Nakaya Struggles to Meet Demand

[whichwatch]

Apparently Nakaya has continued to struggle to meet their demand and last week announced the latest in a series of actions.

In April, their website carried this announcement:

All midori-tamenuri are temporarily unavailable.

Because it is getting difficult to keep the quality of midori-tamenuri, we need to find the way to resume production.
Thank you for your understanding.

In May, the next action was taken:

All Decapod models are temporarily unavailable.

Because it is impossible to keep the quantities of barrel with enough quality, we need to stop taking orders. We are trying to find the way to resume production now.
Thank you for your understanding.



And now, last week came the next step:

All Dorsal Fin version2 models are temporarily unavailable.

Because a lot of orders are coming in for the model, it is impossible to keep up with production. So we decided to stop taking order for a while.
Thank you for your understanding.



Nakaya never seems to say just how long these actions will last. I remember them suspending Dorsal Fins once before, and I think that lasted well over a year or maybe even two, but can’t remember for sure. I think this is the first time for Decapods.

[InkyAccountant]

Ordered my DorsalFinV2 in Midori in February or March just before they cutoff production. Very pleased with it. Hopefully they resume production on the V2 again soon, it's already one of my favorites.

[Jon Szanto]

Pen Aficionado Jon Struggles to Meet Mortgage.




Hehe... thanks, Rick, for this update. I view this in the same way that I view all of the places around the world that have become inundated with tourists, taking selfies and then leaving the place in shambles. Success - or, rather, notoriety and "influencer" stuff - can be difficult and destructive. I wish these artisans the very best.

[Miss Fountain Pen]

I haven't posted here in, oh, forever, mostly because I haven't been buying any pens. However, I just placed an order with nibs.com for a Nakaya pen that I'd been lusting after for years. They're supposed to receive the pen from Nakaya soon (according to their e-mail newsletter), but the nib that I ordered is out of sock and "back-ordered." Does anyone know how long these back-ordered nibs take to arrive? I e-mailed nibs.com about it, but I haven't heard back from them yet. (I only e-mailed them a few hours ago, so I may get an answer within a few days, though Internet tells me their customer service isn't what it used to be...)

[724Seney]

I haven't posted here in, oh, forever, mostly because I haven't been buying any pens. However, I just placed an order with nibs.com for a Nakaya pen that I'd been lusting after for years. They're supposed to receive the pen from Nakaya soon (according to their e-mail newsletter), but the nib that I ordered is out of sock and "back-ordered." Does anyone know how long these back-ordered nibs take to arrive? I e-mailed nibs.com about it, but I haven't heard back from them yet. (I only e-mailed them a few hours ago, so I may get an answer within a few days, though Internet tells me their customer service isn't what it used to be...)

The only thing that is the same as "what it used to be" is the name.
Good luck; hope this all works out well for you!

[Miss Fountain Pen]

I haven't posted here in, oh, forever, mostly because I haven't been buying any pens. However, I just placed an order with nibs.com for a Nakaya pen that I'd been lusting after for years. They're supposed to receive the pen from Nakaya soon (according to their e-mail newsletter), but the nib that I ordered is out of sock and "back-ordered." Does anyone know how long these back-ordered nibs take to arrive? I e-mailed nibs.com about it, but I haven't heard back from them yet. (I only e-mailed them a few hours ago, so I may get an answer within a few days, though Internet tells me their customer service isn't what it used to be...)

The only thing that is the same as "what it used to be" is the name.
Good luck; hope this all works out well for you!

That doesn't sound good... I had excellent experience with them back in the day, so I didn't think twice about the vendor before ordering. (Also, it's a Naka-ai, which as far as I know can only be obtained from nibs.com.) But then after I placed my order, I did some googling and saw all the complaints. Yikes. So, hopefully it all works out. Still, does anyone have any idea about the back-ordered nibs? It seems like it shouldn't take as long as a whole back-ordered pen, but maybe I'm wrong about that one.

[724Seney]

I haven't posted here in, oh, forever, mostly because I haven't been buying any pens. However, I just placed an order with nibs.com for a Nakaya pen that I'd been lusting after for years. They're supposed to receive the pen from Nakaya soon (according to their e-mail newsletter), but the nib that I ordered is out of sock and "back-ordered." Does anyone know how long these back-ordered nibs take to arrive? I e-mailed nibs.com about it, but I haven't heard back from them yet. (I only e-mailed them a few hours ago, so I may get an answer within a few days, though Internet tells me their customer service isn't what it used to be...)

The only thing that is the same as "what it used to be" is the name.
Good luck; hope this all works out well for you!

That doesn't sound good... I had excellent experience with them back in the day, so I didn't think twice about the vendor before ordering. (Also, it's a Naka-ai, which as far as I know can only be obtained from nibs.com.) But then after I placed my order, I did some googling and saw all the complaints. Yikes. So, hopefully it all works out. Still, does anyone have any idea about the back-ordered nibs? It seems like it shouldn't take as long as a whole back-ordered pen, but maybe I'm wrong about that one.

Our (FPG) local Nakaya expert is "whichwatch".
Why not PM him and see what he has to say.

[Lloyd]

Whichwatch may have what you're looking for... he's got quite a few

Typos courtesy of Samsung Auto-Incorrect™

[whichwatch]

Whichwatch may have what you're looking for... he's got quite a few

Only about 120 or 130 at last count. I think I may be a Nakaholic?

[Wile E Coyote]

Only about 120 or 130 at last count. I think I may be a Nakaholic?

