Why Does Montblanc Have Such A Bad Rap Anyway?

[hcsk8ter]

Another topic stroked my query:

 

Why does Montbanc get such a bad rap anyway?

 

For instance, when I attend local pen meetings the pen "connoisseurs" or gurus, if you will (those who own large collections of varied pens) seem to ignore Montblancs altogether, whether new or vintage. Newbies to the club flock to them, but sometimes they are few and far between. Only pen dealers will run over to ask if you are selling one so they can turn a profit on them.

 

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my pen meetings. I'm glad we even have a club, but I really feel my MBs are great pens and don't get the attention they deserve.

 

I know the regular derogatory language associated with the company. People will call the MB star "bidsplat". Many say the pens are "brittle". Also, that precious resin is just another way of saying cheap plastic. I was also told by well known nibmeisters and restorers that most of MB's pens, especially the Meisterstucks, cost about $20 to make. So does that mean if I paid more than $20, I'm a fool? Why all the negativity?

 

So my guess is the high price of MBs are associated with pen snobbery and therefore, MB pens should be shunned and often. But by the same token if they disregard our pens, aren't they pen snobs??

 

In all honesty, I've never paid MSRP for any of my MBs. I'm not saying I wouldn't and that they would be worth it, but many may have been cost prohibitive if I did.

 

So. anyway, why do most, not all, pen people avoid MB like the plague??

 

Please share your stories and experiences. This should be interesting.

Edited September 23, 2009 by hcsk8ter

[Tsujigiri]

I don't think their vintage pens are nearly as groundbreaking and usable as other vintage pens. But I do see some vintage Montblancs at pen shows. I don't think dealers hate them, they just don't have many of them. Other people, though, just see MB pens as a waste of money for people wanting to purchase the respect of others. I don't see this as true of MB, they make quality pens that often aren't unreasonably priced compared to similar pens, but others may perceive MB this way.

[ethernautrix]

Some folks are easy targets of marketing; other folks are easy targets for, ah, reverse marketing.

[Chthulhu]

To me, the snob aspect of Montblanc ownership is the apparent total exclusion of other brands. I have no personal experience with Montblanc pens; most of them don't appeal to me aesthetically, and I couldn't justify the expense of one if it did. What I think most offends non-MB-enthusiasts is the gushing "fanboy" attitudes of some owners (just take some time and read the topic titles in the MB forum and try to see how they look from the outside) and the implied assumption that there is no other pen brand even worthy of consideration. You don't see nearly as much of that from owners of other brands, and it has nothing to do with the quaility of their pens.

 

Edited to add emphasis where needed. Perhaps I should also add that the rather aggressive responses by some Montblanc enthusiasts to my observations do nothing to alter those observations. I'm not attacking anyone here or Montblanc, I'm sharing my perceptions of the issue as was requested by the OP.

Edited September 23, 2009 by Chthulhu

[piembi]

Well, my office environment is dominated by MBs, some are fountainpens, even more are ballpoints. This is one of the reasons why I don't use a MB at the office.

 

More than 10 years ago I got my first vintage MBs. A Meisterstück 14, a 252 and a 32. The 32 did not get much love because of the design, the 14 and the 252 are great writers and I fell in love with those pens. Thought, that the modern MBs are as good as the 1950s/1960s MBs and got a MB 144 and a MB 146, both 1980s pens. Got two vintage 342s, a 22 and a 24 as well. All of them are fitted with a wonderful soft and springy nib. The 144 and the 146 are a disappointment. Got a MB 114/Mozart, too. It's ok but nothing extraordinary.

 

My experiences with the MB customer service are acceptable at most. Wanted to send the Mozart in for repair (two 146s had been there before) and received a reply that I might send my pen directly to the customer service at the address below. Reply was without an attached address and when I asked for the address I had been announced as "Herr"/mister although my full name made it obvious that I am female. Someone at customer service obviously does not care about the negative impact of inattentive replies.

 

Anyway, I really gave those pens a chance and after many years of fountainpen use I came to the conviction that most of my other pens are better value for the money I have paid.

