Buying online in the UK: any recommendations?

[senzen]

So I have a friend visiting me from London, and willing to bring a couple of small things like ink bottles, which I cannot import into Mexico (no liquids of any kind, don't ask me why). I would buy it online and ship it to him. Any recommendations, such as Ebay vendors or online shops that take PayPal?

 

I wouldn't mind a special pen under £100, even better a couple under £50, even if I already have too many pens; buying on ebay.co uk from EU countries sometimes triggers 20% VAT, sometimes not, it's a little bizarre... Amazon seems an easier option, at least for J Herbin inks, but with fewer options for everything else. Japanese inks like the Sailor Shirakashi refill I want seem really expensive in the UK compared to the US.

 

I need a Vacumatic wrench which is sold in the UK, but it seems too heavy to transport.

 

I realize Brexit happened, but the world seems a much less friendly place for this sort go thing than even five years ago...

 

Cheers!

[Beechwood]

for a range of things try Write Here

 

https://www.writeherekitenow.co.uk/

 

or The Writing Desk

 

https://www.thewritingdesk.co.uk/

 

For parts and spares, including the Vac Wrench

 

https://vintagepensacsandparts.com/search?q=vacumatic+wrench

 

Give good advice on transporting ink to your friend, sealed Tupperware boxes etc.

[senzen]

1 hour ago, Format said:

for a range of things try Write Here

 

https://www.writeherekitenow.co.uk/

 

or The Writing Desk

 

https://www.thewritingdesk.co.uk/

 

For parts and spares, including the Vac Wrench

 

https://vintagepensacsandparts.com/search?q=vacumatic+wrench

 

Give good advice on transporting ink to your friend, sealed Tupperware boxes etc.

 

Thank you!

[inkstainedruth]

I've had good experiences ordering from Cult Pens, but the minimum amount to get free shipping is pretty high.  And I'm in the US, so I don't know what it would be like shipping to Mexico.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[senzen]

8 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

I've had good experiences ordering from Cult Pens, but the minimum amount to get free shipping is pretty high.  And I'm in the US, so I don't know what it would be like shipping to Mexico.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Thanks!

[Mercian]

https://www.purepens.co.uk

 

They stock a fair few Japanese and Chinese brands, in addition to European ones.
 

I also like some of their own-branded inks 😊

[senzen]

50 minutes ago, Mercian said:

https://www.purepens.co.uk

 

They stock a fair few Japanese and Chinese brands, in addition to European ones.
 

I also like some of their own-branded inks 😊

 

Thank you!

[Beechwood]

10 hours ago, Mercian said:

https://www.purepens.co.uk

 

They stock a fair few Japanese and Chinese brands, in addition to European ones.
 

I also like some of their own-branded inks 😊

 

 

Pure Pens sell one of my all time favourites, an ink named after a spectacular beauty spot in Wales, Cwm Idwal.

 

The ink is a dark green with hints of red shading.

 

 

https://www.purepens.co.uk/products/pure-pens-ink-cwm-idwal

[Beechwood]

If it is of any reassurance to the OP, in this scam abundant world all of the businesses that have been mentioned above have a good reputation for service, I have dealt with them all and would be happy to recommend any and all of them.

 

 

[senzen]

9 hours ago, Format said:

If it is of any reassurance to the OP, in this scam abundant world all of the businesses that have been mentioned above have a good reputation for service, I have dealt with them all and would be happy to recommend any and all of them.

 

 

 

Thank you!

[senzen]

I won't impose too many things to be brought over, so far it's two Bleu de Minuit bottles at a very decent price on amazon uk... And a Waterman 515 I just won from a UK seller. Maybe one more pen if I stumble upon something really special...

[senzen]

That really special extra turned out to be a black Parker Maxima from the UK... And a grey The Tower from Italy. It's going to be a couple of months before they get to me though. Both pens I'd had in my sights for a long time.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Mercian, recommended Glens of Antrim as a great shading green ink.

