Visconti Quality and Service

[linuxchiq]

A while back I bought a Visconti Opera Club set: FP, RB, BP - all in beautiful honey almond. As much as I have tried to love this pen, it has had serious issues with flow since I bought it.

 

The trouble is that the flow is intermittent: might start hard, then a nice wet flow like you'd expect from a Visconti for a line, then very dry. It is very frustrating in that it will resume a wet flow for a few words, or perhaps a line or two on a page, then go back to the Mohave desert routine - almost as though it is taunting me by showing what it *could* do if it wanted to.

 

After many flushings, lubricating ink, and testing with carts in case the issue was with the converter, I finally contacted Visconti USA, who suggested I send it to them. Once they had the pen, there were several weeks of miscommunication, then an email telling me the issue was caused by a bent nib, and would cost $210 to repair. More emails, reminding them that the pen was purchased from an authorised dealer and had never worked properly. More time passes, so I email again and receive a reply that my pen has been shipped to me repaired.

 

This is where you would expect the happy ending, right? Honestly, if the pen had returned home functioning as designed at this point I would have sung the praises of Visconti USA and forgotten the time spent and lack of communication, but guess what? The pen has exactly the same issue it had to begin with. Don't they *test* a pen before returning it after repair?

 

At this point I am stuck. The only alternatives I can think of are to either flush the pen and use it for a paperweight, or send it to a third party nibmeister. Neither seems like a reasonable outcome considering the time and $$$ this pen has cost.

[penguinmaster]

A while back I bought a Visconti Opera Club set: FP, RB, BP - all in beautiful honey almond. As much as I have tried to love this pen, it has had serious issues with flow since I bought it.

 

The trouble is that the flow is intermittent: might start hard, then a nice wet flow like you'd expect from a Visconti for a line, then very dry. It is very frustrating in that it will resume a wet flow for a few words, or perhaps a line or two on a page, then go back to the Mohave desert routine - almost as though it is taunting me by showing what it *could* do if it wanted to.

 

After many flushings, lubricating ink, and testing with carts in case the issue was with the converter, I finally contacted Visconti USA, who suggested I send it to them. Once they had the pen, there were several weeks of miscommunication, then an email telling me the issue was caused by a bent nib, and would cost $210 to repair. More emails, reminding them that the pen was purchased from an authorised dealer and had never worked properly. More time passes, so I email again and receive a reply that my pen has been shipped to me repaired.

 

This is where you would expect the happy ending, right? Honestly, if the pen had returned home functioning as designed at this point I would have sung the praises of Visconti USA and forgotten the time spent and lack of communication, but guess what? The pen has exactly the same issue it had to begin with. Don't they *test* a pen before returning it after repair?

 

At this point I am stuck. The only alternatives I can think of are to either flush the pen and use it for a paperweight, or send it to a third party nibmeister. Neither seems like a reasonable outcome considering the time and $$ this pen has cost.

 

I'm actually having the same issue. I seem to remember the issue being that the ink in the converter does not flow very well. Someone was selling small little glass marbles to put in the converter to agitate and keep the flow consistent.

 

I was just coming on to post if anyone has an idea of where to get these. I cut up a junk converter that had one of these little balls and got it out. I shoved it partially into the converter and it promptly shot out like a rocket across my office, so I have no clue where it went now!

 

Regards,

 

Tom

Edited April 3, 2009 by penguinmaster

[linuxchiq]

Unfortunately, if that really were the issue it would disappear when I switch to the cartridge. Performance is the same, either way. Have you tried yours with a cartridge to test?

 

It may just be me, but I don't think it's reasonable to expect a consumer to do a lot of DIY tinkering to get a product at this price point to function as designed. Not to mention the question of voiding any warranty you might otherwise have, pariculrly if the the "fix" you try is not effective.

 

Happily, the new Japanese member of my FP family is pure perfection, so I have an antidote to the frustration. ^_^

 

A while back I bought a Visconti Opera Club set: FP, RB, BP - all in beautiful honey almond. As much as I have tried to love this pen, it has had serious issues with flow since I bought it.

 

The trouble is that the flow is intermittent: might start hard, then a nice wet flow like you'd expect from a Visconti for a line, then very dry. It is very frustrating in that it will resume a wet flow for a few words, or perhaps a line or two on a page, then go back to the Mohave desert routine - almost as though it is taunting me by showing what it *could* do if it wanted to.

 

After many flushings, lubricating ink, and testing with carts in case the issue was with the converter, I finally contacted Visconti USA, who suggested I send it to them. Once they had the pen, there were several weeks of miscommunication, then an email telling me the issue was caused by a bent nib, and would cost $210 to repair. More emails, reminding them that the pen was purchased from an authorised dealer and had never worked properly. More time passes, so I email again and receive a reply that my pen has been shipped to me repaired.

 

This is where you would expect the happy ending, right? Honestly, if the pen had returned home functioning as designed at this point I would have sung the praises of Visconti USA and forgotten the time spent and lack of communication, but guess what? The pen has exactly the same issue it had to begin with. Don't they *test* a pen before returning it after repair?

