Indian Pen Resource

[brahmam]

Just bumped into this website. Looks interesting.

http://wancherpens.in/en

Cheers!

Brahmam

 

[bk123]

This website is run by Raul Patil. As far as I know, he works with Taizo (Engeika, ebay seller).

[hari317]

Brahmam ayya, vanakkum!

 

IMO, one has to be either very rich or a fool to pay their asking prices. YMMV.

 

Best

Hari

[brahmam]

I understood that at hindsight Hari. A few years ago, I got a casio G-Shock watch (just the basic model - 5600E) for Rs. 3500/-. The same watch has been listed in their website for Rs. 8000/-. I fully agree with you. Even the wealthy ought not squander their hard earned dough!!!

 

:-)

 

Take care guy! It feels good to hear from you from time to time. BTW, I did get to meet Mr. Prathap Chetty (grandson of Mr. Cunnan Chetty) of GEM pens a while ago and he was enquiring about you.

 

My best wishes and prayers,

 

Brahmam

 

 

Brahmam ayya, vanakkum!

 

IMO, one has to be either very rich or a fool to pay their asking prices. YMMV.

 

Best

Hari

[de_pen_dent]

IMO, one has to be either very rich or a fool to pay their asking prices. YMMV.

 

I get all my Japanese pens from them, ordered via email. Prices are excellent.

[hari317]

As I said, YMMV.

[de_pen_dent]

^^ The trick is to email them for a quote, not rely on the web prices.

[brahmam]

That is a good idea... sometimes web listed prices could be dated...

 

BTW... how come a "tropical islander" buys stuff from an Indian online store!

 

:-)

 

Cheers!
Brahmam

 

^^ The trick is to email them for a quote, not rely on the web prices.

[hari317]

^^ The trick is to email them for a quote, not rely on the web prices.

they are selling online, why not present their best price on the website itself? funny the way people conduct their businesses.

[hari317]

:-)

 

Take care guy! It feels good to hear from you from time to time. BTW, I did get to meet Mr. Prathap Chetty (grandson of Mr. Cunnan Chetty) of GEM pens a while ago and he was enquiring about you.

 

My best wishes and prayers,

 

Brahmam

 

 

Pls convey my fond regards to him.

 

BTW have you been to Makoba? sounds like a retail price boutique.

 

http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/ink-a-big-deal/article4404110.ece

 

http://www.makoba.com/

[brahmam]

Nice article Hari. I do visit Makoba from time to time. It is in Nungambakkam and I have spoken to Mr. Jain a few times. I bought my Waterman Charleston from them, and have purchased good quality notebooks also. Makoba is a decent shop and is also located in the right place. Elite stationers truly!

 

Cheers!
Brahmam

 

 

Pls convey my fond regards to him.

 

BTW have you been to Makoba? sounds like a retail price boutique.

 

http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/ink-a-big-deal/article4404110.ece

 

http://www.makoba.com/

[de_pen_dent]

That is a good idea... sometimes web listed prices could be dated...

 

BTW... how come a "tropical islander" buys stuff from an Indian online store!

 

I live on an Indian tropical island, in the Bay of Bengal

 

 

they are selling online, why not present their best price on the website itself? funny the way people conduct their businesses.

 

Yeh well, I've never figured that bit out either. I usually get 10% off William Penn's web prices as well, by emailing them, so it isnt just these guys. I am guessing it is rudimentary price segmentation - a lot of places have one price on the web, but do offer a discount if you email and ask. It's been my experience with audiophile equipment, with bicycles, camera/optics and now pens.

For Japanese pens, they have really, really good prices - comparable to pretty much any mail order source, once you factor in shipping, customs etc. I've gotten a King of Pen, a bunch of LE/SE Sailors, a couple of higher-end Platinums, etc. and in all cases, it was pretty much the best price (or close enough to it to not really make any meaningful difference).

 

I have a Sailor Susutake on order from them, for about 20% off nibs.com's prices (before factoring in shipping and customs from them). Raul's a good guy to deal with.

Edited June 21, 2013 by de_pen_dent

[de_pen_dent]

Btw Brahmam - any recommendations on good, fountain-pen friendly notebooks from Makoba? Now that Flipkart no longer carries Rhodia, it is a pain in the rear to get notebooks shipped from Netherlands and finding a source for good-quality paper in a nicer binding than the Matrix notebooks would be nice.

[soum]

Now that Flipkart no longer carries Rhodia...

I thought Flipkart did carry Rhodia notebooks.

 

On another note, most of their Moleskine notebooks are listed under Books (under Refernce, Self Help, etc.) instead of Stationery!

[de_pen_dent]

I havent seen Rhodia in their stationery section for a while now... *off to have a look*

 

Edit - oh awesome, they are back in stock. For a while, all their Rhodia stuff was out of stock so I figured they had discontinued carrying the brand. Thanks, Soum - off to load up on some!

Edited June 21, 2013 by de_pen_dent

[soum]

Meanwhile, I too just ordered some Rhodia notepads that I didn't really need.

[de_pen_dent]

Meanwhile, I too just ordered some Rhodia notepads that I didn't really need.

 

Hehe, I think you and I cleaned out some of their stock. I tried to increase the quantity of a couple of notepads to 2 or 3, and it didnt let me.

 

Good! Atleast this way, they'll be more likely to keep it in stock

 

I've also put in a couple of suggestions to William Penn about stocking better, more FP-friendly paper than Moleskine, but they seem to be losing interest in their fountain pen stocks. Every time i check, they have fewer and fewer FPs.

Edited June 21, 2013 by de_pen_dent

[soum]

Hehe, I think you and I cleaned out some of their stock. I tried to increase the quantity of a couple of notepads to 2 or 3, and it didnt let me.

 

Good! Atleast this way, they'll be more likely to keep it in stock

 

I've also put in a couple of suggestions to William Penn about stocking better, more FP-friendly paper than Moleskine, but they seem to be losing interest in their fountain pen stocks. Every time i check, they have fewer and fewer FPs.

Yes, even at their Koramangala store in Bangalore, fountain pen range is becoming irregular. Once I'd requested an extra fine nib for Lamy Safari and they couldn't provide it even after weeks of trying!

[ishameek]

It's on/off -topic I don't know. But I've heard sulekha has restarted production of inks . I googled them and found this http://sulekhaink.co.in/sta_nery.htm. also there looking for people in different positions.

 

Sulekha Works Limited

142C Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700092

Fax: 2425-7988

Email: sulekhaworks@gmail.com

[brahmam]

My experiences with Nightingale Notebooks have been good - reasonably priced and fountain pen friendly. Usually I prefer hardbound notebooks with a higher gsm paper than spiral bound ones and so several of the Matrix notebooks would fall out of this category.

 

Cheers!

Brahmam

 

 

Btw Brahmam - any recommendations on good, fountain-pen friendly notebooks from Makoba? Now that Flipkart no longer carries Rhodia, it is a pain in the rear to get notebooks shipped from Netherlands and finding a source for good-quality paper in a nicer binding than the Matrix notebooks would be nice.