Greetings everyone, Amazon US are having an awesome sale on these mechanical pencils, fairly sure these are the cheapest ever from what I can gather.
Sale ends in 4 hours, so get in quick if you want one!
rOtring 800 Retractable Mechanical Pencil, 0.5 mm, Black Barrel $24.14
As always, enjoy :)
CamelCamelCamel.
If the aim is to be unhelpful, you never dissapoint JV.
Rookie question… Paper Mates were a big deal when I was growing up.
But they weren't much more than a normal pencil.
I get the convenience of them, I do.
But why, why are these "rOtring" pencils so expensive?
Plenty of mechanical pencils at a 10th of the price?
Genuine question.
I've never tried the rotring pencil, but I swear by my Pentel P209. It's a similar price to the Pentel. I work in tech, but I do most of my planning with a mechanical pencil and paper.
A lot of the ~$2 mechanical pencils are rubbish. You push to hard the lead slides back into the shaft. They have a long gap from the feed to the tip, which means you waste ~20% of each lead. They're not worth it.
If you're on a budget there are some half decent 0.7mm pencils from Uni for ~$5. I buy them when I leave my Pentel at home. They do the job, but it's not the same.
I find 0.9 (or even 0.7mm) 2B leads far better for writing and diagraming than 0.5mm leads. They break less easily and write more nicely than HB.
I'd compare it to buying a ~$100 Android or an iPhone. They both kinda do the same thing, but one is a lot nicer to use. Generally quality costs more.
If you're unsure about spending the extra money, go showrooming. Officeworks have most of their <$10 mechanical pencils in the pen display and test area. Pen shops generally have test models of the more expensive options.
Gotcha… thanks for the detailed reply. So it's a better feed mechanism and feel. Perfectly understandable if you're using it all day.
From my point of view I can't remember the last time I used a pencil… other than to mark timber before cutting it ;).
Thanks also for your tips on the different leads compared to HB.
I used mechanical pencils regularly during my architecture days in university and you really pay for the quality and feel of the pencil. It's the same as a knife to a chef, they all do the same thing but some knives better suit your style and your hand (an extension of your arm if you'd like to think of it as so). Another good example (albeit a little crude) is a toilet seat. You like yours but another toilet seat doesn't quite feel right. Of course a cheaper mechanical pencil might feel right to you but generally quality is a deciding factor in that feel. A higher quality mechanical pencil is generally heavier and takes more consideration of the users which is more likely to feel right in your hand. Take, for example, a plastic disposable fork versus a metal fork. This might all sound too deep for a mechanical pencil but when you use it day in and day out, it really starts mattering. Hope that helps!
Thanks mate, that does make a lot of sense. I have no issue with people paying extra for decent quality stuff (I have a set of Global knives, so great example!). I was just curious as to what made these rOtring's so good. I'd never even heard of the brand!
All good, glad you asked so now others might know why as well!
I dear by zebra delguard pencils as you are really unlucky to break a lead, cheaper by the dozen and hard to lose when they are yellow.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Zebra-DelGuard-Light-MAZ84-0-5mm-Me…
I bought the same pencil for $22.67 as a gift when it came up in the last deal and still haven’t given it to the recipient :(
Amazing price, I've never seen the 800 this cheap. If you need a good pencil then you should buy it right now
For some people even if you don't need a good pencil you should buy this right now…..
How is 800 different/better than 600? I already have 600, use it almost every day and I'm happy with it. Wonder if 800 could improve the experience somehow.
Oh God, do I get the 800 or the Pro?
Answer: The 800.
Can you explain why?
Cause the Pro does not have a retractable tip…
I'm big time into German and Japanese technical stationery and these are very good. My pick out of these would be the Rapid PRO 2mm. I love 2mm mechanical pencils and this one is tops.
My favourite mechanical pencil is the Japanese-made Staedtler 925 2mm.
Eeeeelaineeeee
Thanks OP. I bought myself the rOtring 800 Retractable Mechanical Pencil. I don't remember the last time I used a pencil but this is a great price on a great pencil, got to have it. Here is a good comparison of the various rOtring pencils: https://www.penheaven.co.uk/blog/rotring-mechanical-pencils-…
Thanks for that link. I couldn't make up my mind on which one, but this made my decision. Also went with the 800. Did not need/want the lead hardness indicator of the 600, and definitely did not want the cushion mechanism of the rapid.
Thanks Doweyy, great price! Signed up to Amazon Prime for the first time, to get it delivered for Christmas!
Despite sale ending, it’s still showing at the same discounted prices. Maybe it got extended?
600 & Pro both still on sale. Just not 800.
All over now.
jv on 30/11/2019 - 12:56 Comment score below threshold.