What Is Your Experience Buying From Amazon

[AMlines]

What is your experience of buying pens ($100 and above) from Amazon US or UK? Is there some way to ensure that the pen you get has not been returned (and used)?

 

I am interested in the Pelikan M205 and Amazon has what looks like a great deal -

https://www.amazon.com/Pelikan-Classic-Black-Piston-Fountain/dp/B00478GXJS/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1VOZRSXIT9OXE&keywords=pelikan+m205+fountain+pen&qid=1567369551&s=gateway&sprefix=pelikan+m205%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-2

I also followed this up on Amazon UK and I can see this significant difference in pricing for different nibs.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pelikan-M205-Black-Fountain-Pen/dp/B0058Q65O6/ref=sr_1_26?crid=19PTYG85RUEYN&keywords=pelikan+m205+fountain+pen&qid=1567370158&s=gateway&sprefix=pelikan+m20%2Caps%2C221&sr=8-26

and

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pelikan-Classic-804080-Piston-Fountain/dp/B07JQ4T238/ref=sr_1_25?crid=19PTYG85RUEYN&keywords=pelikan+m205+fountain+pen&qid=1567370158&s=gateway&sprefix=pelikan+m20%2Caps%2C221&sr=8-25

The nib size of the first one one is not even specified, and the second is EF. Surely, there can't be a such a difference because of the nib sizes?

[Brianm_14]

How would you know? I would make NO assumptions about unstated nib sizes. That is incompetent and a bit rude on the seller's part. It is like trying to sell clothing without giving you the sizes. You don't need such foolishness, do you?

 

Here is the unvarnished truth, the experience of the past five or six years, or more on Amazon:

 

I'd say, firmly, that you have to see who the actual seller is. The ACTUAL seller. Sometimes, the vendor is a well-respected, established pen dealer, an authorized reseller who can give you a warrenty worth something and who will communicate with you without issue if you have a difficulty or even just a question. When you see one pen offered by various people, look closer, and check the seller. That the difference.

 

In the USA at least, any returned merchandise -returned for any reason, even unopened- generally cannot be sold as new. Hence, the Amazon Warehouse where I have found a few very good deals. But don't sell out for a few pennies. All warrenties and return privileges should be in full effect.

 

Check over all the sellers, and go with a recogized name who has a presence online outside of Amazon. They wiill work to keep your business. And not assault you with such incompetencies as failing to list nib size.

 

My one bad experience was with a no-name, and they shipped me Platinum 3667 pens with the wrong-sized nibs and mis-matched parts. Amazon didn't care. I did get my money back, and eventually the correct pen at a discount, but it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. It took repeated returns to get everything straight. I gave them a very bad rating, and it was, strangely, never posted!

 

But I lost no money, and actually saved about $45 USD. Needed to wash my hands afterwards for some reason -perhaps absolutely no customer support? I'll bet a fair percentage of customers simply take what they get, such as mismatched colors on barrels and caps, justifying it by saying, "Look at the $$$ I am saving."

 

I should have taken screen shots and sent them to Platinum, in all fairness. They, most of all, were ill-served by such idiocy.

 

Othertimes, I found myself dealing with Goldspot pens or other standard, established online dealers, or even the manufacturer; those dealings were 100%+ excellent. And at a discount. So please, please check, then deal with confidence and still save some money!

[samasry]

 

What is your experience of buying pens ($100 and above) from Amazon US or UK? Is there some way to ensure that the pen you get has not been returned (and used)?

