How Do You Select The Pens You Buy?

[sirgilbert357]

That is, what's your process? I know some of us are going to be methodical maniacs and others will click "Add to cart and Checkout" if it's just the right color, LOL. Where do you fall in the line up and what's your process?

 

I'll start. I usually already have a max price point in mind before I even find a pen I like. Then, I decide on a style or a certain style will catch my eye (I'm loving the looks of the Sailor Sapporo right now). Then, I cast a wide net and look at anything in that price range with that style. This next stage might be where I depart from the norm and is ultimately why I'm curious about others' processes... I go right to grip specs. If it's too small, I strike it from consideration right then and there. I know if I compromise at this point, I'll end up with a pen that doesn't get used. After that, I look at capped overall length. This is becoming more and more important to me lately. In fact, for now, I'm not even considering pens that are over 5 inches long.

After that, I look at filling systems and see if a preference forms at all (currently, I don't care). Then, I read reviews and view as many "real life" pics of it as possible or try to see it in person. Beyond that, the things I research will vary--how easy the pen is to clean/take apart, what kind of nibs are offered, color variations, is it a dry/wet writer, is the nib more like a Western or Japanese size, etc.

 

I'd love to hear how others do it (and hopefully some of you are more anal than me so I don't look so uptight, LOL.

[Mezzie]

I have a similar method. I have perfectly functional pens already, so now aesthetics start the ball rolling. Then I consider grip width and pen weight, both non-negotiables for me as I have a decided sweet spot. Length isn't a big deal yet, but I tend towards the longer side. I prefer piston converters, but I'm happy with the Custom 74 button filler, so I may branch out more.

 

Then, when I find what I like, I look at the price and start saving if it isn't absurdly high (completely subjective, of course). Saving is a slow process, so I have plenty of time to decide if the purchase is worth it. So far, it usually isn't, which may be why I'm so happy with the handful of pens I have.

[JotterAddict62]

I buy vintage pre-owned pens at auctions, flea markets, estate sales, etc etc.

I see what is there [ Parker #1 on the list ] and who is there and see what happens.

I did not mind if the pens need to be restored as I like doing that and that way the pens are

cheap [ per unit ] Right now I have a back log of pens I need to clean & restore. A good winter

project.

 

Auctions in my area are good for pens to recover as long as you know the pen signs...

 

Family farm has been in the family for 100yrs.

 

Former Parker employee [ No brainier ]

 

Good place to look.

Edited October 22, 2014 by JotterAddict62

[LamyOne]

Hello Sirgilbert,

 

I do a lot of research, (this is how I approach most buying decisions - appliances, cars, etc.); I read the pen reviews here at FPN, Amazon and the Goulets - check out YouTube and Google as well. Then I try to find people who are "in the know," (and who will not be slanted, like a salesperson, e.g., if you want to know about Indian pens, talk to Hari), about such pens and ask them any questions I may have picked up from reading the reviews or unanswered questions that the reviews didn't address.

 

Then I choose pens based on their performance and reliability. Personally, I hate the way the Safari/Al-Star looks - but I own and use a dozen of them - and I have no regrets.

 

Best regards,

 

Chris

Edited October 22, 2014 by LamyOne

[jar]

Oh, shiny.

[flipper_gv]

Most high end pens wrote well and have smooth nibs. I think most people here overthink and try to find the absolute best pen. Just find something that looks good to you, something that when you look at it, you just feel the urge to use it.

 

Just be sure to read about said company customer support and if theref are quality issues with the model and you should be good to go.

[GregWrites]

As a newcomer of 4 months, I was promiscuous, buying cheap pens to have many, different experiences ... eyedroppers, converters, bulb syringes, Fine, Medium, etc.

 

The thrill wore off along with the ink stains, and now I'm courting the Lamy 2000 ... middle-aged with enduring young design.

 

The nib-ink-paper combination is of emerging importance.

[donwinn]

As the late Zig Ziglar said, and I paraphrase, purchases are not based on logic; purchases are driven by emotion.That being said, when a pen yells "buy me!" I am a sucker. I purchased a Monteverde FP/BP set recently from dblounnais(pardon my massacre of Damien's handle/name) and again today a couple of Kulturs. The Jewelria are Tiger's Eye, for which I am a sucker. The Kulturs have F nibs, and I have a Phileas I seldom use due to its M nib, and both are green, which is my favorite color, plus the price is impossible to resist. Well, maybe not irresistable, but who wants to resist them at that price?

[Sasha Royale]

Sometimes, a fountain pen calls to me. Actually, many of them call to me. I usually buy the one

that pronounces my name correctly.

 

Did I mention that fountain pen people are crazy ?

 

I wish you much joy, and a little madness.

[FountainPenCowgirl]

The first six months or so, I bought a little of everything below $100. I own a lot of junk and a lot of pens I no longer enjoy or use. Now, I pick from a smaller pool of brands and models that I know are reliable and enjoyable writing tools. Then I listen to those that call out to me.

[bogiesan]

cost, color of barrel, style of nib.

[Blade Runner]

Functionality, looks, availability of customer service, and budget.

[mirosc]

Oh, shiny.

 

That.

Then I look if length/girth fits my preferences.

Buying.

