Did you ever go to pen shops just for testing pens?

[feimo]

Hi everybody,

 

Is it just me or do you too think shopkeepers generally don´t see someone just trying out pens, but not buy anyone with good grace? But on the other side, if a pen just doesn´t fit me, why should I buy it for much money just to buy anything? What experiences did you have?

[SarahS]

I haven't been to a pen shop yet (sigh) but one of my students reported not being treated "well" at a shop near here (a chain store). I'm driving down myself in a week or two to see how I'm treated.

 

From what I've heard, the shows are the best places to go for everything "fountain pen." My first will be in Columbus in November - Wooohooo!

Edited April 19, 2010 by sfs6205

[Arts11]

I've gone to a pen shop and tried out pens and not buy them before. Granted, they were inexpensive pens [Lamy Safaris, Retro51's, etc.] and I usually went to the store in the first place to buy ink, but I don't think there's anything wrong with going in to try out pens. The pen shop I've been to have had sample/demonstration pens specifically for this purpose so it's not like they're inking up a brand new pen every time [though I understand that's probably not usually the case]. And especially with the lack of discounts compared to their online competitors, B&M pen shops seem to be much more expensive in general, so I don't think you should feel compelled to give up your hard-earned money just for browsing, though you have to understand that the pen shop's there to make a profit, so I wouldn't be surprised if they start treating you a bit callously if they feel like you have no intention to buy.

[goodguy]

No, I never went to a shop just to try it.

Next to my work there is a shop which among other sells FP's.

I go there because I am bored and go there to nag to the sales people.

They know me by heart, know I am a FP feak, know I have more knowledge then them about FP's and I got a job offer from the manager to work part time selling pens (thats the truth).

What I dont do is try the pens.

Edited April 19, 2010 by goodguy

[otherboss]

I used to own a retail bicycle shop and specialised in very expensive bespoke parts, which no one else had. We would have a constant stream of ooha's and aaaha's, who would take up time asking questions and handling all the expensive items and then buy them online from overseas, after they had ensured that the part was the one they wanted. We even had them bring in their bikes to verify that a certain item would fit and after we had fiddled and fitted, would say cute things like "Well I'm going home to save up and I'll see you in a couple of weeks, will you hold it for me?

 

We would see them in a couple of weeks, but with the part they had wasted our time on, already fitted to their bike. They came back to try out the next item they were going to order from overseas suppliers.

 

The worst ones were the customers who wanted an item and asked us to order it in for them, only to find that they didn't want to buy it, but do the same thing as the other bozos and verify that it was the item they had seen in a bike magazine, so they could again order it in from overseas.

 

Of course there were the regular and genuine buyers who we didn't mind showing and demonstrating parts for, but the bozos spoiled it for everyone, because they never bought, just came in to use up our time and usually ensure that some of the parts they wanted to fiddle with, could no longer be sold as new.

 

Of course there were always the genuine chronic parts freaks who would buy a really expensive bike and ask us to take it out the back and spray it with mud and gunk, so that they could tell their wives that they had got a REALLY good deal on a used bike, at a fantastic price.

 

Sound like some FP nuts? I know I recognise the image in the mirror.

 

I can sympathise with some pen dealers who may have to deal with chronic look-not-buy people, but genuine buyers should be able to get an idea about how an expensive pen will write.

 

Cheers all

Barry

[Zaarin]

I have never been into a B&M pen shop, of which there are a few (though not many) in this part of the world. Part of this is because I strongly dislike any shop with anything resembling a 'boutique' atmosphere (which even the pen shops carrying quite cheap pens tend to cultivate in these parts); but also because I know I can probably get things at two thirds or less of the high street prices on the web, and would feel dishonest looking without any intent to buy.

 

At heart I would like to support B&M pen shops, but with prices regularly in the tens of pounds higher than even the higher online retail prices, there's simply no way that on my income I can justify spending that kind of money, even for the benefits of handling and testing in person.

[dnb]

I think the thing about this feeling we get is because the shops are small and there is nothing we can do there without assistance. Once assistance is involved, we feel obligated. So, what I might do is go in to buy something small, and then try something out. This way, there is already good will. Psychologically, from the proprietor's point, maybe there'll be more in it. At the end, if not, it's ok. The other way around though, is different. "He tried out all these pens and all he bought was $8 of ink." Unless I have bought something decent in the shop and they know me, though, I would feel weird not buying anything.

