Montblanc Service Times (Europe)

[Vlad Soare]

Hello,

 

I didn't want to hijack the thread about service processing times in North America, so I'm starting a new one for Europe.

 

For those of you who live in Europe: if you've ever sent your pens to Hamburg for servicing, how long did it take to get them back?

I sent my Tribute two weeks ago to have its nib replaced. I know they've received it, based on tracking information from the Post office's web site. But they haven't confirmed that, nor have they given me any quotation for the job yet, and they do not answer my e-mails.

 

So, it seems I cannot do anything besides waiting and hoping for the best.

How long should this take in your experience? Is it a matter of weeks, or months?

 

Thank you.

Edited June 10, 2014 by Vlad Soare

[Journaler]

Hi Vlad, I just sent an enquiry about service into MB. This is an extract from the email I received:

 

LEAD TIMES

Please note that our exclusive Montblanc boutiques located in London or Birmingham may be able to provide you with a while you wait service if expedience is a high priority.

If however your item needs to be forwarded to our service centre in Germany then the following lead times are applicable:

Writing Instruments – 3 to 4 weeks

Jewellery – 4 to 6 weeks

Leather – 4 to 6 weeks

Eyewear – 4 to 6 weeks

I don't know if they hit those timescales but I seem to recall it taking that long in the past.

[Vlad Soare]

Great! Thank you.

[Paul80]

Hi

 

I have used them twice this year and both times the turnaround was about 4 weeks, that from the UK.

 

Paul

[Journaler]

Interestingly I just sent in my 161 ballpoint to have the gold plating fixed. Their procedures have changed a little since last time I used them and you must send to a boutique or authorised retailer now. The man I spoke to in the Old Bond Street boutique said that they keep all the parts for ballpoints, repair them in the store and usually turn them around the next working day. I wonder if they will ever move any fountain pen servicing over here.

[Chrissy]

When I have had to send a pen for a nib replacement, it usually takes 3 weeks.

[Opooh]

A nib change on the Ludovico Sforza took 6 weeks, the Steinway was back in 3 weeks.

[Vlad Soare]

To my surprise, I received the pen today.

It took three weeks and one day, including shipping both ways. That's not bad at all.

Edited June 13, 2014 by Vlad Soare

[Journaler]

Good. Are you pleased with the result?

[Vlad Soare]

No, not at all, unfortunately. I can't tell you how upset I am. They've ruined it.

The new nib has serious starting problems. It's all but unusable. Besides, it's downright ugly, the engraving being very faint and shallow, barely readable. It looks like a Chinese fake.

I'll send it back, of course. In the end everything will probably turn out fine. But for now I'm very disappointed.

Edited June 15, 2014 by Vlad Soare

[George.A]

Vlad, do you have any pictures of it so that we can get a better idea of the result?

[Vlad Soare]

This is how it looks side by side with my other 146 broad nib. The difference is obvious. Besides, in reality it looks worse than in this picture. The camera was able to record all details, but to the naked eye the 4810 and the M logo are hardly readable.

 

The hard start is very annoying. Once it starts, it writes wonderfully - smooth and wet, with nice line variation. But if I stop for as little as ten seconds, it refuses to start again. I don't think the ink is at fault. I'm using Midnight Blue (new version, non-IG), which in my experience is well-behaved. It has never given me any trouble in other pens.

Edited June 15, 2014 by Vlad Soare

[Journaler]

Sorry to hear that Vlad.

 

They do look totally different don't they. Was the previous nib a monotone colour like that?

 

Looks aside, if it doesn't write properly then they must sort it out.

[George.A]

The engravings look vary shallow, almost like they have been etched and not stamped ... And the difference seems to be quite huge .

 

Please keep us updated on how they will take care of this.

[Vlad Soare]

Was the previous nib a monotone colour like that?

 

Yes, the nib in the Tribute Le Grand series is monotone, rhodium-plated.

The previous nib looked the same, but with a nice and deep engraving.

Edited June 15, 2014 by Vlad Soare

[diosrl]

OK, I am just curious, why did you sent it in the first place?

[Vlad Soare]

It had a fine nib, and I wanted it replaced with a broad.

[Vlad Soare]

I took the pen to the local boutique today, to send it back to Germany. I asked them to mention the hard start, as well as the engraving.

I'll keep you posted.

[Vlad Soare]

Update:

The pen is back, supposedly fixed. But nothing has changed. Absolutely nothing. It's the same nib, with the same horrible engraving, and the same starting problem. It even showed traces of the ink I had in the pen when I sent it off - I had to flush it several times to clean it.

They kept my pen for five weeks, without doing anything, then sent it back exactly as they had received it.

I'm really, really disappointed in Montblanc. I feel like they're making fun of me.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

That is quite a pity. Did you send it directly to them? Who did you contact? You should call them again and explain calmly and in no uncertain terms that you are unsatisfied and what has been requested has not been completed.

 

What ink are you using out of curiosity? It really shouldn't matter though. If you let them know what Montblanc ink you are using, if you are indeed using Montblanc ink, they might have a better chance of replicating it. Let them know that they can't just dip it to test it because that often hides the hard starting problem since the feed is saturated after dipping. You have to fill it properly to test it.

 

Dillon