[Ghost Plane]

Y'all obviously haven't heard my Visconti ravings or my Carene hymns of praise.

 

Too many people seem to care what other people think. I've got lots of pens. Multiple brands make me happy. MB is one of them. So what?

[Blade Runner]

To me, the snob aspect of Montblanc ownership is the apparent total exclusion of other brands. I have no personal experience with Montblanc pens; most of them don't appeal to me aesthetically, and I couldn't justify the expense of one if it did. What I think most offends non-MB-enthusiasts is the gushing "fanboy" attitudes of some owners (just take some time and read the topic titles in the MB forum and try to see how they look from the outside) and the implied assumption that there is no other pen brand even worthy of consideration. You don't see nearly as much of that from owners of other brands, and it has nothing to do with the quaility of their pens.

Expense? Plenty of other brands that are as expensive. There are less expensive brands too. If you like

those better, buy those. And many of us buy used pens at considerable discount compared to new.

Fanboy attitude? People can't be enthusiastic about what they enjoy? MB fans on this board have generally been very respectful. Can't say the same for the occasional antiMB person.

Imlied assumption there is no other brand worthy of consideration? Check out the thread about other brands that MB enthusiasts enjoy.

I do agree that much of the antagonism towards MB has little to do with the quality of their pens. Much of it has to do with personal socioeconomic issues with MB as a luxury brand. Many of the other pen brands have modelled their pens in a similar vein to MB, but MB is the biggest player, and gets targeted the most.

People can fondly remininsce about the good old days when pens were not marketed as luxury items, but the golden age of fp use has long passed and those brands that did not realize this or realize this too late have failed or lost huge marketshare.

[hari317]

I don't think their vintage pens are nearly as groundbreaking and usable as other vintage pens.

 

Hi Tsujigiri, I have just one example of a vintage MB (1950's celluloid) a 144, it is a pure joy to use, has a spectacular flex nib and a telescopic piston filler that works very well, that pen is my daily workhorse. from what i have read on this board, vintage MBs are highly desirable and command very high prices, e.g. look at the asking price of a user grade 50's 149, one will have to struggle to find one below 1k USD.

 

Best Regards,

Hari

[Rainwalker]

GP's "hymns of praise" got me to try the Carenes, and I have never regretted that decision. My favorite pens, and exactly like she said.

 

I enjoy the MBs as well, but I have fewer of them due to the cost.

[jar]

 

So. anyway, why do most, not all, pen people avoid MB like the plague??

 

 

If true, then it is through Ignorance, but I'm not sure it's true.

 

Montblanc makes nice pens. Many other companies as well. People have likes and dislikes, and every once in awhile we talk about stuff we don't know that well. Shouldn't happen, but it does I fear.

[kaisede]

Here we go again about MB... And I was crossing my fingers hoping not to see this kind of post one month.

 

In response to Mr. Hungerford's comment IMHO most MB user that I have met also have other brands of fountain pens. Just do a search on the past posting you will find many of us has CS, Visconti, Dupont etc... therefore, what you "hear" from other people that MB user dismiss other brands because MB is the best in the world is not true at all. Most of us like MB is because we "like" the pen they make. No one would follow blindly on a product just because someone say it is good, if the product fails your expectation than you will not buy it again. So yes it has to do with MB quality of pens. What you say about other brand owner don't say or imply the brand they own is the best is false. For example, I said in a post about Dupont pens that they have the BEST nib out there in the market. But the it went unnoticed because it was not a MB pen that I was referring to.

 

Andy

[ethernautrix]

So. anyway, why do most, not all, pen people avoid MB like the plague??

 

 

If true, then it is through Ignorance, but I'm not sure it's true.

 

Good point. I'd like to see the study that shows that most pen people avoid MB like the plague.

 

Maybe the people who don't like it just scream about it the loudest so it sounds like a cacophony? Maybe? I'm throwing out hypotheses here. Or just the one. The one hypothesis.

