Pelikan Prices Rising Feb. 15

[tragique]

Prices for the M200, M400, M600, M800, M1000 and Pelikan nib units will rise approximately 10% starting February 15th 2016.

 

Source: http://nibs.com/NewlyArrived.htm

 

What are your opinions about that?

Edited January 31, 2016 by tragique

[BayesianPrior]

C'est la vie. How long since the last price increase? I reckon this is just playing catch-up with inflation.

[Mercian]

...I reckon this is just playing catch-up with inflation.

 

I strongly doubt that.

Inflation in Germany - like that across most of Europe since the Bankers crashed the economy in 2008 and governments/central banks have been printing money and keeping interest rates low - is very low; certainly nowhere near that high.

 

Also, over the last few years Pelikan have been putting through hefty price hikes on their Souverän & other piston pens, pushing the prices up towards the MontBlanc end of the market.

 

I am afraid that the company is progressively re-positioning its piston-fill pens to be ‘Veblen Goods’

Which is understandable on their part - if you can pull it off, it's a highly-profitable wheeze.

[BayesianPrior]

I think you're correct about the corporate re-positioning. But as for this price increase, it is only one retailer who is located in the USA. Inflation in that country over the last five years has been around 8-9%,

[MarkTrain]

Kind of funny, the price in dollars in the US for Pelikan keeps going up, despite the weakening of the Euro against the dollar. As such, it makes more sense to purchase from European dealers.

[zuhandensein]

I love my Cognac, but in the case of the M200 I think prices are already in the limit. I am currently not thinking on buying another M200 because I do not feel it worths the price. In the case of the M400 I am wiling to make an exception if they release a brown tortoise soon, otherwise I see myself more inclined to buy a vintage Pelikan.

 

M200 is an entry pen, a basic tool, fantastic on its nature, but a piece of plastic I am sorry to say, not a luxury item. £50 is my limit for this pen. My problem with the Souveran series is not the price itself, but the impression that Pelikan is not offering today products made to the high standards that they used to offer in the past.

[Mulrich]

I think you're correct about the corporate re-positioning. But as for this price increase, it is only one retailer who is located in the USA. Inflation in that country over the last five years has been around 8-9%,

 

And a retailer who I felt was already overpriced in the Pelikan market. They sell a standard green M800 for about $200 more than can be easily had through trusted eBay vendors or other websites.

[inkstainedruth]

I'll admit that I'm pretty grumpy about the concept. I have only one "new" Pelikan -- an M200 Café Crème -- and I saved around $30-40 US from ordering from Rolf Thiel off of one of his Ebay listings, rather than buying from one of the US dealers. I don't see the price I paid as "entry level". Entry level to what. precisely? Sorry, no. My NOS $9 Parker Vector that I bought about a decade ago (and was freaking a bit about how much I paid -- just for a pen). That's "entry level". A Pilot Varsity is "entry level". And now they're talking about raising their prices *again*? (Didn't they just do that a year or so ago?)

The way companies like BIC took over the writing instruments market was by making millions and millions of low-cost BPs. I just looked at the Staples website and you can buy a box of 60 BIC pens for $5.29 US -- that's less than 10¢ apiece; on Amazon, a Pelikano Junior is $12.21. For one pen. THAT is an entry level price -- maybe. But the price of an M200? Entry level for whom? People who are upgrading from their Vectors and their Varsities and their Lamy Safaris? That's not entry level -- that's upgrading. Not the same thing at all.

Yes, we're a niche market. But raising their prices (again) seems to me to be Pelikan's method of shooting themselves in the foot. They should be paying attention to the electronics industry -- the first flat screen TVs were outrageously priced: thousands of dollars. Now, you can get one for a fraction of that. I remember when a three-pack of 8 GB flash drives for $50 on sale sounded good. I bought a 32 GB one last week for myself and a 16 GB one for my husband and even with sales tax the price was roughly $16 (heck, the 16 GB one alone was a tenth of what the 8 GB ones had been a decade ago; and the guy in the store tried to talk me into a three-pack of 16 GB drives for $19.99... but I didn't need three, since I already had a couple that are lost in the house -- and that's not counting the one I lent my husband, which he promptly misplaced).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[sakayume]

I can't say I'm happy, and I agree that the value proposition of the M200 is looking increasingly poor with each price increase. The Souverans, to me, already are veblen goods, so my feelings on price increases on them are that Pelikan is well aware how much people are willing to pay for such, considering the successes of all the limited/special editions they've released recently. That being said, I'm unlikely to buy another new Pelikan. I've always thought the traditional Pelikan colours and binde ugly, and the special editions, while often appealing, are usually released in the 800 size, which is too big and heavy for me so I am not at all tempted. Now that I've typed all this, Pelikan will surely release another m101n edition to tempt me into poverty.

