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Fpn Pen: Status Update, May 7


Admin

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Dearest members of the fountain pen nut house, and especially those who voted for an FPN pen already :D,

 

It has been some time since an update, so we thought it would be time to do so. Let us go through the options remaining one-by-one, with an indication what to expect.

 

1) FPN LE Passaporto

We currently have reached a total of 200 Passaportos, if we add Chrome and Gold Coloured trim together. Based on our discussions with Stipula, considering a split of approximately 150 Chrome ones and 50 Gold coloured ones, we should be able to get both produced. For the Gold coloured ones that would mean no nib selection possible however, only an M nib will be available. For the Chrome version there will be the option of an F or an M nib.

Gold and/or titanium nibs will unfortunately not be available, as we would need at least 100 votes for each, which we don't even get close to.

Even so, it would still mean both pen options will be produced.

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2) FPN LE Modello T

Here too the total is approximately 200 pens. Considering the votes, a gold coloured option is not in the cards, and neither is a gold nib. Also, palladium section ends (close to the nib) would make it extra expensive considering the relatively small numbers, so we do think that an azurite section from barrel threads to nib end is the way to go. However, we will have the option to select the clip jewel as we'd want to, and the nice thing is that that won't add to the cost. Currently there are about 65 MOP clip jewel choices, and about 135 azurite ones. Therefore, also two models.

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3) FPN LE Etruria

Here it gets a little more complicated. It looks like we can and will do both the cellulose acetate version, and the azurite version. Considering the overwhelming majority for PF systems, they would be made as piston fillers.

We did ask whether it is possible to have a choice of nibs on any model between the 14K rhodinated ones and the 18K duotone ones, but we haven't received a clear answer yet. Furthermore, we have learnt that maybe, on a select few, it would indeed be possible to use vermeil trim rather than silver trim, but here things are not 100% clear either.

IOW, we will certainly produce both an azurite, and a blue cellulose acetate version, and both in silver trim and 14K rhodinated nibs, just that we don't know yet if other choices are available too, for nibs and trim.

 

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Next there are two important issues still remaining, and that is how we handle shipping and VAT etc. Shipping appears rather expensive outside of the USA (€ 10) and the EU (€ 10), namely € 35 for any country except USA and EU. We are therefore still looking at shipping alternatives.VAT is another problem because we are not a registered company in Europe. This could possibly mean that VAT will be levied on all pens, at the Italian VAT rate of 20 %. We are also checking if this somehow can be prevented or handled differently.

 

Until we are sure about the solutions for VAT and Shipping, we will not be able to complete our web store yet, and the same really is true for the Etruria voters.

 

We have agreed with Stipula to try and resolve all outstanding question by means of a telephone conversation if we can't move quickly enough with our current email exchange. However, this will not (yet) solve any VAT or shipping issues.

 

Summarizing, it looks like we will produce

- both Passaportos

- 2 Modello Ts, with azurite section, one with MOP clip jewel and one with azurite clip jewel

- at least two Etruria models, the silver trimmed azurite and cellulose acetate ones, and possibly also a few vermeil trimmed ones of each

 

And we still have a few outstanding issues/questions

- nib options for the FPN LE Etruria

- shipping options

- tax issue

 

As mentioned, we do hope to resolve the remaining questions and issues next week, hopefully early next week, so we can finally go ahead with the ordering process, on our soon to be FPN Store. :D

 

HTH, warm regards,

The FPN Admin Team

45 Comments


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I think I voted for the MOP jewel on the Modello T, but I would be very happy with the azurite one. I don't truly have a preference, just picked one. Am I locked into the MOP? Would it help the process if we MOP voters switched?
No, your not locked into one or the other until you have placed your final order and paid for it (once the web store is up and running). Stipula indicated we can have the one or the other, as we prefer, on an individual basis per pen.Warm regards, Wim
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Lots of progress - Soon we we all be able to celebrate these pens.I know I would like a Passaporto with gold hardware.I'm also in for a Modello (MOP clip) depending on the nibs available....Thank you all for your hard work on making this a reality. I've always said that FPN is one of the best sites on the net (oh cool to love pens and get to use FPN!) and being able to advertise it (so-to-speak) by using a LE FPN pen will be great !Looking forward to the next step.

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I forgot to ask - are the T-Flex nibs still going to be offered? I'm really looking forward to that!

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:embarrassed_smile: :P :D Waiting for the store to open! Thanks FPN team for making this happen!

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Hi Wim, thanks for all the replies.I truly hope the polls will not be closed before we get a reply re: VAT and shipping costs to non-US/non-EU countries as, to be honest with you, it may affect if I still want to purchase my pen. Given my job situation, I cannot afford to pay the equivalent of $50 USD for shipping a $59 USD pen.

