uh, let's not be so general- some MBs are worth getting repaired.

Others are not so much.

I point out the 149 as the former and the Sceniums as the latter


I'd say send that one back.

Depends on what you consider crazy prices to be

I was going to get a pencil of 0.7mm exchanged to a 0.5mm inner sleeve and they quoted $50.

Hm strange When I sent mine for repair I asked them not to touch the nib, the feed or the barrel but just change the knob and the piston filling system which were broken. They did what I asked. Normally MB always sends you back the former nib.
I think you should go back to MB store and have a serious explanation with the responsible of the penshop. I am pretty sure they mixed your pen with another. I wouldn't let it go. Perhaps is Montblanc USA service not enough careful of its customers? If you look at how Omega New Jersey services or repairs watches, it is very disappointing. Perhaps is Montblanc USA having the same problems with pens?

It sounds like they didn't mix up the pens as the marks on the cap? are still there.
Like other companies maybe they are just in the replace rather than repair mode.

I sent a pen to MB USA three times and the second time they replaced "the wrong thing" it was like they just wanted something to put on the invoice so I would be happy and go away. After that I spent a long time on the phone with one of their reps. saying how unhappy I was and that after three tries I didn't want the pen at all and could I just use the value of that pen toward a more expensive pen. They replied that they didn't do things that way and sent me back the pen untouched pen again.

To say I hope that I never have to deal with MB repair ever again is no small understatement.


Kurt

I am not sure where the pen actually went and it is rather annoying that a company would have different levels of quality at different areas.


Kurt

I agree.

I forgot to add that you pay the same price everywhere why should there be different levels of quality of the service.

Isn't that what they are selling- the overall experience of the pen.

Makes me then go one step farther and question whether Europe gets the good pens and the rest of the world gets the "Monday morning or Friday afternoon" pens.

I wonder if there wasn't a decision assuming that some areas of the world would be happier with a lower level of quality than others so that the QC is in levels and the top go to the EU and the next level goes to one region and another cut goes to a different region....

Well to be honest, if you see what happened to the american watch industry and to the american pen industry, I think you will see that both are nearly non existent. It is very hard to find a good watchmaker and a good pen repairer in USA. I have also heard horror stories when it comes to watch repairs/service on Rolex USA and Omega USA. The same can be said perhaps about Montblanc where perhaps the personnel is not enough experienced nor qualified.
All I know is that in my country France, the MB service did a perfect shop and very quickly. I don't know MB marketing strategy but all I can tell you is that I have had to fight with Sanford for replacing my nib on Duofold. Otherwise I only buy my pens used from Mora Stylos, the owner of the shop Mr MORA is a pen repairer, restorer and pen maker with his own brand Oldwin. I dunno what to think, I can only ask the question how many percent of american MB buyers have been disappointed with the MB service or with the MB pens they have bought.