Do You Think The Ceo Of Montblanc Reads Fpn?

[vickiehof]

Many of us have a wish that Montblanc would issue/reissue certain types of fountain pens. If I was the leader of a company, I think that a forum such as FPN would give me a chance to hear what my customers thought about my product and possibly, what models they might like to see in the future. I might be too busy to check out the forum but I may have one of my staff peruse it.

 

Please...this thread isn't meant to trash MB about their pricing, quality or other issues, etc. If someone wants a MB, they'll buy one. If someone doesn't like MB, they won't buy one. If you have had a problem with a pen, you may have already been mentioned the problem on another thread. Which is also important for a MB representative to read so that they will know if there any problems and can maintain an excellent reputation.

 

Since fountain pens are such a specialty, I was just wondering if the head of any of the fountain pen manufacturers secretly or openly listen to us or participate as members in FPN.

My not so silent wish is that they'd reissue that beautiful green striated 146 in a price that I could afford. (If I'm gonna dream, I may as well ask that I can afford my dream.)

[tfwall]

If I was the leader of a company, I think that a forum such as FPN would give me a chance to hear what my customers thought about my product and possibly, what models they might like to see in the future. I might be too busy to check out the forum but I may have one of my staff peruse it.

 

The question is though: Is FPN representative of your customer base as a whole? If it is, then it is worthwhile to monitor. I'd submit though that it isn't representative and is much closer to the obsessive fan groups found in every industry that fight over minutiae and nitpick every little thing while the other 99% of the customers drive sales shopping for gifts, refills and lifestyle products.

 

Buying a second hand MB and then filling it with ink from a different manufacturer makes you invisible to MB.

 

Buying a new MB pen and then obsessing about fit-n-finish or desiring nib swaps makes you an expensive loss leading customer.

 

Far better for the company that you buy a shiny new MB149 and give it as a gift to someone who will admire it and then tuck it away in a drawer. Better yet if it is a rollerball which they use sporadically and keep buying MB branded refills for.

[tfwall]

I was just wondering if the head of any of the fountain pen manufacturers secretly or openly listen to us or participate as members in FPN.

 

From time to time we see representatives of various companies stop by. They usually don't have a very big presence and don't stay for more than a few months.

[UltraMagnus]

I would imagine he is too busy drinking expensive wine and signing big cheques, with a bic.

Edited June 13, 2011 by UltraMagnus

[Scrawler]

If I was the leader of a company, I think that a forum such as FPN would give me a chance to hear what my customers thought about my product and possibly, what models they might like to see in the future. I might be too busy to check out the forum but I may have one of my staff peruse it.

 

The question is though: Is FPN representative of your customer base as a whole? If it is, then it is worthwhile to monitor. I'd submit though that it isn't representative and is much closer to the obsessive fan groups found in every industry that fight over minutiae and nitpick every little thing while the other 99% of the customers drive sales shopping for gifts, refills and lifestyle products.

 

Buying a second hand MB and then filling it with ink from a different manufacturer makes you invisible to MB.

 

Buying a new MB pen and then obsessing about fit-n-finish or desiring nib swaps makes you an expensive loss leading customer.

 

Far better for the company that you buy a shiny new MB149 and give it as a gift to someone who will admire it and then tuck it away in a drawer. Better yet if it is a rollerball which they use sporadically and keep buying MB branded refills for.

In principle I agree with what you say here, except that if the recipient uses the 149, MB will profit by sales of ink.

[jar]

If I was the leader of a company, I think that a forum such as FPN would give me a chance to hear what my customers thought about my product and possibly, what models they might like to see in the future. I might be too busy to check out the forum but I may have one of my staff peruse it.

 

The question is though: Is FPN representative of your customer base as a whole? If it is, then it is worthwhile to monitor. I'd submit though that it isn't representative and is much closer to the obsessive fan groups found in every industry that fight over minutiae and nitpick every little thing while the other 99% of the customers drive sales shopping for gifts, refills and lifestyle products.

 

Buying a second hand MB and then filling it with ink from a different manufacturer makes you invisible to MB.

 

Buying a new MB pen and then obsessing about fit-n-finish or desiring nib swaps makes you an expensive loss leading customer.

 

Far better for the company that you buy a shiny new MB149 and give it as a gift to someone who will admire it and then tuck it away in a drawer. Better yet if it is a rollerball which they use sporadically and keep buying MB branded refills for.

In principle I agree with what you say here, except that if the recipient uses the 149, MB will profit by sales of ink.

 

Only if the person uses Montblanc Ink.

[Scrawler]

 

Only if the person uses Montblanc Ink.

