Office Christmas Gifts -- Help Me Pick The Pens.

[CaliforniaJed]

So every year I buy a Christmas gift for each person on my team -- about 15 folks, and I spend around $25 on each gift. For the past two years, I have bought everyone a gift card to a really great espresso bar near our office. I am thinking this year, though, I might buy everyone a fountain pen in this price range. Obvious choice is a Lamy Safari, and I may end up going that route, but I would love alternative suggestions. (Note: I want whatever pen I choose to be relatively easy to own and write with, but it would be great to find something unique/colorful/interesting.)

 

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

[Betweenthelines]

In my opinion the Safari looks like a dog's chew toy or a toddler's marker.. I would instead personally go for the pilot Metropolitan in various colors and include a pack of cartridges. Again in my opinion the Metropolitan is far more classy and traditional and might be appealing to more folks

[ac12]

+1 on the Pilot Metro.

The Lamy Safari, while a good pen, looks like a school pen because of the plastic construction.

In comparison, the Metro looks like an office pen.

But then maybe the personality of your group would match the Safari.

 

I would NOT get the TWSBI Eco. Good pen, but then you force them to ink from a bottle, and that might be a deal breaker for some people.

[zwack]

I would go with the Ohto Dude or the Platinum Plaisir either one with a box of cartridges would work...

[ac12]

The Ohto Dude looks like a nice pen

I may have to get one for myself.

Edited July 15, 2016 by ac12

[ISW_Kaputnik]

I don't much like the Metropolitan, finding it uncomfortable to hold with that step between the barrel and section. On the other hand, a lot of people do seem to like it, it comes with a converter, and at that price you could probably throw in a bottle of ink and still come in around $25.

 

There are the plastic versions of the Kaweco Sport, but they are already at $25 before you buy a converter for them, or even the pocket clip.

 

Ohto has some pens in that range. The Rook is a neat little pen. Standard international cartridges only, no converter available, not suitable for eyedroppering.

[AndyYNWA]

Faber-Castell Loom is an option. Comes in many different colours, so you can personalise the gift. Takes standard international cartridges/converters.

[jar]

As much as I love fountain pens I'd stick with Espresso.

[CaliforniaJed]

As much as I love fountain pens I'd stick with Espresso.

LOL Thanks for the honest feedback! :-)

[CaliforniaJed]

Wow, thanks all for the great feedback. Much appreciated!

[sirgilbert357]

As much as I love fountain pens I'd stick with Espresso.

 

+1.

 

Infect those that show interest on a case by case basis -- stick to the coffee for the annual gift. Or do a different gift card of some sort if you want to change it up.

[sharonspens]

For that many people, especially if they have not generally shown interest in FPs, I would be more prone to consider a BP or RB. I'd choose something inexpensive enough that you could also provide a refill (i.e., a big hint that this is NOT a throwaway pen!). Go with a variety of colors if possible, so they can distinguish their pens from each other. I find folks are more likely to use such a pen, even if on a periodic basis.

 

Then, as others have noted, I would work on infecting the group by some insidious method, like leaving Zebras or Preppys out for common usage.

 

Sharon in Indiana

[mmg122]

Jinhao X450 with a package of ink cartridges...well behaved pen...comes in large variety of colors...comes with a convertor. Carried by several US retailers including Goulet and Vanness. Anyone who doesn't like it can regift it at "graduation time". Just a thought.

[CaliforniaJed]

Thanks again for all the comments. I am surprised, though, that you all are clearly not as subversive as I am! :-) Many of you seem way to considerate of co-workers not wanting to try FPs! ;-)

[CaliforniaJed]

Anyone who doesn't like it can regift it at "graduation time". Just a thought.

I like the way you think. :-)

[Runnin_Ute]

Thanks again for all the comments. I am surprised, though, that you all are clearly not as subversive as I am! :-) Many of you seem way to considerate of co-workers not wanting to try FPs! ;-)

Perhaps for those who have shown interest in fp's give a fp. For the others, a rollerball.

[FOUR X FOUR]

If you have the time to put alittle thought into it, you could mix up the pens. Maybe one person gets a twsbi Eco. Maybe someone gets a Schrade tactical fountain pen.maybe sone one who isn't that big into pens, gets a platinum preppy with a bottle of some nice ink. Could even be Mont Blanc ink. Another idea would be to get every one a pilot metro and a bottle of Noodlers ink.

[marcelo]

So every year I buy a Christmas gift for each person on my team -- about 15 folks, and I spend around $25 on each gift. For the past two years, I have bought everyone a gift card to a really great espresso bar near our office. I am thinking this year, though, I might buy everyone a fountain pen in this price range. Obvious choice is a Lamy Safari, and I may end up going that route, but I would love alternative suggestions. (Note: I want whatever pen I choose to be relatively easy to own and write with, but it would be great to find something unique/colorful/interesting.)

 

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

 

Hi CJ! Nice to read from you here!

Wish I had at least one coworker like you.

Best!

Marcelo

[sharonspens]

Thanks again for all the comments. I am surprised, though, that you all are clearly not as subversive as I am! :-) Many of you seem way to considerate of co-workers not wanting to try FPs! ;-)

 

My response is based on having given two Sheaffers, along with ink and very detailed written instructions on how to use/clean them, to two colleagues as a thank-you for all of their work. I would not be surprised if neither pen has come out of the box (they live in different states from me, so i will never know). I would like the pens to get used, so I don't give FPs unless I have already infected the recipient or I know he/she already uses them. I would prefer the gift be used and not stored away.

[sandy101]

The new Parker jotter ball point are very nice. I got one. They're metal rather than plastic, which means they are more durable and there's a nice range of colours. OK, they're not FPs, but they do look good - a nd fine stationery is fine stationery.

 

If you want to go down the FP route, then I agree that the safari looks a bit too much like a school pen. I note that you can get a Cross Classic Century Chrome, with steel nib for $19 at Amazon USA and there's a Pilot Prera and Pilot Cavalier (not heard of that one before) that also come below $20.