Montblanc Cheaper In China. And Other Newbie Questions.

[JonW]

I’ve got lots of fountain pens and am as nuts about them as the average person around here. But I’ve never had a Montblanc. They’re really expensive. My impression of general opinions here is that they are excellent pens, but substantially overpriced relative to other brands of similar quality. Would you agree?

 

Anyways, yesterday I was in the Beijing airport awaiting my return flight to the US. I noticed that there is a quite substantial Montblanc shop there and went to have a look. They had a very nice collection on hand. The classic models are what appeal to me most- Meisterstucks and the variations thereof. I learned that there are 3 basic sizes, 145 Classique is the smallest, 147 Grande is medium, and 149 is the largest. The 145 is about the size of my favorite-of-all-pens Pelikan 215. I liked that size. The 147 is bigger than what I’ve gravitated to, but might be my first choice at the moment. The 149 was just too big for me.

 

The prices surprised me and were lower than I expected. If I remember correctly, the 145 was 3150 Yuan. I think that the 147 was 3350 Yuan? At the current exchange rate of 6.6 Yuan/1 US Dollar that puts the 145 at $477 and the 147 at $508. I had a lot of spare Chinese cash with me and converting that back to US Dollars is at about 8 Yuan/Dollar by the time that you get dones with the fees and such. That would put a 145 at, effectively, $394 and a 147 at $419. Pretty cheap relative to US prices as well as my expectations. I thought that people here might want to know that the pens are cheaper in China. Interesting.

 

I was not about to make such a large purchase without some investigation. I was quite sleep deprived and not thinking clearly from jet lag and other travel-related maladies. Nor could I read up on what things usually cost and all that. Google does not work over there. Now that I am back, I see that these prices are notably cheaper than what we would usually pay in the US.

 

Most appealing to me would be a 147 medium sized pen, piston filler, fine nib, and the platinum colored metal (not gold). As I look on the montblanc.com web site, it seems as that exact combination does not exist. There are all of those features but in a converter/cartridge filler. Or all of the features including piston in gold or red gold. If that is what the web site says, that must be the extent of their offerings, correct?

 

Do the nibs run pretty typically for a European pen? I like fines, in general and, for example, in Pelikans.

 

High odds that I will be returning to China for work. So I wonder if a Montblanc pen is in my future. Just thought that I’d post some observations and questions.

[Tom Kellie]

 

 

~ JonW:

 

Thank you for describing your recent visit to the Beijing Capital International Airport Montblanc boutique.

Having browsed in that boutique many times, your comments brought back happy memories.

I'm now in my 19th year of working in China. All but three of my Montblanc fountain pens were purchased from boutiques here.

The prices you've mentioned are significantly lower than any I've ever encountered for authentic merchandise.

Above I've posted the current retail price of the three models you've mentioned, all in platinum-coated trim, as shown on the Montblanc China Web site.

The practice of Montblanc China is to offer the same price on fountain pens in the on-line shop and in the boutiques, with no discounts or sales.

All three models, the 145, 146 and 149, are currently available in China in platinum trim, and all three may be fitted with either an F or an EF nib, as part of Montblanc's nib exchange service.

The 145 is a cartridge filler with a converter available, while both the 146 and 149 are piston fillers.

Therefore there is a medium-sized fountain pen, the 146 LeGrand, available in platinum trim, with an F nib.

As to exchange rates, I have no idea as my entire life is conducted in Chinese renminbi/yuan.

As to nibs, the EF nibs are generally sharp and look extra fine, while F nibs occasionally run to a more medium line.

I hope that your next business trip in China will be productive and might include shopping for a Montblanc fountain pen to suit your taste.

Tom K.

[meiers]

There are a lot of fakes circulating on the open market. Buyer beware.

[Kalessin]

There are a lot of fakes circulating on the open market. Buyer beware.

 

 

Indeed, a few years ago I posted a photo of an entire faked Montblanc Boutique somewhere in China (with misspelled signs, etc.).

 

However, a Montblanc store in the airport should be genuine.

[Parker51]

Was this a duty free shop that only sells pens at that price for those leaving China? If so, the lower price might be explained by the import taxes on the Pens not being charged. One way to tell is when do you get the pen. At the boutique or after you have passed into a restricted area for departing flights.

