Repair Center In Ft Worth Tx

[Starguard]

One upshot of all this is that I will never purchase a new pen from Montblanc, especially after having a supervisor tell me they can't repair older pens or...Limited Edition pens! She also said pens are only under warranty for 24 months, now I told them right at the beginning that this wasn't a warranty repair, but heck Taylor Made offers a limited lifetime warranty on their pens. I had one that was defective, sent it back to them and they sent me a whole new pen.

[jmccarty3]

Frankly, I'm perpetually baffled when it comes to MB servicing because issues like those summarized in this thread are recurrent. I always use a private pen person for repairs and restoration work. These people know the pens, know the concerns of their customers and have a vested interest in a good outcome. A few complaints about MB result in nothing. A few for a small business pen restorer and that's it. Plus, some of these people are real artisans and deserve support. MB on the other hand, is in the business of selling new pens. Post-sales service is of secondary interest and tertiary importance...evidently.

 

 

+1

 

+10 for older MBs

[Starguard]

Okay. When you get the pen back...

 

Please understand I am not a pen doctor and don't even play one on TV or stay at Holiday Inn Express, but ...

 

IIRC (but I'm old and so most of it must be forgotten) the Montblanc VIP/Slimline/Noblesse nibs were simple screw in type and that there is a small "O-ring" to seal the unit. If the casing is not cracked and you see leaking at that point then the likely culprit is that "O-ring" or an air leak at the cartridge/converter.

 

When you get the pen back can you try these things kinda in this order.

 

Fill a converter with water, put in the pen and put pen nib down. Wait about an hour if necessary. Is there a leak? If so, first replace converter. If it's the converter you'll likely see the leak immediately.

 

Next, test to see if the nib is simply loose. If it tightens repeat step one and see if problem solved.

 

If it's tight, unscrew nib/feed assemble and check "O-ring" Replace with similar size from hardware store. Repeat step 1.

 

If still leaking, inspect the nib casing (section where it screws in) with loupe to see if there is a small crack. If nothing seen then it's time to call in someone who did stay at a Holiday Inn Express.

 

I finally got the pen back from Montblanc today, the text of the letter was as follows:

 

"Dear Client,

 

Thank you for you interest expressed in Montblanc.

 

The writing instrument that you sent in is no longer in production. Unfortunately, there are no spare parts available and we cannot offer a repair.

 

We appreciate your loyalty and remain at your disposal should you need any further information.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Montblanc Customer Service."

 

Nib isn't loose, in fact It's very tight, I'm afraid to twist it too hard. The model number listed is M19130 Fullhalter. Looks like the individual number (serial number?) is MWI999999

I cleaned the pen before I sent it, but when I filled it with water the color of ink that came out was the same I had been using. I don't think they even tried to work on it at all.

It's still seeping the same way it was before I sent it, I've put a different converter in it. I examined the converter I was using with a loupe and there are no cracks or anything that indicates it has failed. However, the seeping has slowed way down, my face will be red if it's the converter that was the problem!

 

Rating my experience I'd have to say F-. Communication was poor and in fact except for when I called them they made no attempt to contact me. The pen was shipped to Germany without consulting me. I spoke to four different "Ambassadors" two of them were helpful, one was not and the 4th one told me a supervisor would call back 'in just a few minutes". Two hours later I was told the supervisor was not there and they didn't know when she would be back. At that point I asked for contact information for the office in Germany, which was declined, so I asked for the nearest corporate office in the US. I was given that number for Montblanc USA in New York. I called that number and spoke with a woman there who identified herself as the personal assistant to the CEO of Montblanc USA. I gave her the entire sad story. She thanked me for bringing this to her attention and about 20 min later I had a call from the Ft Worth call center supervisor. THAT'S when I found out that they were already shipping the pen back from Germany un-repaired. The supervisor mailed me a gift of some stationary that I got on the 12th, and they did finally notify me when the pen got back to Ft Worth, and it arrived here today.

 

I understand that realistically it's not always practical to keep parts on hand for older pens, but if a pen isn't being supported anymore then you shouldn't have to ship a pen to determine that, much less all the way to Germany and back again. Haven't they heard of email? I would have been delighted to send pictures, rather than wait almost two full months to find out it wasn't going to be repaired.

