Where To Get A Brand New Pelikan M800?

[Kodachrome64]

Cultpens has some pretty good prices, and from what I've heard they're a good company. I don't have personal experience ordering from them though.

[georgeb]

I bought a Pelikan M805 from Martemodena, there was no customs charge.

I am in the US.

[masterguns]

I've bought from all the vendors mentioned above. Regina is a delight to deal with. Recently I bought a pen from Print Hardcopy and was very pleased with the service and quick shipping.

Every time I have bought from Martemodena, I've got hit with customs charges. I think US customs looks at their stuff more closely for some reason. I don't order from them anymore.

 

 

 

 

The one pen I bought from Martemodena was shipped using DHL (express or priority) and it's the only time I've ever been charged customs. I don't know if it was a DHL thing or a Martemodena thing.

 

 

Actually. The only time I have ever been charged customs are the two times I ordered from Martemodina.

 

I bought one pen from Martemodena, and then recieved a customs bill a week later. A bit of research led me to believe DHL is the primary cause, which Martemodena uses exclusively to the US (I believe). The added customs expense made the pen not such a good deal in hindsight. I have not ordered another pen from them for this reason. Its not MM's fault, but an added ~$25-40 keeps me away.

[sargetalon]

Customs fees are hit and miss. My last order from MarteModena did not incur them but they do use DHL and so there is a higher risk of customs charges in my experience. This is the only shipping service that has resulted in a customs bill for me. No fault of MarteModenas. Not as great a deal but still makes the pens usually much cheaper than what is available domestically.

[Mulrich]

For what its worth I contested my customs fee from DHL (still waiting for response). I was charged $28 USD ($17 customs, $11 for payment deferment). The customs fee was double what it should have been (5.4% instead of 2.7%) since MM labeled the contents as a "Pen" instead of "Fountain Pen". Additionally I don't understand how I can be charged for deferred payment if I was never given an opportunity to pay without the deferment.

 

In my calculation I should have only paid $8.5, we'll see what DHL says back.

[BayesianPrior]

For what its worth I contested my customs fee from DHL (still waiting for response). I was charged $28 USD ($17 customs, $11 for payment deferment). The customs fee was double what it should have been (5.4% instead of 2.7%) since MM labeled the contents as a "Pen" instead of "Fountain Pen". Additionally I don't understand how I can be charged for deferred payment if I was never given an opportunity to pay without the deferment.

 

In my calculation I should have only paid $8.5, we'll see what DHL says back.

 

I find it fascinating that the 'powers that be' see fit to apply different rates of import duty for 'pens' and 'fountain pens.'

 

To be clear, I don't doubt what you say at all. I'm just fascinated...

[MarkTrain]

For what I understand packages sent by courier services such as DHL do not actually go through US customs but are handled by way of an expediter which guesstimates the custom charge and pays the fee . The expediter then charges you an additional fee for this service. The expediter also is more likely to charge custom fees as compared to the post office and more likely to overcharge. The advantage is that the package comes in days instead of weeks. So you get what you pay for. Also note there is a minimum threshold for custom charges. It was $200 but I think that went up a month or two ago.

 

 

Edit: The new threshold is $800 for import to US.

Edited May 9, 2016 by MarkTrain

[Mulrich]

 

I find it fascinating that the 'powers that be' see fit to apply different rates of import duty for 'pens' and 'fountain pens.'

 

To be clear, I don't doubt what you say at all. I'm just fascinated...

 

 

This being the only time I've been charged a customs duty I was annoyed and looked up the customs rate from the US Customs Service. I don't get why there would be a difference but I'm sure there's some lobbyist out there who's happy about it.

[Mulrich]

For what I understand packages sent by courier services such as DHL do not actually go through US customs but are handled by way of an expediter which guesstimates the custom charge and pays the fee . The expediter then charges you an additional fee for this service. The expediter also is more likely to charge custom fees as compared to the post office and more likely to overcharge. The advantage is that the package comes in days instead of weeks. So you get what you pay for. Also note there is a minimum threshold for custom charges. It was $200 but I think that went up a month or two ago.

 

 

Edit: The new threshold is $800 for import to US.

 

Dang, looks like the change went into effect in late February and my package was shipped in January. On the bright side, with an $800 threshold, I should never have to worry about customs fees again.

[biancitwo]

I ordered one M600 from Martemodena at a great price. Through DHL, it arrived within 4 days from Italy, with no customs charges. I will definitely buy from them again.

[Christopher Godfrey]

Yinxzon, did you buy an 800 yet? As someone else mentioned earlier, there have been various 800s/1000s for sale recently in our own "classifieds" section -- offered by BillP, with whom I have no affiliation...but he must certainly be worth investigating?