Beware The Beautiful Parker Premier Black Edition Trap!

[WriterJP]

Hello All,

 

I am not sure if this is the appropriate place to post this topic, so if it is not I will kindly request a moderator move this to the appropriate area. Anyways, here's the story...

 

Two weeks ago today, I purchased the stealthy, sleek, and sexy Parker Premier Black Edition FP with a M Nib. I must add that this is the first relatively high end fountain pen I've purchased, with all of my others costing in the range of 50-100 dollars.

 

Things were going great for the first five days...and then the converter seal failed and leaked ink all over the inside of the pen (and all over one of my nice work shirts as I opened the pen to inspect why the ink flow suddenly became so poor). So, I brought the pen back into the store from which I purchased it, and they took the broken converter back and gave me one from another pen. Ok, no problem - down one oxford shirt, but so be it. Back to the wonderful black, sleek goodness!

 

Monday morning, I took the pen out of the pen loop in my briefcase, slipped it into my shirt pocket, and on the way from my truck to my office building, the clip snapped off clean from the front of the pen. Since I *NEVER* keep my pens in my pants pocket with my keys and other assorted things (mostly from learning what can happen if the cap somehow comes off), and never clip it over thick material, I was quite surprised and very disappointed. For a pen which cost slightly over 400USD, I couldn't believe that in 11 days the darn thing broke two different ways.

 

Quite angry, I sent a very composed yet concerned email to Parker After Sales Service about the problems I had been experiencing with the converter and the clip of my pen. I decided to give them two days to respond in some way to my email, be it by phone or return email. No response. I should also make it known that I had some questions about the nib that I had sent via email the week prior. Also, no response.

 

Well, while on my lunch hour Wednesday, I called the Wisconsin Parker/Waterman/Rotring service center and spoke to a very nice lady who happened to be the customer service supervisor. I told her my sheer disappointment in the fragility of this pen and lack of responses I had received regarding my inquiries. Naturally, I wanted to know what solution they would be able to provide. Well, she told me that my issue was not uncommon at all, and that snapping clips is actually a confirmed DESIGN FLAW and common problem with the Premier Black Edition. She proceeded to tell me that they've received literally dozens of pens with broken clips as a result. She said the only thing Parker is doing is repairing the cap by putting on another clip. She did not make mention of improved clip hardware; just another clip. She also stated that it would take, at minimum, three weeks to have this done as the pen would be sent back to France for servicing. While I understand that a few weeks turnaround isn't abysmal, the fact that I had, at that point, owned the pen for 11 days with only 4 days of actual use, I thought it pretty absurd to have to send it out for that amount of time.

 

Luckily, I took the pen back to the store last night and was offered store credit for my troubles. I will be purchasing a different brand. It does upset me to have to write this, and I really do wish that the Premier Black Edition wasn't flawed. I think it is styled very handsomely, but I can't imagine owning something where you'd expect to send it in for routine repairs on the same flaw without any permanent fix, especially at that price point.

 

YMMV, but I issue my warning to my fellow FPNers!

 

If you have any questions, feel free to ask or discuss below.

 

Sincerely,

 

JP

[olivier78860]

I bought the same fountain pen, with the roller. The fountain pen didn't have that issue, but the roller did.

Noticing the clip was "dancing" on the cap the day I bought it, I went back to the shop, and they changed it for a new pen at once.

That's definitely a flaw, probably poor durability of the material used to screw the clip inside the cap.

 

This could happen to any brand, I think. The only recommendation is to thoroughly inspect any pen when buying it. Cap, body, nib alignment with the feeder, basically all you can think of.

If they have 5 pens of the model that's interesting you, try them all and get the one which has the best nib according to your criteria.

To sum up, be the worst customer ever, you'll be a happy customer

Edited August 25, 2011 by olivier78860

[BrandonA]

Doesn't sound like a good start. I'm sure once it has been repaired though the pen will turn into a trusty workhorse. At least they have a resolution.

 

I think I'd be more worried about the converter breaking again as this could cause you more $$$. I thought for a minute you were going to say it leaked in your bag. Imagine if that had of happened - this would upset me greatly as I have important papers in mine.

 

My MB Kafka has had 2 repairs made it before I'd even used it the first time. Both issues are now resolved (FOC) and now the pen is a part of my regular rotation and I've never looked back.

