Warning: Total Noob Question

[dushea]

I've been offered a new job in outside sales where I'll have to have clients sign on the dotted line. That said, I think a nice fountain pen could say a lot and be a subtlety that my clients will appreciate.

That said, I don't want a pen to explode all over myself, let alone over my clients. I warned you. This is a noob question, but how stable is a fountain pen? If it gets knocked against in a bag, or stored in my jacket pocket, will this be something I'll have to worry about?

 

[syngent]

cheap chinese pen, maybe... good quality pen, you should be okay

What kind of budget are you looking at, we can help with a pen that meets your needs

 

[ChefJohnBoy-ardee]

I would be more worried about a client using it improperly.

 

[dushea]

cheap chinese pen, maybe... good quality pen, you should be okay

What kind of budget are you looking at, we can help with a pen that meets your needs

This is a deep rabbit hole, isn't it... If I'm gonna do this, I might as well grab a Rooney instead of a Tweezerman, so to speak. I don't know how that translates at this point, but I'm a bang for your buck kind of guy. I've found a golden spot between 80-120 bucks for brushes, what would I be looking at for a fountain pen in the same vein? $100?

 

[dushea]

I would be more worried about a client using it improperly.

Bear with me, this is a new sub-forum to me. Is user error something to take into consideration? Would I be better off going with a nice ballpoint?

 

[syngent]

with your budget your more then able to get a really nice pen, the forms you are signing will they be carbon copied sheets, as in the marks have to go through multiple layers, or just the single sheet on top ?

 

[dushea]

Nah, just single sheet, no carbon copy.

 

[mrb7]

Bear with me, this is a new sub-forum to me. Is user error something to take into consideration? Would I be better off going with a nice ballpoint?

This is an unequivocal yes. Do not expect the uninitiated to figure out a fountain pen when there is a contact to be signed. I have about 10 fountain pens, and I would never hand one to someone like this.

If you want some muted elegance use something like a Parker ball point. Get a nice sterling silver one, and get the French refills with blue Quink. It's smooth as silk and has no danger of being misunderstood by the user.

 

[syngent]

I let people sign stuff with my pen,.. I just smile at them when they pause looking at it, and say with a smile "Its just a pen, just dont press hard and you two will get along just fine". they usually smile and laugh a bit, and get a kick out of using it, certainly leaves an impression with them the way no ball point can

 

[Snargle]

Go with a fountain pen. Even an inexpensive one like a Pilot Metropolitan is very classy looking, is built like a tank, and performs like a pen costing much, much more. As James just mentioned, just give the user a couple of words of caution/instruction and they should be fine. With a Metro, even if they totally destroy it, you're only out a few bucks.

 

[nemo]

Do not expect the uninitiated to figure out a fountain pen when there is a contact to be signed.

If you want some muted elegance use something like a Parker ball point. Get a nice sterling silver one, and get the French refills with blue Quink. It's smooth as silk and has no danger of being misunderstood by the user.

I agree with this. You don't want customers feeling uneasy as you are closing the deal, put them at ease. Show 'em the good pens later over a beer.

 

[Slivovitz]

You're already getting both sides, aren't you? An ink disaster is not impossible with a fountain pen, but not something I worry about a great deal with most of them, just a matter of using ordinary care. If you want to be sure about an individual pen, you can use it at home and around town for awhile to gain confidence before risking it at work.

On the other hand, I generally have a backup ballpoint with me just for those occasions when I feel I ought to lend someone a pen. I really, really, do not like letting a casual user write with one of my fountain pens. If I wanted a classy pen to hand to clients for signatures, I'd probably make it a nice looking rollerball.

Another thing that's important if you go with a FP (and actually some rollerball refills too). If you're getting signatures on agreements, you probably want a reasonably permanent ink. You cannot assume that fountain pen inks are waterproof. This is something you need to determine for yourself; it can't hurt to make your own tests on scrap paper even with inks that are advertised as waterproof. There are plenty of good choices, and at least one recent thread on this. Not a big problem, but just something you need to be aware of.

 

[dushea]

So the next logical noob question, what can go wrong with someone who's never used a FP? Bent nib? You guys rock for putting up with me btw . For the record, I would be one of those people who's never used a FP. I certainly understand the appeal though.

 

[syngent]

So the next logical noob question, what can go wrong with someone who's never used a FP? Bent nib? You guys rock for putting up with me btw

Its what we do, Love new guys coming in asking questions, its half the fun, lets us pen shop all over again with you spending the money lol


but yes, they can damage a nib by pressing to hard if its a soft nib, a stiff nib you can get would have less chance (Almost non in my experience) of having that happen

with your budget, you could always get yourself a fountain pen, and a back up ballpoint for the customers, a matching set even

http://www.goldspot.com/monteverde_pens/intima.html

here is some Monteverdes, you can get a matching set within your budget

 

[Aristeros]

A lefty may have a hard time getting the ink to flow, depending upon how he writes. Why not have a little stand with some options, including a snazzy ballpoint for the timid, and let the customer pick a pen?

This means you will need to have at least three, of course.

 

[dushea]

A lefty may have a hard time getting the ink to flow, depending upon how he writes. Why not have a little stand with some options, including a snazzy ballpoint for the timid, and let the customer pick a pen?

This means you will need to have at least three, of course.

Hahaha, I knew this was coming. At this point I might as well clear out an entire drawer in my desk!!

 

[syngent]

lol you havent even got to ink yet... but worry about that later, no need for your head to explode just yet lol you can get a bottle of parker quink ink at staples for 8 bucks or so

 

[dushea]

So it sounds like a decent first step would be to pick up a matching set of a fountain and a roller ball. Anyone want to volunteer to point me in the right direction with some good suggestions?

Thanks again for the warm welcome to The Nib, guys.

 

[ChefJohnBoy-ardee]

Cross, Pelikan, Sheaffer, Monteverde, *cough*Montblanc*cough*... Shop around friend(s)!

 

[syngent]

http://www.goldspot.com/monteverde_pens/intima.html

I did it in an edit above, you may have missed it, but see if you like or dislike anything here and let us know,.. ill see if i can find you some other stuff to look at