Then I send it to a nibmeister to get the nib I want.

[Z-Tab]

I'm still very new to the fountain pen hobby, so a lot of my purchases have been driven by a desire to try things out.

 

At first, I watched a lot of sbrebrown's videos on YouTube and read a lot of variations on people's lists of the "greatest pens of all time" on here. This introduced me to lots of brands that I hadn't heard of and got me searching to try out a large variety of pens from different manufacturers and in different styles. Having a large list of pens that I want to try, I'll buy a pen off that list if I can find it at a reasonable price, with that being defined for me as a price where I can recoup my investment fairly quickly if the pen doesn't do it for me. I'm not willing to shell out full retail on a pen that I might immediately decide isn't for me and I'm far too pragmatic to keep a pen in my collection that will never again see ink.

 

Currently, I do have a more refined list of pens that I really want, but the price has to be fair or I'll wait.

Edited October 23, 2014 by Z-Tab

[Calamus plasticus]

Everyrhing can happen... But real life pictures are not to be avoided in my case. if possible, the pen in the flesh.

I try yo remember always that I am buying a pen, not a nice pic...

[sirgilbert357]

The first six months or so, I bought a little of everything below $100. I own a lot of junk and a lot of pens I no longer enjoy or use. Now, I pick from a smaller pool of brands and models that I know are reliable and enjoyable writing tools. Then I listen to those that call out to me.

Hey, if you are interested in selling any of them, could you private message me which ones? I might be interested in taking something off your hands.

 

And having too many pens is what I am *trying* to avoid. I've learned from other hobbies that less is more when "more" = quality. Having said that, I'm still a firm believer in having a few "beaters" to use for those times I would not want to risk loss or damage to a nicer pen, so I am the proud owner of a PIF Pilot 78 in fine nib and I also now have a 78 in broad stub nib (which is a bit demanding in how it wants to be held to write *just* right). I am stalking a 78 in medium nib too and the only reason I haven't completed the trifecta is because I don't want to wait a month for it to come from Hong Kong...but anywhere locally is too expensive. Anyway, those will be my "beaters" and then I'll have my Pelikan M205 and hopefully a Sailor Sapporo soon and then I think I might be done (if a celluloid doesn't grab my attention).

[Tas]

Sometimes, a fountain pen calls to me. Actually, many of them call to me. I usually buy the one

that pronounces my name correctly.

 

 

Ooo, yes . . .

[de_pen_dent]

I was in the "ooh, shiny" phase when i just acquired anything that caught my fancy. I ended up with fu.. err, boatloads of pens, many of which i used only once or twice and then didnt really feel like inking up.

 

Like FPCowGirl, I am in the process of cutting down my pens, with most of my sub-$200 pens either already being flogged here or on Pentrace, or about to get flogged soon. New acquisitions must typically tend to be in one of the following groups:

 

- Be a MB Writers Edition - the only "series" I collect, although I do use them (one of them is inked at all times) and I dont plan to buy the full set, just ones i like

 

- Interesting design/materials/filling mechanisms - most of my Italian pens fall in this category, with Visconti leading the charge and a smattering of pens from Omas, Delta, Montegrappa and Stipula. I am a special sucker for celluloid. This also includes some LE stuff that catches my fancy (M800 Tortoise).

 

- Interesting Japense pens - various types of craftsmanship: eg, the Sailor Yosegi-Hakone, a couple of maki-Es, the Platinum bamboo/charcoal design, urushi, etc.

 

Pretty much every new pen i get must have something *special* about it in terms of design. i do keep a few "classics" which i like enough to use - MB149, M1000, Sheaffer Legacy, Parker 51, etc.

 

Not too many vintage pens though: I ended up with quite a few, most of which will also go on sale soon as I dont really like using vintage pens (I always feel that i should preserve them and not wear them out by using them) - the only ones I plan to keep are the vintage MBs (22, 221, 341, even a 644G) and a couple of others (a Vacumatic or two, a Pelikan 400NN and a couple of Sheaffers).

[Huskysibe]

Price

Reviews

Appearance

 

In that order, that's the criteria I use when I purchase a new pen.

[pmhudepo]

It needs to add something to the collection.

 

The Visconti Homo Sapiens in Bronze with F nib added a new material (lava + resin) to my collection, as well as a vacuum filler and a paladium nib. It has recently been joined by its sibbling in Steel (oversize) with a stub nib. A great duo for writing, no need for me to add anything. I think I'll be quite happy using these two for several weeks before changing, and I expect I'll return to them quite often.

 

The same goes for my Pelikan M800 in green with EF nib -- I'm sure one day I will add, for instance, an M800 in blue with a custom ground CI nib and then I'll have a second, beautiful, set of two matching pens with different nibs.

A TWSBI 580 was my first demonstrator and my first stub nib. Of course, this paved the way for a Mini and a Vac 700, so now I have a nice set of stub demonstrators.

 

Cost and sheer amount of options is a concern: I have no desire to collect all Montblanc Writer's Editions, for example, nor every version of the Lamy Safari or Pilot VP. I'm sure they are all beautiful pens, but that's just not going to happen any time soon. I already have more pens than I can use in a few weeks' time, so I feel comfortable waiting and searching for something that really fits.