[FredRydr]

Why does Montbanc get such a bad rap anyway?

The premise of this post is not my experience. I am aware of people who like to knock other people's choice of pens, cars, neighborhoods, mates, and so forth. Screw 'em.

 

:-)

 

Fred

[Ed Ronax]

Why does Montbanc get such a bad rap anyway?

The premise of this post is not my experience. I am aware of people who like to knock other people's choice of pens, cars, neighborhoods, mates, and so forth. Screw 'em.

 

:-)

 

Fred

 

Agree with Fred. I like what I like, be damned what others think, different strokes for different folkes.

[Ron Sabbagh]

OK I'll take a stab at this....

 

I am new to FP's..so I'll make the general disclaimer that other people on this board will know a lot more than I...

 

From my experience, the general "distaste" for MB's does not reflect their quality, but rather their exclusivity...or their marketing of exclusivity. Their marketing is very similar to Rolex..which also gets bashed in the watch world. You have to understand that MB bears the burden of being a household word..meaning that most people who don't know anything about pens know enough that it is a "nice pen" when they hear the brand name. In an attempt to maintain quality control (and their status as "a great pen" to the general public), Montblanc requires that you purchase their product from a MB boutique or authorized dealer...same as Rolex..and that all repairs be performed by MB (same as Rolex). This has left a general distaste for MB products by many non-authorized dealers, because MB will not provide them service if they are not a boutique or authorized dealer....consequently some shops bad mouth MB..which gets perpetuated to the general public.

 

Others say "they are too common".....which makes no sense to me at all.....they might be common (just like Rolex) because they are good. I own Montblanc pens and I am very happy with them. I also own Rolex watches and I am equally as happy. I don't blame the brands at all for having such strict sales/servicing policies...it only serves to ensure quality control. So while others may think MB a snobbish brand, or may be upset at their service policies, I think it only strengthens them as a brand that strives to ensure quality control through a vertical structure within the company..meaning everything in a MB pen is manufactured and serviced by MB. This should ultimately benefit us, as the consumer.

 

Anyway, just my 2c....

 

Ron

[maryj]

I just received my first Montblanc today -- a 149 with BB nib. It is such fun to write with this pen. I also have Visconti, Dupont, Danitrio and Nakaya. Not to mention a couple Sheaffers. They are all great pens but I do have to say that whether you love them or hate them, the Montblanc is pretty special.

[MidnightBlue]

You know I 'll have a stab at that one. Some people have a good B.S. barometer, others don't.

Thanks

[soloworx]

From my experience, the general "distaste" for MB's does not reflect their quality, but rather their exclusivity...or their marketing of exclusivity. Their marketing is very similar to Rolex..which also gets bashed in the watch world. You have to understand that MB bears the burden of being a household word..meaning that most people who don't know anything about pens know enough that it is a "nice pen" when they hear the brand name. In an attempt to maintain quality control (and their status as "a great pen" to the general public), Montblanc requires that you purchase their product from a MB boutique or authorized dealer...same as Rolex..and that all repairs be performed by MB (same as Rolex). This has left a general distaste for MB products by many non-authorized dealers, because MB will not provide them service if they are not a boutique or authorized dealer....consequently some shops bad mouth MB..which gets perpetuated to the general public.

 

You may add that using inks other than Montblanc will void your warranty. As an aside, how do they prove it; or conversely, how can you prove you only used their inks?

[Skribb]

What many people don't realize about Mont Blanc is that the "precious resin" that they use in their pens is made from the toes of a new born kitten and roughly 85 toes are required (the amount is largely dependent on the size of the pen and how precious you want it to be) to make a single pen. As far as I can tell, most Mont Blanc haters do it for the kittehs.

[Calabria]

Others say "they are too common".....which makes no sense to me at all.....they might be common (just like Rolex) because they are good. I own Montblanc pens and I am very happy with them. I also own Rolex watches and I am equally as happy.

 

I believe you hit the nail on the head; we distinguish ourselves as consumers by what we buy. Montblanc is just not very exclusive.