Thank you, I now have something for my SO.

[Miss Fountain Pen]

Whichwatch may have what you're looking for... he's got quite a few

Only about 120 or 130 at last count. I think I may be a Nakaholic?

Maybe you are the reason that Nakaya is struggling to meet demand!

[Jon Szanto]

Whichwatch may have what you're looking for... he's got quite a few

Only about 120 or 130 at last count. I think I may be a Nakaholic?

Maybe you are the reason that Nakaya is struggling to meet demand!

You win the internet today!

[AlohaPens]

I recently ordered a Dorsal Fin v1 directly from Nakaya. They originally quoted me 3 months, but later came back saying 9 months for my chosen finish (toki-tamenuri), but a few finishes were available in three months if I changed. I decided to stick with the toki-tamenuri, so am just going to wait....

[Motomachi10]

Nakaya has achieved a level of demand that will require an expansion of their factory. The brand began as a small activity for retired workers of the Platinum Company, now Nakaya is one of the most respected names in Urishi and and Maki-e pens.

[shikitohno]

Even if they could expand the factory, it's not going to matter too much if they can't keep up in terms of the raw materials they need or the availability of the craftsmen to produce their products at the standard they want to maintain. It can be frustrating, but I would rather they temporarily cease offering a particular product than to compromise their quality to keep up with the demand for it, myself. There's still plenty of awesome Nakayas for me to keep my eyes on in the meantime.

[Miss Fountain Pen]

I haven't posted here in, oh, forever, mostly because I haven't been buying any pens. However, I just placed an order with nibs.com for a Nakaya pen that I'd been lusting after for years. They're supposed to receive the pen from Nakaya soon (according to their e-mail newsletter), but the nib that I ordered is out of sock and "back-ordered." Does anyone know how long these back-ordered nibs take to arrive? I e-mailed nibs.com about it, but I haven't heard back from them yet. (I only e-mailed them a few hours ago, so I may get an answer within a few days, though Internet tells me their customer service isn't what it used to be...)

A small update. They sent the pen to me. That's the good news. The bad news is that UPS tracking says "Return to Sender Requested." Tracking also says that they contacted me about clearance, but of course they didn't. I understand that UPS is one of the more reliable mail carriers in the United States (which is why they use it), but over here in Europe, I've had only bad experience with them. And no, of course you cannot call them: the robot just sends you around in circles. I sent an e-mail both to UPS and to nibs.com. We'll see if I ever get the pen... In any case: there's a warning to any Europeans out there.

Update: UPS replied essentially immediately (within 30 min). There's a nice surprise! They say that the sender didn't give them my contact information (phone/e-mail, I suppose, since the physical address is there), and that they'd contact me about it. Well... Fingers crossed. I'm not sure if Nibs.com or UPS is to blame. I just hope I get my pen! In any case, when I last ordered from Nibs.com (years ago, back when Mottishaw was still in charge), they used USPS, they included a neat piece of paper for the customs, and everything went smoothly. This time? Ugh.

[junglejim]

Congrats so far. Sounds like the UPS Customs clearance wants to discuss VAT payments in order to release your package and needed your email/phone number for the payment to be made before release.

Good-luck and hope the Nakaya arrives soon!

[Miss Fountain Pen]

Congrats so far. Sounds like the UPS Customs clearance wants to discuss VAT payments in order to release your package and needed your email/phone number for the payment to be made before release.

Yes, exactly. The thing I don't get is (a) why Nibs.com didn't provide this information (I did, of course, provide it when I placed my order), and (b) why UPS even accepted the package with incomplete information. Just think how dumb this is. They shipped a package across an *ocean*, only to discover they weren't able to deliver due to incomplete info. How about checking this before shipping the package long distance? Anyway, fingers crossed!

Good-luck and hope the Nakaya arrives soon!

Thanks.

[724Seney]

Yes, exactly. The thing I don't get is (a) why Nibs.com didn't provide this information (I did, of course, provide it when I placed my order), and (b) why UPS even accepted the package with incomplete information. Just think how dumb this is. They shipped a package across an *ocean*, only to discover they weren't able to deliver due to incomplete info. How about checking this before shipping the package long distance? Anyway, fingers crossed!

Go back to your earlier post (#6)
If you did sufficient due diligence back then, you should have a good sense for your "Thing I don't get is" in so far as (a) is concerned.
I hope all works out well for you in the end!! Good luck!!

[Miss Fountain Pen]

Yes, exactly. The thing I don't get is (a) why Nibs.com didn't provide this information (I did, of course, provide it when I placed my order), and (b) why UPS even accepted the package with incomplete information. Just think how dumb this is. They shipped a package across an *ocean*, only to discover they weren't able to deliver due to incomplete info. How about checking this before shipping the package long distance? Anyway, fingers crossed!

Go back to your earlier post (#6)
If you did sufficient due diligence back then, you should have a good sense for your "Thing I don't get is" in so far as (a) is concerned.
I hope all works out well for you in the end!! Good luck!!

Well... At this point, it's unclear whose fault this was. Nibs.com wrote back and said they'd contact UPS. Apparently, other customers have had similar problems lately. (Heh. Maybe they should reconsider their carrier. There's no reason why they couldn't use UPS for domestic orders - since it seems to work well enough in the US - and something else, such as the good ol' USPS, for international orders. At least European ones. I don't know what happens if you ship to Tanzania or what have you.) Now waiting for UPS to contact me about customs. Fingers crossed...

And in any case, the pen I ordered is a Naka-ai, which you can only get from Nibs.com.