I am making a v. short business trip to LA this week and have a couple of hours to kill. I would like to find a store (not downtown) where I can test drive a VP to see if it would suit me - that clip looks like it could be irritating.

From Googling, Flax on Gayley Ave is within my reach (staying in Universal City). I wouldn't mind picking up a Pilot Knight too - I've seen Office Depot mentioned, or would Flax stock them too?

What could I expect to pay at Flax - is $110 the basic price for the VP everywhere? At the USD/UKP current exchange rate that's about 27% off the UK price (75 quid), making it very tempting. Lamy 2000 would be an alternative if the VP doesn't suit. I'm aware that anything totalling over £145 would have to be declared on entry to UK, so it will be one or the other as I have some other (non-pen) things to get.

Gary,

Here's an article I wrote recently that will give you the possibilities:

http://lifebitesnews.com/senseofstyle.html   (scroll down about one third of the page)

If you're concerned about traffic, Vroman's might be as close as Flax, but it alls depends on luck and what time of day it is.

Flax, Vroman's, the Fountain Pen store in Monrovia (THE place to go if you have the time, and not a bad drive during off hours) and Graphaids all carry the VP (at full price, although that could vary from $120 to $140), but I'm not sure whether any carry the Pilot. All also carry Lamy.

Good luck.

Laurence

Laurence,

thanks for that. It will be Friday morning, though I note that Flax does not open til 10am, but Vromans is open 9am til 9pm, I could probably do that first (or Thu eve) then Fred's place after, though I have to be in Long Beach around 1130, so I can't linger too long.

Gary

Gary,

Friday morning might just work. You'd be going against traffic from Universal City to Vroman's, and from there to Fred's is pretty quick. Then to Long Beach can go quickly too, although it looks a long distance (and is).

All this pace the Traffic Gods, of course, who often choose to strike when least expected.

Are you here on business or pleasure.

Laurence

Laurence,

thanks for the traffic tips. I commute 100 miles a day, so I'm used to sitting in a car (summer time I'm on a bike). Google says Monrovia to Long Beach is 33 miles 9605/105/710) so that isn't too bad.

Despite the location, its business. I did the Universal tour when I was last there a few years back. The Getty museum was well worth the visit, would go again but don't have the time.

Those retail/store prices make the VP less of a bargain, but it really looks like one you have to try before you buy (and the Lamy 2000 has those 'ears' which look quite prominent).

Gary

You're right about the VP. I had one and couldn't bear it.

They say, almost unanimously, that the the clip on the new slimmer Decimo is much less obtrusive, but of course it's not available here. It is, though, in the UK. Go figure!

May I ask what your business is?

Laurence

Yes the Decimo does look very trim and slim, but maybe for that reason the clip may be even more obtrusive as your fingers tend to 'go round the pen' more? My normal grip seems to be with the forefinger more or less 'on top, in the middle' - i.e. right where that clip is! The clip is set back a little bit more from the nib and slimmer on the Decimo though which may help. Shame I can't test it and the VP in LA.

I'm currently having fun with a Pilot Birdie, which is about as small/slim as you can get I suppose. This has fired my interest in the VP. I also (horror) like their ExecuGel with G2 refill (like a Parker Vector rollerball in style).

I'm in semiconductors; worked previously for 15 years for IBM so I've been to a few places in the US. San Diego and Boulder were nice (microbreweries!).

Gary

Just a note:

Vromans wont let you ink or even dip the pen, (and they dont have water handy either).....so unless you just want to know how it -feels- in hand but not how it writes..... they might not be as good a choice as the Monrovia store...and Monrovia is only 10-20 min further east then Vromans anyhow....

Neecerie may be right about no dipping in Vroman's (maybe they let me dip because I was writing an article), but it's a nice place to visit and lots of pens to look at, and very nice salespeople. Still, it sounds like you're better off calling first.

There's a Vromans bookshop next door (or nearby) isn't there, so it won't be a totally wasted trip, and its on the way as you say (or I can visit Thu eve if I have time).

Have you thought about taking one of the pens you have and turning it upside down to see how the clip might come into play? I have a Waterman Charleston that is a pretty close approximation when this is done.

Yes, there is a Vroman's bookstore two doors down (past a movie theater) which is a real treat.

In Monrovia, Fred Krinke's The Fountain Pen Store, a fixture in downtown LA for decades, now moved some years ago to Monrovia. Check to see store hours, Fred has abbreviated hours these days.

Dan

I'm in LA now, done my non-pen shopping (I can't Fry's was a very pleasant retail experience).

But the traffic was a bit more, erm, "congested" than I remember 6 years ago. 1.75 hours from LAX to Universal City. I think I hit 40mph once for about 10 seconds.

I'll certainly give Fred a ring to make sure the shop is open.

BTW on the plane over I made a convert with the Pilot Birdie

As a postscript I will just add that I ended up buying a VP in Vroman's (ran out of time for Fred's FPS). They had some old stock priced at $125 but not with the fine nib that I wanted. So I ended up paying $154 + tax or about 83 quid, which is a little bit more than it can be had in the UK (online). I just checked the retail price list on the Namiki web site which is 139.95 so I think maybe Vroman's are being a bit cheeky charging that extra.

Anyway, the pen has a chrome+rhodium finish and is a dream to use with an exquisite fine point to it. Did most of my Christmas cards with it yesterday.

I also fondled a Lamy 2000 and didn't like it at all - felt too light weight altogether.

Excellent! Glad to hear things went well. Next time in L.A., give me a little advance notice and we;ll have you over for dinner.