Onoto Plunger Overpriced?

[AJ50]

I'm fascinated with the Onoto plunger pens and was wondering if Onoto intend making these pens in more interesting colours and at a reasonable cost. From what I can see, each new plunger is more expensive that the previous one with the latest offering being an amazing £1200. The only plunger from Onoto to sell out is the demonstrator version but they only made 25 of those. That must say something to the Onoto Company.

 

Issue a more exciting range of colours and bring the prices down, you'll sell more pens.

[northlodge]

perhaps they do not want to sell more!

 

I suspect they are trying hard to move it up the status thermometer, and selling less items at a higher price is a well trodden path.

 

Look at Morgan cars for a close to home example.

[jebib]

If the plan is working, why change. However, your point is well taken.

[david6]

Admittedly the price of the latest plunger (the Mammoth) is high but you still have the option of purchasing the Onoto Magna Plunger for £795. I know that you are looking for something other than black, which I admit I happen to like. Not sure if Onoto still offer the WES or FPN discount but you can always ask them and that will bring the cost down. If you lke the idea of the plunger filling system then give it a go, you wont be disappointed the pen is superb.

 

[Flounder]

I think you'd struggle to make a go of mass-market fountain pens, manufacturing in Blighty.

[arran]

I have a Onoto Magna plunger in routine and am greatly satisfied.

The system is reliable and fun to use.

The internal QC within Onoto is also beyond average.

Never had start up or flow issues with their nibs.

I NEVER had problems wih any of my onoto pens OTB , which cannot be said of other European producers.

Onotos are worth their money for sure!!

[da vinci]

Arran, do you have the Heritage version? Would love to see a review if you do

 

Back on topic Onoto make a quality product. Trying to buy a used modern pen is fairly hard work, which suggests to me that the owners are a pretty happy bunch!

[AJ50]

Thanks for the replies guys. I have no issue with the Onoto QC which I understand is outstanding and I have no issues with the Onoto pens that I own. I just feel that the plunger fillers are over priced. For example, I can't see any difference between the Magna Plunger and the Mammoth apart from the piece of ivory used for the end of the filling rod and a slightly bigger nib but the price is vastly different.

 

Taking up the question from da vinci, do any of you guys have either the Magna Plunger or the Mammoth plunger and if so can you write a review? I would love to see a comparison between the two pens

[soapytwist]

Another route might, I don't know, maybe buying an original version for a fraction of the cost? Even a non-working pen brought back to life by a restorer going to cost you a lot less than a new pen.

[raging.dragon]

If you like the plunger filler and are looking for a more affordable alternative, how about the Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age? The Visconti power filler and double reservoir power filler are plunger fillers by another name.

[jjlax10]

Another route might, I don't know, maybe buying an original version for a fraction of the cost? Even a non-working pen brought back to life by a restorer going to cost you a lot less than a new pen.

You can vintage ones with the plunger for less than 120 pounds.

[slippery when wet]

totally agree, vintage pen with a great vintage nib

[PeterBeoworld]

Of course they are overpriced - but so are all high end pens. The Mammoth at least has a special filling mechanism and the attraction of being the top of the line and with a piece of mammoth tusk. I don't have one as I have just received the Doctor's Pen but I do have a heritage plunger. Beautifully made and I treasure it. The modern pens write much more reliably than the vintage ones though the vintage Magna nibs are very special.

[mongrelnomad]

It seems to be pretty consistent with other pens of similar quality. I personally like Onoto, although the single threaded caps are a reason I don't own many. They take too many turns to release the pen - something I find quite irritating.

 

To those who own the Magna Plunger or Mammoth: do you find the filling system reliable? I have one of the first plunger fillers (the Heritage), and I hardly ever use it as I find the air bubble tends to get trapped behind the feed, starving the nib. I know that Conid's Bulkfiller has engineered in a little curve to the rod to mitigate against this; has Onoto gone in the same direction?

[The Blue Knight]

They have taken the Moleskine approach and made up history / borrowed history to justify the price.

 

Has anyone seen the ludicrously priced ruler where the silver content is probably worth less then a tenner.

 

http://eu.onoto.com/onoto-accessories/onoto-the-ruler

Edited July 28, 2014 by The Blue Knight

[AJ50]

 

Has anyone seen the ludicrously priced ruler where the silver content is probably worth less then a tenner.

 

http://eu.onoto.com/onoto-accessories/onoto-the-ruler

I really doubt that this statement is true. Onoto may be expensive but they don't advertise something as being solid silver if the silver content is only worth about £10

[The Blue Knight]

I really doubt that this statement is true. Onoto may be expensive but they don't advertise something as being solid silver if the silver content is only worth about £10

 

Do you know how little silver is worth these days per gram?

Edited July 29, 2014 by The Blue Knight

[View from the Loft]

Are their pens expensive?

 

In absolute monetary terms, yes.

 

Are their pens overpriced?

 

Well now, there is a question, I own two modern Onotos (both Magna Classics) and always have at least one of them inked. When my hand is bad, they are the only pens that I can write with for any length of time without experiencing pain. And having owned one of them for a shade under two years, if you assume that I have used it on average every other day, it has cost me less than £1.00 for every day I have used it. And this figure will continue to decrease as I have no intention of selling it.

 

So, in my opinion (and yours may well differ - and I defend your right to hold and voice a different opinion) their pens in the Magna Classic range are not overpriced.

[penmanila]

I own but one modern Onoto--a relatively modest Magna Classic LE in tortoiseshell--and it is a joy to write with and to look at. I still paid a pretty penny for it, though nowhere near the demonstrator plunger. After all these months I barely even remember the cost. These purveyors of luxury goods do seem to know something--they sell you not just an item but an experience that will make outrageous sums seem reasonable.

[david6]

I own but one modern Onoto--a relatively modest Magna Classic LE in tortoiseshell--and it is a joy to write with and to look at. I still paid a pretty penny for it, though nowhere near the demonstrator plunger. After all these months I barely even remember the cost. These purveyors of luxury goods do seem to know something--they sell you not just an item but an experience that will make outrageous sums seem reasonable.

Relatively modest Magna Classic LE in tortoiseshell - that particular pen is one of the best looking pens made by Onoto. I have one and it is a pure delight to use and it also looks wonderful. The limited edition sold out so I am very pleased that I got my order in early and good to read that yours gives you so much pleasure

Edited July 29, 2014 by david6