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Post by jamberrychoux on Jan 24, 2017 3:31:37 GMT
True confessions: Just ordered two more bottles of ink: Diamine Pink Flamingo (I had a sample of it and LOVED it.) Robert Oster Green Lime Several of you have mentioned that you have a large number of samples. How does one get samples like that?
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Post by distractedmom on Jan 24, 2017 4:07:38 GMT
True confessions: Just ordered two more bottles of ink: Diamine Pink Flamingo (I had a sample of it and LOVED it.) Robert Oster Green Lime Several of you have mentioned that you have a large number of samples. How does one get samples like that? Check out www.gouletpens.com. You can buy sample sizes of any ink they carry, or they put together fun sample packages.
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Post by radellaf on Jan 24, 2017 5:48:13 GMT
Although Goulet was one of (the?) first to offer them, they still only give you 2mL. Some others do the 3mL I suggested to Goulet in like 2011 and got blown off. My favorite place for samples is Anderson Pens. Bonus, though I don't think it's fair, is that they offer Sailor ink samples. Sailor stopped selling to Goulet because they don't have a physical store, and the Andersons do. Sailor has some really nice colors, Yama-Dori teal perhaps the most popular. If there's a pen show in your area, the Andersons probably go to it, and you can place an order for free pickup at the show. I did that for a bunch of Diamine samples for my Chesterfield vs Diamine project. Now, darn it, Chesterfield has been discontinued and the replacement is no longer a bargain... and right now looks like that's gone too, at Birmingham Pen Co. For the UK, Purepens has 2.5mL samples.
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Post by sails on Jan 24, 2017 15:46:06 GMT
I just talked myself out of two LE MB inks. It's like I went to AA or something.
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Post by distractedmom on Jan 24, 2017 15:53:42 GMT
I just talked myself out of two LE MB inks. It's like I went to AA or something. As I always tell my husband, it could be shoes or expensive purses. Be glad it's just ink.
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Post by distractedmom on Jan 24, 2017 16:35:27 GMT
Although Goulet was one of (the?) first to offer them, they still only give you 2mL. Some others do the 3mL I suggested to Goulet in like 2011 and got blown off. My favorite place for samples is Anderson Pens. Bonus, though I don't think it's fair, is that they offer Sailor ink samples. Sailor stopped selling to Goulet because they don't have a physical store, and the Andersons do. Sailor has some really nice colors, Yama-Dori teal perhaps the most popular. If there's a pen show in your area, the Andersons probably go to it, and you can place an order for free pickup at the show. I did that for a bunch of Diamine samples for my Chesterfield vs Diamine project. Now, darn it, Chesterfield has been discontinued and the replacement is no longer a bargain... and right now looks like that's gone too, at Birmingham Pen Co. For the UK, Purepens has 2.5mL samples. I always forget about Anderson Pens. I've always had such good service from Goulet that I just stick with them. I'll check out Anderson! I also bought some samples from www.penboutique.com. They give 5 mL samples, but don't have quite the selection that Goulet does.
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Post by ritak on Jan 24, 2017 16:57:31 GMT
Several of you have mentioned that you have a large number of samples. How does one get samples like that? You can also try Vanness Pens for ink samples. They offer 4ml samples and they have some interesting inks like KWZ , Akkerman and L'Artisan Pastelliere. Vanness Pens
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Post by sgtstretch on Jan 24, 2017 16:58:54 GMT
I just talked myself out of two LE MB inks. It's like I went to AA or something. If one of those inks was the Lucky Orange, I'd highly recommend it. It is a really nice bright/bold orange.
