how about montblanc fountain pens

[Larry T]

I have been to the MB store in Troy, Michigan many times, and I have always been treated very well. I can not imagine any establishment allowing a sales rep to treat customers badly, and to do it on a regular basis. No one is going to stay in business long with a business philosophy that allows that kind of behavior. I certainly wouldn't go back if that was the case.

 

My only complaint about the store I frequent is that the sales staff could be a little more knowledgable about the product line.

[Gatorade]

I have been to the MB store in Troy, Michigan many times, and I have always been treated very well. I can not imagine any establishment allowing a sales rep to treat customers badly, and to do it on a regular basis. No one is going to stay in business long with a business philosophy that allows that kind of behavior. I certainly wouldn't go back if that was the case.

NO SOUP FOR YOU!

[Betty]

*sneaks a disguise to get some soup*

[Gatorade]

*sneaks a disguise to get some soup*

Becoming very weary of the dainty lady with the Groucho Marx mustache. She looks familiar.........

[KCat]

Now I feel a litlte foolish and that I overreacted in my post.

 

I appreciate your gracious and understanding response.

 

It does sound like you are going through one of those tough times in your family and I hope I did not add any stress.

 

Again, thanks. I appreciate it and hope you feel better.

 

Maybe I am in more need of the weekend than I thought. JC

I hope you had a good weekend and got some R&R. I did. In fact, I slept in until 11 this a.m. still trying to get well. Just been a very tenacious bug I've got.

 

Don't feel foolish or anything - as I said backchannel, and as I want to say here It was easy for someone to infer from my post just what you inferred. I'd have done the same. Especially in what is such an emotionally charged topic.

 

Had the discussion been about Pelikan quality - I'd have probably been ready for a fight.

[jameswatts]

My first MB was a gift -- a Classic (what became the Generations) in burgundy that wrote wonderfully, even though it had a crack in the section above the nib (the pen had been used before I received it, which did nothing to lessen the value of the gift or the giver).

 

About four years ago, I bought a 149 while cruising through the Caribbean. Got a great price and it turned out a great pen. My 149 is close to a daily user for me -- or it was until we made another tour through the islands, and my wife bought for me a Starwalker fountain pen and fineliner set at a shop in St. Thomas.

 

The Starwalker is really a great pen, at least for me. I've been using it almost everyday (I do a whole lot of handwriting in my life) and have absolutely nothing to complain about.

 

jdw

[DrPJM1]

At the MB store in Chicago I "dared" ask:

 

-What if the pen I purchase comes with a nib that is not to my liking? Do I have to send it back to Germany to increase the ink flow, or to just have it smoothed?

 

The look on their faces was priceless...

 

I truly believe they were put off by someone not accepting their product "as is" or having a nib "personalized".

 

Their answer: "No one has ever had a problem with our pens. As for making any adjustment to the nibs, they will need to be sent out."

[chrisb]

I've owned a 149 for about 10 years now and I've found it to be a excellent pen. The only time I've ever had trouble with the pen's ink not flowing right is if I didn't fill it and bleed out the air correctly.

 

I recently had to have it serviced for a leaking piston (it was leaking ink out the bottom of the pen). While the folks at the Montblanc Botique can come off a little snobby (I really enjoy poking fun at their fake european accents in the 57th St. store in NYC), their service is top notch. They replaced the entire piston mechanism for a very reasonable $55, and gave me a free bottle of ink in my color of choice when I picked it up.

[Allan]

Now I know everyone's experiences vary, but I have a 146 that is without a doubt, and in no uncertain terms, the finest writing pen I have used. This includes pens I own such as many Parkers (vacs, 51s, duofold, etc), many Conway Stewarts, a Namiki, a Omas Paragon (in the shop for the 5th time) and three Pelikans (800, 400 tort, 140). It is the pen that is ALWAYS inked, always ready, and the one I reach for instinctively.

 

On the topic of 1000s of MB pens with cracks for sale at pen shows I can say this:

 

1) If a dealer replaced a pen with a crack they would send it back to MB for replacement. If they just chunk it in a box under the counter, they are morons.

 

2) The MB store I visited when I had my wife's 149 repaired said that 99% of all repairs to any MB (proof of ownership or purchase not required) would run $55. So if anyone's MB did crack, would they spend $55 and repair it(even if just for resale)? Or would they just give it away to some pen repair dude to sell at a pen show? Hmmmmm.

 

So if no dealers are stockpiling these supposed cracked pens, and few people would give them away when they can fix them cheap, then where would they all come from? Someone's imagination I would assume.

 

Are MBs the finest pens in the world? I do not know as I have not personally tried all the pens in the world. As for performance for me personally they rate a perfect 10.

 

Allan

[Gatorade]

On the topic of 1000s of MB pens with cracks for sale at pen shows I can say this:

 

1) If a dealer replaced a pen with a crack they would send it back to MB for replacement. If they just chunk it in a box under the counter, they are morons.

 

My point exactly.

 

2) The MB store I visited when I had my wife's 149 repaired said that 99% of all repairs to any MB (proof of ownership or purchase not required) would run $55. So if anyone's MB did crack, would they spend $55 and repair it(even if just for resale)? Or would they just give it away to some pen repair dude to sell at a pen show? Hmmmmm.

[chrisb]

2) The MB store I visited when I had my wife's 149 repaired said that 99% of all repairs to any MB (proof of ownership or purchase not required) would run $55. So if anyone's MB did crack, would they spend $55 and repair it(even if just for resale)? Or would they just give it away to some pen repair dude to sell at a pen show? Hmmmmm.

 

From what I've been told by the MB service folk is that the only thing they will charge you more than $55 for on a 149 repair is if you need to replace the nib which will run you around $240.

Edited February 18, 2006 by chrisb

[ediamond]

I think that Frank suggested, that every five years Montblanc claimed that its plastic had improved.    However, Frank seemed somewhat sceptical about Montblanc's recurring claims of improvement. 

 

At alt.collecting.pens-pencils, on March 7  2002, frank dubiel posted message number 2, in the thread "Still precious but now stronger resin"

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.collect...bf8a1a31819c456

If you look at the thread, you'll see that I was the guy who was locking horns with Frank over this. What you don't know is what happened afterwards. In May of that year I met Frank at the Chicago Pen Show and I showed him my Montblancs with the newer reinforced walls and metal linings. We compared them to other comparable fountain pens of the same vintage and afterwards Frank admitted that indeed their build quality improved and his words were, "I stand corrected." Unfortunately, he passed away suddenly not long after that, and the pen community lost a great friend.

 

Still those who knew Frank knew that he had scorn for most modern and especially imported fountain pens. I used to tease him that if it wasn't an Aerometric Parker 51 he wasn't interested. Frank always had special disdain for Montblanc and I suspect it was due to their marketing. The fact that they claimed to be the best, called their injection molded plastic "precious resin" and only offered a one-year guarantee, while Parker, Shaeffer and Pelikan had lifetime guarantees drove him nuts.

 

The truth is Montblancs are well-made pens that are no better or no worse than other brands. The fact that they have a price premium is a frustrating reality that those who like them have to deal with, but I've got several solitares, a 149 a 162, 164 and a boheme and all are very well-made and have held up exceptionally well. I've also had dealings with their repair department and though they charge for spare parts, their service was excellent and thorough, and half the time they waived the fees for repair.