 

Good luck!

[WriterJP]

Doesn't sound like a good start. I'm sure once it has been repaired though the pen will turn into a trusty workhorse. At least they have a resolution.

 

I think I'd be more worried about the converter breaking again as this could cause you more $$$. I thought for a minute you were going to say it leaked in your bag. Imagine if that had of happened - this would upset me greatly as I have important papers in mine.

 

My MB Kafka has had 2 repairs made it before I'd even used it the first time. Both issues are now resolved (FOC) and now the pen is a part of my regular rotation and I've never looked back.

 

Good luck!

 

 

I agree...WHEN they find a solution. As far as was explained to me, the solution is to put another clip on, but the supervisor did not say it was any better than the last. You would think that if a disguntled customer called up regarding this design flaw, they would highlight the fact that they've made an improved clip to install.

 

Additionally, the break did not happen near any screws. In fact, it happened right at the top of where the clip enters the barrel - the "corner" if you will seems to be the weak spot and quite brittle. The break is clean across and flush with the cap surface.

 

As a side note, I have a hard time being accepting with pens which require weeks of work right out of the box...maybe that's the wrong approach, but I prefer to buy things that work as intended out of the box

Edited August 25, 2011 by WriterJP

[tonybelding]

I don't want to get too preachy about this, but. . . . . .

 

I think the smaller companies are way more responsive than the big multi-national conglomerates like Newell-Rubbermaid (parent company of Parker and Waterman) or Bic (parent of Sheaffer). This story reminds me of my own misadventures with my Sheaffer Intrigue. These companies don't seem to care much about their products or their customers; they are mere marketing exercises. They have a "global brands portfolio" and they exist to squeeze as much profit as possible out of it for their shareholders.

[Brian]

Yeow, what a total disappointment coming from a company that was once among the greatest manufacturers of fountain pens in the world. Sorry that you had to experience this but hope you can get all back in order with a refund so you can purchase something that should reward you for the money paid.

[Joe in Seattle]

OTOH I contacted Parker customer service about a converter that failed after 12 years of use. They sent me a new one free of charge. One swallow does not a Summer make. I would be just as disappointed as this Poster had this happened to me, too.

[Florida Blue]

I'm sorry to read about your bad experience with your Parker Premier Black Edition which is a shame since you paid a hefty sum for it and it's been a pen that I admired myself. However, I think Parker did the right think in allowing you to send it back for a replacement clip free of charge and the retailer as well for giving you a full refund. The 3 week turnaround time seems pretty standard since the manufacturing facilities are located overseas and they probably have a backlog of repairs. Similar timeframes are given by companies like Cross and Montblanc.

 

Parker still makes great pens so don't let this turn you off of what I feel is a good company.

Edited August 26, 2011 by Florida Blue

[krbmsw]

I agree, Joe. I think the word for Parker's customer service is inconsistent. When I bought my Premier, I considered upgrading the nib size from medium. They e-mailed me back in a matter of hours. The difference with the big guys seems to be that there is a breadth of variance in their responsiveness.

[Ernst Bitterman]

My experience with the Parker/Waterman Customer Service portion of the N-R gargantua is that they're extremely dedicated and rather nice, but I suspect they are hamstrung in how much they can do to respond to complaints like this because the corporate overlords are unwilling to put money INTO subdivisions that they view as mere pumps to draw money OUT of consumers. "Design flaw? Will the billable hours of the engineer who might find a refit run to more than our cost of handing out replacement caps (which we will only do a certain number of times before declaring the problem to be one of the pen-owners making, since he keeps breaking them)? Yes? Well, nuts to a fix, then! Oh, and fire the guy that made the initial flawed design and spread his workload out over however many like him are left."

 

...and this is why every time I write "corporation" start writing "coprolite".

[WriterJP]

Yeow, what a total disappointment coming from a company that was once among the greatest manufacturers of fountain pens in the world. Sorry that you had to experience this but hope you can get all back in order with a refund so you can purchase something that should reward you for the money paid.

 

I was able to get a full refund from the local pen store, and I wound up ordering a Montblanc 146 Legrand with a medium nib. So, for now, problem solved!

[fitzharry]

 

...and this is why every time I write "corporation" start writing "coprolite".