 

I am interested in the Pelikan M205 and Amazon has what looks like a great deal -

https://www.amazon.com/Pelikan-Classic-Black-Piston-Fountain/dp/B00478GXJS/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1VOZRSXIT9OXE&keywords=pelikan+m205+fountain+pen&qid=1567369551&s=gateway&sprefix=pelikan+m205%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-2

I also followed this up on Amazon UK and I can see this significant difference in pricing for different nibs.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pelikan-M205-Black-Fountain-Pen/dp/B0058Q65O6/ref=sr_1_26?crid=19PTYG85RUEYN&keywords=pelikan+m205+fountain+pen&qid=1567370158&s=gateway&sprefix=pelikan+m20%2Caps%2C221&sr=8-26

and

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pelikan-Classic-804080-Piston-Fountain/dp/B07JQ4T238/ref=sr_1_25?crid=19PTYG85RUEYN&keywords=pelikan+m205+fountain+pen&qid=1567370158&s=gateway&sprefix=pelikan+m20%2Caps%2C221&sr=8-25

The nib size of the first one one is not even specified, and the second is EF. Surely, there can't be a such a difference because of the nib sizes?

 

 

 

U should never trust what the amazon seller puts in the title as words, I have seen ballpoint being sold as Fountain pens

 

Usually, the model number is probably the only thing u can possibly trust and it is listed somewhere in the page , if not on top, it is at the bottom in product info

 

Take one of the links you have listed for example:

 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pelikan-M205-Black-Fountain-Pen/dp/B0058Q65O6/ref=sr_1_26?crid=19PTYG85RUEYN&keywords=pelikan+m205+fountain+pen&qid=1567370158&s=gateway&sprefix=pelikan+m20%2Caps%2C221&sr=8-26

 

 

scroll down to the product info

 

u get the model number

 

Model Number

971986

 

U need to do some research online using the model number, but then u can find that it is Medium nib for M205

 

M 971 986

 

and so on and so forth

 

why they do not put the info?, sometimes it is ignorance, other times just being lazy, but sometimes it is an attempts to bait and switch.

 

U have to also send them mail and confirm. Get it in writing. If he does not respond, u should not proceed.

 

I sent a message to a seller asking about the NIB size of what he is advertising as fountain pen, and he replied back , that the NIB size is medium

 

So, I then did the model number investigation for that pen, and it turned out to be a ball-point, so I asked the seller:

 

The title says it is fountain pen, but the model number says it is ball-point, which one is it? and he replied, "ball-point" an hour after he told me the NIB size is medium of a pen titled "Fountain Pen"

 

Buyer beware

Edited September 1, 2019 by salmasry

[AMlines]

How would you know? I would make NO assumptions about unstated nib sizes. That is incompetent and a bit rude on the seller's part. It is like trying to sell clothing without giving you the sizes. You don't need such foolishness, do you?

 

Here is the unvarnished truth, the experience of the past five or six years, or more on Amazon:

 

I'd say, firmly, that you have to see who the actual seller is. The ACTUAL seller. Sometimes, the vendor is a well-respected, established pen dealer, an authorized reseller who can give you a warrenty worth something and who will communicate with you without issue if you have a difficulty or even just a question. When you see one pen offered by various people, look closer, and check the seller. That the difference.

 

In the USA at least, any returned merchandise -returned for any reason, even unopened- generally cannot be sold as new. Hence, the Amazon Warehouse where I have found a few very good deals. But don't sell out for a few pennies. All warrenties and return privileges should be in full effect.

 

Check over all the sellers, and go with a recogized name who has a presence online outside of Amazon. They wiill work to keep your business. And not assault you with such incompetencies as failing to list nib size.

 

My one bad experience was with a no-name, and they shipped me Platinum 3667 pens with the wrong-sized nibs and mis-matched parts. Amazon didn't care. I did get my money back, and eventually the correct pen at a discount, but it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. It took repeated returns to get everything straight. I gave them a very bad rating, and it was, strangely, never posted!

 

But I lost no money, and actually saved about $45 USD. Needed to wash my hands afterwards for some reason -perhaps absolutely no customer support? I'll bet a fair percentage of customers simply take what they get, such as mismatched colors on barrels and caps, justifying it by saying, "Look at the $$$ I am saving."

 

I should have taken screen shots and sent them to Platinum, in all fairness. They, most of all, were ill-served by such idiocy.

