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Mb Nib Exchange - What Is Going On?

kelvinkeh

By kelvinkeh
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Tom Kellie Donor Pen

Tom Kellie

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Posted

Tom,

 

The issue is magnified by the fact that there is no new break through in technology that is being applied. Nor is it something that the company has just started doing that is unprecedented within their industry. Neither customer service or gold plating is a recent development only enabled by a stunning breakthrough in R & D.

 

Alan

 

 

This is starting to sound like a Company that charges a premium price for it's pens based on their premium reputation and premium service, whereas in fact, their service and their products are no longer in the premium category. :(

 

I think it's just that they now hold form or design in higher regard over utility. They manufacture pieces like no other, like art on a canvas-and only they can do it. Their highest 'tranche' of income are at the end of the day from pens that are never meant to be really used.

 

Just an opinion of how 'they' might think, not condoning it.

 

~ All of you are right...romad119, Chrissy and Pravda.

There's a faint whiff of the elegiac, which one hopes is premature.

The finest surprise for year's end and 2018 wouldn't be a fleet of grail pens to delight all, but a renewed commitment to superb service and quality for every customer.

I hope that our friends -kk- and BillH will eventually have the pleasurable writing experience they sought.

Tom K.

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Chrissy Museum Piece

Chrissy

Posted
Posted

It is actually appalling @ any price level; I sent a MB 146 to Texas, after confirming the price of a replacement nib (a NOS, but out of time frame for nib replacement) two summers ago. I agreed to pay almost $300.00 for an OBB nib, with agreement they would retain my never used, nor inked nib. "It is just our policy, you understand, we are NOT selling you a NEW nib, that would be a considerably higher charge."

 

The pen was returned with a nib that did not look significantly larger than the medium nib on my other 146, that I had also sent for level one service, repair of a faulty piston. I called & spoke to my same Agent & she checked the work order & agreed they had not installed what I had requested, nor what was on the work order she had turned in to the Service Department. I again paid Fed Ex's charge to return the pen, for it's second visit & later received the correct nib. I had to return it again last Summer, for reattachment of the small plastic ring that sits atop the section holding the nib, when it became loose & merely held in place by the nib itself.

 

I did receive my pen with the plastic ring reattached & felt lucky to have done so. I did however feel that this was not a level of service, I would have expected. I enjoy the two 146 pens, the only ones I have, but do not have any interest in purchasing more. Because these are merely the standard line of pens they offer, they are not however inexpensive, nor the cost of the nib replacement; I don't have interest to spend thousands more dollars to test whether the service would be improved by purchasing one of their Special Edition pens.

 

I wanted to & did, purchase a variety of pens from different manufacturers when I began this adventure; this is my only experience with Montblanc's service, but it is an experience I have not encountered with other pens from different companies. I consider having the nib of your choice to be a "given" when purchase of a pen & it should not become an experience described by previous posts in this thread. I offer my example as merely my experience when dealing with the one of their "lower price points," to show that it is perhaps not one that varies between "price points," @ the Texas facility, but is merely the average experience for some of us.

 

I feel very sad that having to return pens for a second service attempt seems to be almost as commonplace as not having to return them for another attempt.

 

I can confirm that I bought a new 147 from a 'non-boutique' source. However, it was obviously a brand new pen, and I had proof of my purchase. So it was sent to Montblanc (Hamburg) for a nib replacement via my favourite boutique from whom I mostly buy inks nowadays. That was returned with a replacement nib and there was no charge.

 

I now feel that I was extremely lucky. :)

 

I can no longer afford to buy Montblanc pens, and for now I'm happy to live with those that I have. Ultimately, they will be sold when I'm either too old, or no longer care, to write with them. :)

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Tom Kellie Donor Pen

Tom Kellie

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Posted (edited)

I can no longer afford to buy Montblanc pens, and for now I'm happy to live with those that I have. Ultimately, they will be sold when I'm either too old, or no longer care, to write with them. :)

 

 

~ Chrissy:

 

Like you, I'm happy to live with the ones I have.

What you've written above resonates with me.

My future purchase Montblanc dreams involve downsizing to a nib or two in pre-owned pens, plus retaining what's already on my desk.

Someday I'd like to slip into “What's your most recent MB purchase 2017?” with something small yet interesting.

Thank you for expressing what I've been feeling.

Tom K.

Edited by Tom Kellie
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Dcharles Mint

Dcharles

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Posted

This is starting to sound like a Company that charges a premium price for it's pens based on their premium reputation and premium service, whereas in fact, their service and their products are no longer in the premium category. :(

+1

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BillH Collectors Item

BillH

Posted
Posted

As an update, today I received my MB 149 Rose Gold O3B with a very lovely nib free of the issues seen on the first one that was sent. I am quite happy with this one, have emailed my vendor to tell him of my satisfaction with this pen but even more so his VERY fast handling of the problem, and the fast shipping getting it from NL to Rattlesnake Junction Idaho in 2 days...most impressive!

 

Inked with JFK and it writes quite as well as I'd hoped.

 

I love happy endings :)

"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working." -Pablo Picasso


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awl1688 Near Mint

awl1688

Posted
Posted

That is wonderful to hear that you were taken care and things are to your satisfaction. Enjoy!

