Pilot Elite 95s and Custom Heritage 91 only available in Black; colours discontinued

[Olya]

I saw on reddit chatter that the Burgundy Elite 95s has been discontinued, I just checked the website and only the black version is listed.

Noticing the "new" tag on the Custom Heritage 91, I clicked on it and saw that this model is now apparently also only in black available.

 

Very odd to discontinue colours completely instead of adding, Sailor is selling like crazy with all the colours and Platinum has been adding more colour as well.

 

Anyone know more about this or any musings?

 

https://www.pilot.co.jp/products/pen/fountain/

 

https://www.pilot.co.jp/products/pen/fountain/fountain/customheritage91/

 

https://www.pilot.co.jp/products/pen/fountain/fountain/elite95s/

[Olya]

There was a 742 burgundy, right? Also gone

 

https://www.pilot.co.jp/products/pen/fountain/fountain/custom742/

 

 

[Baalberithim]

Sailor has also had a pretty terrible year financially, so emulating their business practices may not be advisable.  I may have to snag a Burgundy E95S when I can.  I believe the E95S also saw some of the highest percentage increase in the new Japanese pricing, and there was some speculation that Pilot was either hardly turning a profit, or even losing money on this model domestically.

[Olya]

5 hours ago, Baalberithim said:

Sailor has also had a pretty terrible year financially, so emulating their business practices may not be advisable.  I may have to snag a Burgundy E95S when I can.  I believe the E95S also saw some of the highest percentage increase in the new Japanese pricing, and there was some speculation that Pilot was either hardly turning a profit, or even losing money on this model domestically.

You do have a point in saying that too much can be detrimental to a business.

 

On the example of Sailor and my understanding of their situation: Mismanagement led to the red numbers and selling off to Plus. Plus, since acquisition, has increased the colour-ways and out-put onto the market. Plus is a very successful conglomerate, so apparently they must see this as good business.

 

From what I have read, Platinum was the first of today's big 3 to churn out many colours and variations back in the 1960s with their pocket pens, which is how they rose to prominence. Pilot and Sailor copied this back then and now we have what we have.

 

Possibly the Elite didn't turn a profit, this has happened before that models didn't turn a profit and were discontinued. I love the Elite, so streamlining and a bit of a price increase is to me preferable to complete discontinuation.

 

Pilot discontinuing colours, Sailor in the trouble it is, reports on Platinums allegedly cracking more often recently (worse quality allegedly for whatever reason), Pelikan being sold-off (with at least positive expectations for the future).... Household names seem to be having a tough time, some of my favourite pen-makers!

[Particular_Song3539]

While I am disappointed that they decided to discontinue the Burgundy color (and other versions like the B nib of Capless for Japan market) , I can accept that it must be an essential decision for them for the fast changing business environment as a huge business in Japan. 
Pilot is fundamentally different than Sailor, Pilot is a corporation which has way more area to concentrate and develop than just making FP. Pilot also releases a lot of stationery , which included multiple best seller series.
I once talked to a Japan Stationery store, they told me that Pilot will not accept collabo plans to make LE FP unless that is a "special occasion" like xxx anniversary for that store. So unlike Sailor who release "LE" "SE" FP left and right, almost every few months, Pilot has a solid concept and stick to that.

[Doc Dan]

https://pilotpen.us/Product?0=40&1=30&cid=100102

 

This one?

[A Smug Dill]

1 hour ago, Doc Dan said:

This one?

 

No. This one: https://www.pilot.co.jp/products/pen/fountain/fountain/elite95s/

 

Note the difference not only in the official model names of the pens, but also the visible markings on the respective pen caps.

 

Also, if Pilot Corporation has removed the Elite 95S in burgundy from its product catalogue — in other words, ceased production of it, and also made it not possible to (back-, or re-)order from Pilot as the ultimate supplier — in the Japanese domestic market, then it's highly questionable whether the E95S anomaly (only named and marked thus for the North American market) will still be produced going forward.

 

I'm sure there are still plenty of Japanese retailers with stock of the burgundy Elite 95S to sell today, if you're on the ground to find them (or willing to enlist a friend or paid agent to do so for you).

[Doc Dan]

This would be a shame as this is, to me, the most beautiful and elegant of all fountain pens. I bought the ivory/burgundy for my wife for our anniversary. It is a very nice pen. 

[Olya]

The transparent/demonstrator versions of the Custom 74 are no longer listed, either.

 

https://www.pilot.co.jp/products/pen/fountain/fountain/custom74/

 

 

[Misfit]

I’m glad I got my burgundy Pilot Elite when I did. Mine does have Elite on it. I got mine on Amazon. I saw the burgundy on the US Amazon, but the prices are up. 

[Misfit]

@Olya that’s a pity. The tinted transparent Pilot 74 pens are very attractive. I saw a black version and a blue version at zafpens which is in Greece. I got my Custom 74 in transparent orange from them. 

[Olya]

5 hours ago, Misfit said:

@Olya that’s a pity. The tinted transparent Pilot 74 pens are very attractive. I saw a black version and a blue version at zafpens which is in Greece. I got my Custom 74 in transparent orange from them. 

Indeed, the transparent purple was also gorgeous, long ago discontinued, though the purple one was for the foreign market only. Teal, merlot and transparent black were for the Japanese (and foreign) market.

 

I have also shopped Pilots with/at zafpens and am a happy customer!