If they do not then their warranty is voided.

[MidnightBlue]

Their focus is on "luxury" goods, so FP's are a small part of what they do. So, numbers are crunched as do department stores: it's about the overall. I wish they would listen to us though, 'cause even I would buy a 149 if they weren't always in that BORING black. Thanks

[jar]

Only if the person uses Montblanc Ink.

If they do not then their warranty is voided.

 

HUH?

[Scrawler]

Only if the person uses Montblanc Ink.

If they do not then their warranty is voided.

 

HUH?

This has been discussed a number of time here on FPN.

[PAKMAN]

TWSBI pen company "Speedy" is here on FPN and even let us provide input for the design of the Diamond 530 TWSBI. Turned out to be a great pen!

[talkinghead]

Many of us have a wish that Montblanc would issue/reissue certain types of fountain pens...........

My not so silent wish is that they'd reissue that beautiful green striated 146 in a price that I could afford. (If I'm gonna dream, I may as well ask that I can afford my dream.)

 

See here: Green Striated #146 Reissue

 

 

Rick

[kaisede]

I had asked this same question to the MB boutique that I get my pens, leather goods, and watches from.

 

But the reality is this the true MB collectors does have a voice on what kind of products they want to see. And by true collectors are the VIP list people who spends at least $100k per year. They get invited to private parties etc... and MB send out surveys to them (so I was told).

 

Unfortunately it is not up to the desecration of the store to put those name into the system but MB download the list of people from their sales figure.

 

On top of the survey those people gets free gifts from MB base on the dollars they spend. For example free FP or leather accessories.

 

Some times it can be discounts on anything you buy if purchase over 2500 in one shot.

 

Again no flame wars here, above is what I know.

Edited June 14, 2011 by kaisede

[vickiehof]

Many of us have a wish that Montblanc would issue/reissue certain types of fountain pens...........

My not so silent wish is that they'd reissue that beautiful green striated 146 in a price that I could afford. (If I'm gonna dream, I may as well ask that I can afford my dream.)

 

See here: Green Striated #146 Reissue

 

 

Rick

 

Thanks Rick. It was actually remembering that particular thread that made me wonder if anyone at corporate MB ever reads FPN.

 

From the information on Kaisede's post, I KNOW I will never be on the preferred customer list and receive free gifts.

[JLS1]

Many of us have a wish that Montblanc would issue/reissue certain types of fountain pens. If I was the leader of a company, I think that a forum such as FPN would give me a chance to hear what my customers thought about my product and possibly, what models they might like to see in the future. I might be too busy to check out the forum but I may have one of my staff peruse it.

 

Please...this thread isn't meant to trash MB about their pricing, quality or other issues, etc. If someone wants a MB, they'll buy one. If someone doesn't like MB, they won't buy one. If you have had a problem with a pen, you may have already been mentioned the problem on another thread. Which is also important for a MB representative to read so that they will know if there any problems and can maintain an excellent reputation.

 

Since fountain pens are such a specialty, I was just wondering if the head of any of the fountain pen manufacturers secretly or openly listen to us or participate as members in FPN.

My not so silent wish is that they'd reissue that beautiful green striated 146 in a price that I could afford. (If I'm gonna dream, I may as well ask that I can afford my dream.)

 

FWIW, here's my 2 cents: I doubt that anyone from MB is on this board. Why? I suspect that MB itself now sees its pens as just another accessory to be pushed: the pen is sold alongside, cufflinks, watches, wallets, etc. IOW, MB is not a 'pen company' anymore, it's a 'lifestyle company' like Adidas, Nike, etc. That's why we now have MB retail boutiques where pens are just one part of the mix (and based on reports we've heard regarding the pen knowledge of salespeople in these stores, its a small part of the mix).

 

Now I don't mean to suggest that MB's other accessories are of lesser same quality than its pens. What I am saying is that the internal importance of the pen (and the FP in particular) to the company is now far less than what it was. In such cases, MB is going to devote most of its attention to areas it feels are more important, which are likely its non-pen products.

 

Should they listen to us (FP enthusiasts)? Sure - we're a very useful source of knowledge, we're excited by their pens and love to share what we know - all of which could translate into higher sales. They could probably easily harness this for their own use, but again, why would they devote time, people and money towards something that they see themselves as a fairly marginal product? After all, it's a far safer bet for MB to open another boutique in China than to try and figure out how to use the excitement and knowledge of its customers to grow its business.

 

(NOTE: I'm not implying that MB is alone in this, BTW. I think this is something that every firm/brand is going to face in the next 10-25 years...)

