Is BMW Montblanc pen a true 146? Or lesser quality?

[JCC123]

@NoTypedid you ever get a response from the Boutique or Montblanc?

[23109VC]

4 hours ago, JCC123 said:

Thanks, is your warranty card stamped and filled out like NoType?

I just opened the box back up and checked - YES.  

 

The purchase date is the same, April 23, 2020.  That must be the date they were “purchased” by BMW in bulk.  I don’t mind my M nib…but if I could get a cool stub nib or something that woudl be cool… I’ll keep this one stock and when I buy my next MB I’ll get some cool custom nib…

 

Stamped, and has bar code stickers on it - looks totally legit.  I asked my dealership about these pens - They said BMW contracted with Montblanc to do a whole variety of items - leather bags, wallets, pens, etc.  They aren’t making them now, but many dealers and online retailers have left over stock.  It’s a very nice pen.  If you are a car person - it’s a nice touch.  

 

FYI - when I ordered from online, the actual sale went through a local dealership.. I bought online and a BMW in Camarillo, CA, Steve Thomas BMW is who actually processed it.. so my pen did not come from some random online shop - it came from a BMW dealership. It is an authentic pen.  It just has BMW markings on it. If you want a new MB and you want it half price, grab one

[NoType]

16 hours ago, JCC123 said:

@NoTypedid you ever get a response from the Boutique or Montblanc?

@JCC123 I am awaiting a researched and definitive answer from my local Montblanc boutique before I contact Montblanc Customer Service.  The boutique’s initial response was that they always only follow the date stamp on the warranty card for pens that they themselves have not sold, so by that standard the pens with date stamps of 23 April 2020 (the date stamped for pens purchased by @23109VC, @bunnspecial, and me) are past the six-week deadline for the free nib exchange program. However, the boutique acknowledged that the situation for the Montblanc for BMW Fountain Pen pen is slightly different because the pen was commissioned by BMW and (for at least three customers) the date was stamped prior to its first retail sale, so the boutique said it will investigate further for clear guidance and confirmation of the pen’s eligibility for the free nib exchange program.

 

Quite frankly, the likelihood that the pen will be eligible for the free nib exchange program seems low at best.  If the Montblanc boutique’s final, researched answer is still “no,” I will contact Montblanc Customer Service for their response.  After receiving the final response from the boutique and an answer from Montblanc Customer Service, I will report back.  Be advised that it might be a few days before I can report back.

[bunnspecial]

11 hours ago, 23109VC said:

I don’t mind my M nib…but if I could get a cool stub nib or something that woudl be cool

Montblanc B/BB/OB/OBB nibs are stubby and out of this world fantastic. The 149s in particular are among my favorite current production nibs.

[marlinspike]

I would e-mail MB directly. I recently bought a Petit Prince Fox Solitaire Legrand at the Miami airport store (yes, they still had one, amazing). The lady working there was useless (didn't know what a 149 was even), so it came with no warranty book. I thought I could get it later by calling to talk to a manager once one was on duty (had to catch a flight, so I couldn't wait). Nope, they just hang up on you. I called my salesman who told me no book no free exchange as the airport stores are just wholesalers. I e-mailed MB and they had me send it in for the free exchange as long as I included a copy of the receipt.

[NoType]

50 minutes ago, marlinspike said:

I would e-mail MB directly. I recently bought a Petit Prince Fox Solitaire Legrand at the Miami airport store (yes, they still had one, amazing). The lady working there was useless (didn't know what a 149 was even), so it came with no warranty book. I thought I could get it later by calling to talk to a manager once one was on duty (had to catch a flight, so I couldn't wait). Nope, they just hang up on you. I called my salesman who told me no book no free exchange as the airport stores are just wholesalers. I e-mailed MB and they had me send it in for the free exchange as long as I included a copy of the receipt.

@marlinspike Thank you for this advice and your fascinating story.  First, it really is incredible that you were able to locate a Petit Prince Fox Solitaire LeGrand, which, when I decided was something I would fancy after having passed up several previous opportunities to purchase, I discovered is difficult to find at a reasonable price.  
 

Second, it is disappointing that the Miami airport store’s customer service is so lacking, but not that surprising, actually.  

 

Third, it is good to know that Montblanc still allows free nib exchanges with a sales receipt in lieu of a stamped booklet (indeed, my local boutique said that that is the preferred documentation when the pen is purchased from a retailer other than Montblanc or their boutiques).  

 

Lastly, could you please share the email address that you used? Thanks!