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Post by radellaf on Jan 25, 2017 7:29:54 GMT
I'd only ever heard of Vanness, and didn't know pen boutique had such huge samples. I have a bunch of 5mL Iroshizuku samples but I got those from someone on FPN who was doing just that brand. Sorely tempted to try some color of CdA ($5 sample) and Graf Von Faber-Castell Deep Sea Green ($3.50). OTOH, the main reason to get either brand is just to have the fancy bottle on your desk. The Kon Peki sample just became redundant as I found a bottle on eBay for $16 shipped, from a USA seller. Yu Yake is the only one left I think I want a full bottle of (if only to look at). But Fuyu Gaki is a lot more legible. I've had nothing but good service and lots of fun videos from Goulet, but honestly I don't think I've ordered from them since (2012?) they got rid of the 5% off FPN coupon code that usually covered my shipping. That and, not to bring up any controversy, but for me, personally, their religion started leaking out into their online presence enough to make me uncomfortable patronizing them. e.g., a newsletter featuring how they offered Dave Ramsey classes to their staff. There's plenty more. So, great store, but I just got turned off for personal reasons. OTOH, I've known the Andersons from pen show appearances like forever, and was thrilled when they started a full fledged web and physical store. I've listened to a few years of their podcast, read all the newsletters, talked to them in person, and couldn't tell you thing one about their religion or politics. They sure know their pens, though. In fairness, the Goulet site is slicker, and if you're new to pens, Brian has a viewpoint that might resonate better, as he only a few years ago had his "conversion experience" with fountain pens. Their whole approach reflects that. For someone who went to shows in the late 1990s, when instead of online forums all that we had was a mailing list... well, it's nice to see that people from back then are still in the business and sometimes doing better than ever. Pendemonium is a kind of fun example. They still don't have a shopping cart, just an order form. Then you call Sam, on the phone, to place the order. Or I see that, now, they can email a paypal invoice. I have a lotta nostalgia for 20 years ago, though the pens are better (TWSBI !), easier to get, ink options have exploded (Noodler's!) , and the online forums, podcasts, and videos have really made a kind of esoteric hobby appealing and accessible to tons of new people. It's been a lot of fun to witness.
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Post by distractedmom on Jan 25, 2017 14:04:04 GMT
radellaf, I appreciate the bit of history there! 20 years ago, I wasn't actively seeking fountain pens, so I don't have that nostalgia. Back then, it was Sheaffer Calligraphy sets for Shannon. I'll look past the more cumbersome websites and spread my business around! I dunno, I just looked at Yu Yaki and I think it's plenty legible. You can write to me with it once you take the plunge!
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Post by stormymorning on Jan 25, 2017 14:58:38 GMT
Does anyone know a European shop that sells samples? I only know Appelboompennen.
Shannon, I was curious about Flamingo Pink - if you remember, please write to me with it some time! 🙂
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Post by sails on Jan 25, 2017 16:28:33 GMT
I just talked myself out of two LE MB inks. It's like I went to AA or something. If one of those inks was the Lucky Orange, I'd highly recommend it. It is a really nice bright/bold orange. Oops...
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Post by Monkey on Jan 25, 2017 18:57:07 GMT
Does anyone know a European shop that sells samples? I only know Appelboompennen. Shannon, I was curious about Flamingo Pink - if you remember, please write to me with it some time! 🙂 I'm not sure about shops, but on ebay there is www.ebay.com/usr/stationeryshop-scotland?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2754 this person who has samples of just about every ink ever, located in UK. I've been quite tempted to get some but haven't done so just yet.
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Post by radellaf on Jan 25, 2017 20:38:40 GMT
I dunno, I just looked at Yu Yaki and I think it's plenty legible. You can write to me with it once you take the plunge! ;) I have a 2mL goulet and 5mL FPN sample, which is enough for use. What I love is how yellow and yellow-orange inks look in the bottle. It has been inked in a Prera for over 4 years now, periodically adding water. It gets plenty legible when it has dried out about halfway. Otherwise, well, it's not my mixing standard Noodler's Yellow or R&K Helianthus, but it's pretty light (I don't tend to use wet, broad, nibs). An empty Iro bottle filled with Diamine Orange (Chesterfield Fire Opal, but same ink) is satisfying for now.
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Post by stormymorning on Jan 30, 2017 18:31:53 GMT
I bought Diamine Marine (loved the sample I had) and Diamine Teal. How do you find the Teal? The colour's nice but I find it a VERY dry writer. I got the Teal and inked up one of my AL-stars. I don't think it's dry at all! Flows nicely, no start-up problems after a few day pause either... What are your problems with it?
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