What Makes Montblanc's So Expensive?

[professionaldilettante]

I don't express any hatred toward Mb, BUT part of the price comes from the OHH factor. Sure, everything can be made in house, and you can smooth the nibs till your blue in the face, everything has been coated in diamond for wear resistance, and still, things could be cheaper. However, when you pull out that little white star, people know instantly what that is. They may not know how much you paid for it, but pulling out a pen like that makes you one of THEM. Its an image that they are selling, an image of a penholder who is someone, rather than just anyone. Sure, others make a pen that is just as nice in quality. Take visconti for example, or even pelikan. If a stranger walked up to you, and never used a FP in their life, they'd wouldn't know what the difference was. HOWEVER, if you pull out a MB, everyone knows the MB star, and they will know. Something that other brands don't have, and MB can put a nice price on.

[Blade Runner]

You've compared resin with some celluloids....so it's not a fair playing field. But I'm glad you gave other pen companies a bit of attention. Thanks

So what. I'm comparing flagship pens. Others have only cartridge/converters whereas the 149 is a piston filler. Some have smaller bodies and/or smaller gold nibs than the 149. MB is one of the minority of brands on that list that still make the heart of the pen, the nib, in house instead of having someone else make their nibs for them. Furthermore MB is one of the few brands on the list that provides for customer service of all non-LE pens in my home country (USA). Most of the brands on that list require you to send all of their pens overseas for service that can take a looooong time. MB also provides a worldwide network of boutiques that offer their services. Those are other added values of MB.

Edited April 6, 2011 by Blade Runner

[Blade Runner]

I don't express any hatred toward Mb, BUT part of the price comes from the OHH factor. Sure, everything can be made in house, and you can smooth the nibs till your blue in the face, everything has been coated in diamond for wear resistance, and still, things could be cheaper. However, when you pull out that little white star, people know instantly what that is. They may not know how much you paid for it, but pulling out a pen like that makes you one of THEM. Its an image that they are selling, an image of a penholder who is someone, rather than just anyone. Sure, others make a pen that is just as nice in quality. Take visconti for example, or even pelikan. If a stranger walked up to you, and never used a FP in their life, they'd wouldn't know what the difference was. HOWEVER, if you pull out a MB, everyone knows the MB star, and they will know. Something that other brands don't have, and MB can put a nice price on.

Yeah, I get it. Then what's the excuse of the other brands on the list for charging so much?

[MidnightBlue]

OK, .................all the companies have sucked us in. Is there any truth to the rumour that Gordon Gecko actually owns MB? Thanks

[karmakoda]

OK, .................all the companies have sucked us in. Is there any truth to the rumour that Gordon Gecko actually owns MB? Thanks

Uh...turns out Bud Fox owns Montblanc.

With regard to the original question, when a company has over one hundred and three successful years excelling in it's market place, and continues to hold a substantial piece of the current market in high end writing instruments, they are doing something right. Montblanc have earned their place.

If a new Montblanc pen is too expensive, I recommend doing what I do. I buy old pens for less, and thoroughly enjoy them.

[karmakoda]

Sorry, forgot to say, of course Blade Runner is correct in comparing the prices of Montblanc with pens by other manufacturers. How else is anything compared in its market? Where is up, down and the median? There is no other way, with regard to cost.

And with that very helpful comparison, a prospective buyer can see that, truth is, Montblanc is middle of the road, cost-wise, in the high end pen market.

And yes, I would love to have one of those cool celluloid Italian beauties. Still lookin'.

[varmas]

MBs are expensive because people are willing to pay for it. Companies charge prices based on what the market will bear and bear it MB lovers cetainly have.

 

Only collectors of anything are concerned about history of a product. The majority of MB owners are trend/fashion followers and to be seen with a MB peak sticking out of your top pocket is to be 'with it'. I have asked MB pen owners I know about MB generally and people don't have a clue other than it's a very visible brand. Some even go so far as to knowingly buy fakes to 'belong'. So that's respect for a brand's history out the window.

