Visconti Hs Issues

[nm4]

Hi all,

 

Just purchased a new HS Bronze Age with the stub nib after wanting one for years. Unfortunately it doesnt write....I suspect a case of baby bottom. It is a hard starter and will write only if a little pressure is applied; it doesnt start at all on horizontal strokes. The question is what should I do?

1) Try to return it (Hard to find again with the 2 tone nib in a stub)

2) Send it in to Coles (they say repairs take 3 months and I have no guarantee it will work)

3) Pay a nibmeister to fix it (seems unacceptable after spending over $400 on it)

4) Try to fix it myself (Ive done it on cheaper pens but am a little scared of this one.

 

Would appreciate advice on what youd do and any advice on #4.

 

Thanks,

NM

[Addertooth]

Two zoom photographs of the side and bottom of the nib would equip people to give you an answer which is likely to be factual.

Otherwise, we are simply guessing as you are right now.

You can make good zoom photographs by holding a jeweler's loop against the body of your smart phone (over the lens), and taking a photo from about 1 inch away from the nib (distance may vary based upon the phone and the jeweler's loop).

Most hobby stores sell loops for 7 to 15 dollars, no need to get too fancy.

Edited September 15, 2019 by Addertooth

[sirgilbert357]

Is it new? I'd send it back for a refund or ask for them to swap it for another with a two tone nib. I don't know who Coles is, but if someone told me they were going to "repair" my brand new pen and there was "no guarantee" it would work after waiting three months I wouldn't do business with them. That's ridiculous.

[sandy101]

You bought it new - and part of the price includes the guarantee.

 

If it doesn't write - return it, and either get a refund, a new one or a repair. A 2 tone stub nib that doesn't write isn't worth an awful lot.

 

As soon as you start using micromesh, you've invalidate the warranty.

 

That said, Visconti pens are quite sensitive to the type of ink you use. If you have not already done so, fill it with a wet ink such as Waterman if you have it to hand. You may get a different result.

[silverlifter]

Personally, I'd go with 1 - on the proviso that you get the nib you want back (and assuming that actually works, see below).

 

If not, then 3.

 

Yes, it adds insult to injury to have to pay someone competent to fix a brand new luxury pen, but Visconti's have a long and storied track record of exactly this issue.

 

If it really is the pen and nib you want, then another $30 (as opposed to a 3 month wait for non-guaranteed work) seems a small price to pay.

[SpecTP]

Hi all,

 

Just purchased a new HS Bronze Age with the stub nib after wanting one for years. Unfortunately it doesnt write....I suspect a case of baby bottom. It is a hard starter and will write only if a little pressure is applied; it doesnt start at all on horizontal strokes. The question is what should I do?

1) Try to return it (Hard to find again with the 2 tone nib in a stub)

2) Send it in to Coles (they say repairs take 3 months and I have no guarantee it will work)

3) Pay a nibmeister to fix it (seems unacceptable after spending over $400 on it)

4) Try to fix it myself (Ive done it on cheaper pens but am a little scared of this one.

 

Would appreciate advice on what youd do and any advice on #4.

 

Thanks,

NM

 

Mine had nib issues as well. And Coles did not resolve it. They sent it to a nibmeister to fix it for me. It took over two months to resolve the whole issue from the time I sent it off. In hindsight, I could have brought it to the DC pen show and had Mike Masayuma fix it for me and adjust it to my writing style and that would have been less than a week's wait time (I got the pen 2 weeks before the show). If you are not familiar with adjusting a nib, this is a really expensive nib to start the attempt.

[Honeybadgers]

you only have 30 days after purchase to mail it back to coles for nib replacement.

 

Your problem is INCREDIBLY common. Visconti dreamtouch nibs are famous for this. You just have to accept that if you want the beauty of an italian pen, you have to factor in an extra few bucks to get the nib tuned. I'd probably buy a visconti in the future from nibs.com since they offer in-house tuning for free.

 

Mine only took a week to get an entirely new pen replaced. the estimate on their website is REALLY on the highest end if they have to send it to italy. If it just needs a nib, they'll have it turned around and back to you the day after it gets to them here in the US.

 

If you're outside the warranty window for the nib by coles, talk to the vendor. Mine was 33 days and coles wouldn't take it, but Goulet covers nibs for 90 days and took care of me like I was an actual human being.

 

Don't fix it yourself.

