AIBU to think I will never get a refill for my (£620) pen?

[MelanieD29]

I have a few pens that I use, one of my favourite being my Chopard Brescia. The pen still sells on Chopard's website, but I am finding it hard to source refills for it.

www.chopard.com/en-gb/rollerball-pen/95013-0439.html

I'm in a bit of a panic now as I installed my last cartridge for it today. It writes lovely, but worried as have ran out of refills for it now. I normally use a Parker Duofold or Cross Townsend for day-to-day use, and my Brescia normally only comes out when signing important things (quite sentimental!).

Does anyone have ideas as to where I can source refills for the Brescia? I can't seem to see them for sale on Chopard's own website, and Selfridges didn't have any in stock when I visited recently.

I don't care.

And yet here you are, bleating on about it.

I think the cost/worth is important. If it was a £20 parker, she would get "Just buy a new pen" in response.

But the fact that it was so expensive shows why its more important to get refills, because its such a huge waste to have it sitting in a drawer doing nothing.

I won some money on the lottery about 15 years ago. Not loads, a few hundred, and instead of it going into the shopping budget or uniforms for school as every other penny I had usually did, I treated myself to a KitchenAid. If the blade broke and I couldnt get a replacement I would be gutted. Not only would I not be able to use something I use a lot and love using, but it would be a massive waste of the £450 I spent on the mixer in the first place.

I know a lot would say "Why spend that much on a mixer whena £50 one would do just as well?" but I wanted it and it made me happy. So hell yes I would say "Where can I get a new blade for my KitchenAid" knowing full well that everyone knows how much they cost.

That's what I'm wondering. If it's the same refills on both brands/ models do both therefore write the same or if the pen itself makes any difference. The reviews on the Amazon link someone posted above say that the refills this pen takes also fit a basic Parker.
I'm a leftie with terrible writing. I struggle with a biro but my writing is fractionally less shit with something like a uniball, because it glides better when the pen is being pushed. But to me the flow comes from the kind of ink and how that ink hits the page, more than the body of the pen. That's why I'm curious if the fancy pen body really makes that much difference or if it's just a nice status symbol (which there's nothing wrong with - if you have the money to spend on lovely fripperies that make you happy then do it!).

So what, are you suggesting that people who have money shouldn't post on AIBU? As that is where you're going down this line. Or do they need to be overly sensitive with their wording just not to offend those without? Wow, I am a terrible person as I have more than one pen and have "established myself as a true collector" hahaha!!

I am a bit stunned that the price of the pen had to be noted by the OP in her title, I mean why?

The tone deafness is real, many many people are really struggling financially and yet here we have the biggest first world problem I've heard in a while - a simple Google or phone call would have sorted out the refill problem.

Kindly, read the room

There are loads of threads all across Mumsnet on expensive houses, handbags, clothes, jewellery, phones all sorts. If the price triggers you, op put the price in the title, so no need to open the thread.

I want nice pens now

Why not?

People who are offended by OP could indeed read the room and not click on a thread they’re going to get upset at.

Mumsnet isn’t a single room tailored to suit the sensibilities of those struggling financially. It’s open to those from all walks of life, including the wealthy.

I think you have lovely handwriting, OP.

Of course I'm not saying that. Plenty of people with money on this forum and good luck to us all with whatever luxury goods floats our boats!

I'm suggesting that you do your bloody homework and know the score about refills and spare parts! Boasting I can cope with, ignorance does my head in!

I see nothing wrong with the handwriting either! It’s a lovely pen too. I’m not a collector, but my husband likes a nice pen and because of this thread I’ve bookmarked the Chopard. So thank you, OP!

Sorry tried to reply you without QT but don't know how.
This is the OPs picture.I think most of us are using terrible cheap pens and it does make a difference using a good pen for writing. I also have bad writing but have used good pens and it's makes a difference.

The nib is really important

I can legit buy a 10 pack of bics and have lost them all by the end of the day. I am definitely not grown up enough for a £620 pen and never will be

There are forums for fountain pen aficionados on Reddit and elsewhere. It’s more likely that you should be able to find help on one of them than on mumsnet. You might be able to get a refillable converter for your pen so you could just refill with the ink of your choice.

I think it's a cracking exclamation mark tbf.

O come on, it's hardly unbelievable, it's a luxury pen and not even the most expensive.

Many many people on here and in the country aren't struggling financially in the slightest and enjoy spending their money on luxury cars, handbags, watches, pens etc and why shouldn't they.

Plenty of people are always posting on style and beauty about their handbags costing thousands, trousers and shirts costing 3 or 4 hundred each, perfumes costing several hundreds. A 600 quid pen will outlast all of that stuff. Writing with a high quality pen is a real joy.

Which goes back to what I was pondering. If the nib is part of the refill and the refill also fits a regular Parker pen, is there something beyond that that makes the Chopard worth so much more. To my thinking the type of ink, how it flows through to the nib and how the nib moves over the paper where the practical value of a pen is, whether it's a mega bucks one or a pleasing but also pretty cheap Muji one
If it doesn't and the answer is just nah I like having a fancy pen then I get that - I'm like that more with accessories than something like pens but I absolutely get it. I'm just curious if there is something about the body of the pen that adds practical value.

Hahaha you need to see the way I scrolled down to the comments 😂

Because it's plain ignorance, that's why

Of course all people from all walks of life are here, I didn't say there was anything wrong with that did I? Putting the price in the title screams 'look at me and all my money' and makes people click on it because it's absurd

I don't really get jealous of rich people. But it makes me want to be rich too

Then don’t click on it. It really isn’t that difficult.

and no, it doesn’t ‘make’ people do anything. You choose to click on it knowing you’ll be pissed off. An entirely self inflicted injury, that.

My immediate thought too! 😁
I mean, I love stationery. Pens, notebooks etc.
620 quid though on a pen?!
<faints>

Thank you OP, as a result of this thread I've discovered the website Cult Pens, I'm in absolute heaven, every pen imaginable.
And for people who think 600 quid is a lot for a pen, take a look at what you can pay on there, absolutely loads at 8 or 9 hundred and of course the fabulous Mont Blanc which cost thousands.