Fake Parker Sonnet Invasion On Ebay

[rochester21]

I was recently having a look at the sonnet model on ebay and came across a number of offers featuring pens without boxes at very low prices and free shipping. They are fake pens and cost around 5 dollars for a ballpoint and 7 dollars for the fake parker sonnet fountain pen.

 

I`m pretty sure they aren`t fooling anyone, but just in case. Generally speaking, i am under the impression that ebay and other places have seen a surge in fake items. Until recently these offerings would be reported and disappear, but i guess times are changing. Maybe ebay is trying to compete with aliexpress and such

[BT_Summers]

There are a number of fake sonnets for sale, quite cheaply. My brother bought one to see what it was like and the quality was actually quite good, the fakers had improved the manufacture of the gold ring that retains the feed and nib. there are around 10 tests on how to tell the difference between the typical fake sonnet and the real one and this fake passed all but two of them. The two failures were the depth of the cut of the feathering on the clip and the shine of the plating on the connector.

 

It also didnt take Parker cartridges.

 

As a $7 dollar pen it was actually quite good. I can name the ebay seller but I am but I am not sure if that would be permitted. Perhaps if I said the name begains with A and ends with brat, you can be on alert if you see that sellers advertisment.

 

Since brother's pen was bought the seller has changed the title/description, sometimes, to include the word Copy, or Chinese Import.

[rochester21]

Well one thing i can say is that this time around the title actually describes the pens as being "Parker Sonnet", not just "fountain pen".

[Mangrove Jack]

The ballpoint may be worth considering.

[mitto]

Well there are fakes that takes the Parker cart/converter. I had a legit Sonnet whose section got crushed and broke. I found a very finely made Chinese fake and used its section as replacement in my legit Sonnet.

 

I, however, am looking for a legit Sonnet section for my pen. Until then the fake's would do the job.

[BT_Summers]

Its very confusing buying Sonnets on ebay, I have seen what I think was a genuine Sonnet sell for less money than a fake, its only around 7 years ago since father bought a Sonnet gift set with a bottle of Penman, all new and unused, for $20.

 

Crazy world.

[pajaro]

Very good to know that a fake Sonnet section works in a legitimate Parker Sonnet. Sad to see an invasion of fakes, but I am not in the Sonnet market these days. Frankly, it was sufficiently tedious to authenticate a Sonnet that I ran out of steam, and no doubt the fakers are getting better, making the job of unmasking fakes more onerous. Are the fakers faking older models of Sonnet also?

 

The fakers are faking other pens as well, such as the Lamy Safari. There are obvious tell-tales, though. The fake Lamys work quite well. If the Sonnet you buy works perfectly, perhaps that will be a tell-tale as well.

[Chrissy]

I have been looking on eBay because I've been trying to buy a Sonnet with gold nib. I avoid all of the results that come up as being from China.

[PaulS]

commiserations if you've bought a duff Sonnet on the bay. It depends how many examples you want perhaps - if you collect this model seriously then by the sound of it you have a problem sourcing genuine pens - if you only want a couple or so then, in the U.K. at least, they can be found in charity shops, albeit on an irregular basis. Over the space of a couple of years I've found half a dozen nice ones with a variety of nibs all of which appear to be kosher. I suspect that sourcing from places that are likely to have acquired older pens as donations, you're far less likely to buy a wrong one - antiques fairs, house clearance outlets for example, which might well have pens approaching twenty five years of age.

Because vendors unaccustomed to selling pens don't usually look carefully, nibs of palladium over 18 k can be found being sold as steel, and assume that gold coloured nibs are g.p.

Usually when fakers strike it's the top end pieces they forge - no point you'd think in faking something that can be bought for £10 - £15 new, but if I'm offered one on the cheap I'll give it a miss.

[jchch1950]

Buying fakes promote illegal industries that destroy employments and creativity elsewhere.Also, they are many cheap pens in the market so a low price shouldn't be a reason to buy them.

[mitto]

I used to buy used genuine Sonnets for Rs.2000-4000 ($19-38 approx) depending on finish and nib material. I now, however, have stopped buying Sonnets except for the earliest production with two bands on the sections and/or a few sterling finishes that I like the most. As for using Sonnets, I use only my Firedance Sonnet with the monotone 18k nib that does not have the nib drying out ailment.

[Chrissy]

I use only my Firedance Sonnet with the monotone 18k nib that does not have the nib drying out ailment.

 

Nice.

[PaulS]

my comments were supposed to suggest - although I think they failed - that for those on the other side of the pond it might be a tad safer to buy from thrift stores or estate sales rather than on-line auctions.

[mitto]

Nice.

 

Perhaps that is because the nib on the Firedance was near trash when it came to me. I gave it a good treatment and may be in the process it lost all Sonnetish traits and became a 'good' nib.

 

Here are the before and after pics of that nib. Although later on further work was done on the nib to narrow down/adjust the gap between the tines.

 

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/316877-home-repairs-with-almost-no-tools/

[mitto]

my comments were supposed to suggest - although I think they failed - that for those on the other side of the pond it might be a tad safer to buy from thrift stores or estate sales rather than on-line auctions.

I agree. And point/suggestion well taken.

 

I have been buying ALL my pens from thrift shops/antique stores.

Edited August 27, 2017 by mitto