So DH announced he wants a Mont Blanc ballpoint pen for Christmas....

[handsfree]

Well, they cost a little bit more than a bic!!

Does anyone have any suggestions of how I might be able to obtain one at a slightly more bargainous rate?

Stay legit - Ali Express sell Mont Blanc . . .

Hmmm... There is nothing wrong with getting an expensive pen per se. It also depends on your relative Christmas spend and overall family budget etc. I have some moderately well off acquaintances who have a montblanc wallet + ball pen + fountain pen etc no big deal. I also know someone who researched it in great detail and picked a particular fountain pen with a certain weight and treasures it.

Buying a ballpoint mildly suggests he's doing it for the brand value or for showing off rather than for the product per se. Nothing wrong with that if you have the cash to splash, but otherwise I'd gently suggest a quirkier (less expensive) writing implement. (Loads of suggestions above).

I do find these threads interesting seeing those who dont like other peoples expensive or non-essential likes. As if one person has the right to make a moral judgement in that way.

He definitely needs to try the pen out before buying.

Buying a ballpoint mildly suggests he's doing it for the brand value or for showing off rather than for the product per se

Agreed.

Tell him Mont Blanca are a bit of a footballer wives' equivalent of all flash and no substance and convince him since it's just a ripped off brand, half of the population will think it's a fake off eBay or from Dubai anyway.

Then look at more reputable brands at the Pen Company or Selfridges. Selfridges have 20% off during Black Friday in November and last year that included their pens

Maybe it was the way I phrased the title....
We’ve been asking each other for days what the other would like for Christmas so it’s not like he’s sat there demanding I buy him an expensive gift out of the blue.
He does like nice things, because he really appreciates quality workmanship, and on a normal Christmas we probably spend £5-600 on each other so it’s not like it’s completely out there as a gift idea. No way would I be buying the more expensive ones, I also had a google which brought up some of the limited edition ones that sell for £30k + ....now that’s truly crazy!!

Blanc.

Though I love the autocorrect to Blanca :-)

Oh also I should add he’s a lefty - hence no fountain pens!!

Yup in that case I'd take him to the store and get him to try it out. DH and I both have montblancs, but very different ones given our writing styles! (They were wedding presents in our case). At least some of the fun is in going to the store and trying out different pens etc!

I do think they make excellent pens though - not sure I'd call them the wags of writing implements :)

I have one I got from DH as a present. I absolutely love it and treasure it.

He has 2, one of which he’s owned for 20 years and thinks brings him luck at work. To me it’s only like having a nice handbag or some Louboutins. If you can afford it and he would like one, go for it.

I would avoid eBay for something like this, there are a lot of fakes around. Also as it’s a present I wouldn’t buy second hand, that’s just my opinion though.

So... I've just had to Google a pen that costs over £500 and now I'm sulking because i really want one and cant afford one. 😢 anyone fancy a kidney? 😂

I would go to a shop to buy it instead of online, then atleast you can see it and try it and know its genuine before you part with the cash. 😃

I have a Mont Blanc ballpoint - it's very beautiful with pearl and platinum fittings but I prefer fountain pens so rarely use it! It was a present from a previous boss.

I definitely second looking at auction (not eBay!) - try the saleroom dot com, I've found some real bargains on there on the past.

My DH has a few- it is a standard city leaving gift.

He quite likes them but would prefer a fountain pen.

I wouldnt try and cut corners- get hims to try them out and then but the one that he likes.

There are a lot on eBay

My dad bought me one 25 odd years ago,I think it was for a birthday. I love nice pens

They're a bit naff. I worked in the city for years and they were incredibly popular.

I'd go for a make like Pelikan or Pilot.

DH is a lefty and always uses a fountain pen.

I’m a lefty and treated myself to a Mont Blanc fountain pen a few months ago (entry level price!). It writes very well so you could consider one.

You've got to get the right nib for your handwriting though. Ink cartridges for roller balls can be pricey depending on make.

If you have Tesco Clubcard points you can use them at Goldsmiths.

I received one for my 18th birthday which I didn’t appreciate all that much back then. That was 25 yrs ago and I still own it/use it today. It was more like £100 for a Classic ballpoint back then. I appreciate it much more now after reading this thread and discovering they cost over 3 times that now! Unfavourable exchange rate won’t help.

Luxury goods like Mulberry handbags and Mont Blanc pens - definitely cheaper at duty free or the Selfridges 20% off weekend before Christmas.

It's the Black Friday weekend - last in November, not the weekend before xmas.

I got DH thisone couple of years back. It's heavier than a Mont Blanc and felt more masculine. The salesperson said it was a very popular make especially with men and I liked it because it didn't feel plasticky in your hand. I did see them elsewhere online for cheaper but decided it get it during the 20% sale and try it out in person.

Cult pens www.cultpens.com has a fab variety of pens of all sorts. Definitely not the same price range but I like the weighty cleo messograf for a £20 ish interesting gift. It's solid brass and nicely machined.

Yep, Cult pens, or as it's known by my dh - Crack pens.

You get left handed nibs if you're a lefty - I'm a lefty & we used to have to use fountain pens at school (junior school that is! )