Now look what you have made me do.

[Lion]

Ian, congrats on your new pen and I'm actually the one at fault for pulling the trigger on my new pens. but in my defense seeing all of your pens made me impulsive and trigger happy!!!

[shandy]

Originally Posted by Lion

Ian, congrats on your new pen and I'm actually the one at fault for pulling the trigger on my new pens. but in my defense seeing all of your pens made me impulsive and trigger happy!!!

There is no hope for us Leo Last night whilst I was picking up the Parker I also mentioned to Brian(my pen restorer) that I am on the look out for an early(1900-1920) flexible nib Waterman and it looks like next month I will pick one of those up! I also realised I am still missing a triumph nibbed Sheaffer and a "Big Red" ebonite Duofold..That one will be a birthday present to myself at the end of the year!

I tell you, pen club meetings are dangerous places!

[Lion]

Originally Posted by shandy

There is no hope for us Leo Last night whilst I was picking up the Parker I also mentioned to Brian(my pen restorer) that I am on the look out for an early(1900-1920) flexible nib Waterman and it looks like next month I will pick one of those up! I also realised I am still missing a triumph nibbed Sheaffer and a "Big Red" ebonite Duofold..That one will be a birthday present to myself at the end of the year!

I tell you, pen club meetings are dangerous places!

Thanx for the heads up I will force myself to not join and stay away from pen clubs. BTW which club(s)are active in the Chicago area???

[shandy]

Originally Posted by Lion

Thanx for the heads up I will force myself to not join and stay away from pen clubs. BTW which club(s)are active in the Chicago area???

I just did a brief search and it seems really hard to find anything about Chicago pen clubs
You might want to try Micheal Fultz I believe he is something to do with the Chicago pen show. He may know. I will pm you his email!

[Lion]

Originally Posted by shandy

I just did a brief search and it seems really hard to find anything about Chicago pen clubs
You might want to try Micheal Fultz I believe he is something to do with the Chicago pen show. He may know. I will pm you his email!

Ian, thanx for your time and effort...I will have to send him an email because I googled pen Clubs in the Chicago area and can't find a single one!!! Go figure!!!

[shandy]

Originally Posted by Lion

Ian, thanx for your time and effort...I will have to send him an email because I googled pen Clubs in the Chicago area and can't find a single one!!! Go figure!!!

No worries Leo, sorry that link did not work out, I have sent you another name though, hopefully this chap is alive!

I am amazed seeing the size and fame of the Chicago pen show that there is not a flood of pen clubs in that toddling town

[Lion]

Originally Posted by shandy

No worries Leo, sorry that link did not work out, I have sent you another name though, hopefully this chap is alive!

I am amazed seeing the size and fame of the Chicago pen show that there is not a flood of pen clubs in that toddling town

Go figure!!!

[daveathall]

First pen should arrive soon, looks like H.M. Customs and Excise will be taking their cut.

26-03-2010 13:58 International Hub En route to delivery depot

26-03-2010 13:48 International Hub RELEASED WITH CHARGES

24-03-2010 08:22 International Hub AWAITING CUSTOMS CHARGING

24-03-2010 08:22 International Hub AWAITING CUSTOMS CHARGES

24-03-2010 08:12 International Hub Arrived in destination country

18-03-2010 19:26 Delivery Agent - LOS ANGELES AMU Left origin country

18-03-2010 18:05 Delivery Agent - LOS ANGELES AMU Arrived at Outward OE

16-03-2010 17:14 Delivery Agent - UNITED STATES AMERICA Collected from customer

Now I'm getting excited.

[shandy]

Dave. I can't wait to see the green tea! I hate it when customs take a cut, heck don't we pay enough already!

Do you still have Saturday deliveries in the UK?

[daveathall]

Yes Ian, Saturday deliveries are still OK, this wont be delivered tomorrow though, they will send me a letter telling me how much I will have to pay first, my only chance will be if it arrives at the Middlesbrough depot tonight or in the early morning, I would then give them a ring and drive up, pay the duty and have the pen tomorrow.

I thought it was on its way to Middlesbrough, then I saw this latest entry.

