Australia!

[Bringiton]

Pen prices are impacted by duties on foreign products. Write your legislator.

Heh heh. Someone did.

 

Duties are largely non-existent. The problem in Australia is a thing called the "Exclusive Distribution Agreement", whereby a single company obtains exclusive rights to import, and thereby charge whatever they like. The polite term is "market segmentation". The less polite term is "monopolistic rent-seeking rip-off merchants".

 

In a fine example of self-inflicted damage, a group of these companies complained to the media that they were struggling for business because people were using the interwebz to buy their stuff overseas, and demanded that the government enforce GST of 10% on all overseas purchases. Of course, the media coverage was immense, and drew everyone's attention to the cheaper prices available overseas on just about everything. You can buy stuff in the States (sales tax and postage included) for half the Australian price on just about anything, so the GST makes bugger all difference.

 

I have no sympathy for the bastards.

 

I second you on that. It was only recently in bought a Sailor from nibs.com, which cost me about us$350 customised and landed. Same pen sold on some Aussie website was A$400 before shipping! Rip- off would be an understatement.

 

Instead of getting competitive with the online stores they're screaming bloody murder to the govt. Bunch of whingers!

Edited June 2, 2012 by Bringiton

[Carma]

i recommend stationeryart.com last month i bought 2 pilot 78Gs for 7.50$ and shipping was only 2$ the package came within a week in a small brown envelope but the pens were packaged in bubble wrap. The website caters more towards low end items although i think they also sell prera and some sailors. Hope its not too late http://www.stationeryart.com/pilot-namiki-pilot-japan-vpen-disposable-fountain-green-p-1614.html <$2 USD

[byronss]

i recommend stationeryart.com last month i bought 2 pilot 78Gs for 7.50$ and shipping was only 2$ the package came within a week in a small brown envelope but the pens were packaged in bubble wrap. The website caters more towards low end items although i think they also sell prera and some sailors. Hope its not too late http://www.stationeryart.com/pilot-namiki-pilot-japan-vpen-disposable-fountain-green-p-1614.html <$2 USD

 

$2 is very reasonable for freight, so thanks for the tip. I've bought from them before, but larger items and the freight was more. Sounds good for low-end FPs etc.

[Ytland]

Buying from asian retailers such as melpens and pengallery has been the best way to keep shipping and pen prices down (no aff.)... However when it comes to customisation, the shipping from the US is just ridiculous! I don't know where places like Pen City and Tafts get the nerve to charge upwards of $600 for a pelikan m600 (though i suppose it does suit the name), however on a more practical level, there's not that much demand for fps in Australia so they need to keep the money coming in to stay open... It's a sad situation, which can only be remedied by buying more pens!! (even if at inflated prices...)

[byronss]

Buying from asian retailers such as melpens and pengallery has been the best way to keep shipping and pen prices down (no aff.)... However when it comes to customisation, the shipping from the US is just ridiculous! I don't know where places like Pen City and Tafts get the nerve to charge upwards of $600 for a pelikan m600 (though i suppose it does suit the name), however on a more practical level, there's not that much demand for fps in Australia so they need to keep the money coming in to stay open... It's a sad situation, which can only be remedied by buying more pens!! (even if at inflated prices...)

I've found that some eBay sellers have reasonable shipping, including some from the USA... in fact, only two from the USA that I know of. For those of us on a tight budget, often the shipping will break any good price I find. You almost have to do terrier-like research to find the odd bargain for a pen you want. Definitely nothing much here in Oz, and definitely can't find any of the brands that would be dream FPs for me.

 

By far the biggest problem for me is the inability to try what would otherwise be a wasteful purchase if I didn't like the way it writes. Trawling reviews is somewhat helpful, but those reviews are also very subjective. I don't necessarily write like anyone else or like the same things in an FP. There's one expensive FP I would really like, but am extremely hesitant. At this stage, I can't even decide on the nib size!

 

It's a sad state of affairs here in Australia!

[wyldphyre]

I've only been into fountain pens for about 5 months and all my pen purchases have been done online from overseas sellers, simply because they were the dealers I knew of and I couldn't seem to find anything much locally. Because of this I didn't realise until last week just how bad the price of pens is here in Australia.

 

A friend at work told me about a local store here in Perth (his dad is into pens) and I had a look at their website. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Vanishing Points and Lamy 2000s being sold for double what you could get them from the US. That experience pretty much made up my mind on the fact that I'm unlikely to ever by a pen from a local dealer. Well, maybe a cheap one, but certainly not one of the more pricey ones.

 

It would be great if the prices were more reasonable so I could support local retailers without feeling like I'm getting royally screwed over, but I'm not going to hold my breath on that one.

[alc3261]

1340526864[/url]' post='2383765']

I've only been into fountain pens for about 5 months and all my pen purchases have been done online from overseas sellers, simply because they were the dealers I knew of and I couldn't seem to find anything much locally. Because of this I didn't realise until last week just how bad the price of pens is here in Australia.

 

A friend at work told me about a local store here in Perth (his dad is into pens) and I had a look at their website. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Vanishing Points and Lamy 2000s being sold for double what you could get them from the US. That experience pretty much made up my mind on the fact that I'm unlikely to ever by a pen from a local dealer. Well, maybe a cheap one, but certainly not one of the more pricey ones.