[marlinspike]

I just used the contact link on their site https://www.montblanc.com/en-us/customer-service/contact-us

[NoType]

1 minute ago, marlinspike said:

I just used the contact link on their site https://www.montblanc.com/en-us/customer-service/contact-us

@marlinspike Thank you for the extremely prompt response.  Very well.  (I had wondered if there might have been a different email address.)

[JCC123]

Thanks @NoType. I think you'll probably get a faster response if you just called Montblanc directly. Here are the two numbers listed on their website. I would try both since you might get a person that doesn't know and has the wrong answer.

 

If you have any order or product related questions, reach our ambassadors by sending an email using the contact form below, through live chat or by calling (855) 221-8663, Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 9 PM Eastern Time and Saturday from 9:30 AM to 6 PM Eastern Time. 

For any questions related to a repair or service of your Montblanc item, please reach out to our repair partner My Jewelry Repair directly by calling (833) 625-1930, Monday through Friday from 12 PM to 8 PM ET or by starting the repair process online by clicking here. You can also bring your Montblanc product to a Montblanc boutique or an authorized repair location. Please use our Store Locator tool to find your nearest boutique or authorized repair location. 

[NoType]

2 hours ago, JCC123 said:

Thanks @NoType. I think you'll probably get a faster response if you just called Montblanc directly. Here are the two numbers listed on their website. I would try both since you might get a person that doesn't know and has the wrong answer.

 

If you have any order or product related questions, reach our ambassadors by sending an email using the contact form below, through live chat or by calling (855) 221-8663, Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 9 PM Eastern Time and Saturday from 9:30 AM to 6 PM Eastern Time. 

For any questions related to a repair or service of your Montblanc item, please reach out to our repair partner My Jewelry Repair directly by calling (833) 625-1930, Monday through Friday from 12 PM to 8 PM ET or by starting the repair process online by clicking here. You can also bring your Montblanc product to a Montblanc boutique or an authorized repair location. Please use our Store Locator tool to find your nearest boutique or authorized repair location. 

Thank you @JCC123 for your suggestion and this contact information.

[marlinspike]

In the interest of science I ordered the BMW Starwalker Doue which shipped today. 

 

On the Fox Solitaire LeGrand, I had bought one used for 1k when they were still plentiful.  I was offered 2k for it,  I sold,  but then immediately regretted it.  I thought no problem I can just buy a new one,  at least in Europe they'll have one and I'll be there soon.  Nope,  the only one left was in Moscow, which obviously comes with... difficulties. Then La Couroone du Comte, a few weeks before going bankrupt told me they could still get one and took my money as a pre-order. Thankfully American Express refunded me.  I spent the next several months checking every Montblanc store I found for one that they maybe forgot to record in inventory,  and it was just a few weeks ago this one was found.  It's now on its way back to me from a nib exchange from medium to fine.  It was still at the old price of 1540 too!

[NoType]

1 hour ago, marlinspike said:

In the interest of science I ordered the BMW Starwalker Doue which shipped today. 

 

On the Fox Solitaire LeGrand, I had bought one used for 1k when they were still plentiful.  I was offered 2k for it,  I sold,  but then immediately regretted it.  I thought no problem I can just buy a new one,  at least in Europe they'll have one and I'll be there soon.  Nope,  the only one left was in Moscow, which obviously comes with... difficulties. Then La Couroone du Comte, a few weeks before going bankrupt told me they could still get one and took my money as a pre-order. Thankfully American Express refunded me.  I spent the next several months checking every Montblanc store I found for one that they maybe forgot to record in inventory,  and it was just a few weeks ago this one was found.  It's now on its way back to me from a nib exchange from medium to fine.  It was still at the old price of 1540 too!

This is when the scientific method is fun!  I await the results of your experiment with bated breath.

 

Thank you for sharing this fascinating story.  The ones with the happy endings are always the best.  Congratulations on your success in finding the Petit Prince Fox Solitaire LeGrand!

A near miss, I should say.  
 

I had passed on the pen when it was plentiful (and available for about $1000 new from an authorised retailer) because I found the repeating fox head pattern macabre and reminiscent of decapitation.  Three years later, my admiration for the inimitable blue lacquer finish vanquished my disquiet about the fox heads, and after much searching for a new, unused example, I finally found one for around $1300, from an unauthorised (grey market) seller a year ago.  Not my first choice of retailer, but I reasoned beggars cannot be choosers.  

How marvellous that you were able to find one from an authorised retailer — being able to avail oneself of the free nib exchange and enjoy a two-year warranty makes the full retail price worth it; not having to pay a marked up price is even better still.

 

(Next time I look for a sold-out discontinued piece, I will follow your example, gird my patience, and indefatigably question every Montblanc point of sale for the item instead of taking the easy way out and purchasing from an unauthorised retailer.)