And the company is just around the corner from where he lives.

 

Having gone to the flea market to sell; instead of ordering Herbin's Paris collection...something for the next flea market, I went wild with Pure Pen Inks.

Glens of Antrim, a shading green

Beddgelert, some sort of shading light brown.

Pendine Sands, This reminded me of Lie de Thee from Herbin...I'll know more later.

Celtic Sea, Some sort of blue.

Porthcurno Cove, A turquoise.

And

Saltrine Blue...again a blue.

They all looked like good shading inks....sheen has dropped back down my lists, after it was reviled on the com that sheen is mostly tilt to find.

They make them too...later. Got to get a supply of Japanese papers, before sheen hunting.

....................

 

[Carrau]

On 9/9/2024 at 6:39 AM, Format said:

 

 

Pure Pens sell one of my all time favourites, an ink named after a spectacular beauty spot in Wales, Cwm Idwal.

 

The ink is a dark green with hints of red shading.

 

 

https://www.purepens.co.uk/products/pure-pens-ink-cwm-idwal

After your post, I ordered Cwm Idwal and Llanberis Slate from Pure Pens' and received them today.  Both are beautiful inks, and so lubricated and silky.  I appreciate the recommendation.

[Bo Bo Olson]

My 6 Pure inks, have been sitting at the same place in Germany for 5 days.

[Beechwood]

1 hour ago, Carrau said:

After your post, I ordered Cwm Idwal and Llanberis Slate from Pure Pens' and received them today.  Both are beautiful inks, and so lubricated and silky.  I appreciate the recommendation.

 

 

Delighted,

 

 

The Wikipedia page for Cwm Idwal has an image that shows the location in Wales, it looks like a place to sit and have some peace.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cwm_Idwal

 

As an ink it takes some beating, colour, shading and writing performance.

[VacNut]

On 9/8/2024 at 11:37 AM, senzen said:

So I have a friend visiting me from London, and willing to bring a couple of small things like ink bottles, which I cannot import into Mexico (no liquids of any kind, don't ask me why). I would buy it online and ship it to him. Any recommendations, such as Ebay vendors or online shops that take PayPal?

 

I wouldn't mind a special pen under £100, even better a couple under £50, even if I already have too many pens; buying on ebay.co uk from EU countries sometimes triggers 20% VAT, sometimes not, it's a little bizarre... Amazon seems an easier option, at least for J Herbin inks, but with fewer options for everything else. Japanese inks like the Sailor Shirakashi refill I want seem really expensive in the UK compared to the US.

 

I need a Vacumatic wrench which is sold in the UK, but it seems too heavy to transport.

 

I realize Brexit happened, but the world seems a much less friendly place for this sort go thing than even five years ago...

 

Cheers!

As an alternative, you can coordinate purchases from the EU and UK by sending them to a private post office box, like a Mailboxes Etc, and have them repackage them as a single package to you.

 

It is not inexpensive and you have to be patient, but it allows you to shop inks and other items from different sellers.

 

[senzen]

11 hours ago, VacNut said:

As an alternative, you can coordinate purchases from the EU and UK by sending them to a private post office box, like a Mailboxes Etc, and have them repackage them as a single package to you.

 

It is not inexpensive and you have to be patient, but it allows you to shop inks and other items from different sellers.

 

 

Good idea, thank you.

[VacNut]

You’re welcome. I keep a contact in the UK and EU when I am abroad. They have always been very conscientious and professional. I have never had any issues with the packages. There is also no VAT depending on the region.

 

You can save a little money if you allow them to take the items out of the original packaging.

GL.

[Bo Bo Olson]

On 10/1/2024 at 1:25 AM, Bo Bo Olson said:

My 6 Pure inks, have been sitting at the same place in Germany for 5 days.

7 Days in German customs.....and still not out...We had to call up DHL...

The software runaround is outstanding. I spent three hours and got nowhere yesterday. Today my wife two hours and got nowhere, until we finally had to go out of their software to find a telephone number.