Gifting Throughout The Year

[Diver]

Happy New Year to everyone in the FPN “Madhouse”.

I just want to share with everyone a little pen related activity that I do over the year.

At work (I have an office based job), I always use fountain pens for keeping notes etc etc, meeting notes, supplier/customer meetings and commonly get enquiries as to what this strange medieval instrument is that I am using…

Years gone by, I would merely take them down memory lane and describe the fountain pen in use, prod them to see if they used fountain pens at school etc etc and suggest the try mine. Unfortunately, after a couple of instances where the person tried my pride and joy used a “ballpoint hand”, heavy enough to make an imprint thru multiple layers of carbon paper, I decided to take another path.

Having been on FPN for few years now, I have seen you guys join in with what you have called P.I.F. or “pay it forward”. Aha! Light bulb moment. Perhaps I could do something, just a little different.

I hunted around on a well known auctioning site to find fountain pens cheap enough to use as a “try me” pen, then found that if one buys a job lot of pens from one of many Chinese suppliers, then they would be so cheap as to be give-aways rather than try-me’s. This I have been doing for a couple of years now.

So, coming right back around to the current, 2019, the take up over 2018 has been slower than the year before, so I have still got a small number of Jinhao’s left from the batch I procured in 2018, three are MB 149 lookalikes and the other a star-walker lookalike. I will wait till these have gone before ordering any more.

A little bit of fun, inspired by you lovely people, and at little cost to me.

Hope the images load, I got numerous errors while trying :-(

 

 

 

[goodpens]

Super idea! Thanks for sharing your experience. I haven't bought pens specifically to give away, but I've enjoyed passing along some inexpensive ones that some else has taken an interest in, like Pilot Varsities. It is fun to give and to get others interested in FPs. And I am a firm believer that the PIF experience works; frequently (and just today!) something I offered up led to something else coming my way.

[KingRoach]

That sounds awesome and I've done the same. My pens of choice to giveaway have been the Jinhao 992: classic deisgn that fits all hands and all tastes, AND good nibs.

And it'll set you back about a quid.

 

Some of those also went to school children to encourage them in their studies and achievements.

 

If you're giving those pens here let me know. I was about to get a Jinhao 159 as I needed its nib for something (and it's a good pen in the hand).

[WirsPlm]

That's a great idea, although I'm always hesitant to give away cheap Chinese fountain pens until I've tested them on account of a very embarrassing experience where I didn't realize the pen had a problem, so now I always test pens I'm going to give away by flushing, filling and trying to write.

[KingRoach]

That's a great idea, although I'm always hesitant to give away cheap Chinese fountain pens until I've tested them on account of a very embarrassing experience where I didn't realize the pen had a problem, so now I always test pens I'm going to give away by flushing, filling and trying to write.

 

Agreed. Of course if you wanna give a pen, you wanna give a good pen that the recipient of your gift will enjoy.

 

Hence.

[Diver]

Hi Guys.

 

Thanks for the thoughts. I actually whip out the convertor and pop a cartridge in and get it going first, so far have had no issues, but after reading your comments will take a bit of care before gifting. I will maybe try a dip with waterman ink to get them going, should only take a few seconds on every pen. I believe that all Lamy's are tested before being released, so sounds like a good idea. Never even thought about that :-)

 

I am not really doing this in a huge way, I have now parked a "pen mug" on my desk with a handful ready for action should a colleague show an interest, but it is fun.

 

@ KingRoach, have just had a look at the Jinhao 992 and I will see about getting a handful of them and adding to the pot.

 

I have read on FPN about people passing on used or unwanted (sorry, pre-loved) pens or inks to other members, which is where I got my idea. I think this is yet another reason I like FPN, the lovely bunch of people.

 

I digress. Time for some shuteye, work in the AM.

 

D.

[arellano81366]

Hello there! I do the same (test, clean and give away pens) to some people. My weapon of choice is the Wing Sung 3009 because of:

1. Usually performs well, I love the smooth nib
2. Low price
3. Since is piston filler, there is no need for cartridge or converter
4. Huge ink capacity
5. I choose the demonstrator model so the precious color of the ink can be seem by the user

Hope you guys give a shot to this lad. Have a great day!

[Diver]

I am not familiar with the WIng Sung 3009, but, all the same, had a quick search on a well known auction site and have ordered a handful (amazing how the price comes down on multi-buys). Should take ten-ish days from China.

 

Thanks for the tip, they look very much like another well known transparent piston filler, but waaaay cheaper... :-)

 

That's my giveaway budget used up for a while now, will post a shot of the "pen pot" when they arrive.

 

Will do an update later.

 

D.

[mitto]

Good idea. I have been gifting the locally produced Dollar piston filled pens to school children here for quite some time. I usually order the pens direct from Dollar industries, Karachi.

 

On occasiins, I have also been giving away Pilot Metro pens to college and university students as well friends working in Government offices.

 

I love spreading love for fountain pens.