My Mama Told Me: You better shop around!

By On · 26 Comments · In Price Check

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When my seven year old announced that he wanted his very own fountain pen, part of me celebrated his growing interest. A larger part of me, however, delighted in the knowledge that he might soon stop borrowing my pens.

We decided on a color—blue—and I suggested a Lamy Safari and some light blue ink. Then mommy went shopping!

Here’s what I found:

Price Check Lamy Safari

 

Additional US Shipping Info:
Jet Pens offers free shipping on orders of $25 or more.
Goldspot offers free shipping on orders of $99 or more if you enter a coupon code.
Goulet Pens offers free shipping on orders of $100 or more (offer valid through July 31st).

Both Goldspot and Writer’s Bloc required that I enter all of my information (name, address, phone, email and payment data) before showing me shipping options and costs. I don’t like that. I should be able to select my items and provide only my ZIP Code to review shipping fees. If I like what I see, I’ll continue the checkout process.

Links:
Goldspot Luxury Gifts
Goulet Pen Company
iSellPens
Jet Pens
Writer’s Bloc

Shopping Cart Screenshots:

Garage SaleMarcia Green lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three children—all boys.  She is a Stay at Home Mom (Domestic Engineer), an unequivocal Fountain Pen Geek, and a devout Coupon Clipper. Her entire household can be found at most any neighborhood garage sale every Sunday.

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  • Doug Cooper

    Good job in doing the research Marcia, and kudos to FPGeeks for having the cojones to publish this.

  • writingrav

    Very important information. Thanks

  • hippity_zippity

    Nice article! It would also be good to see a comparison of shipping methods (for the given invoice) since this might account for some of the variation in cost.

    • http://fpgeeks.com/ Dan Smith

      If the retailer gives that information it’s shown in the shopping cart screenshots at the bottom of the post.

      • hippity_zippity

        *facepalm*

        So it is! Thanks.

  • Bluejay

    Great post! Finally a post that will hopefully make the companies more competitive!

  • Tamara

    Very interesting comparisons. I would add in the shipping/delivery time, as well. I’ve found the Goulets ship very faster, with JetPens pretty close behind them. The delivery time and method may account for some of the difference in shipping costs.

    • Tamara

      Ha! ‘very fast’ is what I meant to say ;)

      • http://fpgeeks.com/ Dan Smith

        You should be able to edit your original comment.

    • http://fpgeeks.com/ Dan Smith

      Are you talking about the actual shipping time which is dependent on the shipping method (USPS, UPS, etc.) or the processing time which is dependent on the retailer?

      If we’re talking about shipping time, Marcia did post screenshots of each retailers cart that includes the alternate shipping methods, estimated delivery times, and prices. As far as processing time by the retailer, it appears they give no indication of that on their websites.

  • DET

    Interesting analysis. Unfortunately, Jet Pens is not quite as big a bargain for those of us in California, as we have to pay (the rather high) sales tax at Jet Pens. That’s not Jet Pens’ fault, of course, but it’s a consideration nonetheless.

    • Lizandro

      Sales tax cannot be a consideration. Even if the retailer does not collect the sales tax, the California Franchise Tax board still expects you to file an annual form and pay the sales tax for purchases made out of state. This is true in every state. It’s the law. You’re not advocating the breaking of any law, right…

      • DET

        Oh, of course not. I carefully track all my online purchases each year and dutifully pay my California sales taxes, as required by law, just like every other California resident does.

  • Bart

    This might’ve been mentioned and I missed it, but just as a reminder, Goulet Pens offers a discount to Fountain Pen Network members.

    • Lizandro

      True, a 5% discount (on certain items) if you know the discount code. Using it on this order would have resulted in a discount of $2.14. The total would have been $45.51, still the second highest on the list.

      • MrsGouletPens

        To further clarify, our 5% discount is on all items in our store except the Ink Drop membership.

  • maiboo

    Nice, would love to see more of these. I don’t comparison shop as much as I should :/

  • Dgator

    Great post…Also consider return policies and if a seller tests the nib before shipping.

  • millicent

    Congrats on your “due diligence” :)

    I will say that I am baffled on your choice of the Lamy for his first pen. What made you choose it over the Pellikano Junior or the Faber Castell Student? The Junior was the first pen my best bud purchased when I introduced him to the pen universe. He liked the blue one and he bought me the green, He eventually graduated to the Lamy Joy calligraphy nibs, but that was over the course of months. Now he uses the bamboo pens he carves and the feather quills I cut.

    Just wondered, especially since these pens come in bright colors (yeah, I have all of them and the Lamys too).

    Cheers from Cowtown!

  • Maja

    Interesting article—thanks, Marcia! I live a few blocks from the U.S-Canada border and in Vancouver, the retail price of the Lamy Safari is over $40, so y’all are getting a great deal regardless of where you buy your pen ;)

  • Michel de Montreal

    Wait a minute!!! How come I get my comment removed when I mention better then retail suggested prices on certain pens, and then THIS???
    Just sayin’ ;) hihihihi

    • http://fpgeeks.com/ Dan Smith

      Michel, I wasn’t sure what you were talking about so I did a little investigating and it appears that the comment you were talking about, along with two others of yours, were in the spam folder. I went ahead and approved them even though the spam filter is usually pretty accurate. Ya know, cuz I’m like, just sayin’ ;-)

      • Michel de Montreal

        Dan, you ARE ZE MAN ;)

  • OcalaFlGuy

    + a brazillion to Marcia’s want of the Early shipping cost calculator. Not having such Can Be in itself a reason for me to go elsewhere.

  • Breck

    Excellent work Marcia, you’re my kind of shopper! I have to watch my dimes and nickels too.

  • Breck

    I would make this observation however regarding picking the Lamy Safari for your 7 yr. old. I am an adult but with small hands and the Safari was much too large for me to write with it comfortably. I wonder if a 7 yr. old child would be able to manage the Safari? I would have gone with something smaller and even less expensive. Why not one of the n-o-s Sheaffer Students? They are plentiful, I learned on one 40+ years ago and they are inexpensive too! Breck