[max dog]

I think more than just keeping up with inflation, Pelikan is trying to maintain it's stature as a higher end luxury brand, and adjusting their pricing accordingly. Their M800 pricing must keep up with the 146 and Homo Sapiens or else they may be viewed as offering an inferior product. You set your own worth in a sense. Then the prestige of the higher end Souveran's can justify the M200 pricing. Pelikan likely don't want their M200 to compete with TWSBI's ECO or 580, but rather offer a steel nibbed piston filler for people seeking a more upscale steel nibbed piston filler. There is a niche market in every price range. German made, rich heritage in fountain pen manufacture, image etc all drive a premium.

Edited February 1, 2016 by max dog

[proton007]

All the more reason to go for a 50s M400. There are plenty of those around.

[Lam1]

While I'm also not happy, I must admit that they probably know what they are doing (market research and all that), and they probably also don't need my money.

 

While they are still my favorite brand, and the M800 is still my favorite overall pen, I just can't keep up with the their price increases and the number of special editions they are releasing per year. I'll probably still grab a couple more M800s (I don't have black and green), but right now several other brands are looking increasingly attractive.

I mean, the special edition M120, with a steel nib, priced at €189 !! Wasn't that a school pen back in the day?

[encremental]

In itself, I don't think the price rise is especially significant - Pelikan do it at least once a year now, and although Nibs.com is the first with the good news, I'm sure it won't be long before Niche Pens send me an email encouraging me to buy before prices go up. And as usual, I'll dither, then decide not to buy and regret it a week later and begin scurrying round the net for a pen at the old price!

 

It's the larger picture I can't quite get my head round. I don't think that Pelikan, or at least the fine writing division, are actually doing that well. They've really sharpened up in some areas - this past year's stream of interesting colourways has certainly pleased fans, and I think they have sold well, and after a rocky start, the Edelstein line is now really popular, too.

 

But at the same time, just look at what's been happening within the rest of the range; it's slash and burn all the way. Limited editions are now a thing of the past (was the last one the 101N Lizard that had a diamond on it somewhere?). If you've got a Mausoleum at Halicarnassus shaped hole on your mantelpiece, I'm betting it will stay empty. All silver capped, vermeil and solid silver pens (Majesty etc) have gone, the lovely metal bodied M215 line has been axed (my absolute favourite). The M300 is green/black only now, not even keeping plain black as a standard colour. The only weirdie left is the silver Ductus , and if you want one of those, I don't think you should hang about.

 

And then there are those nibs. Interchangeable nibs are Pelikan's USP, and not keeping (or even expanding) the range even if only for special orders seems crazy, not least because they actually make the things rather than just buying them in (although that's another story).

 

It's all very well comparing them to Montblanc, but so many companies want that MB gravy without the bother of providing the MB potatoes, by which I mean the shops, the staff, the healthcare, the prime locations, the stream of completely different models, the advertising, the celebrity fees and of course the piles and piles and piles of white cotton gloves No wonder the pens are so expensive! Pelikan has the quality, but seems to fall down mostly with their distribution model (at least outside Germany). Lamy looksto be doing OK, and from where I'm sitting I can walk to perhaps eight different shops if I have an urge for a Safari. Pelikan? Harrods, The Pen Shop, Penfriend (all tube rides) or mail order and that's it. They can't even seem to get in the big London department stores ...

 

Changing colours on established lines is all very well, but I'm not sure how much longer it will keep me interested. I do love the M101B line and have hopes for the new green one I've heard may be coming, but getting new Pelikans as a matter of course isn't a given any more at these prices. Currently, buying a burnt orange M800 isn't as tempting as a Delta Dolcevita oversize at half the price and with a Bock nib that is strangely reminiscent of a Pelikan nib from ten years ago! Oh well, stuff happens....

 

John

[jkingrph]

Montblanc has been off my radar for some time now, unless I come across a pristine previously owened pen I would like. I think with this price increase new Pelikan's will enter that category, the Grand Place in the mail will probably be my last new Pelikan.

