Jump to content

Nibs.Com.... Having a laugh.Arent they???


Pen Nut

Recommended Posts

I understand the concept: you want it fast, you pay for it.

 

But what happens if I send my pen, ready to wait for five months, and other people with cash keep putting their pens ahead of me just because they can pay...?

 

I don't know, really...

If he quoted five months, and delivers it in five months, then he has met his commitment to you. If he delivers it sooner, then you are in luck. In either case, you don't have grounds for a complaint. If he delivers it later than five months, then you have grounds for a complaint.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 132
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Pen Nut

    19

  • Dillo

    10

  • jd50ae

    10

  • Col

    7

Top Posters In This Topic

tangent: is there a place on Richard's site where he states his current turn-around?

Yes, toward the bottom of the homepage in a paragraph titled 'Repair Backlog'

 

Regarding some of the other comments:

 

Perhaps it is a cultural thing, but I see no problem with his policy which is quite common here in the states for all sorts of service work. I would guess that when a person gets bumped to the front of the cue, nobody gets their work delayed. I would guess that John just works late one night to get the work done, the extra charge is to compensate him for working overtime. I do this in my business (retail bike sales & service) and deal with a camera repair service that does the same. I really have a hard time with folks getting so up in arms about this policy, I see nothing unfair or wrong about it whatsoever, it's like getting paid overtime when your boss asks you to work extra hours to cover a shift or get a project done.

 

For those who do find it offensive, there are plenty of other repair folks out there, and with a 5 month backlog I am sure it will not offend John in the least if you take your business elsewhere.

 

I have been a very satisfied customer of Nibs.com, and will continue to do business with these fine folks, but if I am in a hurry I send my pens to one of the other fine pen reapir folks out there.

 

Jim

Jim Couch

Portland, OR

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well I am sorry but the 'concept' as It has been referred to just does not sit right with me.

 

Bill, I have dealt with Rolls-Royce & Bentley motor vehicle owners all my life as has my father.

 

Think even you may agree the the average R/R & Bentley owner has a few quid, ok so far, well a good many of these have, over the years, become personal friends of mine and I have forwarded Nibs.Com 'concept' to them to ask their opinion. Out of the five I sent details to four agree with me,two of which told me to tell Mr.Nib to shove his italic nib somewhere pointy bit first whlst the fifth says its a US thing. The bigger your $ the bigger your burger? No I didnt get it either.

 

Oh and why have 3 people contacted me via pm agreeing but not wanting others to see this? Come on people its only pens :D

A wise man once said    " the best revenge is wealth "   but a wiser man answered back    " the best revenge is happiness "

 

The true definition of madness - Doing the same thing everyday and expecting different results......

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well I am sorry but the 'concept' as It has been referred to just does not sit right with me.

 

Bill, I have dealt with Rolls-Royce & Bentley motor vehicle owners all my life as has my father.

 

Think even you may agree the the average R/R & Bentley owner has a few quid, ok so far, well a good many of these have, over the years, become personal friends of mine and I have forwarded Nibs.Com 'concept' to them to ask their opinion. Out of the five I sent details to four agree with me,two of which told me to tell Mr.Nib to shove his italic nib somewhere pointy bit first whlst the fifth says its a US thing. The bigger your $ the bigger your burger? No I didnt get it either.

 

Oh and why have 3 people contacted me via pm agreeing but not wanting others to see this? Come on people its only pens :D

That is certainly your choice. To play devils advocate (one last time) John only has so many ways he can deal with the backlog.

 

1. The current policy, which I would assume is working for John and his customers.

 

2. Just state to folks what the backlog is and leave it at that - it's x-months take it or leave it. I am sure a number of folks will still offer him extra $$ for rush turnaround and he will have to decide how to handle that.

 

3. Raise prices to the point that the backlog decreases, which may well mean that everyone will be paying the 'rush' fee, or at least a percentage of it.

 

4. Hire another nibmeister, or contract the work to another. QC and cost can be a real problem here.

 

The problem I see with your comparison to the Bently and Rolls is that you are comparing to someone who has already pretty much done #3 Raise prices to where only a few can afford the product or service.

 

And, of course, if the concept does not sit right with you, take your business to someone whose business practices you are comfortable with. That is one of the great things about having choices of where to go for service.

 

 

Jim

Jim Couch

Portland, OR

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Think even you may agree the the average R/R & Bentley owner has a few quid, ok so far, well a good many of these have, over the years, become personal friends of mine and I have forwarded Nibs.Com 'concept' to them to ask their opinion. Out of the five I sent details to four agree with me,two of which told me to tell Mr.Nib to shove his italic nib somewhere pointy bit first whlst the fifth says its a US thing. The bigger your $ the bigger your burger? No I didnt get it either.

