Thread: What Do You THink, Poor Plating and/or Customer Abuse?

Looks like it has been through the wringer to me.

In one of the pics of the clip, there looks like what appears to be a bit of a gouge or heavy scratch on the end.

Would politely suggest that she keeps it in a soft pouch when she has it in her bag.

Tumbled with keys and coins and who knows what else in a ladies handbag ,not many kits would stand up in that environment ,men usually have a pocket so clips get a bit of a bashing even quality platings are only marginally better than the cheaper ones ,a matter of microns you could ask berea but I don't think you would get much satisfaction there either , a bit of a conundrum what to suggest ,but most times biting the bullet and replacing for a good customer may be the way to go , how has the cast plastic finish stood up is it also deteriorated to some extent ? It has to be a judgement thing so good luck with it . cheers ~ John

Originally Posted by gawdelpus

, a bit of a conundrum what to suggest ,but most times biting the bullet and replacing for a good customer may be the way to go

Looks to me like wear & tear/customer abuse is the cause here, but if as you say she is a good customer how about replacing it this one time while explaining how to look after it properly.

Looks like accelerated wear due to poor practice ( storing pen with coins etc in the bottom of handbag ).

If it were me, I would replace the hardware ( complete kit with original blank ) and hand back in a velvet drawstring bag, if it happened again it would be a different story.

I have done similar with 2 good customers so far, it paid off both times with continued sales to both of those customers.
One of them has bought in excess of 20 pens from me now. ( he still doesn't look after them though )

Edit;;- I would give the blank a cut and polish while it was off the hardware as well.

Hi Les well I am with all the others in saying that it is customer abuse not poor plating but if they are a great customer it would be hard not to replace the pen hopefully you could salvage the blank and reduce your costs. I would also let the customer know nicely to take a bit more care.

Cheers ian

Its not customer abuse. Give me a break. These kits are cheap/expensive chineese junk. I know women with real proper made parkers in their bags for years and they don't look that bad. I've got good quality pens in my desk draw (lami and parkers etc) for years that rub on other things and still look perfect.
I also stated in another thread that all the plating came of school kids pens in 2 months, but they use them every day.
Thats why I will give the pens away rather than sell them, I'm not going thru this customer return rubbish.
Now some of you are going to yell and scream at me, Thats fine, you can rant away.
Peter

If you look at the wear, it shows hundreds of deep scratches. This pen has been tumbled and rubbed against hard metal object(s) for quite a while. I would consider this normal wear for poor handling conditions.
I would only offer advice on how to handle the pen better and a discount on repair hardware or a new pen. Offer to include a velvet bag as well.

Rattled around in the change and car keys at the bottom of the bag, my wife worn one of hers out just as badly.
Replace the hardware, polish up the blank and get one of thoes velvet sleeves, tell her to keep the pen in a seperate pocket of the purse.