Platinum "Tiger themed" FP'S

[LesC]

Hi, I have recently purchased a Matsu-Tora (Pine tree and tiger) Kanazawa gold foil FP. I love the Tiger design and the animal itself.

Further reading on this forum has let me to "discover" two (2) other "tiger" pens (there may be others!!) The 3776 King of Tiger, Limited Ed of 300 and the Izumo Shikkoku (Tiger in bamboo forest) Does anyone have either and thoughts/suggestions on one of the 2, as a 'Lifetime" pen, the Izumo is the dearest of the 2? 

 

 

[A Smug Dill]

1 hour ago, LesC said:

3776 King of Tiger, Limited Ed

 

Do you mean the PNB-80000T model? I ordered one in 2014, and the unit I received had a (tiny, but cannot be overlooked) manufacturing defect, so I returned the pen; but that also gave me the chance to hold one in my hand, and I remember what I felt was… disappointment, so I didn't ask for a replacement, or order it again from any other vendor, but straight out went for a full refund.

 

[LesC]

A Smug Dill, yes that's the model, your "advice" is sufficient not to proceed, I'll wait to see if any comments/thought on the Izumo, or stick to the Matsu-Tora (and maybe buy the other 2 in the set) as I've not read a negative comment on the 3 Kanazawa foil 3776 pens!!

Cheers

[A Smug Dill]

38 minutes ago, LesC said:

I'll wait to see if any comments/thought on the Izumo,

 

Be mindful that this pen will trigger GST collection at the border when you import it into Australia, and that means another $88 (last I checked) in processing fees to be paid to the Government on top of the tax, at a minimum.

[LesC]

Yes, easy to forget about the old "Get Screwed Tax"  The price you mentioned re the GST, if you don't mind, who through as cheapest I've seen $1498? Might just stick to eventually getting the other 2 Kanazawa as mentioned, re price/s and I'd have the set of 3?

[A Smug Dill]

2 hours ago, LesC said:

The price you mentioned re the GST, if you don't mind, who through as cheapest I've seen $1498?

 

I based my assessment on a quick Google search on “Izumo Shikkoku” and which vendor is showing as having it in stock. I have bought from both Iguana Sell and PenSachi before, so I looked at their prices. Now, I don't trust PenSachi when it comes to what it says is in stock, especially when Platinum doesn't list that model in its Japanese website today; but, for the purposes of my assessment, I was happy to use PenSachi's price, which is US$1050. Last weekend it was offering 20% off storewide, in the name of Black Friday, so I'll assume there is room to go down to US$840, which works out to A$1234.80, using an exchange rate of 1.47 reported by XE.com today (but you'll likely get a less favourable exchange rate than that, when settling payment with your credit card). That exceeds the threshold value of A$1000, and will thus trigger GST collection at the border. PenSachi uses DHL Express and, if I recall correctly, DHL will charge a processing fee to the tune of $20–$25, on top of the Full Import Declaration lodgment fees of $88 to be paid to the Government, and of course the actual GST of 10% of the consignment's value. That adds another >$230 to the cost of acquisition.

 

It answered the question I had in mind, and I didn't feel there was any need for me to look further afield in search of a lower price, since I'm not interested in buying that pen.

 

[LesC]

Again, thanks for an informative reply  much appreciated