Why Are Ef Nibs So Much More Expensive

[averagefountainpenuser]

Hi

Just got my first Safari (Petrol edition) with an EF nib. Pretty happy with it. However, one thing struck me when I was looking for it was that the pen with an EF nib always costed more than with the standard medium or fine nib. For example, on penheaven, a fine nib cost £0,9 while an EF adds £9 to the bill. On eBay, the replacement nibs also have a difference: all other nibs cost around £6, EF nibs (if you can find them start at £10). Why that difference?

[dcwaites]

Have a look around at different vendors. For some, there is no difference in price, some have a $1 increase, others, more.

Is it justified? Probably. An EF nib is harder to grind and make smooth than larger sizes. If you are not careful, you end up with no tipping left.

[RMN]

I think it may have to do with the fact that Lamy (temporarily?) stopped sending EF nibs to the US.

 

I suppose shops tried to find secondary sources at premium prices?

 

 

 

D.ick

[pitonyak]

Goulet pens sells the steel nibs for the same price ($14); the same price for EF as the other nibs. I also searched their pens and the pens with an EF nib are the same price as the other pens.

 

If they sell fewer EF nibs, then maybe that is why they charge more for the pens. Is the Manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) greater? I did not see an MSRP listed on their web site, so I have no idea if Lamy charges more to the dealers, but, it seems unlikely.

[Calabria]

Pelikan has started charging a premium on

EF nibs. Maybe some Lamy retailers are following suit to make an extra buck?

[FrankvK]

Spare EF nibs are priced higher than for example a Mediume nib when a vendor buys these at Lamy (at least in this part or Europe)

That has been the case for years, not connected to the shortage of EF nibs last year.

[MomoShinChan]

I think this is more about economies of scale. The demand for EF nibs for European/American? manufacturers is lower, so they produce fewer with higher cost. For Japanese manufacturers, EF are common as it is required to write Kanji (Chinese characters) so they can produce it in larger quantity thus lowering the cost.

[sciumbasci]

I think this is more about economies of scale. The demand for EF nibs for European/American? manufacturers is lower, so they produce fewer with higher cost. For Japanese manufacturers, EF are common as it is required to write Kanji (Chinese characters) so they can produce it in larger quantity thus lowering the cost.

Not sure this is the case. Wasn't Lamy focusing their EF nibs toward Asia, cutting supply to the rest of the world?

IMHO it has to do with the production process, or maybe the machines used.

[putteringpenman]

I got an EF Lamy Safari from the Anderson Pens Chicago store two weeks ago. It was the same cost as the other nib sizes. I think the cost between nib sizes depends on the retailer.

[twdpens]

I got an EF Lamy Safari from the Anderson Pens Chicago store two weeks ago. It was the same cost as the other nib sizes. I think the cost between nib sizes depends on the retailer.

As Frank from Fontoplumo wrote above, the dealer price for EF nibs is higher than for other grades and it's been this way for a few years now. Most retailers will pass this onto the customer, some may choose not to. Also, the situation in the USA is somewhat different as Lamy uses a distribution company and that company will be mostly free to set its own prices. Therefore, fine, medium and broad nibs are probably the same price as EF, rather than the other way round.

 

HTH,

 

Martin

[Ron Z]

The reason may be that while wider nibs can be ground using automated machinery, extra find nibs are harder to do, and need to be ground by hand, so higher costs.

[Calabria]

The reason may be that while wider nibs can be ground using automated machinery, extra find nibs are harder to do, and need to be ground by hand, so higher costs.

I do have a 2K EF nib that has an incredibly finely ground tip, with a perfectly centered slit - and often wonder how that was made. Probably ground to EF after making the slit. I'd pay more for that. The Safari nibs are not comparable though

[pajaro]

Maybe some of the EF nibs are machine made, particularly the less expensive ones. I would guess the pricier ones are made with a lot of handwork. Lamy Safari EF nibs are pretty fine nibs and $11. I have a Lamy 2000 with an EF nib, and that nib is finer than the Safari, and I mean that the 2000 EF nib writes a very thin line. It costs a lot more than the Safari, but it is gold.

 

If it is smoothness and a thin line width you are after, you might try a fine stub. I have a couple of these, and one of them, a Parker Sonnet with an 18K fine stub, writes a thinner line than any of my EFs. Thinner than the Sonnet 18K EF. It wasn't any more expensive than any of the other 18K nibs I bought for Sonnet. The Sonnet it is in doesn't actually dry up overnight.

[prashant.tikekar]

I do have a 2K EF nib that has an incredibly finely ground tip, with a perfectly centered slit - and often wonder how that was made. Probably ground to EF after making the slit. I'd pay more for that. The Safari nibs are not comparable though

Lamy 2000 and Dialog3 are by far the most lovely EFs that I have. And surprisingly I have not paid premium for EF nibs as there was not extra cost for EF nibs in high end Lamys unlike Safari and Al star.

[sciumbasci]

Lamy 2000 snd Dialog 3 nibs are outsourced

[Jamerelbe]

Lamy 2000 snd Dialog 3 nibs are outsourced

 

That's not a claim I've heard before - I'd be interested to know what your source is for it? My understanding was that Lamy make their own steel and gold nibs. The Dialog 3 nib uses the same gold nib that's sometimes sold with limited edition Studios - it's essentially the same shape as the steel z50 nibs.

[prashant.tikekar]

Lamy 2000 snd Dialog 3 nibs are outsourced

Never heard that Lamy outsources any nibs.

[RMN]

Lamy 2000 snd Dialog 3 nibs are outsourced

 

I doubt that very much.

 

Dialog 3 nibs are of the Z55 type, identical to all current gold nibs (except for the different Lamy 2000 nibs).

They are even exchangeable with the Safaris.

 

Lamy claims (in the recent interview with Brian Goulet) to make everything in house.

 

 

 

 

D.ick

[sciumbasci]

Double checked, I stand corrected! Sorry!