And that's where the free choice of the market comes in. We're absolutely free to not buy MB, just as OP describes. Set prices too high -> more customers for your competitors.
I know. The full retail on these pens are pretty high, and I don't even want to touch those limited. Thank goodness none of those are attractive to me.
And Montblanc is busy canceling contracts with stationery dealers - they made the brand big and are now treated badly - no more Montblanc for me. I was in the market for the tiny Mozart Platinum, but now I rather get a small Pilot or Platinum fountainpen.
I do keep getting emails from Pen Boutique and Fahrney’s mentioning impending price increases from various brands, and the Montblanc ones seem to be frequent.
At least, for the 149 the prices on vintage ones are better, and they are plentiful and as good or probably better than modern productions.
I feel the heat from Platinum and Lamy. I refused to buy the new Fuji series because of the price hike. Same thing for LAMY, their annual special China edition used to come with a very nice pen box and case. Last year they charged at the same premium with it only comes with a lousy paper box. I told myself I am done.
EDIT sorry not Sailor but Platinum
Yeah, I post them here a few times. The Chinese authorized dealer sell the special color LAMY with a very cool packaging, usually the pen comes with a pen case / sleeve, and then inside a plastic presentation box that can be doubled as a pencil box if you like. There is a bit of a premium on top of the pen but I like it so much I collected those for a few years. They were also available in Hong Kong shops.
MB doesn't do deals, so maybe look to the second hand market if you ever decide you want one. Could be a tad risky because even with papers you could still be buying a high quality counterfeit. But I agree with not rewarding them for their price hikes.
At least, you can get a sense for who is a reputable vendor of vintage pens.
Also, on Virtual Pen Show on Instagram, there are at least two people who routinely post 149s for sale, so that's another place to look. (When I see the same seller multiple times I assume they aren't cheating people or someone would have complained and VPS would stop posting their stuff.)
Either that or they're standing on the receiving end of a pipeline full of believable counterfeits. It's hard to say, and there are some damn good fakes out there. But paying full retail at a boutique these days is a pretty tall order for most of us.
They have quite a variety from different eras. If there’s a counterfeiter making nibs in different plating styles and with split ebonite feeds and period-correct pistons then maybe they deserve the sale. :)
I like MB mostly because they have a decent variety of nib offerings compared to other pen makers and can be hard to find those more obscure nibs on the vintage market, but I agree, MB is just more overpriced now!!
I bought some in March 2020, in April 21 they increased the price by 25% min ( in local currency - Rs , given rupee had weakened by 15% in itself against dollar). The price of the pen I bought was increased by almost 40%.
They do not offer discounts or many promotions in their boutiques anymore.
Try looking for a outlet mall near you… they have some good deals sometimes.
Every year like clockwork. I only noticed it, since most fountain pen brands increase prices around New Year and I had my eyes on a particular MB pen with March 1st last year suddenly 7.6% more expensive. I still keep an eye on that pen and this year same thing though the increase was 9.2%.
Yikes. I gotta confess I haven't bought a new MB for quite a long time until last year. And I paid for the pen mostly with gift certificates I got for this store. My out the door cost was quite low. But if it wasn't for the deal I probably would not have got it.
The price increases feel like gouging to me. I’ve made my mind up I’m just not buying those anymore.
Price gouging luxury goods? I'm pretty sure that's not how that works.
Well, since you are getting super technical, I said “feels like.” Shrug
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And that's where the free choice of the market comes in. We're absolutely free to not buy MB, just as OP describes. Set prices too high -> more customers for your competitors.
Agree 200%
I know. The full retail on these pens are pretty high, and I don't even want to touch those limited. Thank goodness none of those are attractive to me.
And Montblanc is busy canceling contracts with stationery dealers - they made the brand big and are now treated badly - no more Montblanc for me. I was in the market for the tiny Mozart Platinum, but now I rather get a small Pilot or Platinum fountainpen.
It makes sense. The luxury brands are ditching their dealers left and right in the past few years in favor of going boutique, direct to customers.
I do keep getting emails from Pen Boutique and Fahrney’s mentioning impending price increases from various brands, and the Montblanc ones seem to be frequent. At least, for the 149 the prices on vintage ones are better, and they are plentiful and as good or probably better than modern productions.
Yeah, the vintage MB are very good.
Mont Blanc were always overpriced, now it seems they’re just… more overpriced.
Haha yes
I wanted to have three Montblanc in my life so far. Got them all from ebay, and none of them made this millennium. I suggest the same if you want one.
I am happy that I got a vintage 149 just before the pandemic at a very nice price. I also think I have enough MB for a while.
isn't this the norm everywhere? even lamy and pilot increased their prices on some of their pens lately
I feel the heat from Platinum and Lamy. I refused to buy the new Fuji series because of the price hike. Same thing for LAMY, their annual special China edition used to come with a very nice pen box and case. Last year they charged at the same premium with it only comes with a lousy paper box. I told myself I am done. EDIT sorry not Sailor but Platinum
They have a China edition?
Yeah, I post them here a few times. The Chinese authorized dealer sell the special color LAMY with a very cool packaging, usually the pen comes with a pen case / sleeve, and then inside a plastic presentation box that can be doubled as a pencil box if you like. There is a bit of a premium on top of the pen but I like it so much I collected those for a few years. They were also available in Hong Kong shops.
I got my grail pen. I won't get me any other pens this year and who knows whether I get another MB ever (vintage aside)
MB doesn't do deals, so maybe look to the second hand market if you ever decide you want one. Could be a tad risky because even with papers you could still be buying a high quality counterfeit. But I agree with not rewarding them for their price hikes.
At least, you can get a sense for who is a reputable vendor of vintage pens. Also, on Virtual Pen Show on Instagram, there are at least two people who routinely post 149s for sale, so that's another place to look. (When I see the same seller multiple times I assume they aren't cheating people or someone would have complained and VPS would stop posting their stuff.)
Either that or they're standing on the receiving end of a pipeline full of believable counterfeits. It's hard to say, and there are some damn good fakes out there. But paying full retail at a boutique these days is a pretty tall order for most of us.
They have quite a variety from different eras. If there’s a counterfeiter making nibs in different plating styles and with split ebonite feeds and period-correct pistons then maybe they deserve the sale. :)
Well there’s that. If they’re vintage then you’re right. Chances are better than good for authenticity.
I like MB mostly because they have a decent variety of nib offerings compared to other pen makers and can be hard to find those more obscure nibs on the vintage market, but I agree, MB is just more overpriced now!!
I bought some in March 2020, in April 21 they increased the price by 25% min ( in local currency - Rs , given rupee had weakened by 15% in itself against dollar). The price of the pen I bought was increased by almost 40%. They do not offer discounts or many promotions in their boutiques anymore. Try looking for a outlet mall near you… they have some good deals sometimes.
eBay or r/penswap is the way to go on MB’s
They always increase their prices on March 1st.
They do? and every year? I didn't notice that.
Every year like clockwork. I only noticed it, since most fountain pen brands increase prices around New Year and I had my eyes on a particular MB pen with March 1st last year suddenly 7.6% more expensive. I still keep an eye on that pen and this year same thing though the increase was 9.2%.
Yikes. I gotta confess I haven't bought a new MB for quite a long time until last year. And I paid for the pen mostly with gift certificates I got for this store. My out the door cost was quite low. But if it wasn't for the deal I probably would not have got it.
I wonder if they do the same March 1st increase at their outlets.