Disappointed In Mb Customer Service

[meiers]

Take the pen to a pen show where Richard Binder goes, and ask him to adjust it for you.

 

Linda and Mike from Indy-Pen-Dance should be good, too.

 

Cost is about 25-40 USD.

 

Montblanc repair is BAD, their EF nib exchange for my 1912 is ridiculous.

They have always done a stellar job on my nib exchanges. (4 in total). If you are not satisfied, let them know. They will make it right.

[jhsd1124013561]

They have always done a stellar job on my nib exchanges. (4 in total). If you are not satisfied, let them know. They will make it right.

 

Unfortunately, their job for me is quite unsatisfying, they installed an EF nib like this to my 1912:

 

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/314684-a-warning-for-montblanc-nib-replacement-service/

 

And I asked to change it back, the nib is not aligned.

 

The exchange time is quite long and I would rather do the alignment by myself

[nishantdr83]

In recent times, MB have quoted me 1050 USD for a nib exchange on Dumas, 1060 usd for my Oppenheim 888 and a whopping 1500 on my 333 Skeleton.

 

To say that their management has gone mad is an understatement.

 

Compared to that, 350 bucks feels like a deal.

[Amit.]

It seems they wanted to discourage you to go far a nib exchange, and earn a good amount in case you still went ahead.

In recent times, MB have quoted me 1050 USD for a nib exchange on Dumas, 1060 usd for my Oppenheim 888 and a whopping 1500 on my 333 Skeleton.

To say that their management has gone mad is an understatement.

Compared to that, 350 bucks feels like a deal.

[Michael R.]

Free nib exchanges are offered for a limited period of time after original purchase.

 

The above quoted costs are basically bying a new nib...

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[jhsd1124013561]

Free nib exchanges are offered for a limited period of time after original purchase.

 

The above quoted costs are basically bying a new nib...

 

Cheers

 

Michael

Hey Mike, I think you meant, that 1000USD plus price is about buying a new pen （instead of nib）

[jhsd1124013561]

In recent times, MB have quoted me 1050 USD for a nib exchange on Dumas, 1060 usd for my Oppenheim 888 and a whopping 1500 on my 333 Skeleton.

 

To say that their management has gone mad is an understatement.

 

Compared to that, 350 bucks feels like a deal.

 

That is more ridiculous than the stub nib that was installed on my 1912 when I asked to exchange for an EF nib.....

[Uncial]

I exchanged a Dostoevsky nib in the last year from a damaged fine nib to a double broad and wasn't charged anything even close to the prices listed above. Those prices sound like someone is on the make.

As an aside, my ef 1912 has the same stubby look. Writes just fine for me but alas, no stubby quality to the writing.

[jhsd1124013561]

For the 1912 EF nib, I personally dislike it, and I prefer the old style Montblanc EF nib, both the look and the way it writes.

 

The EF nib then exchanged back to Fine nib, but the tines were not aligned, I will try to find some picture that I took last year tonight.

[Uncial]

That's a shame; the 1912 is a really wonderful pen. I felt it was very much overlooked.

The ef on mine still writes like an ef. I think there is no stubby aspect when writing because the nib is so bouncy.

From what's posted here on FPN the US Montblanc centres certainly seem spotty in terms of service, but I can honestly say I've had nothing but stellar service from them here in Europe.

[jhsd1124013561]

I like the pen very much, too.

 

The 1912's nib is really nice, with the bouncy nature

 

I took care of the alignment myself and the pen is a daily use one.

 

I think the EF nib grinding has changed to the stubby look ones now, I personally don't like the way it looks or writes, guess for the Montblanc pens, I would go for F nib in the future for the new pens.

[jmnav]

 

As does everybody else. No one is forced to buy, or use MB.

Buy an MB, and one buys into the ecosystem. This is a choice. Buying in, and complaining about it is, it seems to me, irrational.

 

It isn't, by a long margin.

 

On one hand, not everybody is able -or inclined, to make a deep survey on all aspects of a business before engaging a relationship. That a business tries to take advantage of that, offering a face at first contact that doesn't correspond to its after-sales behaviour is, of course, their free right, as it is the free right of both customers and bystanders to express their opinion about it, it doesn't matter if it's a luxury brand not being up (to someone's opinion) to the provoked expectactions or a fruit seller showing his best fruits to the bypasser but then putting in your bag rotten pieces when you are not looking at.

 

On the other hand, I don't see how this should be black-or-white: I may like some aspects of someone's business and still dislike some others, or I may see the potential of someone's business and how they (IMHO) fail for it. How do you expect for me to express concern and for the company to know about it? Should I buy nine pens and then steal one to let them know I'm only 90% satisfied with the way they behave?

Edited November 14, 2018 by jmnav

[jhsd1124013561]

That's a shame; the 1912 is a really wonderful pen. I felt it was very much overlooked.

