Well, came across this pen and bidded without thinking about it. Re-reading the auction, I'm getting the impression it's a fake Sonnet. It doesn't mention anywhere it's a fake pen, so it better be a real Parker.
I contacted the seller and he hasn't answered yet. If he used the copywrited names "Parker" and "Sonnet", that has to mean it's a true Parker. I won't pay if it ain't a true pen. Damn

eBay auction

Hi,

I'm afraid a Parker Sonnet w/ 18K nib for 0.99 GBP starting bid & no reserve is too good to be true.

There is a very good article on this subject at Jim's site:

http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Parker/P...onnetClones.htm

But who knows, yours may be the real thing. ( It would be a wonderful find.)

Please keep us posted.

Best,

David

Don't know about the pen, strange nobody else has complained that the pens are fake. It does not say Sterling Silver or Silver plate, so don't know, as the nib is supposed to be 18kt, it should not be an engraved stainless pen that sometimes people say is 'Silver Colour'

Wait and see if he replies to you, or hope you get outbid

Jim

I can't even retract my bid... They usually go for 3 times as much (my 9.3 bid) from this same seller. I hope it'll be the case here. Anyway, I WON'T pay if it's fake in case I win it. And I'll report him to eBay from selling fake Sonnets and not stating it. Besides, it's crime to use a trademarked name...

Maja, you CAN retract your bid, especially if you discovered that the pen is fake.

Being a non paying bidder is much harder to deal with. Ebay may or may not take your side.

If you are paying via Paypal... take out the Paypal buyers insurance.. it is usually pretty cheap.... that way if you get a fake you have some recourse through paypal...
eBay generally takes the side of the seller... paypal generally has been taking the side of the buyer.... an interesting concept considering they are the "same" corporate entity.....

Some guys do the super-low starting bid knowing full well that the item listed will elevate to proper market value. It is a marketing ploy to generate early interest.

The guy does offer your money back right up front.

He has an excellent feedback record.

Email him and ask if he's checked the pen to make sure it isn't a fake. If he is reputable, he'll answer your questons forthright.

-Bruce

Like me I start all my ebay bids at $.99 (it saves you a little bit on ebay posting fees).

Hi maia
you are not the highest bidder.
T.

I just got burnt on a fake Mont Blanc Starwalker. The guy claims he didn't know it was fake. He hasn't returned my money yet. I'm going to have to go through paypal if he doesn't return my money soon. I learned my lesson the hard way. I would be very careful.

Paco

Not that this would be a vote of confidence in the seller. As the Pen Hero article mentioned the nib is the only way to tell. Here is an auction for the sam e pen that ended earlier. Try to contact the buyer and ask for a scan or good description of the arrow on the nib.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...item=6592505582

After furter review they are fake. This buyer even said so in his Positive? Feedback. How could you leave positive feedback when you bought a fake? Also checking out more of the auctions leads me to believe that is all this guy sells is pipes and the same pen over and over. I have done a quick check on about 20 of his auctions and they are all for either a pipe or the same pen. Unless you can buy these by the hundreds I would stay far away.

If you want a good laugh check the sellers other items for sale. Then on the same page on the left check the box that says completed items.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...item=6595571271

Thank God I was outbid... I want a Sonnet real bad, so, being the Chisseled Tartan, I didn't even thought about it. But anyway, he CANNOT use the terms "Parker" and "Sonnet" (registered patents). He should mention they are fake! And I should learn to think about it more thourougly

Always check other items for sale and completed items. If someone has a fake they probably have a hundred and are trying to sell them all. I wouldn't be suprised if one of these forgers posted something like this:

Montblanc Limited Edition only 100 made! I have 100 for sale starting at $.99 each.

I also got burned on a fake Montblanc Starwalker last year from ebay. I was just a newbie then and was a fool. In hindsight, that pen was so obviously fake and I fell for it. I take it as an $89.00 mistake. The threading does not work anymore on the thread mechanism, and the cheap plastic casing cracked.....oh well.....an expensive lesson. Live and learn.

I was even more burnt by a fake ST Dupont Olympio offered on ebay by a New Yorker . I cost me $100 + shipping and import duties.

Everything about it was industrial fake, while the guy got good evaluations, probably by unknowing buyers. But, as I own real Duponts, I could well compare ...

Mine was a $185 mistake. They guy claims he will give me my money back but I haven't seen it yet. We'll see

Many sellers won't leave feedback for you, until after you've left them feedback. So if you don't want someone putting false, slanderous feedback on you, you are forced to leave positive feedback for them. At least that other buyer had the foresight to try and warn people that these pens were fake.

TMann

Yeah but if you can prove the seller is selling fakes and is passing them off as originals and the prices are WELL over what a known fake would fetch then you can make sure Ebay knows they are being a conduit for Fraud, Interstate trafficing of forged trademarks, mail fraud and possibly even forgery if the seller was the one orchestrating the production. I give the seller a month or two before they pack up and have a new seller name. The list of that same pen being sold is getting too long to not have someone complain. When that happens Ebay removes the negative rating on your account.

Good thing you were outbid on the pen. It's truly unfortunate that people are taking advantage of others so regularly in this way. Sorry some of you have gotten burned in this way.

Maja: have you tried J M Lewertowski's ebay shop PEN SELLER FROM FRANCE He is a reputable trader in Paris with lots of quality Parkers including Sonnets with Chiseled Tartan.

Gatorade: OMG what a laugh that guy is giving us with his completed listings!

I can highly recommend this seller. I won a Parker Sonnet Chiseled Tartan ST from him at the price of 40 British pounds. I think it was a real bargain.