I'll have to make a phone call on Monday. Sanford doesn't respond to my emails.

I had the package I sent to them insured and tracked, so I know they received the Edson back on (IIRC) December 21st. When I sent a Sonnet in several months ago, it got back to me in eight days. I thought that was amazingly fast, but since it came back with a bent nib I probably don't want that same kind of service. Anyway, now that it's been over three weeks since the Edson arrived at the Sanford service center I'm starting to worry.

It's disappointing enough to buy a thousand dollar pen, take it out of the box, and have platinum flake off the clip onto my thumb (not my thumbnail mind you; I was trying to wipe a thumbprint off of the clip... tho I'd expect platinum plating to stand up against the attack of a thumbnail). I hope that I haven't set my expectations too high, but I think that's something that should be corrected by the manufacturer.

The Edson also didn't fill very easily. I've seen someone else mention this, so perhaps it's just the way the Edsons are, but I asked others at the time who said they had no problems filling the Edson. It would take three or four cycles of the twist converter to fill. That's not a huge inconvenience either, but it seemed odd and I wondered if it meant that a seal somewhere had a leak.

I almost feel silly sending it back for a cosmetic issue plus an issue that's no more than an inconvenience, but the Edson was a lot of money for me, even at Pam Braun's price. I think I deserve to have high expectations.

Maybe I'm just too anxious about it, but I'd be OK with it if I just got an email back saying "it'll be another six months before we can even look at your pen." Well, maybe not OK, but it would still be better than getting no reply from the same address to which I sent my initial inquiry, who replied by email and sent me the return materials.

Anyone else have any experience with Sanford's service? From Wisconsin do they then send the pen to France or something?

Yes, now all the WATERMAN pens are repaired in France. J.M.L.

I sent mine to Sanford -- it was received in late November. They told me then it would be sent to France, and to expect it to take 30 to 60 days. So I figure it'll take until the end of January. So patience is the key -- but I, too, would be upset at having to wait that long for a brand new pen (they should just replace it immediately).

Knowing that it is going to France makes me feel a little better about it, thanks.

I actually did express a preference for the pen to be repaired rather than replaced. If they replace it, I'll have one with a higher serial number than the one I originally had. That would be an acceptable loss, but I'd prefer to keep the serial number I already had.

Since that would require replating the clip, I'm not sure it's even possible. Would it do any good to put a good layer of plating on top of one that is flaking off? So it's likely that I'm going to get something other (and higher) than serial number 0001234. Hey, it's not all that low number but it is pretty cool.

Hi Splicer!

Yes, they do send them to France. I have a Hemisphere that I sent up there a few days ago. In the email that they sent me telling me where to send it, it also said that

"** Please note: All repairs are now done in France. When we receive your pen in here at the Service Center in Wisconsin for repair, we send it on to the Waterman/Parker service center in France for the actual repair/refurbishment.**"

I don't know what their turnaround time is. If you find out, let me know.

I sent a Man 100 in recently to have the section replaced. It took about 6 weeks from the time it left me till it returned. They also charged me $65 for the repair. It seems that the warranty policy isn't nearly as liberal as it once was...

Well if plating coming off on my thumb immediately after the pen came out of the box isn't a "defect in materials or workmanship" to them, there'll be heck to pay.