Usps Destroyed A Sheaffer Ff3

[phaus]

Greetings,

 

After a 5 year search, I finally found a Sheaffer FF3 at a good price. Unfortunately, USPS managed to severely damage the nib and the Cap. I only paid about $40 for the pen. Is it worth getting fixed or should I get a refund? Will it lose some of its flexibility? Any idea how much repairs would likely cost? Thanks.

 

 

Edited January 22, 2016 by phaus

[OCArt]

If you bought it from eBay I would immediately contact the seller and ask for a refund-- you did not receive it in the advertised condition. It would then be the seller's job to try and process and insurance claim with the shipper.

[phaus]

If you bought it from eBay I would immediately contact the seller and ask for a refund-- you did not receive it in the advertised condition. It would then be the seller's job to try and process and insurance claim with the shipper.

 

Right. I realize that's an option, but Sheaffer FF3 nibs are exceedingly rare. I've actually seen more Sheaffer Music Nibs offered for sale than Flexible 2-tone nibs. What I'm wondering is if its worth keeping and having repaired in spite of the damage.

[kirchh]

Worth keeping, I'd say.

 

--Daniel

[KellyMcJ]

Ouch! They did not pack it properly! Poor thing :'(. Can you keep it AND get a refund? I mean, it's useless without attention from a nibmeister, for sure, so the seller may not want it back. The refund can pay a portion of the repair.

 

Definitely a case of "not packed properly" unless USPS went way above and beyond their usual rough handling.

[phaus]

It was definitely not packed as well as someone that sells pens on a regular basis would have done. It was wrapped in bubble wrap and placed in a small cardboard box inside an envelope.

[Sasha Royale]

My fountain pens, from Ebay, usually come package with bubble wrap, in a cardboard box. Others come in PVC pipe in a padded mailer. Inadequate protection is a risk.

[ADEMiller]

I think part of my soul just died

[3rdlakerobert]

I don't think the cap's worth fixing--easy to replace. The nib doesn't look bad, and I''m sure it wouldn't be difficult to repair. Perhaps you can get an estimate and negotiate with the seller.

 

I've restored and sold hundreds of pens on eBay and have never had any damage in shipment by USPS. I'm rather a fan actually. The closest I've come to having an insurance claim was when a shipment worth almost $300 went missing because the buyer was away and couldn't sign for the parcel. USPS returned it to me by the slowest imaginable means. It took a month exactly to get from Texas back to me in northern NY.

 

Anyway, I've had a couple good experiences with this guy:

 

http://www.mikeitwork.com/nibrepair.html

[Chrissy]

The blame must lie with the seller's packing. So I would make contact with him and ask what he's going to do about it.

[Freedom]

Sad

I buy the vast majority of my pens online and I've been very fortunate that all of them arrived in pristine conditions.

[terim]

I don't think the cap's worth fixing--easy to replace. The nib doesn't look bad, and I''m sure it wouldn't be difficult to repair. Perhaps you can get an estimate and negotiate with the seller.

 

I've restored and sold hundreds of pens on eBay and have never had any damage in shipment by USPS. I'm rather a fan actually. The closest I've come to having an insurance claim was when a shipment worth almost $300 went missing because the buyer was away and couldn't sign for the parcel. USPS returned it to me by the slowest imaginable means. It took a month exactly to get from Texas back to me in northern NY.

 

Anyway, I've had a couple good experiences with this guy:

 

http://www.mikeitwork.com/nibrepair.html

I totally agree about USPS .... International packages can get lost, but we rarely see damage.

 

Teri

[phaus]

I totally agree about USPS .... International packages can get lost, but we rarely see damage.

 

Teri

Yea, I've purchased a few dozen pens through the mail over the years, this is the first that was damaged. Unfortunately, it was the rarest and possibly most valuable pen in my collection. They must have dropped something pretty heavy on it, because my attempts to remove the dents from the cap revealed that the metal is pretty resilient.

 

Teri, I hear you are a bit of a Sheaffer specialist. If I get this nib repaired, shouldn't I be able to screw it onto a working open-nibbed snorkel and be ready to write? Would it be more complicated than that?

[terim]

Yea, I've purchased a few dozen pens through the mail over the years, this is the first that was damaged. Unfortunately, it was the rarest and possibly most valuable pen in my collection. They must have dropped something pretty heavy on it, because my attempts to remove the dents from the cap revealed that the metal is pretty resilient.

 

Teri, I hear you are a bit of a Sheaffer specialist. If I get this nib repaired, shouldn't I be able to screw it onto a working open-nibbed snorkel and be ready to write? Would it be more complicated than that?

 

That really is a tragedy.

 

I believe an open nib will be easier than a Triumph nib to remove and re-install. But I think whoever does the nib straightening should put the nib back together .... there might be some tricky heat setting required to make sure your flex nib behaves properly with the feed. We don't have the bandwidth to help, I'm afraid, plus I'll admit to being chicken about working on such a valuable nib.

 

I'm wishing you luck with the project, I really don't think the nib looks damaged beyond repair.

 

TERI

[wastelanded]

It's definitely worth getting fixed: not impossible for a good tech. The seller should be on the hook for the repairs, without a doubt.

 

ETA: Some postie really gave that parcel a kicking! That, or it was caught in some sorting machinery. Reminds me of the reverse trim black Snorkel Statesman that was sent to me in a letter envelope, covered in nothing but a kleenex. I forget exactly how many pieces it was smashed into.

Edited January 30, 2016 by wastelanded

[kirchh]

I had the privilege of attempting the repair on this rare nib. Here are a few "before" pictures, including one from the owner's original post in this thread:

 

 

 

 

Here is the nib after the damage has been repaired, but before restoration of the two-tone appearance:

 

 

Here's the finished nib after the two-tone finish is applied:

 

 

--Daniel

Edited April 21, 2016 by kirchh

[ac12]

Nice work Daniel

[DustyR]

Excellent work, Daniel.

Edited April 21, 2016 by DustyR

[mhphoto]

This is why I build in the cost of insurance with all the pens I sell. I also pack them securely. One time I got a vintage pen delivered in an inside out granola bar box…

[pajaro]

I had the privilege of attempting the repair on this rare nib. Here are a few "before" pictures, including one from the owner's original post in this thread:

 

 

 

 

Here is the nib after the damage has been repaired, but before restoration of the two-tone appearance:

 

 

Here's the finished nib after the two-tome finish is applied:

 

 

--Daniel

 

A beautiful job. Perfect. I will remember this excellent work in case something like this happens to me.