26-03-2010..... 18:09..... National Hub..... Sorted in hub

[shandy]

Originally Posted by daveathall

Yes Ian, Saturday deliveries are still OK, this wont be delivered tomorrow though, they will send me a letter telling me how much I will have to pay first, my only chance will be if it arrives at the Middlesbrough depot tonight or in the early morning, I would then give them a ring and drive up, pay the duty and have the pen tomorrow.

I thought it was on its way to Middlesbrough, then I saw this latest entry.

26-03-2010..... 18:09..... National Hub..... Sorted in hub

Looks like monday or Tuesday then Dave! It must be lovely still having deliveries on the weekend! I miss the UK postal system, Like a lot of things (NHS) you don't know what you've got till you don't have it anymore!

[daveathall]

I think you'r right Ian, Im a big fan of the NHS, saved my life and never cost me a penny.

Edit; As an after thought, other than our normal taxes.

[2careless]

Hmm, aren't there any tax free import allowance? Here in Aus we can import $1k worth of goods without paying customs/duties/tax, and we all "structure" our imports to be < $1k.

[Lion]

Pretty soon there is going to be a tax applied to all other taxes because of the paper work shuffle!!!

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by 2careless

Hmm, aren't there any tax free import allowance? Here in Aus we can import $1k worth of goods without paying customs/duties/tax, and we all "structure" our imports to be < $1k.

This pen has cost me £68 (Approx 100 Dollars US) in taxes, Im not sure if we have an import allowance, but if we do its very low.

The good news is that when I woke up this morning and typed in the tracking number, this is what I saw.

27-03-2010..... 02:31..... Cleveland Depot..... Arrived at delivery depot

I rang them, drove up to Middlesbrough, paid the tax and now have my pen.

27-03-2010..... 10:21..... Cleveland Depot..... Parcel delivered

Parcel "delivered" is stretching it somewhat, collected would have been nearer the truth, I will take some photos tomorrow when I get the chance, first impressions...................

LOVE IT..........

[shandy]

Excellent Dave! I can't wait to see the pictures and read your thoughts.
As to the duty! Well the first pen I ordered from John he sent regular courier, UPS. I then had to pay a total of $125 in customs and outrageous UPS brokerage fees!
The next time I had him send in regular United states postal service. No fees that time on the montegrappa!
sixty eight pounds though! That's pie and chips three times with a couple of pints each

[daveathall]

The 68 quid was a bit of a stinger Ian, the excitment of it being in Middlesbrough softened the blow, I must admit, I knew I would be paying a decent amount even before I ordered the pen, so I really cant complain.

Im really pleased with it, again, the service from John at Clasic Fountain Pens was superb.

[shandy]

Originally Posted by daveathall

The 68 quid was a bit of a stinger Ian, the excitment of it being in Middlesbrough softened the blow, I must admit, I knew I would be paying a decent amount even before I ordered the pen, so I really cant complain.

Im really pleased with it, again, the service from John at Clasic Fountain Pens was superb.

John is the best I agree, good old fashioned customer service and an absolute magician with nibs! Now then, where is the review, honestly anyone would think you have a social life on a Saturday night!

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by shandy

John is the best I agree, good old fashioned customer service and an absolute magician with nibs! Now then, where is the review, honestly anyone would think you have a social life on a Saturday night!

Not so much a social life Ian, at the moment I am watching a quite excellent film called Mrs Brown, Judy Dench playing Queen Victoria and Billy Connolly as a magnificent Mr Brown, Ive seen it before and would recommend it to anyone who hasn't.

I promise a comprehensive review within a couple of days, it is a beautiful pen and it is the least it deserves.

[shandy]

Originally Posted by daveathall

Not so much a social life Ian, at the moment I am watching a quite excellent film called Mrs Brown, Judy Dench playing Queen Victoria and Billy Connolly as a magnificent Mr Brown, Ive seen it before and would recommend it to anyone who hasn't.

I promise a comprehensive review within a couple of days, it is a beautiful pen and it is the least it deserves.

That's an excellent film Dave! The big yin is certainly versatile!