 

Sometimes I wonder if the demand/price of MB will be what it is if the white peak was removed.

 

Seeger used to make MB leather products and Seeger products can be had at a lower price than a similar MB one (on Ebay anyway where I checked).

 

Perhaps one day when people tire of the MB brand we can buy them for a lot cheaper. And looking at fashion trends I don't see that as an impossibility.

 

I, for one, have stopped buying retail for my MB pens and leather articles. For me the price does not equate with the requisite quality any more. And that goes for some other brands of pens as well.

 

One thing is for sure, MB like Cartier has outstanding aftersales service. And that can be a deciding purchase factor for those so inclined.

 

 

Stay well,

Solomon

[professionaldilettante]

I don't express any hatred toward Mb, BUT part of the price comes from the OHH factor. Sure, everything can be made in house, and you can smooth the nibs till your blue in the face, everything has been coated in diamond for wear resistance, and still, things could be cheaper. However, when you pull out that little white star, people know instantly what that is. They may not know how much you paid for it, but pulling out a pen like that makes you one of THEM. Its an image that they are selling, an image of a penholder who is someone, rather than just anyone. Sure, others make a pen that is just as nice in quality. Take visconti for example, or even pelikan. If a stranger walked up to you, and never used a FP in their life, they'd wouldn't know what the difference was. HOWEVER, if you pull out a MB, everyone knows the MB star, and they will know. Something that other brands don't have, and MB can put a nice price on.

Yeah, I get it. Then what's the excuse of the other brands on the list for charging so much?

Well, if MB can charge so much, why cant I?

[lsmith42]

Well, if MB can charge so much, why cant I?

Good question: why can't you?

 

If you build it, and there is perceived value in it, they will come (and give you their money for it).

 

Anything is traded for anything based on its perceived value. It's not complicated. It also should not be confused with intrinsic (independent of any perception) value. Worth requires the introduction of perception into the question.

 

Anyone else wanna play on the fence between economics and philosophy?

[penparadise]

The original question was, what makes Montblancs so expensive.

:hmm1: I don't understand that question because — and as I could read by the answers not only for me — Montblanc pens are not expensive at all.

If you have visited the Montblanc factory the question will be: Why are Montblanc pens so cheap?

[ssmui]

MB is expensive because it can.

[EricJS]

Nothing else looks like Tiny Tim either, that's just a reason why you like it......but that's not why it's so expensive. Thanks

 

Seriously, I believe it has an allure. Just like the analogy of "the Rolex" as mentioned earlier. This lends serious power to the marketability of the Mont Blanc.

 

I speak only of personal experience. This is the reason that I became fascinated with it. The MB just looks more expensive and prestigious. This justified paying more to own one.

 

Basic marketing and business + supply and demand will generate the price we pay. Our contribution is the demand.

 

 

Eric

[ImolaS3]

OP. The answer to your questioning is marketing in the luxury products market. Think Rolex. Well made but there's no relationship between what it costs to make one and the price commanded.

 

 

Marketing costs a lot of money. They pass that cost on to you. Take off the shop retail profit and the advertising cost and I would say the pen costs around 2/3rds more than its true worth. Thanks

 

 

At Fountainpenhospital, an authorized US Montblanc dealer, you can buy a brand new 149 (MB's flagship pen) today for $598. Thought it would be interesting to compare the prices of some other flagship (non LE) pens from some other higher end brands from the same website. There other high end brands, but you get the idea.

 

Aurora Optima green/blue marble (piston): $540

Caran d'ache Leman (cartridge/convertor): $725

Delta Dolcevita OS (cartridge/convertor): $556

Dupont Orpheo (cartridge/convertor): $795

Montegrappa Extra (piston): $880

Omas Arte Italiana (piston): $620

Pelikan 1000 (piston) $588

Stipula Etruria (piston): $695

Waterman Blue Edson (cartridge/convertor): $798

 

The other brands hardly do any marketing compared to MB, so what's their excuse?

 

Nice post.

