ed4copies
Local Chapter Manager
Just got a call from someone's customer.
She said she has a fountain pen that "looks just like a Virage". So, she is calling ExoticBlanks because the nib on her fountain pen doesn't write very well.
I asked her if she had contacted the guy who sold her the pen and she said he knew nothing about nibs, he was "just a woodworker".
This got Dawn and I discussing what options the end user has. (She did place an order for two nibs and a converter--she plans to take out the existing nib and replace it herself) I don't know if she ACTUALLY has a virage, so I just told her that the nib and feed work together and they have to fit each other. She wanted to know if she could return the nib if it did not work, I told her we were here to help penmakers--we do not try to support end users.
The purpose of telling you all this is to warn you!! If your customer goes on-line because you tell them you CANNOT or WILL NOT support the pen they purchased from you---that customer will find Exotics. Which will tell them what you paid for all the parts you sold them, as a pen.
Protect your own best interest!!! Learn enough about pens to answer your customers' questions. In this case, have her send you the pen for an "upgrade". If you have the pen in your hands, you should know if a replacement nib will fit. If you are selling fountain pens YOU should know how to clean and replace the front end. You can easily watch YouTubes and learn all you need to know---as well as learning basic nib tuning.
THIS IS A REVENUE SOURCE FOR YOU!!!!
And it will enhance your image with your customer so they think of you as "Their pen guy" ------ NOT "Just a woodworker".
As an alternative, Exotics COULD offer basic nib tuning as a service for you, our customers. Send it to us, we will tune and bill (I'd guess about $50, including any parts we may need to change). You don't need me to do this---but do you WANT me to??
Input encouraged!!
Ed
She said she has a fountain pen that "looks just like a Virage". So, she is calling ExoticBlanks because the nib on her fountain pen doesn't write very well.
I asked her if she had contacted the guy who sold her the pen and she said he knew nothing about nibs, he was "just a woodworker".
This got Dawn and I discussing what options the end user has. (She did place an order for two nibs and a converter--she plans to take out the existing nib and replace it herself) I don't know if she ACTUALLY has a virage, so I just told her that the nib and feed work together and they have to fit each other. She wanted to know if she could return the nib if it did not work, I told her we were here to help penmakers--we do not try to support end users.
The purpose of telling you all this is to warn you!! If your customer goes on-line because you tell them you CANNOT or WILL NOT support the pen they purchased from you---that customer will find Exotics. Which will tell them what you paid for all the parts you sold them, as a pen.
Protect your own best interest!!! Learn enough about pens to answer your customers' questions. In this case, have her send you the pen for an "upgrade". If you have the pen in your hands, you should know if a replacement nib will fit. If you are selling fountain pens YOU should know how to clean and replace the front end. You can easily watch YouTubes and learn all you need to know---as well as learning basic nib tuning.
THIS IS A REVENUE SOURCE FOR YOU!!!!
And it will enhance your image with your customer so they think of you as "Their pen guy" ------ NOT "Just a woodworker".
As an alternative, Exotics COULD offer basic nib tuning as a service for you, our customers. Send it to us, we will tune and bill (I'd guess about $50, including any parts we may need to change). You don't need me to do this---but do you WANT me to??
Input encouraged!!
Ed