, I know that the first batch of these pens were problematic. That's the reason why there is a second batch with a more durable lacquer finish.

[nahhush]

Hi Guys,

 

I have never kept the Pens in my Shirt Pocket ever. I use a Leather Sleeve / Pouch. Its a Lamy Accessory. As for the Dialog 3, I have never even kept it directly on a hard surface. Its always been carried around in a Pouch which is always Soft on the external part of the Pen.

 

The First 4 images are of the Sleeve that I use exclusively for the Dialog 3.

 

The next 2 images are for when I have feel like writing with different inks. That is a pouch which can carry Pens separately without touching each other.

 

Please notice that the pouch has got separate slots. .

The sections are also fairly spacious and hence I do not have to use the click to hold the pen it its place.

 

I have also put cotton at the bottom of the pouch which acts as a soft base so that the Black Lacquer doesn't erode / scratch.

 

Now please help me in resolving this. How do I get Lamy's attention? I have written to their Customer Service twice by now.

[dapprman]

Where did you buy it from (country wise ?). For me I've used the online form and had quick replies, but this is with Europe.

[1nkulus]

Your only option is to send the pen to Germany with a detailed explanation, unless you want to continue using it in it's present form.

They will probably return it to you in under 8 weeks.

 

If you travel abroad or have anyone traveling, they could post it for you.

 

I doubt anyone will entertain your request in India and definitely not past the warranty period.

 

Getting the pen past Indian customs when Lamy send it back, is a different matter. Considering the pen retails for Rs. 30K/$440 in India.

I am unsure if Lamy specify 'repairs or something to that effect' on the package for easy identification.

 

IIRC, William Penn is the only official retailer in India.

OTOH, Lamy are taking India more seriously though I am doubtful of their partner.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/german-brand-lamy-partners-with-former-cricketer-dilip-doshi/articleshow/63532936.cms

Edited August 2, 2018 by 1nkulus