 

You'll love the pen when it's fixed. Visconti dreamtouch nibs are gloriously responsive when they're tuned. You'll be missing out if you already got the pen and returned it. I had serious returning envy after returning my divina metro, so much that I bought another later, and also bought a homosapiens. The divina writes well (first one didn't write at all, returned it when the second didn't either) but my HS fine didn't write for (bleep), replaced it, it didn't write for (bleep), returned THAT one to goulet, they took care of me but it still didn't write 100% of the time, just the barest whiff of baby's bottom, so I just polished that out myself.

Edited September 16, 2019 by Honeybadgers

[sirgilbert357]

you only have 30 days after purchase to mail it back to coles for nib replacement.

 

Your problem is INCREDIBLY common. Visconti dreamtouch nibs are famous for this. You just have to accept that if you want the beauty of an italian pen, you have to factor in an extra few bucks to get the nib tuned. I'd probably buy a visconti in the future from nibs.com since they offer in-house tuning for free.

 

Mine only took a week to get an entirely new pen replaced. the estimate on their website is REALLY on the highest end if they have to send it to italy. If it just needs a nib, they'll have it turned around and back to you the day after it gets to them here in the US.

 

If you're outside the warranty window for the nib by coles, talk to the vendor. Mine was 33 days and coles wouldn't take it, but Goulet covers nibs for 90 days and took care of me like I was an actual human being.

 

Don't fix it yourself.

 

You'll love the pen when it's fixed. Visconti dreamtouch nibs are gloriously responsive when they're tuned. You'll be missing out if you already got the pen and returned it. I had serious returning envy after returning my divina metro, so much that I bought another later, and also bought a homosapiens. The divina writes well (first one didn't write at all, returned it when the second didn't either) but my HS fine didn't write for (bleep), replaced it, it didn't write for (bleep), returned THAT one to goulet, they took care of me but it still didn't write 100% of the time, just the barest whiff of baby's bottom, so I just polished that out myself.

 

Geez...the more I read about these issues, the less I want a Homo Sapiens Bronze. All of the vendors you can get it checked from prior to shipping charge a hefty premium. Nibs.com is 100.00 more than the lowest price I've found for it. Sad that this is what you have to do to get a working pen...

[Storch]

While I have no advice directly for the OP, I would suggest giving Coles a call and talking to them directly. I have had to call them a couple time for lesser issues and they have given nothing but excellent customer service.

 

Also, while I believe Honeybadgers is correct about the window for free replacement, I have been told that you can send a pen back to them to swap nibs whenever you want at a cost of, I believe $30.

 

I love my HS and would remind the OP, that it might take a little time to get it working to your satisfaction but, once you do, you will be satisfied for a very long time. Also, far fewer people post "my pen is still working great" as compared to the "my pen doesn't write".

[sandy101]

 

Geez...the more I read about these issues, the less I want a Homo Sapiens Bronze. All of the vendors you can get it checked from prior to shipping charge a hefty premium. Nibs.com is 100.00 more than the lowest price I've found for it. Sad that this is what you have to do to get a working pen...

 

The Writing Desk, UK will check it for free. With the £ and $ being closer in value, there might be a bargain to be had. You don't pay 20% sales tax if importing outside of the EU too.

[sirgilbert357]

 

The Writing Desk, UK will check it for free. With the £ and $ being closer in value, there might be a bargain to be had. You don't pay 20% sales tax if importing outside of the EU too.

 

 

Thanks for that -- I wasn't aware they did that. I'll consider them if I decide to buy it. My research so far has led me to Appelboom, at roughly USD 529.00, as the lowest price for the HS Bronze. They also offer a "tune and smooth" option. I've not checked everywhere, of course. I'm also only looking at authorized retailers for this particular pen, so I haven't browsed eBay, etc...

[Storch]

 

 

Thanks for that -- I wasn't aware they did that. I'll consider them if I decide to buy it. My research so far has led me to Appelboom, at roughly USD 529.00, as the lowest price for the HS Bronze. They also offer a "tune and smooth" option. I've not checked everywhere, of course. I'm also only looking at authorized retailers for this particular pen, so I haven't browsed eBay, etc...

You might want to check out the second hand options. You could likely get a pen and get it tuned by a nibmeister for about the same as the brand new cost. ( And getting it new doesn't eliminate the chance of nib issues.) That way, you will have a perfectly functioning pen, no questions asked.

[Honeybadgers]

 

Geez...the more I read about these issues, the less I want a Homo Sapiens Bronze. All of the vendors you can get it checked from prior to shipping charge a hefty premium. Nibs.com is 100.00 more than the lowest price I've found for it. Sad that this is what you have to do to get a working pen...