 

Ernst, you make-a me laugh! :roflmho:

[rminj]

 

Luckily, I took the pen back to the store last night and was offered store credit for my troubles. I will be purchasing a different brand. It does upset me to have to write this, and I really do wish that the Premier Black Edition wasn't flawed. I think it is styled very handsomely, but I can't imagine owning something where you'd expect to send it in for routine repairs on the same flaw without any permanent fix, especially at that price point.

 

YMMV, but I issue my warning to my fellow FPNers!

 

If you have any questions, feel free to ask or discuss below.

 

Sincerely,

 

JP

 

That's a good retailer you went to then..one reason to frequent them again. It is disappointing as the Premier

costs a lot.. Does it only have a 2 year warranty like other Parker products? That means in three years if the clip breaks again they won't fix it for free..even if flawed? Its a new design that I hope they solve. I would have probably exchanged the pen also for something else in disappointment. The pen cost so much ..I thought they put a lot of the cost into striking finish of the pen..I can't believe the rest is all profit? I mean they have not had problems with clips on Sonnets..

 

Thanks for letting us know.

[tactilex]

A good reason to stick with antique pens that have been restored. I love my Vacumatics!

[Hangglidernerd]

A good reason to stick with antique pens that have been restored. I love my Vacumatics!

 

 

ditto

[79spitfire]

 

...and this is why every time I write "corporation" start writing "coprolite".

 

Ernst, you make-a me laugh! :roflmho:

+1! :ltcapd:

[georges zaslavsky]

I prefer my good old duofolds and my vintage french made parkers to modern ones.

[raging.dragon]

I don't want to get too preachy about this, but. . . . . .

 

I think the smaller companies are way more responsive than the big multi-national conglomerates like Newell-Rubbermaid (parent company of Parker and Waterman) or Bic (parent of Sheaffer). This story reminds me of my own misadventures with my Sheaffer Intrigue. These companies don't seem to care much about their products or their customers; they are mere marketing exercises. They have a "global brands portfolio" and they exist to squeeze as much profit as possible out of it for their shareholders.

 

I agree, Joe. I think the word for Parker's customer service is inconsistent. When I bought my Premier, I considered upgrading the nib size from medium. They e-mailed me back in a matter of hours. The difference with the big guys seems to be that there is a breadth of variance in their responsiveness.

 

In my experience from dealing with, and working for, large companies customer service is quite variable. Alot depends on how dedicated the person who happens to answer your call/email is.

 

My experience with the Parker/Waterman Customer Service portion of the N-R gargantua is that they're extremely dedicated and rather nice, but I suspect they are hamstrung in how much they can do to respond to complaints like this because the corporate overlords are unwilling to put money INTO subdivisions that they view as mere pumps to draw money OUT of consumers. "Design flaw? Will the billable hours of the engineer who might find a refit run to more than our cost of handing out replacement caps (which we will only do a certain number of times before declaring the problem to be one of the pen-owners making, since he keeps breaking them)? Yes? Well, nuts to a fix, then! Oh, and fire the guy that made the initial flawed design and spread his workload out over however many like him are left."

 

...and this is why every time I write "corporation" start writing "coprolite".

 

Last year I was corresponding with the Canadian Waterman/Parker after sales rep about swapping the nib on a Waterman, and found her to be pleasant and helpful.

[Zombify]

I was thinking about purchasing this pen recently. It's between the Parker Premier Matte Black or the Lamy 2000. I love both of these pens, and I noticed that these posts were about 2 years old. So, since then does anyone know if Parker has fixed the problems that were described in the original post?

 

What's strange is that I have a Parker Urban, which I think is leaking from the converter as well. Every time I open up the barrel, I can see blobs of ink outside the converter. I clean it off, and check some days later, and they are back.

 

Is this a widespread problem with Parker converters?

[ac12]

 

What's strange is that I have a Parker Urban, which I think is leaking from the converter as well. Every time I open up the barrel, I can see blobs of ink outside the converter. I clean it off, and check some days later, and they are back.

 

Is this a widespread problem with Parker converters?

 

could be ANY converter

I just pulled and changed a Sheaffer converter because it was LEAKING. And I mean leaking a lot. The front gasket just did not seal around the nipple.