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Showing 1 of 80 conversations about:
jonro
35
May 7, 2015
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You lost me when you decided to charge $20 extra for a fine nib. What's up with that? Especially when you're using some cheap, no name Chinese nib.
JonasHeineman
5987
May 7, 2015
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jonroHey @jonro -- That's a fair question: what's up with that is usually Allegory offers only the Medium nib if you order directly from the website. When talking to them about Massdrop, we conveyed that members expect to have a choice, and they were willing and able to make Fine and Broad nibs available.
However, because they are specially ordered for the group and change the manufacturing process, there is a real additional cost. I don't want you to think that we arbitrarily decided to add $20 and make an extra buck just because; in fact, we have not marked this up at all above the cost to the vendor.
Regarding the nibs, they are made in Germany by JoWo, an internationally-respected provider of nibs to many, many pen makers - some brands choose to 'whitelabel' these by engraving their own logo or name on them, and some don't. You can see in the photos the text "IRIDIUM POINT GERMANY" is engraved on the nib. To make sure this is clear, I've added that to the description.
Thanks for letting us know about your concerns, I hope I've addressed them adequately. We really appreciate questions and comments like this, so please never hesitate to chime in!
However, because they are specially ordered for the group and change the manufacturing process, there is a real additional cost. I don't want you to think that we arbitrarily decided to add $20 and make an extra buck just because; in fact, we have not marked this up at all above the cost to the vendor.
Regarding the nibs, they are made in Germany by JoWo, an internationally-respected provider of nibs to many, many pen makers - some brands choose to 'whitelabel' these by engraving their own logo or name on them, and some don't. You can see in the photos the text "IRIDIUM POINT GERMANY" is engraved on the nib. To make sure this is clear, I've added that to the description.
Thanks for letting us know about your concerns, I hope I've addressed them adequately. We really appreciate questions and comments like this, so please never hesitate to chime in!
Timmay
1
May 15, 2015
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JonasHeinemanN/M not worth the effort to explain how over prices this drop is. I will leave this part up for those who may be interested: , those nibs are probably Chinese made, in fact I am pretty sure they are. I have turned these pens before from the exact kits they use (12.95) and looked into this IPG thing and found that Chinese/India made clones have saturated pen turners kits.
AllegoryGoods
615
AllegoryGoods
May 17, 2015
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TimmayTimmay,
We have no problem being transparent about the fact that we use woodworking kits to make our pens, but I will say this. When you make a commitment to building a business around a craft like this, there are a number of other costs beyond those kits. As you know, the tools needed to do this work well aren't cheap, and that is just the beginning. Marketing costs, operating costs, the cost of sourcing the best woods with the best stories from all over the world.
We stand by our products with a lifetime replacement guarantee, which also has substantial costs. We work extremely hard to build partnerships like this one with Massdrop in order to get the word about this work. Those partners have costs to cover as well. We're doing this because we believe carrying something handmade can really have an impact on your day. So we have committed to take this farther than the average hobbyist woodworker because we are passionate about that impact. If you look up reviews of our pens on Amazon, you will see that our customers share that passion, and have found our support of our products to be unparalleled.
So yes, the process starts with woodworking kit that anyone can buy and make provided they have the right tools and expertise. But our work goes FAR beyond that $12.95. If you choose to become one of our customers, you'll feel that every time you work with us.
Chad
We have no problem being transparent about the fact that we use woodworking kits to make our pens, but I will say this. When you make a commitment to building a business around a craft like this, there are a number of other costs beyond those kits. As you know, the tools needed to do this work well aren't cheap, and that is just the beginning. Marketing costs, operating costs, the cost of sourcing the best woods with the best stories from all over the world.
We stand by our products with a lifetime replacement guarantee, which also has substantial costs. We work extremely hard to build partnerships like this one with Massdrop in order to get the word about this work. Those partners have costs to cover as well. We're doing this because we believe carrying something handmade can really have an impact on your day. So we have committed to take this farther than the average hobbyist woodworker because we are passionate about that impact. If you look up reviews of our pens on Amazon, you will see that our customers share that passion, and have found our support of our products to be unparalleled.
So yes, the process starts with woodworking kit that anyone can buy and make provided they have the right tools and expertise. But our work goes FAR beyond that $12.95. If you choose to become one of our customers, you'll feel that every time you work with us.
Chad
Timmay
1
Jun 1, 2015
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AllegoryGoodsYou missed my point. My post is mainly in reply to a member who asked why the additional nib was 20 dollars, and a Massdrop employee rambled on about how it was made by the gods, forged by the hands of Zues himself (stated is was German made and worth the 20 dollars) when in fact that little 20 dollar nib, costs more than the entire pen kit and is not in ANYWAY justified with a 20 dollar price tag.
amdee1979
233
Apr 4, 2016
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AllegoryGoodsI, for one, am ecstatic that companies like Allegory exist today and promote passion through their products. Who cares if these are pen kits. The majority of consumers lack the time/ability to create your beautiful designs, and we should sit back and enjoy the finer things in life. I look forward to becoming a customer and owning several of your pens.
On a side note, is it possible to forego the different nib size now, and purchase a separate nib directly from Allegory in the future? I can then swap it myself. Or is it best to order a custom nib size now because it should be installed by Allegory, perhaps for warranty purposes?
On a side note, is it possible to forego the different nib size now, and purchase a separate nib directly from Allegory in the future? I can then swap it myself. Or is it best to order a custom nib size now because it should be installed by Allegory, perhaps for warranty purposes?
AllegoryGoods
615
AllegoryGoods
Apr 4, 2016
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amdee1979Thank you for the kind words and your support! We do stock the different nib sizes so if you'd rather see how the stock one performs first that's just fine. The nibs aren't on our website so just email service@allegorygoods.com to set up the order. Thanks!
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