 

As an update, today I received my MB 149 Rose Gold O3B with a very lovely nib free of the issues seen on the first one that was sent. I am quite happy with this one, have emailed my vendor to tell him of my satisfaction with this pen but even more so his VERY fast handling of the problem, and the fast shipping getting it from NL to Rattlesnake Junction Idaho in 2 days...most impressive!

 

Inked with JFK and it writes quite as well as I'd hoped.

 

I love happy endings :)

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Tom Kellie Donor Pen

Tom Kellie

Posted
Posted

As an update, today I received my MB 149 Rose Gold O3B with a very lovely nib free of the issues seen on the first one that was sent. I am quite happy with this one, have emailed my vendor to tell him of my satisfaction with this pen but even more so his VERY fast handling of the problem, and the fast shipping getting it from NL to Rattlesnake Junction Idaho in 2 days...most impressive!

 

Inked with JFK and it writes quite as well as I'd hoped.

 

I love happy endings :)

 

 

fpn_1504329200__endings.jpg

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Chrissy Museum Piece

Chrissy

Posted
Posted

As an update, today I received my MB 149 Rose Gold O3B with a very lovely nib free of the issues seen on the first one that was sent. I am quite happy with this one, have emailed my vendor to tell him of my satisfaction with this pen but even more so his VERY fast handling of the problem, and the fast shipping getting it from NL to Rattlesnake Junction Idaho in 2 days...most impressive!

 

Inked with JFK and it writes quite as well as I'd hoped.

 

I love happy endings :)

 

That is good news. :) I'm pleased there was a happy ending. :)

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Ghost Plane Ancient Artifact

Ghost Plane

Posted
Posted

As an update, today I received my MB 149 Rose Gold O3B with a very lovely nib free of the issues seen on the first one that was sent. I am quite happy with this one, have emailed my vendor to tell him of my satisfaction with this pen but even more so his VERY fast handling of the problem, and the fast shipping getting it from NL to Rattlesnake Junction Idaho in 2 days...most impressive!

 

Inked with JFK and it writes quite as well as I'd hoped.

 

I love happy endings :)

Excellent news!
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Ghost Plane Ancient Artifact

Ghost Plane

Posted
Posted

Bill that's is great news indeed. Unfortunately I'm not so lucky, still waiting for a response and fast losing hope.

I'm so sorry they're spoiling the experience for you. I sent a pen back this week because it wasn't done right the first time (service, not nib swap) and it's galling to be without a long anticipated pen just because someone somewhere didn't do their job.

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awl1688 Near Mint

awl1688

Posted
Posted

I hope this changes for you and that MB will come through to make everything right!

 

Bill that's is great news indeed. Unfortunately I'm not so lucky, still waiting for a response and fast losing hope.

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kelvinkeh Near Mint

kelvinkeh

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So.... after using the pen for awhile, the platinum nib on yellow gold 149 is actually growing on me, I'm now caught in two minds as to whether I should return this pen to get the nib swapped to the regular yellow gold trim or keep it as is. It writes fantastically well, and the novelty in having the mismatched nib trim is actually interesting, makes for an understated look.

 

What do you guys think? Should I just hang onto it or send it back?

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zaddick Donor Pen

zaddick

Posted
Posted (edited)

I would keep it. I'd rather have the nib as it is less common.

 

Plus, you could have the rest of the trim plated to match the nib at some point if desired.

Edited by zaddick

If you want less blah, blah, blah and more pictures, follow me on Instagram!

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Kalessin Collectors Item

Kalessin

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Posted

I really like the "mismatched" platinum-trim nib on the gold 149. Especially if it's a good writer, if I had it, I would keep it!

-- Joel -- "I collect expensive and time-consuming hobbies."

 

INK (noun): A villainous compound of tannogallate of iron, gum-arabic and water,

chiefly used to facilitate the infection of idiocy and promote intellectual crime.

(from The Devil's Dictionary, by Ambrose Bierce)

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Tom Kellie Donor Pen

Tom Kellie

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I would keep it. I'd rather have the nib as it is less common.

 

Plus, you could have the rest of the trim plated to match the nib at some point if desired.

 

 

I really like the "mismatched" platinum-trim nib on the gold 149. Especially if it's a good writer, if I had it, I would keep it!

 

+1

Tom K.

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Tom Kellie Donor Pen

Tom Kellie

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I'd like to report back that my ultra black 146 has returned to me with a fresh OM nib in excellent shape. No complaints.

 

 

~ pwsuba:

 

Thank you for sharing positive news with us.

I hope that the OM nib will provide you with many happy hours of satisfying writing.

Tom K.

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Cyrille81 Extremely Rare

Cyrille81

Posted
Posted

I'd like to report back that my ultra black 146 has returned to me with a fresh OM nib in excellent shape. No complaints.

 

Happy for you :)

I'm still waiting for my box of the JFK 1917 after sent back the pen too. I have requested at the same time to check the nib because I wasn't so happy with the way it wrote (often some failed when writing some letters). I hope it will be better when I will have it back.

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