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If 'The Fountain Pen Hospital' can sell to non-EU countries VAT-free, surely Stipula can do likewise without difficulty; similarly, I've bought DVDs from Amazon.uk and the tax included in the UK pricing was removed automatically from the invoice price. From my perspective, the only likely stumbling block is the P&P; like Maja, I baulk at a deal where the shipping near doubles the purchase price. While we're on the subject, I may as well ask how the P&P will be calculated if we order >1 pen?The organising team deserve a medal for taking on this task... and free supplies of aspirin for all the attendant headaches... thanks guys!Glenn.

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Gobblecup

Posted

Wim,I personally would not mind waiting longer for the Etruria if there is the possibility of getting more members to buy in and lower overall pricing. I am really looking forward to this pen, but I am not in a huge rush either. It would be great to get another 50-100 to "go in"! I have a question that I don't think I have seen asked, or at least answered, what was the word from Stipula on the Imprint and Branding?

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To the FPN admin team - thanks for the status update and all of the hard work. You are appreciated!

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lady_findel

Posted

Thank you for the update.Though I must say I'm rather in love with a vermeil Etruria with a two tone nib... I hope you can work things out with Stipula!

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Lots of progress - Soon we we all be able to celebrate these pens.I know I would like a Passaporto with gold hardware.I'm also in for a Modello (MOP clip) depending on the nibs available....Thank you all for your hard work on making this a reality. I've always said that FPN is one of the best sites on the net (oh cool to love pens and get to use FPN!) and being able to advertise it (so-to-speak) by using a LE FPN pen will be great !Looking forward to the next step.
Thank you for your kind words!
I forgot to ask - are the T-Flex nibs still going to be offered? I'm really looking forward to that!
Only on the Modello-T, where it is a standard. We need at least 100 pens with a titanium nib, and that doesn't look possible right now.Warm regards, Wim
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Hi Wim, thanks for all the replies.I truly hope the polls will not be closed before we get a reply re: VAT and shipping costs to non-US/non-EU countries as, to be honest with you, it may affect if I still want to purchase my pen. Given my job situation, I cannot afford to pay the equivalent of $50 USD for shipping a $59 USD pen.
Don't worry, we'll find a solution somehow - we have several leads as it stands :D.Warm regards, Wim
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:D :D :bunny01: Waiting for the store to open! Thanks FPN team for making this happen!
Thank you Wendi!Warm regards, Wim
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If 'The Fountain Pen Hospital' can sell to non-EU countries VAT-free, surely Stipula can do likewise without difficulty; similarly, I've bought DVDs from Amazon.uk and the tax included in the UK pricing was removed automatically from the invoice price. From my perspective, the only likely stumbling block is the P&P; like Maja, I baulk at a deal where the shipping near doubles the purchase price. While we're on the subject, I may as well ask how the P&P will be calculated if we order >1 pen?The organising team deserve a medal for taking on this task... and free supplies of aspirin for all the attendant headaches... thanks guys!Glenn.
The problem really is a little more complicated than having a store that can handle this. However, we are working on it, and as indicated in my reply to Maja, we have a few leads to solve these problems. :DWarm regards, Wim
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Wim,I personally would not mind waiting longer for the Etruria if there is the possibility of getting more members to buy in and lower overall pricing. I am really looking forward to this pen, but I am not in a huge rush either. It would be great to get another 50-100 to "go in"! I have a question that I don't think I have seen asked, or at least answered, what was the word from Stipula on the Imprint and Branding?
Imprint isn't a problem at all, and if the branding is an imprint, it isn't either. A logo instead of Stipula's logo or in addition, is a little too pricey, so we probably won't go ahead with that.Warm regards, Wim
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To the FPN admin team - thanks for the status update and all of the hard work. You are appreciated!
Thank you!Warm regards, Wim
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Thank you for the update.Though I must say I'm rather in love with a vermeil Etruria with a two tone nib... I hope you can work things out with Stipula!
We hope so too, and thank you for your kind words!Warm regards, Wim
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Hi, Will there be any way to distinguish between a FPN Passaporto and an OTC (over the counter) Passaporto? Regards,Adam

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Hi, Will there be any way to distinguish between a FPN Passaporto and an OTC (over the counter) Passaporto? Regards,Adam
I understand the selected FPN color is not available in current Stipula catalogue and there will be the FPN engraving too...
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spinningtrees

Posted

I am curious to anyone who has used the Passaporto. Trying to decide between the F and M nibs. Most of my pens are M, so I would like to try a F size if it's a smooth writer.Most of the reviews I read were for a M Italic nib.Any thoughts or preferences?

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Hi,Will there be any way to distinguish between a FPN Passaporto and an OTC (over the counter) Passaporto? Regards,Adam
Hi, Will there be any way to distinguish between a FPN Passaporto and an OTC (over the counter) Passaporto? Regards,Adam
I understand the selected FPN color is not available in current Stipula catalogue and there will be the FPN engraving too...
That is exactly it.Warm regards, Wim
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