 

Why are MB so expensive?

 

Because people will pay that much for them. Simple as that.

[eric47]

At Fountainpenhospital, an authorized US Montblanc dealer, you can buy a brand new 149 (MB's flagship pen) today for $598. Thought it would be interesting to compare the prices of some other flagship (non LE) pens from some other higher end brands from the same website. There other high end brands, but you get the idea.

 

Aurora Optima green/blue marble (piston): $540

Montegrappa Extra (piston): $880

Omas Arte Italiana (piston): $620

Stipula Etruria (piston): $695

 

The other brands hardly do any marketing compared to MB, so what's their excuse?

 

Aurora Optima and 88 black resin: $440

Omas Arte Italiana (piston): $620 -- this is the black resin Paragon.

 

- The MB 149 is injection molded resin.

 

- Aurora black resin Optima and 88 may be injection molded -- the "How it's Made" video shows some barrels being injection molded; at $440 they cost significantly less than the 149. Colored Auroloide pen costs more I suppose because the material costs more.

 

- Montegrappa Extra is made of celluloid (nitrate variety I believe) and hand turned. I suppose celluloid costs more to make, store, and process than injection molded plastic.

 

- Stipula Etruria made of celluloid (acetate variety I believe) and also hand turned.

 

- Omas Paragon: not sure whether the new-style resin pens are hand-turned anymore; the celluloid pens are. On the old style pre-2005 pens, both the celluloid and resin pens were hand-turned. Hand turning those 12 facets is quite time consuming -- Omas historically had very high labor costs on the faceted pens -- compared to injection molding or even hand-turning a round barrel. That's why their old torpedo-shaped Ogiva always cost significantly less than a faceted pen, all else equal.

Edited April 6, 2011 by eric47

[PenFan95]

If you search for "n00b mistakes Montblanc forum", you'll find many threads on this topic, most of which have a final post beginning "This topic has been closed by the Moderator..."

 

It's that kind of topic.

 

Montblanc pens are well regarded by many, and derided as over-priced by many others who object to the premium a Montblanc fetches over, say, their favourite Platignum school pen from the 1970s. Obviously, their Platignum was better than mine, which was scratchy as hell, and leaked on my maths textbook.

 

Montblanc make a good pen, and in my experience, they provide excellent product support. They trade on their good reputation, which allows them to charge a bit more than other companies that make a similar quality product. They charge what the market will bear: that's capitalism.

 

If you object to their prices, buy something else. Many people do, and are perfectly happy.

 

For some, however, there is that little voice niggling in the back of their head, telling them that they bought second best. They start hating themselves, and flying into jealous rages. Their limited edition Caran d'Ache Skeleton becomes a symbol of their own inadequacy, and they start haunting expensive cafes, sipping lattes and reading books by Derrida as a public display of their sophistication. All the while, knowing that their pen lacks the little white star. These people start flame wars on threads entitled "Why are Montblanc pens so expensive?"

 

All very silly. You're new: buy a pen you like, write with it, and be happy.

 

Well...that's a pretty dismal fate to have! Thank God I'm happy with my own pens...brand does not matter. The pen should be beautiful, convenient, and most of all, a good and reliable writer with a company with good service.

[kuno]

I personally think Montblancs are priced reasonably according to their value. How many other brands do you get to have a pen that works quite well *most of the time* AND snob every fp & non-fp person in the room ? Sure, my Parker "51" might outwrite everyone in town, but comtemporary MBs have been very successful in building up that "mystique and pizzazz". Whatever my opinions are about it, or anyone else's for that matter, is a nonissue for MB. As long as there continue to be greater numbers of people who will gladly pay higher sums for MB pens, I don't see why the price should be lower.

 

But as for the price comparison between MBs and other upscale brands, I think it's worth noting that MB probably makes & sells a lot more pens (not counting their LE models) than most of the other top-line manufacturers do. Sure, we can argue the relative costs/benefits of injection moulding and celluloid turning all day, but really, if Montblanc (or any other brand) gets to spread out the fixed cost of manufacture over a greater units than others the material its made out of might be less relevant in determining its final price.

