Namisu Stratos On Kickstarter

[TinyTim]

As the topic goes it seems Namisu has come out with another pen series on Kickstarter. A pen with interchangeable rollstops and clips.

 

While i had ordered the Ixion from them on Kickstarter, This one did not appeal to me.

Also the price on the website for the Ixion Aluminum is the same as what i paid for it on Kickstarter.

 

 

[encremental]

I'm not sure about the 'rollstops', and the flared end to the cap, but an amber ebonite one with a clip and titanium nib does look particularly good to me. I would have liked a range of clips rather than just the one, though.

 

The only problem is that the timeframes are all quite long, to avoid the same problems they had with the Ixion being oversubscribed and the ensuing disappointments. I really want the pen now, but do understand that they are a tiny tiny company .........

 

I will probably sign up, I think.

 

link here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/namisu/stratos-a-minimalist-fountain-pen-with-modular-rollstoppers?mc_cid=8cf9846a2d&mc_eid=72dde89187

 

John

[A Smug Dill]

... an amber ebonite one with a clip and titanium nib does look particularly good to me.

It does to me too, but that really has very little to do with the look of ebonite; an orange or amber resin, or wood, or urushi finish would look good too. However, I have no appetite forA$200+ fountain pens with Bock or JoWo nibs. £110 is just on A$200, and that's purportedly discounted by 36% from the intended retail price, so Namisu has put the Stratos more than squarely in the category of pens that I think is overpriced. Smack another £40 on top for a titanium nib that is not made or even just hand-finished in-house by the pen manufacturer? Thanks, but no, I think I'll pass; the Aurora 100th Anniversary limited edition Ipsilon Quadra with a ruthenium-plated 14K gold nib (and I even could have a Stub or Italic nib if I wanted) cost me less than that to buy.

[mehandiratta]

It does to me too, but that really has very little to do with the look of ebonite; an orange or amber resin, or wood, or urushi finish would look good too. However, I have no appetite forA$200+ fountain pens with Bock or JoWo nibs. £110 is just on A$200, and that's purportedly discounted by 36% from the intended retail price, so Namisu has put the Stratos more than squarely in the category of pens that I think is overpriced. Smack another £40 on top for a titanium nib that is not made or even just hand-finished in-house by the pen manufacturer? Thanks, but no, I think I'll pass; the Aurora 100th Anniversary limited edition Ipsilon Quadra with a ruthenium-plated 14K gold nib (and I even could have a Stub or Italic nib if I wanted) cost me less than that to buy.

 

+1

[jjlax10]

 

+1

 

You could also order a custom pen with more and better nib choices from Lotus Pens in the same ebonites.

[Bill P]

It does to me too, but that really has very little to do with the look of ebonite; an orange or amber resin, or wood, or urushi finish would look good too. However, I have no appetite forA$200+ fountain pens with Bock or JoWo nibs. £110 is just on A$200, and that's purportedly discounted by 36% from the intended retail price, so Namisu has put the Stratos more than squarely in the category of pens that I think is overpriced. Smack another £40 on top for a titanium nib that is not made or even just hand-finished in-house by the pen manufacturer? Thanks, but no, I think I'll pass; the Aurora 100th Anniversary limited edition Ipsilon Quadra with a ruthenium-plated 14K gold nib (and I even could have a Stub or Italic nib if I wanted) cost me less than that to buy.

 

 

+1...plus their last Kickstarter campaign took forever...delay after delay....plus some supporters say they STILL have NOT received their pens.

[Theroc]

Their Kickstarters don't offer much value either. I have always been able to get their pens on sale later on at a price lower than their early bird kickstarter. That said, their ebonite pens will probably never go on sale, certainly not with titanium nibs.

[mehandiratta]

 

You could also order a custom pen with more and better nib choices from Lotus Pens in the same ebonites.

+100

[mehandiratta]

 

 

+1...plus their last Kickstarter campaign took forever...delay after delay....plus some supporters say they STILL have NOT received their pens.

 

i heard there was a delay...

but this is really shocking that they have started a new campaign when old orders are still pending

[Lloyd]

 

You could also order a custom pen with more and better nib choices from Lotus Pens in the same ebonites.

Thanks, Joshua! I've never heard of this company before.

[encremental]

Unlikely to be any outstanding orders as the pens have been in their sale twice!

 

They didn't book enough manufacturing time for the Ixion, and got a bit overwhelmed (see my earlier post). I doubt if they'll make the same mistake again.

 

John

[mehandiratta]

Thanks, Joshua! I've never heard of this company before.

They are doing quite good...

 

i even organized a group buy in the past also ...

 

https://mehandiratta.wordpress.com/2018/06/30/group-buy-lotus-vikrant-lotus-lekhak/

[Jamerelbe]

I have a few Namisu pens I purchased on Kickstarter, and without exception they're good pens (notwithstanding their poor communication re time overruns and scheduling problems!). The price on these, though - especially the ebonite ones - is more than I'm willing to stretch to. Especially when you compare them to the Ranga Pens group buys I've participated in here...

[woleizihan]

The last Namisu Kickstarter campaign was a disaster.

[Bill P]

The last Namisu Kickstarter campaign was a disaster.

+1

[Jamerelbe]

The last Namisu Kickstarter campaign was a disaster.

 

The pen itself was great - but it was massively delayed with little to no communication or explanation. Add to that a dud nib that had to be replaced (and it *was* replaced, to give them credit), and it added up to a pretty poor experience. Once bitten, twice shy they say - but I've been 'bitten' three times running by these guys. I won't be rushing to do it all over again...

[mehandiratta]

 

The pen itself was great - but it was massively delayed with little to no communication or explanation. Add to that a dud nib that had to be replaced (and it *was* replaced, to give them credit), and it added up to a pretty poor experience. Once bitten, twice shy they say - but I've been 'bitten' three times running by these guys. I won't be rushing to do it all over again...

It takes ages to build reputation... And I wonder what will happen now

[Bill P]

They are doing quite good...

 

i even organized a group buy in the past also ...

 

https://mehandiratta.wordpress.com/2018/06/30/group-buy-lotus-vikrant-lotus-lekhak/

 

 

I have several Lotus Fountain Pens in my personal collection...they have some very unique offerings..all Lotus Pens that I have experienced have been very well designed and manufactured...I have been very pleased.

 

Bill P.

[peroride]

Branding/marketing matters, sadly

 

One can have the better product but get beat in the market by ... your competitor's marketing.

 

Sounds like Lotus and Ranga need more slick marketing/kickstarters to expand to more markets or partner with Namisu who has capture some attention.

 

It would be neat to see competing kickstarters and their public reception/perception!

[Bill P]

Branding/marketing matters, sadly

 

One can have the better product but get beat in the market by ... your competitor's marketing.

 

Sounds like Lotus and Ranga need more slick marketing/kickstarters to expand to more markets or partner with Namisu who has capture some attention.

 

It would be neat to see competing kickstarters and their public reception/perception!

 

 

Namisu has captured negative attention....Lotus and Ranga will do much better on their own, as they both have excellent reputations. Nothing better than the recommendations of happy customers....

Edited June 30, 2019 by Bill P