 

It would be great if the prices were more reasonable so I could support local retailers without feeling like I'm getting royally screwed over, but I'm not going to hold my breath on that one.

 

Try Indian pens - pretty good and very cheap, 2$ US shipping worldwide. www.fountainpenrevolution.com

Edited June 24, 2012 by alc3261

[wyldphyre]

 

Try Indian pens - pretty good and very cheap, 2$ US shipping worldwide. www.fountainpenrevolution.com

 

Thanks for the suggestion, but I've got enough cheap ones for the moment. I did have a look at that site a few weeks back though. In the short time I've been collecting I've got a Prera, Ahab, Konrad, Kaweco Sport Classic, and several more. I'm to the point know where I'm looking at more expensive stuff and buying far less frequently. Next on my list are TWSBI and maybe a Pilot Custom 74.

[alc3261]

Try Indian pens - pretty good and very cheap, 2$ US shipping worldwide. www.fountainpenrevolution.com

 

Thanks for the suggestion, but I've got enough cheap ones for the moment. I did have a look at that site a few weeks back though. In the short time I've been collecting I've got a Prera, Ahab, Konrad, Kaweco Sport Classic, and several more. I'm to the point know where I'm looking at more expensive stuff and buying far less frequently. Next on my list are TWSBI and maybe a Pilot Custom 74.

 

Lots of pens, ink etc are very cheap in the US but the rates charged for shipping to the UK are astronomical (and then you get hit with customs charges too!!). I assume you will also have pretty high shipping charges to Aus from the US?

[wyldphyre]

Try Indian pens - pretty good and very cheap, 2$ US shipping worldwide. www.fountainpenrevolution.com

 

Thanks for the suggestion, but I've got enough cheap ones for the moment. I did have a look at that site a few weeks back though. In the short time I've been collecting I've got a Prera, Ahab, Konrad, Kaweco Sport Classic, and several more. I'm to the point know where I'm looking at more expensive stuff and buying far less frequently. Next on my list are TWSBI and maybe a Pilot Custom 74.

 

Lots of pens, ink etc are very cheap in the US but the rates charged for shipping to the UK are astronomical (and then you get hit with customs charges too!!). I assume you will also have pretty high shipping charges to Aus from the US?

 

Shipping can be a bit of a pain, but when the pen costs twice as much locally, it's still the better deal to buy from overseas.

 

I'm not sure how shipping to AU compares with to the UK, but as an example of costs, my most recent order was from Goulet Pens (my first from them). It was a Konrad, an Ahab, two bottles of ink, some notebooks and a couple small odds and sods. The order was nearly $90, and the cheapest tracked postage was $50 (which I decided to pay this time but I'm not sure I would next time). The order before that was from JetPens, and the order itself was roughly the same price and shipping options where ~$20 not tracked and ~$40 tracked (and I paid for tracking on that as well).

 

As a percentage of the purchase the tracking costs are pretty steep I guess, but it's still cheaper than if I'd been able to get everything locally, which I couldn't. I can get a Pilot Vanishing Point delivers from nibs.com for $204, and a local retailer sells them for $300 and doesn't have the one I'm interested in anyway. My experience so far makes me think that there is just not going to be much of a reason for me to buy any of my future pens locally.

Edited June 25, 2012 by wyldphyre

[Mayer1508]

I agree, the prices here are crazy. I got quoted $895 for a Parker Duofold International (pearl) at Pen Ultimate in Sydney. You can get the same pen for around $300 online, even cheaper if you wait and shop around.

 

They also quoted me $595 for a Sailor Pro Gear. I didn't tell them that I had recently bought the same pen for $135 plus $15 postage.

 

I admit, the service was good (I forget the name of the young guy who works there), but at those prices it would want to be. Needless to say, I didn't buy any pens (only ink). I am happy to support local businesses, to a point, but when prices are that inflated, I cant justify it. I will buy ink from them, but that is it.

[wyldphyre]

I agree, the prices here are crazy. I got quoted $895 for a Parker Duofold International (pearl) at Pen Ultimate in Sydney. You can get the same pen for around $300 online, even cheaper if you wait and shop around.

 

They also quoted me $595 for a Sailor Pro Gear. I didn't tell them that I had recently bought the same pen for $135 plus $15 postage.

 

I admit, the service was good (I forget the name of the young guy who works there), but at those prices it would want to be. Needless to say, I didn't buy any pens (only ink). I am happy to support local businesses, to a point, but when prices are that inflated, I cant justify it. I will buy ink from them, but that is it.

 

Yeah, I'm somewhat in favour of supporting local business, but my willingness to do so drops off pretty quickly depending on how much more annoying or costly it is to do so. In the case of pens prices here it just doesn't make much sense to buy local in the majority of cases.

[Mags]

Online purchases have helped with prices rising and keeping people buying FP's everywhere. I fear the nib being scratchy so that is my Internet purchasing phobia.

[Bringiton]

Online purchases have helped with prices rising and keeping people buying FP's everywhere. I fear the nib being scratchy so that is my Internet purchasing phobia.

So is mine, but John from nibs.com (just a satisfied customer) put my fears to rest real quick.

 

To tell the truth, I will rather buy from him, pay the exorbitant shipping than to buy it from the local Aussie retailers. At least John knows what he' s talking about.