Wancher - Roll Of The Dice

[Cyber6]

Well, I can report that the process is not completely stress-free.

 

1. After signing up, ordering (which is not a straightforward as it looks) and requesting a "purchase order". You get a message saying that you will receive an email with the paypal link. I've waited 6hrs... no email

 

2. The engTAOBAO link, doesn't seem to work anymore. So is anyone's guess as to what is the problem. :hmm1:

 

 

**sigh**

[Cyber6]

 

2. The engTAOBAO link, doesn't seem to work anymore. So is anyone's guess as to what is the problem. :hmm1:

 

 

The environment is up. Still no email

[Hoovy]

 

The environment is up. Still no email

 

How much was shipping?

[Hoovy]

You can use a taobao agent that orders goods over and sends them to different countries. Not sure how much extra it would cost though.

 

http://www.engtaobao.com/guide/view/order-tutorial.html#.USraXKWALng

 

The captcha isn't loading for me, so I can't register :bonk:

[Cyber6]

 

The environment is up. Still no email

 

How much was shipping?

 

At this point, I still have not received the paypal email, thus I am still not being charged for shipping.

 

There is shipping info here...

 

http://www.engtaobao.com/guide/view/shipping-price.html#.USweG3Hc2IE

 

If you have an idea of the weight of your items (Example, 1-5 pen will weight less than 500g) then you can estimate your shipping.

 

 

The service charge is minimal (less than 5%)... BTW the site went down again.

 

 

 

C.

[Nonsensical]

If enough people are interested, I *might* be able to buy in bulk and send it off to an address in North America/Canada where you guys can distribute it further... I'd have to check what the safest and fastest shipping method would cost from China, though. Paypal fees are a PIA, though...

Edited February 26, 2013 by Nonsensical

[whitedot]

If enough people are interested, I *might* be able to buy in bulk and send it off to an address in North America/Canada where you guys can distribute it further... I'd have to check what the safest and fastest shipping method would cost from China, though. Paypal fees are a PIA, though...

 

Yeah.

 

I too have been contemplating this. But it might be better to break up the package, and send each pen to its owner. Customs would definitely look twice at a bunch of Chinese FPs, some of which look like knock-offs. Then, there would be another intermediary, and domestic shipping.

 

Regular airmail from HK and packaging would be US$3-4 per pen. Would you guys still be saving enough?

[suexilin]

If enough people are interested, I *might* be able to buy in bulk and send it off to an address in North America/Canada where you guys can distribute it further... I'd have to check what the safest and fastest shipping method would cost from China, though. Paypal fees are a PIA, though...

 

Yeah.

 

I too have been contemplating this. But it might be better to break up the package, and send each pen to its owner. Customs would definitely look twice at a bunch of Chinese FPs, some of which look like knock-offs. Then, there would be another intermediary, and domestic shipping.

 

Regular airmail from HK and packaging would be US$3-4 per pen. Would you guys still be saving enough?

 

 

Wow, this is a lot cheaper than shipping from China mainland!

[whitedot]

If enough people are interested, I *might* be able to buy in bulk and send it off to an address in North America/Canada where you guys can distribute it further... I'd have to check what the safest and fastest shipping method would cost from China, though. Paypal fees are a PIA, though...

 

Yeah.

 

I too have been contemplating this. But it might be better to break up the package, and send each pen to its owner. Customs would definitely look twice at a bunch of Chinese FPs, some of which look like knock-offs. Then, there would be another intermediary, and domestic shipping.

 

Regular airmail from HK and packaging would be US$3-4 per pen. Would you guys still be saving enough?

 

 

Wow, this is a lot cheaper than shipping from China mainland!

 

Is it?

 

I sent a Parker 51 to Chicago on 13 Feb, and it was delivered on or before the following Friday. It cost me US$2, some cardboard and a lot of duct tape.

[Cyber6]

 

I sent a Parker 51 to Chicago on 13 Feb, and it was delivered on or before the following Friday. It cost me US$2, some cardboard and a lot of duct tape.

 

THAT's how they do it.

 

Me and Sue were trying to figure out, how chinese eBay sellers can offer free shipping on a $10 pen.

 

 

C.

[suexilin]

 

I sent a Parker 51 to Chicago on 13 Feb, and it was delivered on or before the following Friday. It cost me US$2, some cardboard and a lot of duct tape.

 

THAT's how they do it.

 

Me and Sue were trying to figure out, how chinese eBay sellers can offer free shipping on a $10 pen.

 

 

C.

 

 

Yes, this solves the mystery!!

 

From here China post ships a small registered parcel within 500g to the US/Canada for about 150-160 yuan. It's more expensive then the pen!

[whitedot]

I sent a Parker 51 to Chicago on 13 Feb, and it was delivered on or before the following Friday. It cost me US$2, some cardboard and a lot of duct tape.