Which bit do you not get? What exactly is wrong with Mr. Mottishaw's system, as you see it? It's clear you don't like something, but it isn't clear what.

 

- that you can get him to work overtime by paying double?

 

- that he has a lot of work to do and you weren't the first to ask him?

 

- that he sets the price for his work?

 

If twenty people with his skills suddenly began working, I'm sure his backlog would disappear quickly. It's not his fault that there are very few people with the same skills.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Methinks we're forgetting one really important point: you decide who does your repair and customizing work, you decide whether you want to wait or get (almost) instant satisfaction. If you're not willing to wait, take your business somewhere else. It is quite simple, actually.

 

I have repairs under order from two of our most respected nibmeisters. I accept the fact that they are busy (they're human, too, and probably have private life as well) and that I have to wait. Recently I had work done by another nibmeister. It took some months, but it sure was worth the wait.

 

These men and women have the liberty to do their work as they please. If it doesn't suit us, we'll know soon enough and vice versa. :)

"There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey."

- John Ruskin (1819-1900)

 

Pelikan M800 Green (18C-750 OM), Pelikan 4001 Königsblau

Pelikan M200 "Citroenpers" (14C-585 M), Diamine Monaco Red

Pelikan M200 "Citroenpers" (14C-585 F), Diamine Prussian Blue

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good Lord this is going on a bit isnt it.

 

Last comment on this because its just not going anywhere.

 

In a nutshell and as condensed as possible.

 

I dont like the " you will be without you pen for six months unless you want to pay 100% ( yep 100% ) on top then it will be on its way back in a week "

 

I am lucky enough to be able to indulge in fine watches cars and pens. I do very often pay over the odds for things that I like.

 

I have not taken my nib work to nibs.com and probably will not in the future.

 

Would anyone pay DOUBLE the invoice total to get their car back early from a garage ? If so get it to me asap and I may be able to just squeeze it in before May '07' :rolleyes:

A wise man once said    " the best revenge is wealth "   but a wiser man answered back    " the best revenge is happiness "

 

The true definition of madness - Doing the same thing everyday and expecting different results......

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I see no problem with the higher pay for faster service issue.

 

I run a law office. By preference I keep it down to a regular 40 odd hour week. Some lawyers work 60 hours a week - and then they retire and seem to die a year later and don't enjoy the long retirement they had planned on (no, they don't die because ex-clients track them down and that was unkind to suggest it!).

 

If someone gives me a deal to do that closes next month, they get a regular hourly quote. If they hand me a deal that closes in a week, it means that I have to either put in overtime to do their deal or perhaps move some of the work I was already doing to 'extra' hours, and I will darned well charge extra for having to do that.

 

Why should a pen artisan be any different? The poor guy probably hardly sees his family as is and you want him to put a rush on a job for no extra pay, just because you ask him to? In what alternate universe would that be just and fair? Or is it just that you object to him putting in overtime and working nights to do the work for the guy that doesn't mind paying a premium. Not quite sure what the objection is.

 

I'll bet you are one of the guys that insist on paying not $1 more than manufacturer list price on a new and 'hot' car model, even though that means you won't get one for about 3 years.....(actually it burns me a bit too when they load them up and add BS surcharges for 'documentation' and such).

Bill Spohn

Vancouver BC

"Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence"

 

Robert Fripp

https://www.rhodoworld.com/fountain-pens.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll bet you are one of the guys that insist on paying not $1 more than manufacturer list price on a new and 'hot' car model, even though that means you won't get one for about 3 years

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz oh hello still at it are we.

 

So a lawyer with morals eh? well I think that could be worth a whole thread of its own.

 

Lets draw a line under this and put it down to different cultures.

 

The car comment made me smile though and from someone in a law office that takes some doing....no doubt the invoice will follow.

 

Goodnight all

A wise man once said    " the best revenge is wealth "   but a wiser man answered back    " the best revenge is happiness "

 

The true definition of madness - Doing the same thing everyday and expecting different results......

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If I thought I was so special I should be moved to the front of the line, I think I should be charged extra.

 

If the work I wanted required longer hours I should be charged extra.

 

Anyone who owns a Bently and has it worked on is charged extra, got to pay for the name.

 

Any time I went to a business and wanted above and beyond the norm I would expect to pay extra.

Edited by jd50ae

Please visit my wife's website.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_763_-2kMPOs/Sh8W3BRtwoI/AAAAAAAAARQ/WbGJ-Luhxb0/2009StoreLogoETSY.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

tangent: is there a place on Richard's site where he states his current turn-around?

 

Richard asks you to email him before sending him work. He emails back an estimated turnaround so you can make your decision.

 

I got two pens back from Richard this week. I sent those pens and two others off in the early fall. The other two Richard had repaired previously with defective sacs. He replaced the defective sacs immediately at no charge and returned the pens to me. The other pens went to the end of the line and just now returned.

