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Pen Shop Directory


Splicer

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It seems almost every day someone on FPN asks "where in my town can I buy pens?" Some of these queries unfortunately go unanswered while others get answered again and again. Because these posts are not indexed by location, there's often no good way for the newcomer to search the archives and get the answer. A list here on FPN would soon become difficult to manage.

 

In response to this need, there is now an online pen shop directory at http://www.penshops.info/. The directory is searchable by brand names of pens or inks, geographic location, or even with a map that shows a "pin" for each shop.

 

The shops can be commented on and rated by the users, and any registered user can add or edit shops and shop descriptions. Some of the features are a little rough around the edges, but it should be able to give a person looking for a store enough information to get there.

 

What it needs now is to be filled with shop locations. It won't turn into a perfect resource overnight, but so long as we add the stores to the directory as the questions come in, it shouldn't be too long before we will be able to refer newcomers to the directory and let them find the answers from everyone that has ever asked the question.

 

http://www.penshops.info/

 

Suggestions, feature requests, and problems can be reported to Splicer by PM or by sending a message through the website's feedback form at http://www.penshops.info/contact. I'm excited to get this project started and I look forward to seeing how it will grow over time!

Who are the pen shops in your neighborhood? Find out or tell us where they are, at http://penshops.info/

Blog: http://splicer.com/

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This is such a brilliant idea - great when travelling as well! Every one should add at least one store to get it kicked off!

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Gasp! Where did everything in the United States go! There was like 40 some just the other day. I'll add the stores I did before to see if they stay :)

 

 

Edit: Found that the stores are all still there, but whenever you go into the Locations page, United States does not show up as a selection. I went into another country, and replaced the last two letters in the URL to "us".

 

I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, just putting the info out there for those that are trying to use the website!

 

Here's a link to the United States in case I confused anyone! United States

Edited by Cerbeos
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/606/letterji9.png
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Thanks to Cerbeos's report, I was able to bring the United States and United Kingdom back on the list. Turns out the page was showing only the first ten countries, which is a bad thing at least unless you have a link to the "next 10" somewhere.

 

Singapore still has an issue. Use this link to find shops in Singapore: http://www.penshops.info/location/directory/sg

Who are the pen shops in your neighborhood? Find out or tell us where they are, at http://penshops.info/

Blog: http://splicer.com/

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  • 2 months later...

Is the site down? I've tried to add a pen shop by creating an account. Whenever I try to log on, I get an access denied message.

Don't let the guy with the broom decide how many elephants are going to be in the parade. - Merlin Mann

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I've added a couple for the ACT (Australia) but they haven't appeared yet. Is there a moderation process?

Hey, I've worked out how to set up an avatar! Next week I'll move onto tying my own shoelaces...

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  • 1 month later...

I see the entry winknut made, so I know the site was working at least part-time back when the most recent posts were made. I'm not sure what the login issue was.

 

hexadecimal, the only problem with the Pepe's Paperie entries were that they lacked location information. Since the only two ways to find stores are by drilling down through the geographical locations or by looking at the map, those entries weren't found. I'll look up the addresses and add them in.

 

Thanks! And I apologize for being inattentive. I have been away from FPN for a while.

Who are the pen shops in your neighborhood? Find out or tell us where they are, at http://penshops.info/

Blog: http://splicer.com/

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hexadecimal, the only problem with the Pepe's Paperie entries were that they lacked location information. Since the only two ways to find stores are by drilling down through the geographical locations or by looking at the map, those entries weren't found. I'll look up the addresses and add them in.

 

Weird! I thought that I'd put all of that in? It'd be good if I could edit the entries that I'd made - but that is possibly a level of complication that isn't justifiable.

 

Perhaps another would be to have a listing where country isn't specified so that it is obvious that fields have been missed?

Hey, I've worked out how to set up an avatar! Next week I'll move onto tying my own shoelaces...

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Weird! I thought that I'd put all of that in? It'd be good if I could edit the entries that I'd made - but that is possibly a level of complication that isn't justifiable.

 

Perhaps another would be to have a listing where country isn't specified so that it is obvious that fields have been missed?

 

I'll have to check the permissions settings. I thought that any logged in user could edit any store's information. (every edit creates a new revision, so I can always undo it if an entry gets vandalized... only I can roll back revisions though.)

 

I'll also look at making all or some of the address a required field so that the system says something rude if it doesn't get an address in the submission. I might be able to create a link to view shops without a country. I'll look into it.

Who are the pen shops in your neighborhood? Find out or tell us where they are, at http://penshops.info/

Blog: http://splicer.com/

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  • 1 month later...

I just took a look and Texas only shows one place in Austin. There's Dromgoole's and Jeffrey Stone's in Houston plus one or two more and there are some in Dallas as well. It looks like a good idea that needs some fleshing out.

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  • 1 month later...
I just took a look and Texas only shows one place in Austin. There's Dromgoole's and Jeffrey Stone's in Houston plus one or two more and there are some in Dallas as well. It looks like a good idea that needs some fleshing out.

 

Here's the thing: creating a directory of every pen store in the world is more than a one-person task. Anyone can add stores or add information about existing stores, so the awesomest thing that you can do is add those stores to the directory. It's not that I'm opposed to entering stores myself—I've added over 60 of the 150 stores that are currently in the directory—but the more that are in there the more it falls on me to be an editor, to check for duplicates and entries by spammers and whatnot.

 

I agree that it needs a lot of fleshing out, but if it were up to one person it would be more than a full-time job. As it is it's a project that I can give some attention to once in a while. It will only work with participation from people around the world.

Who are the pen shops in your neighborhood? Find out or tell us where they are, at http://penshops.info/

Blog: http://splicer.com/

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...

Update: at the suggestion of one of the users (my father, actually) I have made the site a little easier to use and easier for people to add information.

 

Previously, you had to have a user account in order to add a pen store. Now, anonymous users can add brick and mortar stores so long as they pass a CAPTCHA challenge. Anyone who had trouble logging in or who was daunted at the idea of giving me their email address is now invited to help out by adding pen shops to the directory.

 

There are still some things that only an authenticated user can do:

 

  1. Edit the entries left by other users
  2. Add stores without seeing a CAPTCHA challenge
  3. Create web-based stores (I might change this, but for now you have to be logged in with a username or password to add a web-based store.)

 

I hope that helps. As always, I welcome suggestions about improving the site and making it more useful.

Who are the pen shops in your neighborhood? Find out or tell us where they are, at http://penshops.info/

Blog: http://splicer.com/

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  • 3 months later...

Added

 

Isellpens.com Online

 

&

 

A pen Lovers paradise VA & online

 

No affiliation just a happy customer of both shops.

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Thanks ke4pcx! Your help is appreciated!

 

Here's a gratuitous link to the poll/thread about penshops.info's new design:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/145285-penshopsinfos-new-clothes/

Who are the pen shops in your neighborhood? Find out or tell us where they are, at http://penshops.info/

Blog: http://splicer.com/

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  • 3 weeks later...

I just added a pen store in Kansas City, Mo. Hope this helps someone on the site. Also Splicer thanks for creating that site, it is very helpful.

The Pen Is Mightier than the sword.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Where can I buy sailor pens in Washington around the seattle/bellevue/tacoma area?

Step 1: Buy another fountain pen

Step 2: ???

Step 3: Profit.

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