Newbie Looking for Pilot Varsity Pens

[Kent Frazier]

I've decided to try a Pilot Varsity pen to see if I like writing with a FP. I had a very inexpensive FP back in the early nineties. My experience was less than enjoyable partly, I believe after viewing these forums, because of a lack of knowledge on how to use a FP.

 

My local Office Depot no longer carries the Varsity pen, so I was wondering if there are other retailers where I might find one. Also, should I only buy one pen or should I buy a few in different colors?

 

Thanks,

 

Kent

[skipwilliams]

You can find them online or at some larger art-supply-type retailers, IMO. Be aware that Varsitys tend to feather on normal, crappy paper, IMO. There is only one, M nib width available.

 

IMO, A better way to get back into FP's cheaply is with something like a Pelikan Future or Lamy Safari, both available for under $25. Not that I don't like the Varsity, but it may not give you the best experience. The Pelikan or Lamy are readily resellable here if you don't like them.

 

Skip

 

[hardyb]

Try JetPens.com. The Pilot Varsity is available all over the place so check other office supply stores, WalMart, Target, Staples and any college book stores or Art supply stores.

Edited August 22, 2007 by hardyb

[jbb]

Businesssupply.com carries Pilot Varsity pens at a decent price. I love using them!!! They last a really long time on the ink they come with and are very smooth writers. Businesssupply.com also carries Black 'n Red brand paper which is fabulous for fountain pens (and also reasonably priced.) I'm not affiliated with them in any way -- just a satified customer.

http://www.business-supply.com/dept_select...p;deptId=111185

 

 

[Kent Frazier]

Thanks for the replies. I would like to buy locally if at all possible. So far, no luck. I'll try Walmart and Target.

[Bibliophage]

Officemax tends to have them in the stores, I saw a set or two last time I was there.

 

 

[nhsmitty]

I've seen the tri-color (black, blue, purple) pack at Staples.

[Celeste]

I would call some of the stationary stores in your area. You might have luck that way. If you find a Lamy or a Pelikan I concur that both are extremely reliable. The Lamy will be the cheaper of the two but it a solid workhorse.

[donwinn]

  hardyb said:

Try JetPens.com. The Pilot Varsity is available all over the place so check other office supply stores, WalMart, Target, Staples and any college book stores or Art supply stores.

Maybe where you are, but in DFW (Dallas Fort Worth) WalMart, Target, Staples, Office Max/Depot, nobody carries them. I was stuck with online, and I log resisted paying the shipping, which turned a $2 pen into a $3.50 pen. I finally got some from a seller in LA who apparently no longer sells them, but I got a total of six for $5.98 shipped. I am keeping one, giving one to teach of my three eldest grandchildren (6, 8 & 9) and selling the others for a couple of dollars each to coworkers. Hope availability improves on these -- I love them!

 

Donnie

[Kent Frazier]

Thanks again for the replies.

 

I've checked most of the stores here and the only fountain pens I found were at Office Depot (more than I want to spend right now) and Hobby Lobby. The ones at Hobby Lobby were an ITOYA Blade fine point with black ink and a Sheaffer Viewpoint calligraphy, also in black ink. I bought the Blade. I haven't used it much yet, but it seems to be a smooth writer. Since I'm not up on the correct "lingo", I hope my description is good enough for you to understand what I'm trying to say. Writing on an Office Depot value notepad resulted in nice fine lines with no bleeding of the lines. From a casual observation, it looks like what I wrote with a Uniball Vision fine point rollerball.

 

First impression is, I like this pen.

 

I think I may try and get a Lamy Safari next month.

 

Kent

[rroossinck]

I've owned an Itoya Blade or two. Great little disposables, and it's a nice alternative to the broader nibs that the Pilot uses.

[jsonewald]

Staples and Office Max both carry the 3 color packs, but they are seem to always be put on the rack so as to hide them.

[blak000]

I think Borders bookstore carries them, or at least the one by my house does. I know Staples carries them, for sure. If you have a university nearby, you might want to hit up their store... college stores have a surprisingly good range of writing instruments (cheap ones, anyways).

[Zapped]

  donwinn said:

Maybe where you are, but in DFW (Dallas Fort Worth) WalMart, Target, Staples, Office Max/Depot, nobody carries them.

 

In Austin, TX, it's Office Depot NO, but Office Max YES - as bibliophage mentioned in an earlier reply.

 

Look around the pen refill area; in my local Office MAX the 3-packs of Varsity were up & to the left of the refills. They may have moved stock around quite a bit for back-to-school sales though.

 

- Jim

[Bennington1967]

The Varsity is a nice little pen for the money. The medium nib seems to be a pretty 'true' medium and it actually writes not too badly for a throw-away pen.