 

So ends my cautionary tale, buyer beware if you buy a pen from Montblanc and heaven forbid it should need repair. Find a qualified pen restorer/repair other than Montblanc if it's at all out of their 24 month warranty.

[Starguard]

Well, it wasn't the converter, I took the loupe and took a long close look at the section, and I found the blasted crack in the section that was causing the problem. I had looked at it before, but I suspect it has worsened since the last time I looked at it. It's very tiny and almost invisible to the naked eye, and very hard to see even with a lighted loupe, but it's definitely there. I guess I really do need someone who has stayed at a Holiday Inn Express!

[alexwong001]

So sorry to hear your frustration!! Live and learn.

[jar]

Well, it wasn't the converter, I took the loupe and took a long close look at the section, and I found the blasted crack in the section that was causing the problem. I had looked at it before, but I suspect it has worsened since the last time I looked at it. It's very tiny and almost invisible to the naked eye, and very hard to see even with a lighted loupe, but it's definitely there. I guess I really do need someone who has stayed at a Holiday Inn Express!

Okay, not the best answer but progress.

 

Now on to next step.

 

Contact the good folk at PenBoard and also Max Schrage. Tell them your issue and I bet they can help.

[CS388]

Well, it wasn't the converter, I took the loupe and took a long close look at the section, and I found the blasted crack in the section that was causing the problem. I had looked at it before, but I suspect it has worsened since the last time I looked at it. It's very tiny and almost invisible to the naked eye, and very hard to see even with a lighted loupe, but it's definitely there. I guess I really do need someone who has stayed at a Holiday Inn Express!

 

Bad luck. Shame you had to go through such a long and badly communicated trauma to discover this.

 

On the bright side: As Jar says, there are excellent people available who can fix this, or even supply spare parts.

 

Or post a picture in the Repairs Q&A forum, always a source of excellent advice. You may even be able to fix it yourself.

 

Good luck.

[Starguard]

Thank you Jar, and CS388! Excellent advise which I will take. I've also got an eye out on ebay for a parts pen. since all I really need is to replace the section. I don't think the current one can be repaired.

[Starguard]

I heard back from Max Schrage, he quoted me 48 Euro's for the repair! As soon as I find out if he takes PayPal I'm sending it to him. Thank you Jar! Here's a couple of pictures of the pen

 

 

[jar]

I heard back from Max Schrage, he quoted me 48 Euro's for the repair! As soon as I find out if he takes PayPal I'm sending it to him. Thank you Jar! Here's a couple of pictures of the pen

 

 

Max is good folk and a member here. Always like hearing about happy endings.

[Starguard]

Max is good folk and a member here. Always like hearing about happy endings.

 

Me too! Especially my own!

 

He does take PayPal and I've sent the amount requested.

[Starguard]

Coda and finale!

 

I got the pen back from Max yesterday, he did a beautiful job, it's working well! He replaced the entire section and fitted my old nib in it. Who would have thought my pen would see more of Germany than I have! I am very happy with the repair! If you have been following this Max thank you from the depths of my heart!

[CS388]

Excellent! A positive outcome, in the end.

 

It's no surprise to hear people praising Max's work.

 

Enjoy.

[jar]

Great news. But without pictures it just did not happen.

[Starguard]

So true! Here's the proof!

 

Before and after!

 

 

 

 

[pajaro]

That's a beautiful pen. I have always admired those pens. It's so great that it is repaired.

[Kalessin]

Katherines, the repair work looks great, and I hope you enjoy the pen for a long time!

 

I have one of this type as well. The model name is Slimline, and they made many variations of brushed steel, colors, and occasional gold trim or gold plating. Mine is all brushed stainless and chrome, with the common steel nib. These pens were the "entry-level" line, inexpensive compared to the Meisterstuck pens that get most talked about in the forum.

This line of pens dates to the late 1970s, and even if Montblanc had parts for twenty years, that barely gets up to 2000 for factory repairs. When they repair older Meisterstucks, they replace old-style parts with new, so sometimes you get back nothing original but the nib, and everything else replaced -- not necessarily so great for a sentimental pen!

[Mister Mont Blanc]

I'm so glad you got a satisfactory result and a usable pen!! It's amazing how many experienced members we have here across the world who can work miracles with pens!

[Starguard]

So true! I never dreamed that I would speak to someone at corporate level for the issue either, but Max and FPN definitely came to the rescue!