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Thread: Heritage ain't what it used to be

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    Default Heritage ain't what it used to be

    From the Sheaffer website.



    Ten whole years? Surely no pen company could be that old ...

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    Senior Member Marsilius's Avatar
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    Default Re: Heritage ain't what it used to be

    Ouch?
    Fortibus es in ero

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    Senior Member penwash's Avatar
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    Default Re: Heritage ain't what it used to be

    Sounds like the product of a marketing agency who didn't bother to research the brand they are hired to promote.

    Now that, is surprising!
    - Will
    Unique and restored vintage pens: Redeem Pens

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    Default Re: Heritage ain't what it used to be

    An honest typo, I think, but it tickled me.

    To be fair, their history/about page looks pretty detailed and accurate.

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    Senior Member Sammyo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Heritage ain't what it used to be

    "For over 100 years"??? surely!
    This is ridiculous... 10 years under new management?

    The "Our Story" page definitely says "In 1912, Walter A. Sheaffer, dedicated his life savings to his idea of a pen-filling apparatus that initiates a lever system."
    Sam O

    "A fountain pen with a bad nib is like a Ferrari with a flat tyre..." - Brian Gray, Edison pens

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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: Heritage ain't what it used to be

    I want to slap someone. Hard.

    And I'm going to contact them.

    ***

    ETA: I just did. Here is the text of my email:




    To Whom It May Concern,

    As a life-long user of Sheaffer writing instruments, I was horrified when someone brought to my attention a particularly egregious typographic error in your "RESPECT THE PAST" banner on the home page. Fortunately, mistakes of this nature are easily corrected on a web page, not so much in print.

    Please show the true "heritage" of the Sheaffer brand by correcting the text to indicate "For over 100 years..." (not 10). It would be a travesty of high order for this erroneous copy to stand for a moment longer. This is a great brand and product, one that I hope will see a resurgence. I would love to purchase a new Sheaffer that I could be as proud of as I am of some of them that I own - and use! - that are near to that 100 year mark. I am attaching a photograph of one of my pens: a Sheaffer 8C from roughly 1926 that is still in daily use. You can see the quality of this pen simply by looking at it, which I consider a remarkably high bar to match.

    Thank you for your attention to this most important detail.

    With sincere regards,
    Jonathan Szanto
    San Diego, CA
    Last edited by Jon Szanto; December 11th, 2017 at 08:59 PM.
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Senior Member VertOlive's Avatar
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    Default Re: Heritage ain't what it used to be

    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Szanto View Post
    I want to slap someone. Hard.

    And I'm going to contact them.

    ***

    ETA: I just did. Here is the text of my email:




    To Whom It May Concern,

    As a life-long user of Sheaffer writing instruments, I was horrified when someone brought to my attention a particularly egregious typographic error in your "RESPECT THE PAST" banner on the home page. Fortunately, mistakes of this nature are easily corrected on a web page, not so much in print.

    Please show the true "heritage" of the Sheaffer brand by correcting the text to indicate "For over 100 years..." (not 10). It would be a travesty of high order for this erroneous copy to stand for a moment longer. This is a great brand and product, one that I hope will see a resurgence. I would love to purchase a new Sheaffer that I could be as proud of as I am of some of them that I own - and use! - that are near to that 100 year mark. I am attaching a photograph of one of my pens: a Sheaffer 8C from roughly 1926 that is still in daily use. You can see the quality of this pen simply by looking at it, which I consider a remarkably high bar to match.

    Thank you for your attention to this most important detail.

    With sincere regards,
    Jonathan Szanto
    San Diego, CA
    Boom!
    "Nolo esse salus sine vobis ...” —St. Augustine

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    Senior Member SIR's Avatar
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    Cool Re: Heritage ain't what it used to be

    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Szanto View Post
    egregious
    Good word!!

    Also, may we see a photo of the 8C to which you refer?

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    Default Re: Heritage ain't what it used to be

    Quote Originally Posted by SIR View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Szanto View Post
    egregious
    Good word!!

    Also, may we see a photo of the 8C to which you refer?
    I was going to ask the same thing.

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    Senior Member AzJon's Avatar
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    Default Re: Heritage ain't what it used to be

    Quote Originally Posted by RocketRyan View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by SIR View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Szanto View Post
    egregious
    Good word!!

    Also, may we see a photo of the 8C to which you refer?
    I was going to ask the same thing.
    Yeah, come on, Jon. You can't allude to something like that without flashing us the goods!

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    Senior Member penwash's Avatar
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    Default Re: Heritage ain't what it used to be

    Which email did you sent that to, Jon?
    - Will
    Unique and restored vintage pens: Redeem Pens

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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: Heritage ain't what it used to be

    Quote Originally Posted by penwash View Post
    Which email did you send that to, Jon?
    Consumer Relations: consumerre@cross.com

    Quote Originally Posted by SIR View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Szanto View Post
    egregious
    Good word!!

    Also, may we see a photo of the 8C to which you refer?
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Default Re: Heritage ain't what it used to be

    That's wholly unlike recent Sheaffers that have come my way!
    Regards,
    Deb
    My Blog

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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: Heritage ain't what it used to be

    Quote Originally Posted by Deb View Post
    That's wholly unlike recent Sheaffers that have come my way!
    I could have just as easily posted a number of my favorite Targas that only date back to the late 70's and 80's. Still quality-made and stylish pens. The drop in those aspects of production was fairly quick, all things told.
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Default Re: Heritage ain't what it used to be

    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Szanto View Post

    Consumer Relations: consumerre@cross.com

    Quote Originally Posted by SIR View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Szanto View Post
    egregious
    Good word!!

    Also, may we see a photo of the 8C to which you refer?
    Just beautiful, Jon.

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    Default Re: Heritage ain't what it used to be

    Looks mint.

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    Default Re: Heritage ain't what it used to be

    Give them a break! A 105 year-old is over 10 - waaay over.

    It's funny that the emphasized statement "Respect the Past" is immediately followed by text that quantifies how unaware they are of their own.

    A delightful little Freudian Slip that echos my feelings regarding the modern Sheaffer. Go Vintage!



    Bob

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    Default Re: Heritage ain't what it used to be

    The site is fixed. Well done, Jon.


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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: Heritage ain't what it used to be

    Quote Originally Posted by catbert View Post
    The site is fixed. Well done, Jon.
    Haha! Excellent! (though they never replied...) We can never know, it might have been a dozen people writing to them. I'm just happy it's fixed.

    Last edited by Jon Szanto; December 13th, 2017 at 05:56 PM.
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Default Re: Heritage ain't what it used to be

    Jon,

    You sent them an email?

    BetterThanEmail_Stamp4-624x495.jpg

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