Hello OzBargain,
I've found that it is super hard to find fountain pens, inks or writing paper in Australia. Does anyone know anywhere that has reasonably priced goods?
THanks
Fountain Pens
Ljordanlaa on 07/04/2013 - 17:58
Comments
I am addicted to watches and many of the 'Grey market' (genuine watches but not sold through an authorised factory distributor) watch shops also sell pens. One that I see big watch discounts on but I have never bought from is http://www.upscaletime.com/search.aspx?find=fountain
If you know the name of the brand/model maybe have a look at overseas search engines. Amongst others I look at:
In my opinion the knockoff fountain pens are crap. They're OK if you never want to fill them with ink and write with them. Worth it to buy the real thing.
I wasn't talking about knockoff anything, I totally agree with you. I would only ever buy 'the real thing' myself and would never recommend anybody else buy anything less. Grey market isn't the same as black market.
I've been buying genuine Swiss Watches over the Internet for years at often 50%+ off the local price. I bought an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra watch from an Authorised Omega dealer in the US with a signed and stamped International factory warranty, all from a bricks and mortar jewellers over the internet. Price was still a few thousand dollars but was about 1/2 the price I was quoted in a jewellers on Melbourne's Collins St. Many of the shops that sell watches also sell high end pens. I have thought about buying a MontBlanc pen several times but have saved the $$ instead to go towards another watch.
These guys are another site I have searched for watches but they seem to sell pens as well. http://www.worldlux.com/ I have never bought from them but I am pretty sure they aren't chinese knockoffs!
If pens are anything like watches, when you find a site that is selling pens for unbelievably good prices (like $50 for a $400 pen), they accept Western Union as a preferred method of payment, they are based in china, their contact email (if they have one) is a yahoo or gmail address and the descriptions of the goods don't match the item then it is probably a fake and you should run for cover.
Omega Seamaster
We could be Omega brothers! (Omega Seamaster Chrono)
As tori suggested, keep an eye on Peters of Kensington. They offer fantastic prices on fountain pens from time to time.
Do a Google search for Fountain Pen Network. From memory, they have a for sale section.
I bought a murano glass pen for my niece through Florentine Australia in Sydney. It was $39.95 including a small ink. Posted within one day of ordering and it was just beautiful. Lovely to write with.
Gee thanks for that - another 'toy' shop
Nothing is cheap in Australia, especially fountain pens. I myself am a user and collector of fountain pens. Nothing you buy in Australia is worth it and you also don't get a very large variety. If whether you're looking for vintage or modern fountain pens the best place to look is ebay for the lowest price, though beware that most of the sellers do not ship them with original packaging.
Some good websites for fountain pens (not necessarily cheap, but compared to Australian prices they are):
Stationeryart.com
jstationery.comboth hongkong based I think
melpens.com
jetpens.com
cultpens.co.uk
thewritingdesk.co.uk
gouletpens.comnotemaker.com.au is any Australian website if you want to buy local, but the prices aren't as good as if you buy from overseas and wait.
What pens do you use currently?
My favourite right now is a LAMY 2000, I just recently got it and boy is it a joy to write with. TWSBI brand fountain pens are great pens for a reasonable price (as long as you don't by straight from them as their shipping is a rort). For vintage I recommend looking at Sheaffer Snorkels as they are great pens with an interesting filling mechanism, a lot of people recommend Parker 51s but I don't really like them, maybe the one I have is a dud.
I bought mine from Amazon UK. It was $112 (and they take of the VAT!), instead of $300 here from the pen shop in Chadstone shopping centre. Peters of Kensington (online store) also has really great deals, especially for getting a good pen under $100. I get most of my ink from ebay.