I have a sheet of whitelines that I have played with and it seems an excellent sheet, despite my reservations when I first saw it. However I am struggling to find a source to purchase online. When I emailed nota-bene a few months ago on a diferent matter they replied but quoted an outrageous price for freight - more than double US charges. Now they just don't answer emails. I can only think they are not serious about their online business.

Does anyone else have a source for online purchasing of whitelines?

I should explain why I had reservations.

Whitelines appears to be printed rather than ruled so in the case of the grid pattern you are effectively writing on a printed surface rather than the actual paper surface. This often doesn't make for good writing. A traditionally made ruled sheet effectively passes under a row of pens that "draw" the lines on the paper and don't change the surface of the paper much at all.

However the Whitelines grid sheet I had to inspect certainly accepted ink well - smooth, no bleeding or feathering.

I am interested in other opinions on the quality for FP use as my testing is enough to wet my interest but probably not enough to be a definitive review.

Now, if only I could find an online source that had good customer service.................................

Is this what you mean -- Whitelines

However, ordering from their website is very expensive. The postage is 50% above the cost of the goods. 1 of each product in A4 = EU18.8, postage for that =EU29.5.

It also doesn't matter if you want to send it to Denmark (next door) or to Australia, the postage is the same.

Curiously, they seem to be working with Stora Enso, who produce the 4CC paper, available in Officeworks...

Yes - thats it. Nice stuff. European options are very unattractive so I am hoping there is a USA store that may have it as they seem to be the country that has the best international shipping prices. We need Pendemonium or Molly to pick it up.
Just hoping there is an ebay shop or online seller that I haven't been able to find.

Wasn't there a distributor setting up in Toronto, Canada?

London Graphic Centre

http://www.londongraphics.co.uk/index.html

[But you'll need to ask them for a quote for delivery. Your comments about
European options being unattractive may well apply... ]

I'm also interested in find a source for this paper. It looks interesting and I'd like to try it out. It may fill a niche purpose, especially when what's written needs to be photocopied.

Try:
http://www.nota-bene.ca/

I have to say I'm really surprised by these comments. I've ordered from Russell at Nota Bene in the past (including some Whitelines paper), and he was always very helpful and attentive through his e-mail communications, and in my order included a free Clairefontaine Forever notebook, as I had expressed an interest in fountain pen-friendly recycled stationery, as well as a personally written note from Russell thanking me for my order. So I would say that he definitely has excellent customer service!

I sympathise with you for being quoted "an outrageous price for freight", as I've come to expect high shipping charges and a huge difference between Canadian and US shipping costs, and I can't venture to guess why Russell hasn't responded to your subsequent e-mails, but I still feel it was a pleasure ordering from him, and wouldn't hesitate to do it again, if it weren't for the fact that I've already got a good stock of paper.

Hope you are able to find a source for Whitelines with better shipping options!

Russell has been insanely busy lately. He runs the store by himself, picks up the phone when he's not trying to catch a shoplifter, run to the bank, try to update his website, give the poor man a chance!!!


Shipping is expensive, Australia is far!

Russell did eventually get back to me. The freight was more than double the USA charge for similar weight which sounds ridiculous. Maybe that is just so or maybe they just don't do enough to get a better rate.
I'm still looking for an alternative source - surprised there isn't a source in the USA.

I think it's a volume thing, his rate might not be the best, but I can assure you that your package will make it to Australia, even if he needs to swim there.

Reading the many recommendations listed in various threads I have no doubt they would be a reputable and trustworty retailer. Its just not an affordable option for me given the freight rates he could provide.
No problems - I'll keep looking.

If you want to check out shipping charges yourself, go to:

www.canadapost.ca


Unless a package is less than 2 cm high (that's less than 1 in.), the minimum charge even to get it across town is $7 +sales tax + gasoline tax (or some such category). With a country as sparsely inhabited as Canada, it's hard to get economies of scale.

I often feel a bit envious about how cheap and fast U.S. mail is. I try to console myself with thoughts of our universal health care system, i.e. if I try to walk something to its destination, my blisters will be treated for no charge. :-)

Lea a.k.a. Swanquill

I am a huge fan of the Whitelines A5 coil notebooks. They work quite well with a variety of pens and inks, and make for a great change of pace from bright white paper.

I have bought my Whitelines from nota bene, as well as from Stylus Fine Pens. Stylus doesn't sell online, but they have a contact form; you could ask them about Whitelines product and shipping to your neck of the woods.

I have to echo the shipping charge comments that others have posted. Generally speaking, shipping items into and out of Canada is not cheap. I recently made my first ever eBay purchase, and I am paying far more to get it to my mailbox (from the U.S.) than I did for the item itself. Given the price of oil, shipping costs are not going to decrease anytime soon, unfortunately.

Good luck with your quest for Whitelines products!

Cheers,
A.J.