20%-off inks in store at Dymocks in Sydney CBD

[A Smug Dill]

Now that the lockdown restrictions in Greater Sydney have been relaxed, and retail stores have started reopening this week to drop-in customers for general trading, I dropped by Dymocks (not that I'm in a position to buy any ink this year, if I keep to my promise) to see if it's offering any inks on special.

 

I wasn't expecting this:

 

 

The footnote (which is out of focus in the photo I took, even before I downsized it) reads:

* while stocks last. Sale ends 31 October 2021. Available only at Dymocks Sydney.

 

I asked the store attendant whether the 20% off applies to already discounted lines (e.g. Monteverde, at 30% or 50% off), and was told no.

 

20% off Dymocks's regular prices for ink doesn't make it interesting or tempting for me. There is only one ink (hinted in the photo) that I think is worth snapping up on the current promotional offer; while it isn't quite as cheap (delivered and all) as I can get by ordering online and applying my customary levels of discounts, it's a very good price for it from an Australian stockist, especially if one is able to just pick it up in-store and get instant gratification, without shipping charges and risking Australia Post delivery delays.

[A Smug Dill]

In view of this,

I dropped into Dymocks yesterday afternoon to see whether it carries 50ml bottles of Pilot Iroshizuku ink — I was pretty sure it did, and I'm glad to report it still does — and, just for market intelligence, what the price is.

 

The list price is on the high side, although not above RRP, but with the 20% discount it makes the effective price palatable; in fact, it is as cheap as I can find lately, with the added advantage of avoiding shipping charges (or minimum order value thresholds to qualify for free shipping) if you can pick it up in-store. (There are very few bottled inks you can order from Dymocks online anyway, and Pilot inks are not among those.) But it's not so cheap that I felt I must jump on it right then to not let the opportunity pass me by. So…

 

I didn't take note of was which colours were in stock, or specifically whether Ina-ho, Tsuyu-kusa, and Tsukushi are among them, although they had a few different colours on display. Best to call ahead and check on the day, before heading into town and visiting the store anyway, so as not to get disappointed if you're intending on picking up a bottle or three.