 

HTH - or at least gives a slightly different perspective

[JLS1]

I had asked this same question to the MB boutique that I get my pens, leather goods, and watches from.

 

But the reality is this the true MB collectors does have a voice on what kind of products they want to see. And by true collectors are the VIP list people who spends at least $100k per year. They get invited to private parties etc... and MB send out surveys to them (so I was told).

 

Unfortunately it is not up to the desecration of the store to put those name into the system but MB download the list of people from their sales figure.

 

On top of the survey those people gets free gifts from MB base on the dollars they spend. For example free FP or leather accessories.

 

Some times it can be discounts on anything you buy if purchase over 2500 in one shot.

 

Again no flame wars here, above is what I know.

 

Thanks for sharing this kaisede - it's very interesting, but it makes me wonder just how much input they have and how useful it is to MB? After all, I doubt someone who drops >$100K/year on MB pens is likely to spend time filling out a questionnaire - they probably have some low-level flunky do it for them. I also really doubt you're going to get a bunch of high rollers to participate in a focus group, unless you fly them all to some super-exclusive casino/island getaway resort and pay them in kind, which seems like a very expensive way to get product information.

[kaisede]

I had asked this same question to the MB boutique that I get my pens, leather goods, and watches from.

 

But the reality is this the true MB collectors does have a voice on what kind of products they want to see. And by true collectors are the VIP list people who spends at least $100k per year. They get invited to private parties etc... and MB send out surveys to them (so I was told).

 

Unfortunately it is not up to the desecration of the store to put those name into the system but MB download the list of people from their sales figure.

 

On top of the survey those people gets free gifts from MB base on the dollars they spend. For example free FP or leather accessories.

 

Some times it can be discounts on anything you buy if purchase over 2500 in one shot.

 

Again no flame wars here, above is what I know.

 

Thanks for sharing this kaisede - it's very interesting, but it makes me wonder just how much input they have and how useful it is to MB? After all, I doubt someone who drops >$100K/year on MB pens is likely to spend time filling out a questionnaire - they probably have some low-level flunky do it for them. I also really doubt you're going to get a bunch of high rollers to participate in a focus group, unless you fly them all to some super-exclusive casino/island getaway resort and pay them in kind, which seems like a very expensive way to get product information.

 

Not so much in focus group but show them new merchandise and ask them what they think.

 

Recently I was shown the Skeleton Rieussec in the store for feedback. They asked specific questions such as what do I think about the dial color, comparison of the tactile feel when you push down the button etc...

 

I don't belong to the 100k + club but between me and my sister we owned 4 MB watches (all brought from MB) as well as other brand. For the money we spend on those watches we are likely candidate to get the Rieussec.

 

Did they really take my feedback ? Who knows but I had a great time just handling and talking about the watch.

[chrevbel]

MB is not a 'pen company' anymore, it's a 'lifestyle company' like Adidas, Nike, etc. That's why we now have MB retail boutiques where pens are just one part of the mix (and based on reports we've heard regarding the pen knowledge of salespeople in these stores, its a small part of the mix).

There's a Mont Blanc store in Tbilisi, Georgia that doesn't have any pens at all. Just some of the other stuff with the cool snowflake on it.*

 

(* - Full disclosure: it isn't a purely MB boutique; it carries other brands as well; it's pretty heavily stocked with various sunglasses. Also, I didn't actually ask about pens, I only looked. It's possible they were in stock but not on display, I guess.)

[kaisede]

MB is not a 'pen company' anymore, it's a 'lifestyle company' like Adidas, Nike, etc. That's why we now have MB retail boutiques where pens are just one part of the mix (and based on reports we've heard regarding the pen knowledge of salespeople in these stores, its a small part of the mix).

There's a Mont Blanc store in Tbilisi, Georgia that doesn't have any pens at all. Just some of the other stuff with the cool snowflake on it.*

 

(* - Full disclosure: it isn't a purely MB boutique; it carries other brands as well; it's pretty heavily stocked with various sunglasses. Also, I didn't actually ask about pens, I only looked. It's possible they were in stock but not on display, I guess.)

 

That sounds more like a dealer than an MB run store.

[kaisede]

Their focus is on "luxury" goods, so FP's are a small part of what they do. So, numbers are crunched as do department stores: it's about the overall. I wish they would listen to us though, 'cause even I would buy a 149 if they weren't always in that BORING black. Thanks

 

 

Same question was asked by me about the 149. But it appears that MB does not want to touch the classic look no matter what. It properly contradicts the 149 classic image.

 

The last time they touched the 149 design (if you can call it "touched") was the 75th edition.