Where to buy Pilot pens from Japan?

[C40]

Hello folks. I've been wanting a translucent Custom 823 for quite a while now. I have a wonderful 823 in Amber with a fine nib, and I'd like to get a translucent 823 and make the nib into an italic.

I believe you used to be able to buy them at a pretty good price on Engeika, but it appears they no longer sell Pilot pens. Are there places one can currently buy them at a good price?

[Brilliant Bill]

I don't think so.

I've been looking for a second one, no luck. This evening I don't see a single clear one listed on ebay. Only clear smoke or clear amber. Prices run $230 to $300. Domestic (US) sellers have only clear amber at $288. Given what that pen is I believe $288 is a good price, worth it. However, I'd love to be able to get a clear smoke version. Pilot USA -- can you hear me now???

[TSherbs]

Can you help me understand how an 823 is worth over twice the price of the 74-91-92 offerings? I love my 74 (SFM), but I don't see what these slightly larger pens offer other than slightly-largerness.

[Brilliant Bill]

There's a chance I could help you understand if you came to my house and wrote with the 823. It's the only pen I have that I put in the same class with my full size Sailor King of Pen, and the KOP is more than twice the price of the 823. They just seem to ooze perfection. I've got a Pilot 912 and a 92. Both are great pens, and I love using them. However, they are not in the same league with the 823. Anyway, that's my experience.




Can you help me understand how an 823 is worth over twice the price of the 74-91-92 offerings? I love my 74 (SFM), but I don't see what these slightly larger pens offer other than slightly-largerness.

[TSherbs]

There's a chance I could help you understand if you came to my house and wrote with the 823. It's the only pen I have that I put in the same class with my full size Sailor King of Pen, and the KOP is more than twice the price of the 823. They just seem to ooze perfection. I've got a Pilot 912 and a 92. Both are great pens, and I love using them. However, they are not in the same league with the 823. Anyway, that's my experience.




Can you help me understand how an 823 is worth over twice the price of the 74-91-92 offerings? I love my 74 (SFM), but I don't see what these slightly larger pens offer other than slightly-largerness.

ha, cool

but a pen isn't s'posed to ooze anything :p

[Dragonmaster Lou]

Can you help me understand how an 823 is worth over twice the price of the 74-91-92 offerings? I love my 74 (SFM), but I don't see what these slightly larger pens offer other than slightly-largerness.

The vacuum filling system might also be part of it.

[dfo]

Can you help me understand how an 823 is worth over twice the price of the 74-91-92 offerings? I love my 74 (SFM), but I don't see what these slightly larger pens offer other than slightly-largerness.

More gold in nib (size 5 vs size 15) and filling mechanism.

[SIR]

Hello folks. I've been wanting a translucent Custom 823 for quite a while now. I have a wonderful 823 in Amber with a fine nib, and I'd like to get a translucent 823 and make the nib into an italic. Are there places one can currently buy them at a good price?

Tokyo Quill?

http://www.japanshop-quill.com/

[Brilliant Bill]

$300.



Hello folks. I've been wanting a translucent Custom 823 for quite a while now. I have a wonderful 823 in Amber with a fine nib, and I'd like to get a translucent 823 and make the nib into an italic. Are there places one can currently buy them at a good price?

Tokyo Quill?

http://www.japanshop-quill.com/

[Brilliant Bill]

I consider this spam.



Have you tried White Rabbit Express? Definitely the easiest way to get pens directly from Japan http://bit.ly/20WuUG2

[grainweevil]

I consider this spam.



Have you tried White Rabbit Express? Definitely the easiest way to get pens directly from Japan http://bit.ly/20WuUG2

In this context alone, so might I. But in fairness I have read unsolicited recommendations for this outfit elsewhere. It probably depends on the rarity of the item desired; the more commonly available items may, once you factor in paying additional fees for a forwarding service such as WRE, be cheaper via Ebay or Amazon. In this case, perhaps not.

[Ahriman4891]

I think it was a joke about dean3's avatar :)

EDIT: maybe not, that's his first and only post.

[Cyril]

On the Ebay, I bought all of my pens at a reasonable value. Of course I had to pay import tax for every pen and the Item I ordered. But still it is worth.

[matteob]

J-Subculture offers a good choice, very reasonable prices and 100% genuine items. I am always wary of ebay for higher ticket items.

[hungrynerd]

amazon.co.jp will ship directly to the US, if it's sold by amazon. (Many pens are, so you might be able to find what you want.)
You can also try rakuten, and it just so happens that they're doing a free shipping promo until Feb for participating stores, including Nagasawa Kobe and Hogado Pen Gallery, if you buy over 12000 yen worth of goods. (global.rakuten.com/en/)

[Accord_Tiger]

http://www.asahiyakami.co.jp/shop/pilot_custom743/pilot_custom743.htm

Try the link above... there are also some really good pictures of Pilot's range of nibs. I know this link is to the 743 but thought I would share it for reference. They also have a 823 page.