 

At this point I am stuck. The only alternatives I can think of are to either flush the pen and use it for a paperweight, or send it to a third party nibmeister. Neither seems like a reasonable outcome considering the time and $$ this pen has cost.

 

I'm actually having the same issue. I seem to remember the issue being that the ink in the converter does not flow very well. Someone was selling small little glass marbles to put in the converter to agitate and keep the flow consistent.

 

I was just coming on to post if anyone has an idea of where to get these. I cut up a junk converter that had one of these little balls and got it out. I shoved it partially into the converter and it promptly shot out like a rocket across my office, so I have no clue where it went now!

 

Regards,

 

Tom

Edited April 3, 2009 by linuxchiq

[penguinmaster]

I have not tried it with a cartridge. I did find my little ball though and managed to get it into the converter. I haven't had any skipping or light/heavy flows like I had previously. Granted it's only been a few hours.

 

That being said, I agree with you, for the price point of these pens, having to do that should not occur.

 

Regards,

 

Tom

[Pepin]

I feel bad for you guys. Personally, for the money, I'd order a NOS PFM V and call it a day.

[eric47]

At this point I am stuck. The only alternatives I can think of are to either flush the pen and use it for a paperweight, or send it to a third party nibmeister. Neither seems like a reasonable outcome considering the time and $$$ this pen has cost.

Have you thought about contacting the mothership, i.e. Visconti Italy?

 

Email address is on their site. Someone who checks their emails should be able to read English. That said, were it me, I'd explain the situation calmly and as simply as possible -- explaining that you're contacting them directly after an unsuccessful repair by Visconti USA.

 

With any luck, Italy will tell Visconti USA to recontact you to coordinate another repair job. Otherwise, you (or maybe Visconti USA) will arrange to have it sent to Italy.

[Ghost Plane]

Or just recontact Visconti USA and tell 'em the fix didn't do the job. They're user friendly. Took us 2 tries to figure out it was a feed issue with my Romanica and send it on vacation to Italy. But it fixed the problem in the end.

[Pinmin]

At this point I am stuck. The only alternatives I can think of are to either flush the pen and use it for a paperweight, or send it to a third party nibmeister. Neither seems like a reasonable outcome considering the time and $$$ this pen has cost.

Have you thought about contacting the mothership, i.e. Visconti Italy?

 

Email address is on their site. Someone who checks their emails should be able to read English. That said, were it me, I'd explain the situation calmly and as simply as possible -- explaining that you're contacting them directly after an unsuccessful repair by Visconti USA.

 

With any luck, Italy will tell Visconti USA to recontact you to coordinate another repair job. Otherwise, you (or maybe Visconti USA) will arrange to have it sent to Italy.

Please let us know how things work out for you...good luck!

 

[FredRydr]

I think in the internet age, we forget that the most effective means of communication are not via email. I see time and time again where if email doesn't work, frustrated pen owners give up in despair and declare the matter at an unsatisfactory end. It's not.

 

Pick up the telephone and call the USA rep for Visconti, and speak to them about it. A meeting of the minds can happen so much faster that way. Ask for a direct email or snailmail address to the person you spoke to, and confirm the conversation by email if you must, or if anyone here likes pens and ink and paper, you can confirm it with a real letter! Best would be to print it from the computer and sign with a fountain pen that works.

 

Fred

Edited April 8, 2009 by FredRydr

[linuxchiq]

I hate to be a nuisance, but I suppose it is only fair to give them another chance to make things right. I have emailed them, and included a scan of the actual writing for reference. I'll report back with results.

 

I appreciate the suggestion of using alternate means of communication, though my experience is that the phone is the worst possible instrument for troubleshooting. Additionally, it is not always easy to be connected to the person you actually need to resolve your issue. I did offer in my email to switch to written correspondence if that is more convenient for them.

 

 

[joep01]

Do whatever it takes to get them to make the pen right...but why can't you get a refund from the dealer you purchased it from originally? And then going forward, don't give up on Visconti. They're great pens...I've bought three through FPN from bryant, and they were all perfect out of the box, but bryant offered the service of inking and testing each one for me to ensure that it was @ 100%. Since I don't collect un-inked pens or anything like that, I was more than happy for him to test drive them for me. Establishing a relationship with a single-source vendor can alleviate many of the frustrations one experiences when having to send a pen back to the factory for service.

[Stylo]

Any resolution on this? There is always the road of last resort: sending it to a nibmeister.

 

[Deirdre]

Sounds like a bad feed, not a nib issue.

[MidnightBlue]

It's not Visconti , it's all of them. Read the posts and this same problem (and others) covers all pens. That's the price we pay when we want our pens to be "virgins," so to speak. With Bexley and Edison the pens are tested and set up for us and that's the kind of service I like.

