"Goldspot" - reliable website?

[FieryPhoenix]

I've stumbled upon this website here. Has anyone bought any pens from them before?

 

It says it's a manufacturer authorised dealer. I've had a look at a few pens and I find some of the prices to be a bit too low, or have I just been paying more for my pens than I should've paid?

Edited July 27, 2008 by FieryPhoenix

[Wall Street Professor]

Goldspot has been discussed before I this site. I've purchased from them a few times with no problems at all. They're a pleasure to deal with and the pens I ordered arrived quickly (just 2-3 days if I remember correctly).

[clickiechick]

A recent order of mine was an interesting experience --

 

After placing the order, I hadn't heard anything from them for a few days, so I had to email them to find out the status. The response email came quickly, but it said that 3 of the 4 pens on the order were not in stock, and that the order would be put on hold (not charged/shipped) until they arrived. The estimate was about a week. The email was pleasant and asked if any substtitutions were wanted. I asked about a few pens, but they weren't in stock either, so no substitutions were made.

 

So I wait and it's a little more than a week before the order ships. I receive a shipping notice and then I check out my CC statement and it's clear by the total that the entire order hasn't shipped. So I email again and Goldspot confirms that one of the pens was still on backorder and didn't ship out with the rest of them. At that point I just ask them to not send that pen, and they said they wouldn't send it.

 

The original order was at a dollar amount that guaranteed free shipping. Goldspot did not end up charging me shipping on the three pens they sent.

 

 

If I were to do this again, I'd call beforehand to verify in-stock status before placing an order. Overall it wasn't a bad experience but not the best, either. I'd probably do business with them again.

[emes441]

I bought mt first pen from them, a Pelikan M200, last December. Very pleasant, no complaints.

[RyanM]

I have also had an experience with Goldspot pens. I recently purchased a Visconti Fountain Pen off their site. The Pen I purchased was supposedly a Visconti Van Gogh Midi. Two weeks later (I live in Australia) this pen arrived. Upon opening the box, I realised that the pen sent was not a Van Gogh Midi, but a Van Gogh Mini. I got straight in contact with Goldspot, and they pointed out to me that in the description of the pen, it was only 4 inches long, so even though they had named the pen incorrectly, they had not sold me the wrong pen. They offered me a refund, and a $30 gift card to cover the shipping, or 15% off the pen I purchased, and 10% off any Visconti pen I would ever buy again from them. I chose the second option. I probably will never buy from GoldSpot again, as they did send me the wrong pen according to the description, but I was quite surprised at how they took being incorrect, with a partial refund and a permanent discount.

[markleewebb]

I have ordered several pens and inks from them Prompt deliver and no problems.

[FountainPages]

One of the best in USA. Prompt, huge selection, and reliable. They are not nibmeisters. They do offer wonderful product and service.

[majolo]

I made my first order from them around the start of the month. I got an email to say that the item is backordered, and will usually ship in 3-10 business days, so I'm waiting for that. Going back to the website, the pen in question has no backorder or unavailability notice. So I'm wondering if they just don't bother to actually mark availability in their online catalog, which is disappointing, and puts a big asterisk on the huge selection, if true.

 

I would second the suggestion above that you call their toll-free number to check availability before ordering.

[jabberwock11]

I've purchased from Goldspot with no issues. I'm not sure where you've purchased from before, but I would say that Goldspot's prices are right about average for the most part (maybe slightly lower). Just like many other retailers, some of their pens are less expensive than other retailers and some are more expensive, but most are about average.

[Invictus Maneo]

I've had nothing but positive experiences from buying from Goldspot. Fast shipping with items carefully packaged and shipped. I will definitely purchase from them again!

[Erik Dalton]

I have ordered both pens and ink from them on several occasions. I tend to shop around for prices. Often their prices are good, sometimes they are the best. That goes for pens and inks. Sometimes they have hard to find products. Their specials are worth watching. I'm a big fan of the Laban Mento, it's a big pen that I just find very nice to write with. found a good selection and price there. When I had trouble finding the DeAtramentis Ink colors I wanted, I found them there at a reasonable price. If I'm looking for a pen, I always track their pricing.

Whatever I've ordered whether a single bottle of ink, or fountain pen, the orders are processed promptly safely packaged, and shipped out fast. As an east coast guy they are close by. The stuff arrives in 2-3 days consistently. I have no reservations recommending them.

[them700project]

I haven't ordered a ton from Goldspot. But that's because I slowed down on purchases this past year. I will say I have met some of the staff and do approve. Tom the owner has started a get together that has had a few meetings so far and has been a good place to meet other pen nuts and try many other pens. He also brings some of the latest stuff for us to see.

[vondauster]

I've had only good experiences buying from Goldspot.

 

Will

[majolo]

Update on my experience with Goldspot:

• Order placed January 5. I got an email saying the pen was backordered and most backorders take 3-10 business days to fill. That's fine, I'll wait.
• Checking their website several times since then, they have never placed a backorder or out-of-stock label on the pen. It still can be added to cart, with every appearance of being in stock.
• I wait until January 19, which was 10 business days. Ready to send them an email asking about the order status, when I see they just sent me an email asking me to take a satisfaction survey on how the order was packed! Double-checked, there was no email of shipment in the interim, and my card has never been charged by them (thank goodness).
• Reply to that email (it says you can reply if there are questions) to point out that the order was never even shipped, and ask them to please cancel the order assuming it has not shipped.
• No acknowledgment as of now, 2 full days later.

Really unacceptable. I think this is the worst experience with an online retailer I can remember having. With so many very attentive, customer-oriented options for pens, I have no intention to use them again, and would advise the same to anyone who asked.

[Biber]

It's been years ago now, but I remember having a good experience.

[Bill P]

Only had good experience with Goldspot.

[flipper_gv]

Update on my experience with Goldspot:

• Order placed January 5. I got an email saying the pen was backordered and most backorders take 3-10 business days to fill. That's fine, I'll wait.
• Checking their website several times since then, they have never placed a backorder or out-of-stock label on the pen. It still can be added to cart, with every appearance of being in stock.
• I wait until January 19, which was 10 business days. Ready to send them an email asking about the order status, when I see they just sent me an email asking me to take a satisfaction survey on how the order was packed! Double-checked, there was no email of shipment in the interim, and my card has never been charged by them (thank goodness).
• Reply to that email (it says you can reply if there are questions) to point out that the order was never even shipped, and ask them to please cancel the order assuming it has not shipped.
• No acknowledgment as of now, 2 full days later.

Really unacceptable. I think this is the worst experience with an online retailer I can remember having. With so many very attentive, customer-oriented options for pens, I have no intention to use them again, and would advise the same to anyone who asked.

 

Have you tried calling them?

[majolo]

 

Have you tried calling them?

Not so far, I may have time to try tomorrow.

[Arkanabar]

Hmm. This gives me even further pause.

 

My primary reason for not using Goldspot thus far is that their search and filtering features vary from really weak to nonexistant. Ease of navigation, filtering, and search are important to me when shopping online, and it takes a lot longer to find what I'm looking for on goldspot than, say, Anderson, Goulet, or isellpens.

[majolo]

For completeness sake I thought I'd post here since my order with Goldspot did finally arrive today. Order was placed Jan. 4, shipment made last Thursday, and arrived today, so roughly a month. I still feel uncertain if they regularly update their inventory online based on this experience (in another thread someone said they believed that they've had out-of-stock notifications when they actually put an item in the shopping cart, and I will say I didn't test that).

 

I should also say the package contained a free Jinhao 599 blue demonstrator with Goldspot branding, which was a nice gesture.