 

Othertimes, I found myself dealing with Goldspot pens or other standard, established online dealers, or even the manufacturer; those dealings were 100%+ excellent. And at a discount. So please, please check, then deal with confidence and still save some money!

 

Why am I not surprised? ! I've had similar experiences with other products on Amazon. So, thanks for detailing your experiences. I will keep all this in mind, but I do know that I am now not feeling particularly inspired to get this on Amazon

[AMlines]

 

 

U should never trust what the amazon seller puts in the title as words, I have seen ballpoint being sold as Fountain pens

 

Usually, the model number is probably the only thing u can possibly trust and it is listed somewhere in the page , if not on top, it is at the bottom in product info

 

Take one of the links you have listed for example:

 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pelikan-M205-Black-Fountain-Pen/dp/B0058Q65O6/ref=sr_1_26?crid=19PTYG85RUEYN&keywords=pelikan+m205+fountain+pen&qid=1567370158&s=gateway&sprefix=pelikan+m20%2Caps%2C221&sr=8-26

 

 

scroll down to the product info

 

u get the model number

 

Model Number

971986

 

U need to do some research online using the model number, but then u can find that it is Medium nib for M205

 

M 971 986

 

and so on and so forth

 

why they do not put the info?, sometimes it is ignorance, other times just being lazy, but sometimes it is an attempts to bait and switch.

 

U have to also send them mail and confirm. Get it in writing. If he does not respond, u should not proceed.

 

I sent a message to a seller asking about the NIB size of what he is advertising as fountain pen, and he replied back , that the NIB size is medium

 

So, I then did the model number investigation for that pen, and it turned out to be a ball-point, so I asked the seller:

 

The title says it is fountain pen, but the model number says it is ball-point, which one is it? and he replied, "ball-point" an hour after he told me the NIB size is medium of a pen titled "Fountain Pen"

 

Buyer beware

Wow, just wow. And Amazon lets all this play?!

Given that I am not exactly buying a cheapie, I might as well spend some more and get it from someone I can trust.

Thing is, the M205 doesn't seem to be available with any of the usual sellers. Let me see...

[carlos.q]

I don't know where you are so maybe this information may not be useful, but Massdrop has the M205 demonstrator for $89 shipped free in the US.

[ISW_Kaputnik]

I think of it as being a bit like eBay with a better return policy. As with eBay, my experience with third party sellers on Amazon has been good more often than not. My Pilot Custom Heritage 92 and Lamy 2000 came from third party sellers there, both were problem free, and I save a significant amount on both. But of course, with all the different sellers on Amazon, that is no guarantee for other buyers.

 

Problems that I did have. A Platinum 3776 had a loose feed and nib that would not stay in the pen. Full refund with return postage paid, but of course, I did have the inconvenience of stopping by the UPS store to send it back. I ended up ordering the same thing later from a Japanese eBay seller. And a Pilot Custom 74 that I ordered turned out actually to be a Custom Heritage 91 when it showed up. Essentially the same pen with different styling, and it has even become a favorite, but I asked for (and received) a partial refund since it was not as described. I would have sent it back if they had not offered the partial refund.

 

With products in general, I've found both Amazon and their third party sellers to be good about making things right. But of course, I would prefer that there was nothing to be made right in the first place. And I look closely at the listings, trying to note any red flags such as some of those mentioned above.

[pararis]

Amazon is a jungle (sorry). I buy almost nothing stationery related there.

[Runnin_Ute]

I have purchased two pens via Amazon. A Pelikan M200 Cognac with fine nib from a Japanese seller. As this was an SE model and this was about a year after it first came out, there weren't a lot of places that had it. No issues. As described, not a return (that I could tell), had all tags/labels and in correct packaging.

 

Similar experience when buying a Platinum 3776 Century Borgogne with B nib. Also from a Japanese seller. The converter came from a US based vendor, I did have to order it separately as it didn't come with the pen. I don't recall if it was Amazon or another third party. All parts matched and no issues. I did save nearly $100. (Goulet price $176, my price including converter was about $80)

 

My last two pens bought from a non US vendor both came from The Writing Desk in the UK. A M200 Brown Marbled and a M400 White Tortoise. The savings to me on the White Tortoise was about $175 over a US based vendor- which didn't have the pen in stock anyway. That also included exchange rate and shipping.