Another question is warranty. Did the Montblanc boutique indicate if, and where the warranty applies? It is possible that warranty service might only be available through them at that location. Not a problem of you fly through there regularly and will be doing so for the next several years, but a potentially big problem if you can't get service for your pen otherwise.

[jagwap]

If this is a real AD then the warranty and ability to nib swap should be global. I checked this at Heathrow airport.

 

It sounds like some of the best prices for a real Montblanc. Probably because of duty free as people have stated. Jomashop has similar prices, but no warranty and nib swap.

[Tom Kellie]

~ Two graduate students were leaving from Beijing Capital International Airport today, outbound to Europe.

I'd asked them to visit the Montblanc boutique after clearing the immigration exit procedures.

They sent a text message that the prices on 145, 146 and 149 were posted as above.

They asked the sales staff if there were discounts or sales and were told nothing like that had occurred this year.

They looked in a couple of other duty-free shops offering a wide range of merchandise, finding Montblanc fragrances, but no pens.

Perhaps they didn't find the shop where such prices are on offer.

Tom K.

[gerigo]

JonW be careful of your conversions. I am sure the store you saw in Beijing is real because you can't get fakes at the airport anymore. If you can tell me what bank or credit card that gives you MORE money than take away, I will switch to this bank RIGHT AWAY. The price of the 144 is USD513 at the airport and is USD 689 as posted by Tom.

 

No foreign goods are cheaper in China. It's the tax that's removed at the airport.

[Tom Kellie]

JonW be careful of your conversions. I am sure the store you saw in Beijing is real because you can't get fakes at the airport anymore. If you can tell me what bank or credit card that gives you MORE money than take away, I will switch to this bank RIGHT AWAY. The price of the 144 is USD513 at the airport and is USD 689 as posted by Tom.

 

No foreign goods are cheaper in China. It's the tax that's removed at the airport.

 

 

~ gerigo:

 

Yes. This is what I thought, but lacked adequate understanding of the details. Thank you for clarifying it.

Since 1999 I've yet to encounter any genuine imported goods in mainland China offered at a discount.

The Beijing Capital International Airport Montblanc boutique is a favorite spot for pausing while waiting for flights bound for Africa or the Gulf Region as a transit point.

Browsing there facilitates unhurried enjoyment of recent models as well as standard models. However, not once has there ever been any indication of reduced prices.

Nonetheless, not having visited all other shops and duty-free stores, I'm unable to speculate about Montblanc pens offered elsewhere.

For authentic imported high ticket goods, mainland China isn't advantageous. Hong Kong is a different story.

Tom K.

[gerigo]

These days with global pricing and parent companies like Richemont, hungry for profit, it's very unlikely you're going to be able to find a bargain on current product with brands like Montblanc. The prices in the US and Europe are ABOUT the same, give and take the vagaries of currency conversation and taxes. In Japan, somehow they think Japanese people have a lot more money so prices are slightly higher. In China, it's MOST expensive because of the luxury goods taxes. It used to be way more in China, but these parent companies realize many Chinese were buying outside of China, so they lowered prices so it's not so crazy high these days. So the only places where the prices are lowest in Asia is really Hong Kong where they don't have taxes. But not by much.

 

The only times I was able to get any pen at a good price because of currency fluctuations were the last few years when the Euro fell till it was almost on par with the USD, the drop of the British pound during Brexit, and also the fall of the Japanese yen about 2 years ago. When there are drastic drop of currencies against the USD over night, most global brand aren't fast enough to raise the price of product, that's when the unexpected discounts happens. During that year when the Japanese yen was 120 to a USD, that was heaven to buy pens in Japan. I was able to get pens with an instant 20% off Japanese retail. That year I think I bought 15 pens during my trip there, and the best bargain was a Sailor KOP that I got for about 350 USD for what was essentially a 60000yen pen.

[JonW]

Hi Folks,

 

First off, thanks for all of the replies and thoughts! Lots of helpful info. This is the first time that I've given serious thought to getting a Montblanc.

 

 

There are a lot of fakes circulating on the open market. Buyer beware.

 

 

 

 

Indeed, a few years ago I posted a photo of an entire faked Montblanc Boutique somewhere in China (with misspelled signs, etc.).

 

However, a Montblanc store in the airport should be genuine.

 

 

Was this a duty free shop that only sells pens at that price for those leaving China? If so, the lower price might be explained by the import taxes on the Pens not being charged. One way to tell is when do you get the pen. At the boutique or after you have passed into a restricted area for departing flights.
Another question is warranty. Did the Montblanc boutique indicate if, and where the warranty applies? It is possible that warranty service might only be available through them at that location. Not a problem of you fly through there regularly and will be doing so for the next several years, but a potentially big problem if you can't get service for your pen otherwise.

 

 

If this is a real AD then the warranty and ability to nib swap should be global. I checked this at Heathrow airport.

 

It sounds like some of the best prices for a real Montblanc. Probably because of duty free as people have stated. Jomashop has similar prices, but no warranty and nib swap.

 

As far as I can tell, it was a legitimate shop. Or if not, they're doing a really, really good job at faking it. It was a whole shop in the airport and the biggest airport Montblanc shop that I have ever seen. It was in the huge, really fancy Beijing airport terminal in the international section, after you get through passport control and before the gates.

 

I wonder if, as some of you have pointed out, it's a tax thing. I asked the woman in the shop if there was any tax added to the price and she said no and that these were the "duty free prices." So maybe that's the answer here? Even so, we're talking about a significant decrease in the price. Enough to wonder and ask here.

 

Sorry, I did not ask about warranty specifics and such. It didn't occur to me. I was so sleep deprived at the time. And until returning home and starting to read about Montblancs, I didn't know about things like nib swaps and such.

[JonW]

JonW be careful of your conversions. I am sure the store you saw in Beijing is real because you can't get fakes at the airport anymore. If you can tell me what bank or credit card that gives you MORE money than take away, I will switch to this bank RIGHT AWAY. The price of the 144 is USD513 at the airport and is USD 689 as posted by Tom.

 

No foreign goods are cheaper in China. It's the tax that's removed at the airport.

 

I was just giving rough numbers. There is no specific bank to recommend. The generic conversion rate right now is about 6.6 Yuan/US Dollar. But when you convert US dollars to Chinese Yuan, by the time that all of the fees and the different conversion rate is applied, you get something like 5 Yuan for a Dollar. Going the other way, it will take about 8 Yuan to get one Dollar.

 

I'm American and was in China for work, so my travel expenses were covered. What I was not expecting was that I was reimbursed for my trip by being handed a thick envelope filled with Chinese cash. It kind of felt like a scene from a mob movie. In my first post, I did the conversion with the generic 6.6 Yuan/Dollar rate. But for me to get my trip expenses back in Dollars, I'll need to convert this cash and that will take about 8 Yuan/Dollar. So I'm standing in front of all these nice pens, seemingly at a discount, and I have a huge wad of cash... Some restraint was needed, but I also needed to learn more about the different pens and typical prices. So I was not about to make an impulse buy then. Although had I done so, it seems like I would have been OK.

 

 

These days with global pricing and parent companies like Richemont, hungry for profit, it's very unlikely you're going to be able to find a bargain on current product with brands like Montblanc. The prices in the US and Europe are ABOUT the same, give and take the vagaries of currency conversation and taxes. In Japan, somehow they think Japanese people have a lot more money so prices are slightly higher. In China, it's MOST expensive because of the luxury goods taxes. It used to be way more in China, but these parent companies realize many Chinese were buying outside of China, so they lowered prices so it's not so crazy high these days. So the only places where the prices are lowest in Asia is really Hong Kong where they don't have taxes. But not by much.

 

The only times I was able to get any pen at a good price because of currency fluctuations were the last few years when the Euro fell till it was almost on par with the USD, the drop of the British pound during Brexit, and also the fall of the Japanese yen about 2 years ago. When there are drastic drop of currencies against the USD over night, most global brand aren't fast enough to raise the price of product, that's when the unexpected discounts happens. During that year when the Japanese yen was 120 to a USD, that was heaven to buy pens in Japan. I was able to get pens with an instant 20% off Japanese retail. That year I think I bought 15 pens during my trip there, and the best bargain was a Sailor KOP that I got for about 350 USD for what was essentially a 60000yen pen.

 

Nice scores on the pens. Right. I understand what you are saying. I was in Japan several years ago and also got reimbursed with a stack of Japanese cash. Back then, it was about 78 Yen/Dollar. Now it's about 110 Yen/dollar. I still have that cash and coveting it to USD now I'd loose a lot versus when I first got it. So if I ever go to Japan again, the purchasing power of the cash I have is effectively higher. I was thinking about getting something there that I cannot get easily in the US, like a Made in Japan Fender guitar. Or, now that you mention it, maybe a Japanese nice pen. But there are no plans to return to Japan.

[JonW]

Hi Tom,

 

Thanks for all of the thoughts!

 

 

 

 

 

~ JonW:

 

Thank you for describing your recent visit to the Beijing Capital International Airport Montblanc boutique.

Having browsed in that boutique many times, your comments brought back happy memories.

I'm now in my 19th year of working in China. All but three of my Montblanc fountain pens were purchased from boutiques here.

The prices you've mentioned are significantly lower than any I've ever encountered for authentic merchandise.

Above I've posted the current retail price of the three models you've mentioned, all in platinum-coated trim, as shown on the Montblanc China Web site.

The practice of Montblanc China is to offer the same price on fountain pens in the on-line shop and in the boutiques, with no discounts or sales.

All three models, the 145, 146 and 149, are currently available in China in platinum trim, and all three may be fitted with either an F or an EF nib, as part of Montblanc's nib exchange service.

The 145 is a cartridge filler with a converter available, while both the 146 and 149 are piston fillers.

Therefore there is a medium-sized fountain pen, the 146 LeGrand, available in platinum trim, with an F nib.

As to exchange rates, I have no idea as my entire life is conducted in Chinese renminbi/yuan.

As to nibs, the EF nibs are generally sharp and look extra fine, while F nibs occasionally run to a more medium line.

I hope that your next business trip in China will be productive and might include shopping for a Montblanc fountain pen to suit your taste.

Tom K.

 

 

Thanks for posting those prices. Those are very different from what I saw. It was 3150 for a 145. I think, but am not 100% sure, that it was 3350 for the 147. I didn't ask about the 149, given that it is so huge. And these numbers were on the fountain pens, not the rollerballs, etc. Now I should mention that I was almost dizzy with sleep deprivation from the trip. So it's possible that I am not getting these things right. But I'm pretty sure that I have it correct.

 

The woman there called them 145, 147, and 149, basically the 3 sizes. No mention of a 146.

 

As I think about it more, I might be inclined to go for a 147 sized pen with a piston filler, fine nib, and the red gold (which is a 146, it seems). The red gold is something a little different, which is nice. Then again, I always like platinum or rhodium on a black pen.

 

I don't know when or if I will be back in China. Going back next summer is likely, though. In which case, I may be buying a pen at the airport. If I can get things understood better here and the prices really are what I saw. I have a lot of Yuan cash that I will loose a lot when converting to USD. Plus the prices there seem to start at a discount. I am still confused about what I saw regarding the prices. It seems like I really saw them cheaper. But you and others here says that they are not discounted there. Maybe it's a duty free thing?

 

I hope that you are having a wonderful time there. It's a very interesting place! My trip was generally miserable. But that was due to the long travel, jet lag, and getting a little sick. My hosts treated me like a king, undeservedly so. And there is so much interesting history and culture there. I was fortunate to see a little bit of that.

 

 

 

~ Two graduate students were leaving from Beijing Capital International Airport today, outbound to Europe.

I'd asked them to visit the Montblanc boutique after clearing the immigration exit procedures.

They sent a text message that the prices on 145, 146 and 149 were posted as above.

They asked the sales staff if there were discounts or sales and were told nothing like that had occurred this year.

They looked in a couple of other duty-free shops offering a wide range of merchandise, finding Montblanc fragrances, but no pens.

Perhaps they didn't find the shop where such prices are on offer.

Tom K.

 

 

Sorry, I did not understand that. Do you mean that the prices were as I posted or as you posted?

 

I only went into the main Montblanc shop, not any other stores in the area. When I said that it was 3150 Yuan for a 145, for example, that was the tag on the pen and also what the woman told me. The prices you showed are much higher. Maybe it's the tax thing, as speculated above? There was no mention of a sale or anything. These seemed to be the normal prices. I was there just on Friday, Sept 1.

[Tom Kellie]

Hi Tom,

 

Thanks for all of the thoughts!

 

 

 

Thanks for posting those prices. Those are very different from what I saw. It was 3150 for a 145. I think, but am not 100% sure, that it was 3350 for the 147. I didn't ask about the 149, given that it is so huge. And these numbers were on the fountain pens, not the rollerballs, etc. Now I should mention that I was almost dizzy with sleep deprivation from the trip. So it's possible that I am not getting these things right. But I'm pretty sure that I have it correct.

 

The woman there called them 145, 147, and 149, basically the 3 sizes. No mention of a 146.

 

As I think about it more, I might be inclined to go for a 147 sized pen with a piston filler, fine nib, and the red gold (which is a 146, it seems). The red gold is something a little different, which is nice. Then again, I always like platinum or rhodium on a black pen.

 

I don't know when or if I will be back in China. Going back next summer is likely, though. In which case, I may be buying a pen at the airport. If I can get things understood better here and the prices really are what I saw. I have a lot of Yuan cash that I will loose a lot when converting to USD. Plus the prices there seem to start at a discount. I am still confused about what I saw regarding the prices. It seems like I really saw them cheaper. But you and others here says that they are not discounted there. Maybe it's a duty free thing?

 

I hope that you are having a wonderful time there. It's a very interesting place! My trip was generally miserable. But that was due to the long travel, jet lag, and getting a little sick. My hosts treated me like a king, undeservedly so. And there is so much interesting history and culture there. I was fortunate to see a little bit of that.

 

 

 

Sorry, I did not understand that. Do you mean that the prices were as I posted or as you posted?

 

I only went into the main Montblanc shop, not any other stores in the area. When I said that it was 3150 Yuan for a 145, for example, that was the tag on the pen and also what the woman told me. The prices you showed are much higher. Maybe it's the tax thing, as speculated above? There was no mention of a sale or anything. These seemed to be the normal prices. I was there just on Friday, Sept 1.

 

 

~ Hi, JonW:

 

Thank you for the several extensive relies to all of us.

Now your circumstances and experience are clear.

The students were told and saw the prices I posted at the top for fountain pens.

However, there were other ballpoint pens and rollerballs on display with lower prices.

I don't question or doubt your experience. First-hand observation is what it is.

Ha! I'd like to find similar prices here, as they've eluded me.

There's never been any ‘import tax’ issue and prices have been in-line with international Montblanc pricing.

After what you've taken time to explain, my next passage through that airport will include ample time for carefully looking through the Montblanc boutique.

I'm glad that your business trip went well. May your next visit be blessed with better health and a Montblanc fountain pen!

Tom K.

[JonW]

 

 

~ Hi, JonW:

 

Thank you for the several extensive relies to all of us.

Now your circumstances and experience are clear.

The students were told and saw the prices I posted at the top for fountain pens.

However, there were other ballpoint pens and rollerballs on display with lower prices.

I don't question or doubt your experience. First-hand observation is what it is.

Ha! I'd like to find similar prices here, as they've eluded me.

There's never been any ‘import tax’ issue and prices have been in-line with international Montblanc pricing.

After what you've taken time to explain, my next passage through that airport will include ample time for carefully looking through the Montblanc boutique.

I'm glad that your business trip went well. May your next visit be blessed with better health and a Montblanc fountain pen!

Tom K.

 

 

Hi Tom,

 

Thanks again for the thoughts and the help. Definitely post what you find the next time you are in an airport there, especially the international terminal in Beijing.

 

Well, you folks are getting me to question what I think that I saw. Maybe I got the numbers wrong? Or maybe the prices were for a rollerball and not a fountain pen? Hmmm. At any rate, the next time that I go, I’ll bring a bunch of the Chinese cash that I now have and be ready to buy something. If, perchance, I do have the prices correct I would most likely pick up a 146. If the prices end up being about the same as everywhere else, well, maybe, maybe not. They do work out to be pretty expensive pens. But I’ll never know what they are really like without trying and I loose a decent percentage in the conversion back to USD. It’s fun to think about and I have now started reading all about Montblancs, something that I never considered much before. It's interesting.

Edited September 4, 2017 by JonW