 

Honestly, it's worth it.

 

It's really worth it.

 

The pen is really, really special. it has one issue, the nib, but when it's tuned, it is one of the most amazing writers there is. It is a shame visconti has not addressed this horrid nib QC with the several years it's been known, but C'est la vie.

[sirgilbert357]

 

Honestly, it's worth it.

 

It's really worth it.

 

The pen is really, really special. it has one issue, the nib, but when it's tuned, it is one of the most amazing writers there is. It is a shame visconti has not addressed this horrid nib QC with the several years it's been known, but C'est la vie.

It's just so dang expensive. For it to come with a bum nib just seems ridiculous, lol. It's like agreeing to be robbed or something.

 

Visconti doesn't make their own nibs; I wonder if the issue is how they put it all together or something. Because if Bock is making the nib and feed and sending Visconti complete units, and all they have to do is screw them into their pens, then what's the issue, you know?

[Honeybadgers]

It's just so dang expensive. For it to come with a bum nib just seems ridiculous, lol. It's like agreeing to be robbed or something.

 

Visconti doesn't make their own nibs; I wonder if the issue is how they put it all together or something. Because if Bock is making the nib and feed and sending Visconti complete units, and all they have to do is screw them into their pens, then what's the issue, you know?

 

I have no idea but you'd think visconti could afford to hire a guy to finish the nibs by hand. They are still installing the same nib on their multi-thousand dollar options.

 

If you're already dropping $500-700 on a pen, another $40 is unfortunate, but something that we just can't really change. Visconti's italian and just gonna keep doing italian stuff. And that's a good thing and a bad thing. It's like being frustratingly close to perfection is just something they put in the water over there.

[Uncial]

It is really unfortunate that they have such terrible nib problems. It has put me off buying Visconti to be honest. I would always return a product that is faulty because otherwise the manufacturer will either never truly know the scale of the fault or will assume their customers are quite prepared to put up with it.

 

That said, I'm not a fan of the HS. The nib is a dream, the material is very special but the balance is dreadful.

[gerigo]

Buying a pen that is so expensive and only to find out it does not write a very frustrating experience. If you have never tuned a nib before, I would personally suggest returning the pen. Period. It is not acceptable in any other circumstance to purchase something and then not have it work. It is entirely within your rights to return this "defective" item.

 

After you return it, consider biting the bullet to safe a few dollars to buy it either from a place where they tune nibs before sending it out to you [nibs.com or nibsmith.com] or at least be willing to test the nib for you [Goulet]. 2 tone nibs aren't that hard to come by so don't taint your decision because of this feature.

[sirgilbert357]

Buying a pen that is so expensive and only to find out it does not write a very frustrating experience. If you have never tuned a nib before, I would personally suggest returning the pen. Period. It is not acceptable in any other circumstance to purchase something and then not have it work. It is entirely within your rights to return this "defective" item.

 

After you return it, consider biting the bullet to safe a few dollars to buy it either from a place where they tune nibs before sending it out to you [nibs.com or nibsmith.com] or at least be willing to test the nib for you [Goulet]. 2 tone nibs aren't that hard to come by so don't taint your decision because of this feature.

 

 

I just want to point out that you are not actually "saving" money by buying it from Nibs.com. The guy does fantastic nib work, but the HS Bronze is 620.00 from their site. I have no idea if shipping and tax is added on top of that.

 

You can buy the exact same pen from Appelboom for 529.00 USD, shipped. And he has a "tune and smooth" option that is free. Use coupon code "Friend" for the 10% discount. Appelboom is an authorized dealer and you'll have a full warranty. I see no need to overpay for something that's already silly expensive AND has a reputation for having problems. Just thought I'd point out another option...

 

Edit: and if anyone knows where it can be found even cheaper with a "check the nib first" option, please post it up here.

Edited September 18, 2019 by sirgilbert357

[nm4]

The seller is very kind and is sending the pen to Visconti for me. Hoping they make it right. If not I will have to go the nibmeister route. After all of this I am just over Visconti and suspect I will never buy one of their products again. I can understand a $10 pen not writing but a $500+ pen that doesn’t lay ink on the page is a travesty. I feel like a moron for wanting this pen all of these years and now waiting for it to be made functional. Truly a case of “don’t meet your hero’s” (That is not a knock on the brand Hero whose $3 pens write better than my HS lol)

 

Cheers

NM

[Misfit]

I hope it returns and writes well. I love mine (stub nib).