Edited April 6, 2011 by kuno

[Blade Runner]

I don't express any hatred toward Mb, BUT part of the price comes from the OHH factor. Sure, everything can be made in house, and you can smooth the nibs till your blue in the face, everything has been coated in diamond for wear resistance, and still, things could be cheaper. However, when you pull out that little white star, people know instantly what that is. They may not know how much you paid for it, but pulling out a pen like that makes you one of THEM. Its an image that they are selling, an image of a penholder who is someone, rather than just anyone. Sure, others make a pen that is just as nice in quality. Take visconti for example, or even pelikan. If a stranger walked up to you, and never used a FP in their life, they'd wouldn't know what the difference was. HOWEVER, if you pull out a MB, everyone knows the MB star, and they will know. Something that other brands don't have, and MB can put a nice price on.

Yeah, I get it. Then what's the excuse of the other brands on the list for charging so much?

Well, if MB can charge so much, why cant I?

As others have said MB does so much marketing, and as I said MB provides much better customer support (service center in country), make their own nibs, runs a world wide network of boutiques, creates more new pens per year than any other brand, employs many more people than other brands, a conglomerations of factors that all cost money. But why are the some other brands charging as much or more, even for those flagship pens with expensive shells but use cheap off the shelf converters and nibs made by somebody else, essentially glorified kit pens? Why? How? Because some of those brands are riding the coat tails of MB's sucess.

Edited April 6, 2011 by Blade Runner

[PenFan95]

It's all down to the 'Bird Splat' on the top.

 

Innovations dictate Parker and Sheaffer to be foremost. All countries wanted to sell their products, and many companies started out marketing Parkers/Sheaffers and stealing/modifying their innovations, selling them and gaining Brand Rep. Heritage dictates Waterman, the classic 'idea turned into a fortune' story, Parker with his ambition and Sheaffer, with the man with an idea so good that he had to avoid a thug after his idea by changing trains as fast as he could.

 

Quality Control dictates the remaining three from the 'Big Four' American manufacturers. They have given amazing QC to all I know. I've never needed it. Their pens are so good.

 

Manufacturing dictates that the Valor should be the most expensive. One single Valor unit is made of Machined Acrylic, finished to a high polish. They may be cartridge/converter, but deserve their place in the Hall of Fame.

 

As far as copying goes, a chinese company is churning out copies of Parker's old Flagship model...the "51".The surprising fact is that they SELL. Another widely copied pen is the Sheaffer Triumph-styled pens.

 

The Sonnet is a widely counterfeited pen. The Wikipedia article for the Sonnet also goes to show how much it is counterfeited. It isn't even Parker's flagship.

 

In short, marketing, perceived value and public demand sells these pens. People would do good to understand it and stop posting articles like these. Moderators should pin this, and prevent more people to take up space. I'm not much of an MB fan, neither am I defending the brand. All I'm asking everyone is to let the space remain for real questions that may come in use.

[eric47]

But as for the price comparison between MBs and other upscale brands, I think it's worth noting that MB probably makes & sells a lot more pens (not counting their LE models) than most of the other top-line manufacturers do. Sure, we can argue the relative costs/benefits of injection moulding and celluloid turning all day, but really, if Montblanc (or any other brand) gets to spread out the fixed cost of manufacture over a greater units than others the material its made out of might be less relevant in determining its final price.

 

A whole day? I think I can last about 2 seconds. Spreading out fixed costs would make sense, except for the fact that the 149 should then cost less than an Aurora 88 or Optima not more. Something else is going on in that case.

[shrinknib]

As for the "best pen" title, that's personal. For me, the Meisterstuck piston fillers are the best in terms of

 

-classic styling

-ink capacity

-nib feel

-balance

-service and availablity of parts

 

how true.

 

i love this topic coming up every few months (or weeks).

Reminds me I'm not a newbie any longer! :embarrassed_smile: