Problems With New Meisterstuck Classique

[Floreat]

Hi all,

 

An outrageously generous friend has just given me a 90th Anniversary Meisterstuck Classique (black with Rosegold) for my birthday! I am overwhelmed by her kindness. However, it seems that there's a problem with the nib this pen very often skips and fails to start, even though I flushed it carefully before using it and have it filled with MB's own Irish Green ink (which is a condition of the guarantee). It also feels very "rough" to write with - all of my other pens including my Lamy Al-Stars and even my Jinhao write better than this pen does! I'm sure it's not meant to be like this as Montblanc pens have an amazing reputation, so I'll be taking it in to the MB boutique in the next couple of weeks or so to get it looked at. Apparently MB will swap the nib for any reason within the first six weeks after purchase so hopefully I can try some before I decide which is best for me. I usually write with fine nibs (Lamy-sized fine) but did want a broader nib to help bring out the shading in certain inks. The current nib is a Medium, and I've heard that there can be issues with these.

 

Is there anything I can do to help myself with this pen, or anything I should ask when I'm at the MB boutique? It's a bit tricky to get to and I'm on chemo at the moment so need to work around that/not go out shopping too much.

 

Thanks,

Anna

[BrandonA]

Have you given the pen a good flush? If not might be worth doing so in case there is some gunk inside it.

 

I'd also try some other MB inks but if one colour doesn't work and it's still in warranty I'd look to get the nib replaced. I trust you have a signed warranty card?

[NHsueh]

That is definitely not supposed to happen. If you are well enough, make a trip down to the flagship boutique in London (they have moved from Old Bond Street to a new location) and tell them exactly what is wrong. If possible, you should try their 146 tester pens, to see how the pen should be working.

 

If you are too ill to make the trip yourself, you could get someone else to help you do it, or you could send it in by mail, or use any other MB boutiques. The only condition is you need to have the warranty card stamped.

 

If you can go down to the flagship boutique, it is very likely that they can even exchange the pen for you to one of your liking, there and then, as long as the pen still looks brand new: they can use it for spare parts. Just remember to bring the box, and papers. It wouldn't hurt to bring the receipt if you have it, although its not strictly necessary.

 

Hope you get well soon.

[NHsueh]

If you do decide to go down to the flagship boutique, you should look for the sales associate Carl, or the Australian manager. Both of them are extremely helpful, and will do their best to make sure the pen you end up with is exactly the way you like it

[Floreat]

Hi, thanks both! I flushed the pen well before using it, and again once I realised it wasn't working properly. It's been flushed much more thoroughly than any other pen I own and it's still having trouble. I do have the box and warranty paperwork (though not the receipt) and it has been registered in my name with the date of purchase which was just last week, so hopefully things will be straightforward. I was wondering if it is simply because I'm not used to broad nibs, but I have since bought a Lamy Al-Star with a B nib and have no problems with that.

 

The pen was almost certainly bought at the Canary Wharf branch as that's where my friend works, but I have chemo in central London and I have to go there tomorrow so I'll find out if the new flagship store location is anywhere nearby.

 

Thanks again

 

Anna

[NHsueh]

Hi, thanks both! I flushed the pen well before using it, and again once I realised it wasn't working properly. It's been flushed much more thoroughly than any other pen I own and it's still having trouble. I do have the box and warranty paperwork (though not the receipt) and it has been registered in my name with the date of purchase which was just last week, so hopefully things will be straightforward. I was wondering if it is simply because I'm not used to broad nibs, but I have since bought a Lamy Al-Star with a B nib and have no problems with that.

 

The pen was almost certainly bought at the Canary Wharf branch as that's where my friend works, but I have chemo in central London and I have to go there tomorrow so I'll find out if the new flagship store location is anywhere nearby.

 

Thanks again

 

Anna

 

The new location is at New Bond Street. It might be better to go to the flagship boutique as opposed to the place where your friend works as it might appear your friend is giving you preferential treatment if he allows you to exchange the pen

[NHsueh]

You should consider a B or BB, its much more different than F to M

[Floreat]

Sorry, I meant that my friend works at a bank at Canary Wharf so they probably bought the pen at the branch there - they're not an employee of MB I've just looked at the MB website and the New Bond Street store opens on August 23rd so I'll wait until next week to take it there.

 

I have tiny writing but I have so many pens now (well, about 18 pens - probably not many compared to some here!) and they are nearly all EFs and Fs so it will be nice to have a B. Oddly, my Pelikan gold F nib lays down a much thicker line than my Waterman M nib and it may even be thicker than the Lamy B nibbed pen that I got today.

[BrandonA]

Hi, thanks both! I flushed the pen well before using it, and again once I realised it wasn't working properly. It's been flushed much more thoroughly than any other pen I own and it's still having trouble. I do have the box and warranty paperwork (though not the receipt) and it has been registered in my name with the date of purchase which was just last week, so hopefully things will be straightforward. I was wondering if it is simply because I'm not used to broad nibs, but I have since bought a Lamy Al-Star with a B nib and have no problems with that.

