My wife has decided to treat me to a MB for christmas. She finds it embarrasing that anytime anyone finds out I collect pens they ask if I have a MB, and I have to say no (even though I have about 50+ pens including some high end Omas, sailor and Visconti's).

The boutique price in Ireland for a 149 is 560 EUR. The pengallery price for the same pen is 431EUR. Firstly how reliable are pengallery.com (I'm nervous cause they publish the price on line, apparently a big no no for MB stockists). Secondly, is there anywhere else that is reliable, can be dealt with over the phone and won't kill her on the cost.

I don't know about pengallery.com, but I can say that worldlux.com is a good place to order for everything. A friend of mine orders from there all the time and says its nothing less of a great experience every time. I saw on their website that they do international shipping to everywhere except Antarctica, so unless your an eskimo you will be ok.

The other thing to bear in mind is that if you are in the EU, anything bought from outside the EU may attract import duties, VAT etc which can significantly increase the price.

You may of course be lucky and they don't notice, but don't count on it.

Andy

There are many here who have done business with Pengallery and speak very highly of the establishment.

And any Eskimos you find in Antarctica would be a very, very long way from home.

Ray

I echo the one who said worldlux.com

They are out of Seattle and I've used them several times. They also have a price garauntee so if you find somebody else quote a price that seems less, worldlux will beat it if it's from an authorized montblanc dealer.

Do not buy from anybody who posts prices on their website. MB forbids this from their dealers. That's a sure sign that you are buying from a non-authorized seller. You'll have to submit automated requests probably like I did.

Worldlux customer service is outstanding! They are number 1 in my book.

I have used PenGallery a number of times online and have visited their shop when I have been in Kuala Lumpur on business. They are a legitamite business and stock quality products and have excellent service. I highly recommend them. Daniel is very knowledgeable and very happy to assist in anyway he can. Also note that there shipping price is fixed, so if you buy a two pens and two bottles of ink it is the same price as just buying one pen (US$11 to AUstralia). This week I ordered online a pen plus ink on Monday morning 11.00am in Sydney Australia, it was delivered by Fedex to me by 10.00am on Wednesday morning. I cannot fault that service!!

With the sorry exchange rate between the Pound and Dollar, you could fly to New York, buy the pen at the flagship MB store and then fly home and probably still save some money.

I too have purchased a couple of pens from Pengallery and I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them again - good communication and prices, and faster than expected shipping to the US.

Usual disclaimers.

GD~

Are there any online shops that operate out of UK/Europe? I have been stung before buying second hand camera lenses which ended up more expensive than if I had bought it NEW in the UK!!!

I am hankering after a Sterling Silver 146 Solitaire. World Lux wont ship them out of USA

I have the Pure Silver 146 - now sadly discontinued - and it's a beautiful pen. I like the fact that it doesn't have those annoying godron lines.

The best place to buy a MB is probably eBay. Keep your eyes fixed on any auctions there. Sellers from the Far East generally offer good prices. If you want to buy from WorldLux, just look on eBay for a US forwarding address seller and then you can have the item sent there for redelivery to the UK. You can also request that the guy puts a specific customs value on the parcel. YOU GOTTA WISE UP!