Thanks

[penguinmaster]

It's not Visconti , it's all of them. Read the posts and this same problem (and others) covers all pens. That's the price we pay when we want our pens to be "virgins," so to speak. With Bexley and Edison the pens are tested and set up for us and that's the kind of service I like.

Thanks

 

Well I agree with your reasoning, at the price point of these pens, maybe they do need to be tested and setup for us. I don't have any less of an expectation of a pen at least working when purchasing a Visconti or any other high end pen, than I do when I purchase a Bexley or Edison. Adjustments here and there, sure, a large company is unable to do that for every pen, but being able to produce a working pen, that should be a given.

 

Here's another food for that thought, how is it that a $300 dollar Visconti can have trouble right out of the box and not be able to get fixed, but my multiple $30 Rotring Initials have never had so much of a hint of trouble. If anything at the prices I'd think it would be the other way around.

 

-Tom

[linuxchiq]

Any resolution on this? There is always the road of last resort: sending it to a nibmeister.

 

After another round of unanswered emails, I have finally received a response and will be sending the pen in for another go at repair/adjustment today <fingers crossed>.

 

The suggestion regarding 'phoning them has two drawbacks, namely it is probably the least efficient method of troubleshooting (you can't actually *see* the issue) and there is a discomfort factor in sending a several-hundred-dollar pen out into the ether without something in writing from the recipient.

 

I can understand that when selling uninked pens a percentage might slip out not functioning properly, but when _repairing_ them I would expect the last step to be testing - that is certainly how I fix software: 1. diagnose the issue 2. apply fix 3. test . . . if 3 not successful rinse and repeat. How else would you know it was fixed?

 

I expect, given human nature, that I will forget the unpleasant experience and join others in singing the praises of Visconti after the pen has returned and I am able to enjoy it for a while. ^_^

[dgms]

Well, guess what. I have purchased my first Italian pen, a Visconti from Prahableu, and received it just this monday. I have exactely the same problem. It works fine for a couple of words and when I write continously at some point it just gets stuck and I have to stop writing for a second. However, once I stoped for a second the ink will flow freely again. It's very annoying, especially because I write dozens of pages.

 

So far I tried flushing it and I used different inks. I usually use Graf von Faber-Castell royalblue, with this ink it just writes as I described above. So I tried others and found that with Diamine Majestic Blue the flow is ways better than with the royalblue, however, there is another problem: With the Diamine ink I cannot possibly leave the pen for 3 seconds unused, it will have starting issues (with any pen actually). So I used the royalblue again.

Now I also tried fidling with the nib, which has proven to be more or less useless.... rather more than less though.

 

Anyhow, by reading some of the replies, I actually think that it could potentially be the converter. The feed seems fine to me, ink flows freely once in the feed and it has most certainly nothing to do with the nib. I usually open the pen and screw the converter to force some ink into the fed. You'd be astonished how much ink the feed can actually bear. And then, as long as there is ink in the feed, the pen just writes perfectly and beautifully wet. So my best guess is as well that the converter might just be rubbish. I should try with a different converter then, see how this works.

 

[shahrincamille]

To determine whether the converter is the real culprit, do this :

1. Fill the converter with ink about half-full, but move the converter's piston all the way up.

2. Now flip the pen nib up - the ink should pool on the piston end of the half-full converter.

3. After a few minutes, after the ink had settled, flip the pen nib down. If the ink in the converter defies gravity and remained suspended on the piston end of the converter and not flow down to the section end, then it means surface tension on the inner wall of the converter is not allowing ink to flow into the feed and replenish it. Probably due to residual manufacturing oils.

 

My fix (as I had successfully done with converters with this problem, regardless of make) - disassemble the converter to its constituent parts, then immerse the barrel of the converter and the piston overnight in a glass of filtered tap water added with dish-washing detergent. Rinse thoroughly the next morning. Works every time without fail

 

And for good measure I'll throw in the feed and nib too into this soapy mix. Just in case :ltcapd:

 

 

 

Shahrin

[dgms]

I have just tried what you suggested and it does work quite well. You were absolutely right, the ink did not actually flow in the converter, I always pushed it a little bit. Now after cleansing with dishwasher soap it works just fine. As you wrote, I did the same to nib and feed and now ink flows freely again. Though, I do use the best flowing ink, the diamine majestic blue, but haven't tried so far. Anyhow, it's much better, so thank you for your hint!

 

[linuxchiq]

I have just tried what you suggested and it does work quite well. You were absolutely right, the ink did not actually flow in the converter, I always pushed it a little bit. Now after cleansing with dishwasher soap it works just fine. As you wrote, I did the same to nib and feed and now ink flows freely again. Though, I do use the best flowing ink, the diamine majestic blue, but haven't tried so far. Anyhow, it's much better, so thank you for your hint!

 

I'm so glad this worked for you!

 

I had no luck with this method, and as the issue occurred when using a cartridge, I'm pretty sure it wasn't a problem with the converter. My Opera is back in the hands of Visconti USA <fingers crossed>