[TSherbs]

I have had 100% success with every Amazon purchase. Buying pens for 7 years now. I keep waiting for the shoe to drop, but it hasn't happened yet. And pricing inconsistencies don't always make sense. So don't expect them to. Just take your time (impulsiveness means more risks and mistakes and regrets). Check out seller ratings and the comments. I do every time.

Edited September 2, 2019 by TSherbs

[Betweenthelines]

I try to purchase pens from independent retailers or eBay sellers in general. But the couple pens I've bought from Amazon turned out fine.

[Maurizio]

Ive bought 5 good fountain pens from Japanese sellers over the last 3 years from Amazon at excellent prices, and numerous lesser pens.

 

The good ones were:

A Falcon resin

A Custom Kaede

A Vanishing Point

A Sailor 1911Realo

A Pilot Lucina

 

Except the Lucina, these all came shipped from Japan from 3rd party sellers. I had no problem with any of them, nor with the lesser pens such as Pilot Parallels, several Chinese pens and a few others.

 

I still also patronize my local brick and mortar because I want them to stay in business, and, because nothing beats trying out the various nib sizes of a new pen purchase before you decide which one to buy.

 

However, just within the last week I received a bad pen from a Japanese seller. This was a relatively inexpensive Platinum Desk Pen selling for around $12.00. This pen was an attempt by some clown to sell an authentic nib unit attached to an unmatched barrel which did screw into the nib unit but was otherwise unusable; neither the included Platinum cartridge nor any of my Platinum converters would fit.

 

The reason I buy from Amazon is, in my experience, they stand behind their transactions and if a seller wont give a refund Amazon usually will. In this case I noted the defective product on the same day it arrived. As is their practice, Amazon gave me a UPS label to allow drop off of the package at a UPS location. I will get my money back, but I have had the inconvenience of having to write a refund request online and to have to repackage the pen, affix the label, and drop it off at a UPS location.

 

I buy from Amazon with confidence and have several over $100. pens in my Amazon wish list available from Japan exclusively which I plan to buy in the near future.

 

Certainly, caveat emptor, but if you get a defective product bought on Amazon, promptly return it and you will get your money refunded. If the seller wont give you a refund squawk to Amazon about it immediately and they'll usually give you the refund themselves. They wont know the seller is bad unless you make a fuss about it.

Edited September 2, 2019 by Maurizio

[Addertooth]

I do a small amount of purchases from Amazon, as vintage pens interest me more than current models. Any online purchase is always caveat emptor (let the buyer beware).

Mistakes do happen, often sellers are not experts in their products. The ultimate key to online purchases is knowing the product better than the seller. You need to know the nuances of the product well enough that the pictures (even blurry ones) let you know what you are getting. Trusting a title is the first step on the path to horror and dismay. I have purchased pens which the seller thought it was a common model, but examination of the picture determined it to be an almost unfindable grail pen. I have purchased pens which were titled as rolled gold, or gold plate, which were Solid gold. Sellers make mistakes, be familiar with the item, and pick the items which the errors are in your favor. There will be periodic disappointments with online purchases, play the game right, and the sadness will be on the seller's part. In the pen hobby, knowledge is actual money in your wallet.

Edited September 2, 2019 by Addertooth

[senzen]

I've bought from Amazon UK via Amazon US, a Faber Castell Ambition rollerball for a friend; it took a while and seeing the shipping updates it went through several countries in Europe, got there in good shape.

 

If you look up the part number, the first one on your uk link is a medium nib.

 

Buying from Amazon US I've never had a problem, even when a package was stolen they took care of it, compared to far fewer and worse experiences with other vendors, ebay notably.

