Decimo In Hallstatt

[maukapens]

One of the best things about the Pilot Decimo is its portability and that its always ready to write with the push of a button. Brought it with me to Hallstatt it held up great on multiple flights and trains all the way to this beautiful lakeside village.

Edited September 14, 2019 by maukapens

[Erik Dalton]

I like my decimo as well. So dependable, always ready to write and easier to grip than the larger version. Thanks for the thread. They don’t get enough coverage here.

[maukapens]

I like my decimo as well. So dependable, always ready to write and easier to grip than the larger version. Thanks for the thread. They don’t get enough coverage here.

Agree. I think they’re one of the most underrated fountain pens. I think it’s because they seem to be marketed to women so that automatically decreases their appeal to men.

[Tasmith]

Prefer the Decimo to the Vanishing Point too.

[inkstainedruth]

Agree. I think they’re one of the most underrated fountain pens. I think it’s because they seem to be marketed to women so that automatically decreases their appeal to men.

 

Yes, I found that to be really annoying. I actually contacted Pilot-USA to ask why they only sold the "girly" colors in the US, whereas they have all sorts of really cool colors for the full size Vanishing Points available. And their response back? "It's a marketing decision."

Well, I didn't WANT a "girly" color. I wanted light grey, because it's classy looking -- and because I'm not a "girly" color type of person (at least given the color choices available). My second choice would have been the dark blue, which looked quite nice as well. I was shocked when someone at Goulet Pens told me that the Champagne Pink was their best-selling color -- because my personal opinion is that the color is HIDEOUS.... And the other "girly" colors were "meh" at best. So I had to go to eBay and get one from a seller in Japan. The pen is GREAT. And I saved money, even with the airmail shipping from Japan. I got the pen in less than two weeks, even though the seller warned me that there might be a delay due to the time of year (I ordered the pen just before Thanksgiving). Nope. The pen still arrived within the 10-14 day timeframe -- and I was able to track the package's progress -- first through Japan Post, and then through USPS after the package got through US Customs in NYC.

I *don't* like being pigeonholed. And so a US retailer lost a sale due to Pilot's "marketing decision". Oh, and even with the $11US economy airmail shipping? I still saved money on the pen over any US retailer's price. Just because some people who never met me made a decision about what *I* would want. Pilot-USA's loss.

I have small hands, so the Decimo is a better size and weight for me than a Vanishing Point. But that doesn't mean I'm a "girly-girl" (I was a tomboy growing up -- I climbed trees, and played with my brother's trucks as much or more as my dollhouse). And you know, it's the 21st century but some of these companies still don't get the fact that women might want a fountain pen without it being some blinged-up piece of pseudo-jewelry. (You'd think they have at least made some attempt to pay attention to Parker's poor sales of the 41, which were marketed as lady's pens but the same poor quality plastic as the 21; I strongly suspect that a lot of women said, "Uh, gee thanks -- but if it's all the same to you I'll save up and get a Demi-size 51 instead...")

And yeah, Pilot isn't the only culprit in that regard -- and at least they do MAKE non-"girly" colors for Decimos, even thought they won't *sell* them over here....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[TSherbs]

I bought mine from Japan for the cost savings, so I had lots of choices. Yeah, pigeonholing genders and colors is (bleep). But so much of marketing is. I love my Decimo: perfect pocket pen for front shirt pocket. And I have XL male hands.

[cherylmarie]

 

I have small hands, so the Decimo is a better size and weight for me than a Vanishing Point. But that doesn't mean I'm a "girly-girl" (I was a tomboy growing up -- I climbed trees, and played with my brother's trucks as much or more as my dollhouse). And you know, it's the 21st century but some of these companies still don't get the fact that women might want a fountain pen without it being some blinged-up piece of pseudo-jewelry. (You'd think they have at least made some attempt to pay attention to Parker's poor sales of the 41, which were marketed as lady's pens but the same poor quality plastic as the 21; I strongly suspect that a lot of women said, "Uh, gee thanks -- but if it's all the same to you I'll save up and get a Demi-size 51 instead...")

And yeah, Pilot isn't the only culprit in that regard -- and at least they do MAKE non-"girly" colors for Decimos, even thought they won't *sell* them over here....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Amen!! Couldn't have said it better, especially the part about the Demi 51's!