[gmberg]

Hi everybody,

 

Is it just me or do you too think shopkeepers generally don´t see someone just trying out pens, but not buy anyone with good grace? But on the other side, if a pen just doesn´t fit me, why should I buy it for much money just to buy anything? What experiences did you have?

 

I have gone to shops to test pens (or try on clothing), but ONLY when I am seriously considering buying something. Call me old-fashioned, but I don't think it's FAIR to the shop owner to use his time and facilities for nothing. It doesn't mean I have to buy, but if I don't I apologize profusely to the shop keeper and thanks him for the time he spent on me. Of course, a good seller will extend his time and energies knowing that although I didn't buy this time, I will remember his care when I do buy.

Gerry

[BrandonA]

The only time I go to a shop is to buy something, this is the same for pens. I don't think I'd feel comfortable going into a shop, taking up lots of the salespersons time when I have no intention of buying but that's just me.

[SimonJamesLucas]

Oh to have a pen shop close at hand! The nearest one to me is in the next city, (I don´t count W H Smiths range of bubble packs as constituting a pen shop).

[ailleurs]

Oh to have a pen shop close at hand!

 

That. The nearest one is almost 45 minutes drive away and the service there is dreadful

 

I'd happily spend the extra cash in a B & M store if the selection was decent and the salespeople were helpful. As it is, I either put up with snotty salespeople and misinformation ("we don't carry Pelikan broad nibs--Pelikan doesn't make them." Yeah, right. :mad: ) or buy online.

[FranklinChristoph]

We used to have a saying at pen shows that "dippers never buy and buyers never dip." Of course, this is a vast generalization, but the trend is certainly there. Retailers often don't carry ink at the shows for this reason, because all it takes is one character to want to "test" 4 or 5 pens, and if you don't spend time really cleaning them up, then the next person to look at the pen will think it isn't new because of the ink in it. Also the boxes get ink on them, and sometimes the ink bottles spill on the table. The tendency is that the more sophisticated regular pen buyers tend to know how to adjust nib performance to their liking, or have a specialist that does it for them. They might examine a pen closely, but don't usually ask to try.

 

Personally, I think it fair to want to try a pen to test ink flow, feel in the hand etc. We are able to provide a tester demo for each of our pens at shows because we are only two brands. It's tough for general retailers who may have 30 brands at their tables, and of course can't afford to have one of every model, much less a tester for every model. When I owned PenCity, I even had folks that would test a $400 new pen out of the box, and then hand it back to me and ask for a new one to buy because that one had been used.

 

Pen shops are different than shows obviously, but a full on pen shop should have plenty of pens in tester kits, even if they can't offer precisely what you might want to try. Having always been on the other side of the counter through my career in pens, I'd say only ask to test an out of the box new pen if you think there is a high chance you will purchase it. Either that or purchase it making sure there is a return policy, and if you choose to return, then be sure to clean it thoroughly.

 

As for our pens, test away, or buy and test and send it back if you don't like it. That's all part of the business for us. General retailers have different challenges though.

 

Scott F.

Edited April 19, 2010 by FranklinChristoph

[Deirdre]

I do, but if I then decide to buy the pen (even at a much later date), that's where I buy it.

 

You'll know a lot more about what you do (and don't) like if you try the pens first.

[Cnulhu]

I recently went to a local pen shop just to look around and see what the place was like. I hadn't gone to the store to "try out" pens, but the man there insisted that I dip a few pens to get a feel for what sort of nib I would like when I came back for more serious shopping. I'm guessing business was going rather slowly that day...

[stevlight]

I bought my first fountain pen from Art Brown here in the NY city. I was an art student and had NO money. I had saved and had maybe $50 at the time which was so much money to me at the time--I could have lived for months off that much. I went in and told Mrs. Brown how much I had and what i wanted it for--to draw. She showed and let me dip and try so many pens. I bought a Senator piston filler in Burgundy. She asked me the color of my other pen--which was black but I do not remember what brand it was and said I needed a different color!! I still laugh when I think about that. Any way, the time she took with me translated into a customer for life--for $50!!! I bought my first Mont Banc from her {They no longer sell Mb but I would still be buying if they did} I plan to get a Sailor Realo from her even though I could get it cheaper fro an online site but I WANT to give her my business and have the store stay in NY. That time she spent with me translated into a life long customer--I always get a warm feeling walking in there because she treated me so nice when I walked in there in paint splattered clothes as an art student with no money.