[NoType]

On 3/1/2023 at 9:38 AM, marlinspike said:

I just used the contact link on their site https://www.montblanc.com/en-us/customer-service/contact-us

@marlinspikeI received word only today from my local boutique that because today’s date is almost three years past the date stamp (23 April 2020) on my pen’s warranty card, the boutique cannot offer me a complimentary nib exchange for my Montblanc for BMW Meisterstück LeGrand fountain pen, even though the boutique agreed from my receipt of sale that the actual date of purchase is 22 February 2023.  

 

I thanked them for getting back to me, and then promptly emailed Montblanc Customer Service.  I screen captured my missive  (apologies for having to take two photos in this awkward landscape orientation — I emailed from my smartphone) before tapping “Submit” and the photos appear below.  (My valediction (Sincerely Yours, etc) immediately following the last line is not visible in the second photo due to the limited text window size of the Montblanc site.)

 

The next step is to place a phone call at the numbers @JCC123 kindly provided above, but I might await an email response before doing so.

 

[marlinspike]

My BMW Starwalker came today. It has no BMW branding on the pen itself, unless you count the tire tread patterned barrel. A bit different section from the normal Starwalker too. I got this from a acftual BMW dealership, so interesting to see this one has no date in the book but still the stamp. My guess is MB expected the dealers to date them when they sold them, and not understanding the importance of this the dealers either dated them when they got them or never at all.

[NoType]

16 hours ago, marlinspike said:

My BMW Starwalker came today. It has no BMW branding on the pen itself, unless you count the tire tread patterned barrel. A bit different section from the normal Starwalker too. I got this from a acftual BMW dealership, so interesting to see this one has no date in the book but still the stamp. My guess is MB expected the dealers to date them when they sold them, and not understanding the importance of this the dealers either dated them when they got them or never at all.

@marlinspikeCongratulations on your new Starwalker!  It appears sophisticated and sleek.

 

Your experiment has yielded several interesting results.  First, the Starwalker barrel’s pattern is a closed chevron rather than what I like to call the “exploded” chevron of the 146 pens.  Second, there is no “Montblanc for BMW” engraving, presumably because the Starwalker barrel doesn’t afford the same amount of space as the 146 cap.  Third, and most fascinating, your warranty card lacks a date stamp.  I presume Montblanc will accept your pen for a complimentary nib exchange when you show your purchase receipt.  

 

Which reminds me.  I seem to recall someone, somewhere (perhaps on this very forum, or perhaps a sales associate at my local boutique) mentioning that Montblanc ordinarily abides by the sales receipt rather than the warranty card when the pen is purchased by an authorised retailer outside their sales network (e.g., their online store or boutique).  If that is the case, then perhaps the actual sales date as shown on the sales receipt governs, rather than the (incorrect) date stamp on 146 warranty cards.  I will be sure to ask Montblanc Customer Service when I phone them, as responses to my email query seem to imply that a sales receipt is sufficient for a complimentary nib exchange.

 

Below, I have screen captured the two email responses from Montblanc Customer Service.  (The emails were retrieved from my smartphone.)  The first response is an acknowledgement of my email query, while the second response doesn’t address my question but rather directs me to contact a boutique or MyJewelryRepair (though a sales receipt is mentioned as a method to request a complimentary nib exchange).

 

 

[NoType]

I have just concluded a phone call with a very pleasant and approachable Montblanc Ambassador named Josh, whom I highly recommend asking for by name if one should find themselves in need of speaking to a Montblanc Ambassador; his customer service is that good.  Josh was sympathetic to my desire to request a complimentary nib exchange in light of the fact that my purchase was only two weeks ago (22 Feb), but before he addressed that issue he advised that the purchase situation for the Montblanc for BMW pens was different from other Montblanc pen purchases, as a way to help me understand my local boutique’s decision not to exchange the BMW pen’s nib free of charge.

 

Josh patiently explained that, strictly speaking, in the case of the BMW pen (we were discussing specifically my 146, but one supposes the discussion could also apply to 162, Starwalker FP’s & RB’s, and others), Montblanc considered BMW to be a wholesaler rather than an authorised retailer.  This is because BMW commissioned a large quantity of pens from Montblanc at a “bulk rate,” and Montblanc relied on BMW to offer the pens for sale.  According to this arrangement, BMW was supposed to provide a warranty, and Josh presumed the 146’s warranty card date stamp marked the start of BMW’s warranty period.  By this logic BMW sold me (as well as @bunnspecialand @23109VC) a pen whose warranty has expired (presuming the warranty period is less than 3 years).  So, Josh felt, a warranty claim would have to be made with BMW, and the local boutique would not be able to provide usual support, up to and including a complimentary nib exchange.