Mary Plante

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bentley has two 'E's and the owners are not charged 'extra' that is my point.

 

Its a standard hourly rate.....NO 100% surcharges for having it done quickly and no "park it over there I will start work on it in 5 months " nonsense. :bonk:

 

Get a feeling Nibs.Com maybe be your your royal family in secret. :blush:

A wise man once said    " the best revenge is wealth "   but a wiser man answered back    " the best revenge is happiness "

 

The true definition of madness - Doing the same thing everyday and expecting different results......

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank god for that . . . . thought for one minute Cadillac had done a copy :D

A wise man once said    " the best revenge is wealth "   but a wiser man answered back    " the best revenge is happiness "

 

The true definition of madness - Doing the same thing everyday and expecting different results......

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Get a feeling Nibs.Com maybe be your your royal family in secret.  :blush:

Our Royals work for a living. :D

Edited by jd50ae

Please visit my wife's website.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_763_-2kMPOs/Sh8W3BRtwoI/AAAAAAAAARQ/WbGJ-Luhxb0/2009StoreLogoETSY.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you want top-quality work done, be prepared to pay the price. If you want the work done immediately, you can always find someone who doesn't have a backlog. Of course, when you figure out why they don't have a backlog, suddenly their low low low price may not be nearly so attractive. As one often hears, one gets what one pays for.

Bill, as so often happens, has it in a nutshell.

 

If you don't like it, go elsewhere. You can try to drum up a lot of outrage against him here, but I don't think you will get very far. The man is respected for good reason.

Isn't sanity really a one-trick pony, anyway? I mean, all you get is one trick, rational thinking! But when you're good and crazy . . . ooh hoo hoo hoo! . . . the sky's the limit!

--The Tick

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Put it down to culture, personality, whatever. Nib customization is specialist work, and it's time consuming. These guys don't just bang out a nib in an hour. They don't charge you overtime, they don't get paid extra.

 

I just sent 10 pens to Richard for considerable nib customization work. If we say each nib will cost ~$50, the job is worth $500. The nibs I sent in for work were of all shapes and sizes; some will require more work than others. If each nib requires 2 hours work, that's $25 an hour earned. What if one takes longer? The drop to $16/h occurs. What if I have a b*stard of a nib which takes all day? What if it's a Pelikan nib that gets damaged? Richard will pay for a replacement out of his own pocket. My 10 pens are not pennies from heaven. This is a craft, this is work done with hand tools. Richard and John do not have tiny machines marked "0.6mm Stub" in which they insert a nib, and come back 10 minutes later.

 

They do not have a team of guys who they dish parts of the job out to. Comparison to an auto garage is apples to oranges.

 

The pens I sent Richard are some of my very best pens. Some have been unused for months, others have never been inked. I won't miss them while they are gone for 4 months – but I will love them when they return.

 

You have the luxury of choice. Send your nibs to any of the half-dozen other nibsters out there and have a 2 week turnaround. Or wait for Richard or John. If I only owned a total of two pens, I’d probably pay the 100% surcharge at nibs.com. As I own dozens of pens, I can ship them off to either fellow and not give it a second thought. The choices are not ideal, but that's life.

 

I personally won't use nibs.com, because they cannot provide reasonable postage to AU, which is a shame. Maybe this is a deterrent against some international work, maybe not. It's John's choice to charge that, it's mine to not accept it. Same as the 100% surcharge. :)

Laura / Phthalo

Fountain Pens: My Collection

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4.    Hire another nibmeister, or contract the work to another.

Hey, that's a point, shouldn't a Nibmeister have an apprentice? 'The Nibmeister's Apprentice'. Has a certain ring to it, does it not?

 

---

Col

Col

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bill, as so often happens, has it in a nutshell.

 

If you don't like it, go elsewhere. You can try to drum up a lot of outrage against him here, but I don't think you will get very far. The man is respected for good reason.

 

The same thing happened with the Pentrace LE pen but as I didn't buy one it was just me being amazed and wondering how the person felt who waited 'x' months to get their pen repaired was going to have to wait until all of those pens were fixed up and sent out.

 

I am not complaining as I did not buy one and have never used any of the pen repairers mentions- please don't flame me :D

 

People with money get to go to the front of the line and the repairer gets to make the rules. :unsure:

 

This is true with many other things and I guess being suprised that it occurs with pens is nice because that means we think that it is a more pleasant business- but it is a business so no use complaining about it. :sick:

 

It might not be fair but most things in life are not fair and the rich and the cruel get to trample on everyone in their way. :bonk:

 

The only way that it could be changed is if no one sent him pens for repair and I do not think that will happen so we all have to live with it. :doh:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33494
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26626
    5. jar
      jar
      26101
  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o
  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More
  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...