The ef on mine still writes like an ef. I think there is no stubby aspect when writing because the nib is so bouncy.

From what's posted here on FPN the US Montblanc centres certainly seem spotty in terms of service, but I can honestly say I've had nothing but stellar service from them here in Europe.

 

Here is the off-centered nib that was changed back.

 

[Cyrille81]

It is now really common for lot of company to charge you something if you refuse the quote to repair and to have your goods back. You have this for high-tech products and domestic electrical.

[Honeybadgers]

MB repair has its ups and downs, like any service.

 

What I find hilarious is how staunch some people are in defending the need to replace a nib with misaligned tines. Brand loyalty is stupid, guys. Bad practices can never be made better unless they are called out. If MB thought they were not the right people for the service (i.e they don't WANT to just tune a nib) they should have pointed him to a reputable nibmeister. I'd expect any good mechanic to do the same.

 

If someone calls 911, I show up. 80% of the time they do NOT need an ambulance. Part of being a good paramedic is knowing when to tell my patient when they do not need my services. I could just be a good boy and do like my company asks and just transport everyone who calls 911 no questions asked. But giving people thousands of dollars in unnecessary debt makes me sick to my stomach. I will offer alternatives if appropriate, including staying home if they just ate too many pot brownies, or maybe having a friend or family member drive them, or calling them a taxi and waiting with them until the cab gets there. I've even paid for the taxi myself.

 

Good customer service is the kind that knows when to not even charge a customer for minor work. That's the kind of service that keeps me coming back as a customer. Y'all are falling into the same pitfall of "it's your fault, you bought an expensive product, it should be expensive to fix!" that apple pulls. Companies like Goulet, who know when to just eat a little cost here and there, have earned WAY more than what they've spent on placating me as a happy customer when something isn't right, in repeat sales. If they were just another company I probably would buy from more varied retailers. But they've spent several hundred dollars on me in shipping, refunds, and even going so far as to throw a $100 visconti pen case in with my return/replace order once visconti told me to pound sand. As such, they've earned that money several fold over again. If I got told that it was going to be $350 to "replace" a nib that didn't need replacement, and was not given any further info, I'd probably never do business with that company again. People like Greg Minuskin have probably lost thousands of dollars from me in repeat sales for refusing to fix problems they caused.

Edited November 16, 2018 by Honeybadgers

[jhsd1124013561]

After:

 

1. I asked for nib exchange from F to EF and Montblanc install an EF shapes like a stub nib

2. I asked to change back to F and Montblanc installed the nib with big align issue

 

I decided to take care of things on my own, don't trust the US service center any more.

[Honeybadgers]

As you shouldn't. If they refuse to fix it on their dime, they aren't worth it.

 

I personally wouldn't use MB for any out of warranty work that wasn't their major restoration service (i.e. I have a junk pen with a good nib and want it rebuilt)

[jmnav]

As you shouldn't. If they refuse to fix it on their dime, they aren't worth it.

 

I personally wouldn't use MB for any out of warranty work that wasn't their major restoration service (i.e. I have a junk pen with a good nib and want it rebuilt)

 

Humm... I wouldn't call them for a restoration either, but just replacement. Just try to ask them for a restoration of a 1950's 146 -I bet it would be funny!

[OTDoc]

MB repair has its ups and downs, like any service.

 

What I find hilarious is how staunch some people are in defending the need to replace a nib with misaligned tines. Brand loyalty is stupid, guys. Bad practices can never be made better unless they are called out. If MB thought they were not the right people for the service (i.e they don't WANT to just tune a nib) they should have pointed him to a reputable nibmeister. I'd expect any good mechanic to do the same.

 

I had this sort of experience with Pelikan once. They told me they could only replace a nib and it would be expensive and take a long while. As a result they recommended a couple of good nibmeisters as an option and sent the pen back free of charge since they couldn't fix it. Didn't even charge me for return shipping. Very nice experience and I will continue to buy Pelikan pens. I like Montblancs but have definitely decided not to use them for service anymore unless I am willing to buy my pen from them again. Given the price, it would be nice if I could keep the old nib but alas.... I wonder how much money they make from recycling/reselling that material.

[oldrifleman]

I had this sort of experience with Pelikan once. They told me they could only replace a nib and it would be expensive and take a long while. As a result they recommended a couple of good nibmeisters as an option and sent the pen back free of charge since they couldn't fix it. Didn't even charge me for return shipping. Very nice experience and I will continue to buy Pelikan pens. I like Montblancs but have definitely decided not to use them for service anymore unless I am willing to buy my pen from them again. Given the price, it would be nice if I could keep the old nib but alas.... I wonder how much money they make from recycling/reselling that material.

Reality is that the material value of a nib is pretty limited. They only weight about a gram so the value of the Gold would be around $30 USD.