 

Since I am interested not in a warranty claim per se but the complimentary nib exchange program, however, Josh recommended emailing MyJewelryRepair directly with my supporting documentation and photos of the pen and warranty card, to inquire if they will agree to exchange the nib for free.  Josh stated that MyJewelryRepair (M&G, as nicknamed by Montblanc) is the official arbiter for issues like the complimentary nib exchange program, which, frankly, surprised me.  Having always turned in pens to my local boutique for free nib exchanges, I imagined that the boutique either decided then and there, or shipped the pens to a Montblanc entity for adjudication on eligibility for the complimentary nib exchange program.  When I mentioned that I have availed myself of free nib exchanges at least half a dozen times through my local boutique, Josh asked if I happened to have an account with M&G, to which I responded that I have never worked directly with M&G, so to the best of my knowledge, no.  Josh admitted that he wasn’t aware how M&G documented their work, and he suggested that I mention in my email to them that I have utilised the complimentary nib exchange program several times and that I should provide some dates and pen information for the exchanges to help them locate me in their system — Josh thought that my previous custom might lend some weight to my request for a free nib exchange on the BMW pen.

 

I am not overly enthusiastic about contacting M&G, partly because of customer reports, and partly because of their return shipping charges ($60 each way?).  Of course, M&G could very well immediately deem my BMW 146 ineligible for the complimentary nib exchange program, which would bring my efforts to an end.  Alternatively, M&G might demand to see the pen in person before issuing their verdict, which would impel me to decide if spending $120 on an uncertain outcome (M exchanged for BB, gratis) is worth the money, when I could spend a similar amount (approx $40 + $80 return shipping (insured)) and ask Mark Bacas to execute my favourite grind: right-foot oblique cursive italic #2 (a little smoothed).  I think I will inquire Montblanc’s charge for a new BB nib (of standard design, as appears on the BMW 146), to see what is the cost differential between a Bacas grind and a factory Montblanc BB, for although the nibs themselves are different, the amount of line variation produced by both is similar.

 

Rest assured I will apprise the forum of M&G’s response to my query.

 

[JCC123]

Thanks @NoType for your work on getting to the bottom of this. I happened to have called M&G to ask about this very question - whether or not if I bought one now, it will be covered even though it has a date stamp that’s over 2 years old?

 

The lady who answered the phone said that this was a special case and they would have to be told by Montblanc what to do. That I would have to get something in writing, email for example, from Montblanc customer service about this being covered.

 

So, I the called Montblanc and spoke to someone who is still asking management about this as he agreed that this was something that needs more clarification from management.

[NoType]

15 hours ago, JCC123 said:

Thanks @NoType for your work on getting to the bottom of this. I happened to have called M&G to ask about this very question - whether or not if I bought one now, it will be covered even though it has a date stamp that’s over 2 years old?

 

The lady who answered the phone said that this was a special case and they would have to be told by Montblanc what to do. That I would have to get something in writing, email for example, from Montblanc customer service about this being covered.

 

So, I the called Montblanc and spoke to someone who is still asking management about this as he agreed that this was something that needs more clarification from management.

Thank you @JCC123 for taking the initiative to contact M&G and then Montblanc Customer Service.  I will sit back and wait to hear what you learn from Montblanc, then, since M&G appears to be require written instruction from Montblanc.

[JCC123]

@NoType Montblanc customer service replied and it seems they're saying that you have a year from the date of purchase. That should mean that you're able to get a nib exchange for free?

[NoType]

18 hours ago, JCC123 said:

@NoType Montblanc customer service replied and it seems they're saying that you have a year from the date of purchase. That should mean that you're able to get a nib exchange for free?

@JCC123 Thank you for this information.  A one-year time limit for the complimentary nib exchange program is usual practice with Montblanc’s limited editions.  I find it interesting that the BMW pen is considered as such, since it bears no limitation number nor much hint of being a limited production item.

 

The question is how Montblanc and M&G will determine the “date of purchase” when the date stamp says “23. April. 2020” but the actual date of purchase from BMW is mere weeks ago this year.  Which will govern, the warranty card or the sales receipt?  Ordinarily it would be the latter, but since Montblanc considers BMW to be a wholesaler rather than a retailer, it is unclear if Montblanc views the date stamp as the date of purchase (by BMW).

 

I will need to call M&G and explain this peculiar situation, and then perhaps call Josh at Montblanc Customer Service again.