[piembi]

The tendency is that the more sophisticated regular pen buyers tend to know how to adjust nib performance to their liking, or have a specialist that does it for them. They might examine a pen closely, but don't usually ask to try.

 

If I do know the company and like their nibs I might buy a pen without trying the nib - meaning I might buy the pen online. If I go to a shop to buy a brand new pen with a 14C nib, I don't buy it without trying the nib. Nibs are individuals and every nib is different. Even the nib sizes are different, depending on the manufacturer. And I expect the salesperson to know the pen I am going to buy - at least to some extent.

 

When I bought my M605 I tried the test pen. Nice, soft nib. The salesperson got me a brand new pen and I asked her to try this pen as well. Because it was the pen I was going to buy she let me try the nib: stiff like a nail! Asked her to switch the nibs.

 

When I was at university, I used to go to stationery shops frequently because I needed something. I was always looking at the pens but did not try them. I bought two pens during this time. When I bought the second one (a M400) I was treated extremely unfriendly. If it had not been a closing sale with a 50% discount, I had left the shop without buying. But it was my dream pen and I could not afford to buy the pen at the regular price. Have replaced the nib more than a decade later because this very one did not work for me.

 

Later I had been treated this way by another shop although I did buy a pen every now and then. Have not been to this shop for years.

 

I don't know what's wrong with stationery shops but either I have been treated unfriendly or the salesperson did not know zilch about the pens. Even asking for an 1.1 Lamy Safari nib became an adventure: the shopkeeper did not know what I was talking about and made me sort through the replacement nibs myself. Well, I am living in Germany and Safaris are ordinary schoolpens! Needless to say that the shop closed down some months ago.

 

During my summer vacation last year I went to an old fashioned pen shop. Asked for some inks that had been on my WTB list, started to talk about some of the pens and the shopkeeper asked if I want to try some although it was obvious I am not there to buy a pen. Wished that this pen shop were nearby! I might become a frequent customer ....

Edited April 19, 2010 by piembi

[piembi]

sorry, double post

Edited April 19, 2010 by piembi

[wheezur]

I do, but if I then decide to buy the pen (even at a much later date), that's where I buy it.

 

You'll know a lot more about what you do (and don't) like if you try the pens first.

+1 I don't go to just try pens. I go and try a pen or two if I'm interested in something. I don't think that this compels me to buy a pen; if so, then what's the point of trying the pen? All the same, I don't go unless there is a very good chance that I will be buying something either that day, or relatively soon. As far as online purchases - and I have ordered a few pens online - I would NEVER try out the pens at a B&M and then buy elsewhere. As pointed out in other posts, most B&M stores are bit more expensive than most online sellers, but the advantage I have with a B&M store is that I get to try before I buy, that's part of what I'm paying for. (Also, there is no shipping cost, though sometimes you get that deal as well online, particularly with more pricey pens.)

[aircraft_electrician]

When I lived in Idaho I made it a point to stop at a certain store in the mall every time I made a trip to Boise. The sales people there knew me by name and whenever they saw me walk in the door they would immediately pull out the newest arrivals to show them off. Though I handled every pen they had(many pens more than once) I never dipped any of them; never even asked to. The sales staff often recommended I dip a pen here or there, but I always resisted. Because my collection at that time focused mostly on vintage pens, I never bought a single pen from them, but my wife did buy a couple of pens for me from them.

 

Overall the customer service was great; even though I never personally purchased a pen from them they treated me as if I was their only customer. Now that I'm also collecting modern pens, if I still lived in Idaho I would most certainly buy from them.

 

Tom

[Parker51]

Their are two B & M shops near where I live. I drive by one or the other of them at least once a week.

 

One I will stop by occasionally and get some ink. It is in a shopping mall and is part of a chain of pen stores. The staff are pleasant enough and do ask me if I want to try/ test a pen frequently. I will do so, but only a pen that I would consider buying. The problem with this store is I simply do not care for their modestly priced pens (limited nib selection, few models) and their high priced pens are very full price, which means I can easily save $100+ by buying from another source.

 

The other store is owned by a gentleman whom has told me that he will not even get out from his vault his good pens unless I have assured him of a sale, so I can not even look at his best stock unless I have several hundred US dollars in my hand and am ready to spend. I am free to look at and he will let me try any of the low priced pens that he sells, but thats as far as he is willing to go. As a result, I do not even know if he has good prices on his higher priced pens, which he very well may have, as his low priced pens are fairly priced, or for that matter what he has in stock.