 

THAT's how they do it.

 

Me and Sue were trying to figure out, how chinese eBay sellers can offer free shipping on a $10 pen.

 

 

C.

 

 

Yes, this solves the mystery!!

 

From here China post ships a small registered parcel within 500g to the US/Canada for about 150-160 yuan. It's more expensive then the pen!

 

Well, was the item postmarked HK?

[Astrea]

If enough people are interested, I *might* be able to buy in bulk and send it off to an address in North America/Canada where you guys can distribute it further... I'd have to check what the safest and fastest shipping method would cost from China, though. Paypal fees are a PIA, though...

 

Yeah.

 

I too have been contemplating this. But it might be better to break up the package, and send each pen to its owner. Customs would definitely look twice at a bunch of Chinese FPs, some of which look like knock-offs. Then, there would be another intermediary, and domestic shipping.

 

Regular airmail from HK and packaging would be US$3-4 per pen. Would you guys still be saving enough?

 

HK shipping to Canada is likely cheaper than shipping the same item within Canada, so it would be more cost effective to have the packages split up in HK. That would also get rid of duty costs as each package would be under $20.

 

And whenever I buy something from China off ebay that offers free shipping, I notice the packages are usually being sent out in HK...that's probably how they keep the shipping costs low.

 

I would be interested in getting a pen if a bulk buy is being done

[Writers Tool]

FWIW, I must have bought more than 50 pens from their ebay shop Engeika. Yeah, even on their ebay store there are some listings with dubious descriptions. They are good for the established made in Japan stuff like the Japanese big three, i would not touch their wancher stuff with a bargepole. YMMV.

 

 

I have to agree with this comment. I've also regularly bought the Japanese big three pens from their store. And recently thought I would roll the dice on a Wancher celluloid pen. Unfortunately I found out I would never make a good gambler. I will be avoiding the brand in future and sticking with the Japanese big three - reputation is everything after all.

[suexilin]

I'll write a review on the blue pen this weekend.

I'm very pleased with it.

[Writers Tool]

I'll write a review on the blue pen this weekend.

I'm very pleased with it.

 

Did you buy your pen for a few dollars from the supplier in China or did you pay a higher price for the Chinese pen to come through Japan? I'm just trying to compare expectations.

[suexilin]

I bought it from the Chinese seller directly, for cheaper, but the pen is the same, I believe, because the Chinese seller supplies Engeika.

I expected a fake, a shiny cheap fake.

The pen is actually very good, and could comfortably be sold for more.

[Writers Tool]

I bought it from the Chinese seller directly, for cheaper, but the pen is the same, I believe, because the Chinese seller supplies Engeika.

I expected a fake, a shiny cheap fake.

The pen is actually very good, and could comfortably be sold for more.

 

Okay, thanks. I see we are looking at it from different perspectives.

You would see yours as selling for a lot more, I would see mine selling for a lot less.

I'm also looking at mine from a different advertising representation.

You see yours as a pen made in China for Japan, I see mine as a Chinese pen on sold from Japan at markup.

That's part of the difference and then we have the particular quality of our individual pen.

Its all relative to expectations.

I'm glad you enjoy your pen.

Thank you for the reply.

[whitedot]

FWIW, I must have bought more than 50 pens from their ebay shop Engeika. Yeah, even on their ebay store there are some listings with dubious descriptions. They are good for the established made in Japan stuff like the Japanese big three, i would not touch their wancher stuff with a bargepole. YMMV.

 

 

I have to agree with this comment. I've also regularly bought the Japanese big three pens from their store. And recently thought I would roll the dice on a Wancher celluloid pen. Unfortunately I found out I would never make a good gambler. I will be avoiding the brand in future and sticking with the Japanese big three - reputation is everything after all.

 

I would have exercised the return policy.

[suexilin]

I bought it from the Chinese seller directly, for cheaper, but the pen is the same, I believe, because the Chinese seller supplies Engeika.

I expected a fake, a shiny cheap fake.

The pen is actually very good, and could comfortably be sold for more.

 

Okay, thanks. I see we are looking at it from different perspectives.

You would see yours as selling for a lot more, I would see mine selling for a lot less.

I'm also looking at mine from a different advertising representation.

You see yours as a pen made in China for Japan, I see mine as a Chinese pen on sold from Japan at markup.

That's part of the difference and then we have the particular quality of our individual pen.

Its all relative to expectations.

I'm glad you enjoy your pen.

Thank you for the reply.

 

 

I see what you mean.

Yes, I did expect a lot less and was pleasantly surprised.

Maybe that's why it hurt so much when my precious white tortoise pen wouldn't write well - too high expectations.

It is a problem with many things in life.

 

Nonetheless, I shall enjoy the pen.