 

My collecting dollars will probably revert to old rifles and double barrel shotguns. I honestly wish that for investment purposes I had purchased a couple of small gauge Parker double guns a few years back vs all the fountain pens.

 

Fountain pens have only one advantage, I can use the daily, almost anywhere.

Edited February 1, 2016 by jkingrph

[zuhandensein]

I'll admit that I'm pretty grumpy about the concept. I have only one "new" Pelikan -- an M200 Café Crème -- and I saved around $30-40 US from ordering from Rolf Thiel off of one of his Ebay listings, rather than buying from one of the US dealers. I don't see the price I paid as "entry level". Entry level to what. precisely? Sorry, no. My NOS $9 Parker Vector that I bought about a decade ago (and was freaking a bit about how much I paid -- just for a pen). That's "entry level". A Pilot Varsity is "entry level". And now they're talking about raising their prices *again*? (Didn't they just do that a year or so ago?)

The way companies like BIC took over the writing instruments market was by making millions and millions of low-cost BPs. I just looked at the Staples website and you can buy a box of 60 BIC pens for $5.29 US -- that's less than 10¢ apiece; on Amazon, a Pelikano Junior is $12.21. For one pen. THAT is an entry level price -- maybe. But the price of an M200? Entry level for whom? People who are upgrading from their Vectors and their Varsities and their Lamy Safaris? That's not entry level -- that's upgrading. Not the same thing at all.

 

 

Well, in my opinion 'entry level' to the Souveran range, not to fountain pens as such. I am not sure if I used the best term, probably not, but 'low-end' pen could be also inaccurate, as Pelikan also produces cheaper pens... All these terms are somehow relative.

 

What I wanted to say is that by its own nature and manufacture quality the M200 does not qualify as a luxury item, i.e an item where the price you pay is part of the symbolic value of what you get (and even that has a limit). Don't get me wrong, my M200 was a pain in my pocket and among my other pens is one of the best and certainly qualifies as a 'luxury' item in my house... but this not precludes the fact that is a basic pen for daily use, which is a category in which value for price is still quite crucial.

[tragique]

The price of modern Pelikans is one reason why I ended up going (semi-)vintage for my first Pelikan. A NOS, stickered, and in original box M400+K400 set cost me just under $175 shipped. It even has the "W.-Germany" writing on the clip bands. I don't think I could find a modern and unused M400 for that price, let alone a set.

[Lam1]

The price of modern Pelikans is one reason why I ended up going (semi-)vintage for my first Pelikan. A NOS, stickered, and in original box M400+K400 set cost me just under $175 shipped. It even has the "W.-Germany" writing on the clip bands. I don't think I could find a modern and unused M400 for that price, let alone a set.

 

You certainly can find the FP only for a little less or about that price (I bought a red one two weeks ago for about $ 160) . For the set I think it is impossible (but the price you paid is way below market prices, so you got lucky).

Edited February 1, 2016 by Lam1

[sirgilbert357]

Bad news for me...I have been eyeing a green striped M400, but was waiting for a 15% off sale from PenChalet or something. If they go up another 10%, I'm not sure I'll ever buy one...hmmm.

[Ajax22]

And then there are those nibs. Interchangeable nibs are Pelikan's USP, and not keeping (or even expanding) the range even if only for special orders seems crazy, not least because they actually make the things rather than just buying them in (although that's another story).

 

...

 

Changing colours on established lines is all very well, but I'm not sure how much longer it will keep me interested. I do love the M101B line and have hopes for the new green one I've heard may be coming, but getting new Pelikans as a matter of course isn't a given any more at these prices. Currently, buying a burnt orange M800 isn't as tempting as a Delta Dolcevita oversize at half the price and with a Bock nib that is strangely reminiscent of a Pelikan nib from ten years ago! Oh well, stuff happens....

 

I think that you really hit the nail on the head here. The number of special releases in 2015 was, I'd say, fatiguing (and 2016 isn't looking any better). The new resin coming out of Hanover is all very nice, but there's just too much. What I think could really revive the line is special order nibs. I mean, what if they had an in house nib specialist from whom you could get that coveted xxxf nib or the 1.3 mm stub that would be just perfect with your m600? I would gladly pay a good to get a new nib that basically makes it a whole new writing instrument from Pelikan, and I think it could be a major area of growth for them.

[parnesh]

Definitely more Japanese pens and fewer "new" Pels in the future for me.