 

The pen was almost certainly bought at the Canary Wharf branch as that's where my friend works, but I have chemo in central London and I have to go there tomorrow so I'll find out if the new flagship store location is anywhere nearby.

 

Thanks again

 

Anna

 

You don't need the receipt. Simply having a stamped warranty card is sufficient. Have you considered asking your friend to take it in or would you rather not admit to them that it is faulty (which I could understand)?

 

I would expect the same level of service from all boutiques. I'd therefore go to the one that is easiest for you to get to. The locations of each can be found on their website. I've been to the Canary Wharf store and had great service - bought my first limited edition pen from their.

[NHsueh]

Sorry, I meant that my friend works at a bank at Canary Wharf so they probably bought the pen at the branch there - they're not an employee of MB I've just looked at the MB website and the New Bond Street store opens on August 23rd so I'll wait until next week to take it there.

 

I have tiny writing but I have so many pens now (well, about 18 pens - probably not many compared to some here!) and they are nearly all EFs and Fs so it will be nice to have a B. Oddly, my Pelikan gold F nib lays down a much thicker line than my Waterman M nib and it may even be thicker than the Lamy B nibbed pen that I got today.

 

In that case the one at Old Bond Street should still be open. Do call them to check if they have any of the 90th though, they might be transferring stock to their new location?

 

I have always had very good experience at the Old Bond Street boutique.

[NHsueh]

 

You don't need the receipt. Simply having a stamped warranty card is sufficient. Have you considered asking your friend to take it in or would you rather not admit to them that it is faulty (which I could understand)?

 

I would expect the same level of service from all boutiques. I'd therefore go to the one that is easiest for you to get to. The locations of each can be found on their website. I've been to the Canary Wharf store and had great service - bought my first limited edition pen from their.

 

Sometimes the service from a single employee at a particular boutique is exceptional, and makes all the difference! I had outstanding service from Carl at Old Bond Street London (and also from Brad at Montblanc Ngee Ann City Singapore)

[Chrissy]

The Old Bond Street store is currently closed and the store you should use temporarily is Sloane Street.

 

The new store will open further along on New Bond Street when it has been refurbished

Edited August 19, 2014 by Chrissy

[Floreat]

Thanks Chrissy! I think it will probably be easiest if I wait a few days for the New Bond Street store to open. Sloane Street is quite out of my way, but I'm in central London for hospital stuff nearly every week and New Bond Street isn't far from where I have treatment. I'd feel awful telling my friend that the pen is faulty when she's been so generous and thoughtful, so I'd rather quietly go and get it sorted myself.

 

I'm looking forward to finding out how a Montblanc feels when it is working properly I'll let you know how I get on - thanks again everyone for your advice.

[Floreat]

Hiya, just a quick follow up to this. My friend told me that she bought my pen at the MB boutique at the Royal Exchange, which luckily is the most convenient shop for me. I took the pen in today and the nice chap there took a look at it for me but typically, it worked fine when we tried it there! The paper we were using was a lot softer and more forgiving than my usual Rhodia dotpad, and I think that made the difference. Obviously I want a pen that will work with the paper I usually use though, so the nib has been sent away to be swapped. The MB chap recommended that I get a Medium Oblique nib due to the "unusual" way I hold my pen (due to medical issues that affect my hands).

 

I took in some of my other pens so I could demonstrate that I don't have any problems with other makes. MB chap was amusingly snooty about the Cacharel-branded pen that my parents bought me on a cruise ship, even though it's one of my best writers. He was also quite sniffy about my other pens having steel nibs - I really should have taken my Pelikan in as that has an 18ct nib and I've never had any problems with that.

 

My gosh they have some beautiful pens in the boutique. I can totally understand how people would want to collect such gorgeous items!

[Floreat]

Oh! I need help please

 

Looking at the MB website, it appears that the special Rosegold 90th anniversary nib isn't available in Oblique Medium.....which is what the guy today recommended that I switch my original M nib for. I guess this means that they will return my pen with a standard Classique nib in yellow gold? I really, really like the special 90th anniversary nib - I don't want an ordinary one and I dont want the new nib to clash with the rest of the pen! What should I do? I'd rather get a Rosegold F nib than a yellow gold OM.

 

I think I should have taken some Rhodia paper in to show him how the pen was skipping/failing to start, too. The paper we tried the pen out on was miles more absorbant and much more forgiving than Rhodia.

 

Any advice would be very gratefully received! Thanks!

[Mister Mont Blanc]

Hiya there. I'm not sure what exact nib sizes are available for the 90th Anniv pens but I do know that there are more available for a nib swap. So they may only sell the pen in EX, F, M, B but you can send it in to get it exchanged for an OM, OB, OBB, BB, etc.

 

If he told you an OM was available from the service center, then you shouldn't have any problems. I hope it works for you when it comes back!

Edited August 30, 2014 by Mister Mont Blanc

[Floreat]

Thanks so much for reassuring me! Fingers crossed.....he did say I would get another six weeks to test the new nib, so if it does come back and it is yellow gold/not a 90th anniversary nib and I wasn't totally happy then I guess I could decide to swap it again. I don't want to faff them around but at the same time, I want my pen to be as perfect for me as it can be.