[inkstainedruth]

I don't have any experience buying pens from Amazon. But I HAVE had problems sometimes -- even when something was "fulfilled by Amazon" -- spent most of the afternoon on the phone with them about a year and a half ago going "Where are my CDs? It's not like I don't know where your Pittsburgh "fulfillment center is...." (in that case they used some 3rd party driver who apparently didn't know his way around the Pittsburgh area and hadn't bothered to use GPS to find my house -- and at one point he was apparently at the other END of the road my street is off of (and I live on the corner...).

And if it's a 3rd party vendor? It's a case of caveat emptor.... I've had good experiences from 3rd party sellers but I also had one jerk me around so badly that my feedback was absolutely appropriate. THEN the seller tried to bribe me to amend my feedback by offering me a partial refund.... Oh, I amended it all right.... The seller just won't like the amendment: "They offered me most (not all) of my money back if I gave them better feedback ratings.... Oh, and this was AFTER the song and dance about how DHL didn't provide tracking and then it got delivered with the rest of the USPS mail that had been held over Thanksgiving... on my front porch in the freezing cold, and just BEGGING to be stolen.... And I could have DRIVEN to the vendor's warehouse, which was maybe an hour away from my house...." I think I gave them an even lower rating than the initial feedback -- which was to the tune of "I'd given them ZERO stars if I could!" (Ain't I a stinker? ) And the joke was on the seller -- because of rewards points I got a $13.99 US CD for -- with the "partial refund" from the seller -- a whopping 68¢.... And then dissed them even further on their FB wall (apparently, from some of the other comments, I'm lucky I got the CD at ALL...).

The sad part is that it was a replacement for a CD I'd mislaid, and a "remastered" one. So the sound was a little crisper, but the end of one song was edited out.... Fortunately I found the original later on, so this one is just an emergency backup....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[City74]

Why take a chance to save a couple bucks when there are many legit sellers with such great prices?

[MissCellany]

I'm not a big fan of Amazon. The two pens I've bought there (my Platinum 3776 and Pilot Elite 95s) turned out great and arrived on time, but you really need to look at the individual vendors before buying something there.

 

Honestly, I still regret buying my pens from there, even though I did save a LOT of money ($70 on the 3776 and $50 on the Elite). Amazon has horrible internal business practices, and they treat their employees horribly. I'd rather wait and spend more money at a retailer that treats their employees properly, like Goulet or something.

[panna]

I'm not a big fan of Amazon. The two pens I've bought there (my Platinum 3776 and Pilot Elite 95s) turned out great and arrived on time, but you really need to look at the individual vendors before buying something there.

 

Honestly, I still regret buying my pens from there, even though I did save a LOT of money ($70 on the 3776 and $50 on the Elite). Amazon has horrible internal business practices, and they treat their employees horribly. I'd rather wait and spend more money at a retailer that treats their employees properly, like Goulet or something.

+1

[AMlines]

I'm not a big fan of Amazon. The two pens I've bought there (my Platinum 3776 and Pilot Elite 95s) turned out great and arrived on time, but you really need to look at the individual vendors before buying something there.

 

Honestly, I still regret buying my pens from there, even though I did save a LOT of money ($70 on the 3776 and $50 on the Elite). Amazon has horrible internal business practices, and they treat their employees horribly. I'd rather wait and spend more money at a retailer that treats their employees properly, like Goulet or something.

 

Yes, that's what I did. I ordered a black M205 from nichepens and got a good price on it. Since I plan to use the pen to write everyday and want it to last several years, there was no point running after cheap but "shady" deals.

 

What do you mean by horrible internal business practices? I've mostly had a good experience with Amazon customer care, though for other products. It's the biggest company ever - don't the employees get enough trickle down of the booty?

[Parker51]

I have had no problems with the products. The site itself is a disaster. If you know exactly hat you want and exactly what a fair price is, it is annoying and sloppy, but works. If not, EBay is better and the return policies when using PayPal functionally are close enough to make the pleasure of browsing on eBay have the edge over the raw inputing of data which is my Amazon experiance.