[Accord_Tiger]

Here is the 823 page:

http://www.asahiyakami.co.jp/shop/pilot_custom823/pilot_custom823.htm

[aaronp]

Did you try gouletpens or nibs.com? I think they have a great selection of Japanese pens

[MaxG]

The 823 in smoke is available on US Amazon. I've been eyeing it for a while.

[eljefe145]

Hello folks. I've been wanting a translucent Custom 823 for quite a while now. I have a wonderful 823 in Amber with a fine nib, and I'd like to get a translucent 823 and make the nib into an italic.

I believe you used to be able to buy them at a pretty good price on Engeika, but it appears they no longer sell Pilot pens. Are there places one can currently buy them at a good price?

You can still buy Pilot pens from Engeika. I ordered one a couple days ago. He did not have exactly what I wanted in stock, but said he can get it directly from Pilot in 3 to 5 business days.

http://www.engeika.com/product-list/192

[stub]

Hello folks. I've been wanting a translucent Custom 823 for quite a while now. I have a wonderful 823 in Amber with a fine nib, and I'd like to get a translucent 823 and make the nib into an italic.

A Japanese F nib made into an italic is not worth the trouble imo. You barely see the line varying and the pen would be paper grabby and have a small sweet spot. .01x prettier line. 100X harder to use. Western F italic nibs are already much wider than what you would see by turning a Japanese B into an italic. I have Italic sets from Pelikan and Sheaffer and the F italic there is already wider than the B Jowo nibs turned into Italics I have from named grinders. I have a Broad Italic (Masutama grind, pretty sharp, he even grinds dow the top of the nib) in my hand and the F italic from my Sheaffer is actual a touch wider.

YMMV but a Japanese F turning into an italic is just folly imo.

[aaronp]

Hello folks. I've been wanting a translucent Custom 823 for quite a while now. I have a wonderful 823 in Amber with a fine nib, and I'd like to get a translucent 823 and make the nib into an italic.

I believe you used to be able to buy them at a pretty good price on Engeika, but it appears they no longer sell Pilot pens. Are there places one can currently buy them at a good price?

You can still buy Pilot pens from Engeika. I ordered one a couple days ago. He did not have exactly what I wanted in stock, but said he can get it directly from Pilot in 3 to 5 business days.

http://www.engeika.com/product-list/192

Have you bought from Gouletpens before? How do they compare? Stock, service quality and so on

[now]

I highly suggest the Tokyo Pen Shop Quill. They only sell Pilot, but can get items that are not available outside of Japan. They are very friendly and the packaging is superb. It generally takes a while to get items from them, but it is very worth the wait.
http://www.japanshop-quill.com

[leek]

I bought mine from Morita in Osaka:
http://www.morita.ne.jp/products/list.php?category_id=3427
They do not ship outside Japan, and I got mine when a family member went to the store while she was visiting Osaka. It took some effort, but (for me at least) worth the effort. Beware they only accept cash in the store. I think they do mail order, but in Japan only, so this may not help you.

[eljefe145]

Hello folks. I've been wanting a translucent Custom 823 for quite a while now. I have a wonderful 823 in Amber with a fine nib, and I'd like to get a translucent 823 and make the nib into an italic.

I believe you used to be able to buy them at a pretty good price on Engeika, but it appears they no longer sell Pilot pens. Are there places one can currently buy them at a good price?

You can still buy Pilot pens from Engeika. I ordered one a couple days ago. He did not have exactly what I wanted in stock, but said he can get it directly from Pilot in 3 to 5 business days.

http://www.engeika.com/product-list/192

Have you bought from Gouletpens before? How do they compare? Stock, service quality and so on

I have purchased quite a few things from Goulet Pens. They have a great selection of pens, ink and paper. What sets them apart, though, is their customer service. It is top notch.

From Engeika, they were very responsive to my questions. Keep in mind the 13 hour time difference. I was very focused on my purchase, but overall Engeika has fewer items to choose from compared to Goulet or Jetpens. The reason you are going to Engeika is to buy a model of Sailor, Platinum or Pilot that you cannot get in your location or to save a large amount of money compared to the local price. Shipping was, knock on wood, reasonably priced and much faster than I expected. I ordered the Pilot CH92 on May 8 and had pen in hand on May 24. I don't plan on buying any new pens for awhile, but if the situation calls for it I would use Engeika without hesitation.

I have no affiliation with any of sellers mentioned in this post.