My pen collection includes a 149 which I have owned for 45-50 years and with a 14 k nib along with Waterman, Pelikan & Parker but my absolute favourite is the Montblanc Leonardo da Vinci. The nib & inkflow of mine is just perfect and the size, weight and balance feels tailor-made for my hand.
Wonderful and very informative video Mr.Joost. Meisterstuck indeed is the most premium and amazing in the range of Fine Writing instruments. Wonderfully made video and Appelboom Penen is the best.
Awesome video presentation of the Meisterstück collection! With a few video editing issues (certain parts of the audio/video repeat), the video is itself succinct, informative, and explains the entire range perfectly, including the luxury service Montblanc gives to its flagship series of pens. As a very recent Montblanc owner (last two days!), I bought the gorgeous MB Meisterstück Le Petit Prince Classique Fountain Pen (145), with its 14K rhodium-plated gold medium nib that has a Prince, Fox, and stars engraved on the nib! I love the very dark yet deeply pretty blue precious resin body, engraved fox heads on the cap, a line from Le Petit Prince book, and the enamel golden star on the platinum plated clip. A wonderfully designed and gorgeous pen, with incredible writing abilities, this is a beautiful compliment to my Namiki Capless Raden Water Stripes Fountain Pen (in 18K rhodium-plated gold medium nib)! I use the official Montblanc Royal Blue Ink for my 145, though in the future will use Pilot's Iroshizuku Asa-gao. My Namiki has Sailor's Kiwa-guro black ink for EDC use. instagram.com/p/BrugFSlHOos/
There is a reason why 14 carat gold has always been the standard as far as nibs is concerned; the alloy provides the best balance between durability and flexibility. 146 trumps 149, in my experience.
Joost another excellent video, so glad of the size explanation and the "tips" about pen size purchase makes a lot of sense. Thanks for these which are informative and interesting.
Thank you for this very informative video, and for pronouncing Montblanc the way a French would (I am French). Just one thing : the 147 can only have cartridges, no converter (I have one).
This has to be one of the best “commercials” for Montblanc pens. I have bought several pens from Applebloom and find them be an outstanding retailer of fine pens. I’m just about ready to order to order my Christmas present in a few weeks.... a shiny new 149.
Merci! I really enjoyed your video explanation regarding my MB 146. Is it correct that if the pen was purchased in 1988/1989 it will not have a serial number etched on it? I only see GERMANY on mine. Thanks again
Did they do a redesign? mine has a gold ring at the tip near the nib and always gets corroded and have to service every year until I just gave up on it. It looks like now it is a matte plastic/resin material?
I am so happy to have found this overview. It is absolutely brilliant. I agree in theory with the size of writing instrument and hand size though I would offer one thought re: size of pen and hand sizes. I have small hands but I also have an autoimmune disease. I have Lupus. Therefore, I find the Meisterstück 149 (and 146) easier to write with than the Mozart most days or if I have a lot of writing to do.
Same here. I also have small hands, but find the larger diameter of the 149 allows me to write longer without my hand cramping. Largely because I do not feel the need to grip the 149 as tightly to control the pen.
I own some fountain pens by Montblanc and I am in love with all of them. Could you tell me if there is a rollerball pen fitting the size of the Montblanc Meisterstück No. 149? I would be glad to get an answer which rollerball fits the 149 the best. Many thanks to your amazing videos.
Fantastic overview, Joost, & very comprehensive, overall; only one (minor) observation - there was no mention of the Meisterstuck 147 (Traveller) - cartridge-fill fountain pen; I suppose, technically, it is at odds with the Meisterstuck range, because it is neither a piston-fill or converter-fill type (& for purists, the number sequencing, i.e. 1 - 4 - 7 doesn't seem to apply) - perhaps this is why you deliberately didn't mention same in your presentation ? I am indeed very fortunate to possess all of those later Meisterstuck's, from 144 ~ 149, as well as the 'Cardinal's Cap' 12 & 14 models. I also own earlier models (considered cheaper by comparison) - 042; 3-42; 320; 221 et al. All are exceptionally fine writers, collected over a period of more than twenty years. I do not have any of the 'Mozart' range - primarily for the reasons you cited - it's just too small for my very large hands !! Thank you, once again, for such an enjoyable & thought-provoking video !! :D
Absolutely a beautiful and professional presentation indeed, with well-explained details of some history of the pen, its parts, composition, and some helpful practical tips on enjoying this masterpiece of a writing instrument. I do have a concern regarding the precious resin material, as it is mentioned, it does not scratch easily, given that you carry it safely without any metal objects rubbing on its surface. How I wish MB can service free barrel replacement or buffing should the resin become laden with swirl marks that can be quite annoying, losing the material's luster within a reasonable period from the purchase? Is there buffing service offered short of expensive replacements? Thank you- Rowen T. Yolo, MD Manila, Philippines
I've seen elsewhere that Montblanc actually recommends you sending it in once a year for a service. They take it apart, clean it, make sure it's 100% and even buff out any scratches for you. I'm not sure how much the service costs, or even how necessary it is to do annually, but at least the service is available to keep your pen in tip top shape for generations.
I have 2 Montblanc Meisterstuck ballpoint pens that I received in the early 1980's. One was a gift and one I purchased at duty free Toronto airport. I do not have any boxes or receipts and I cannot see any serial #'s on the top ring. I understand that pens from the late 70's, early 80's did not have serial # engraved on that ring. Is this true? How would I know if these are genuine? One has a cap that pulls off and the other pen is a twist. Any information would be appreciated.
MontBlanc receives a lot of criticism for its high price, which isn't unfair. Their pens are indeed nice, write well, look sophisticated and above all have name recognition. The high price is for the name recognition more than anything. I own one and like their quality, but of course similar quality can be had for much lower prices.
The problem of its resin is that it is affected by the UV light of the sun and it becomes brittle and in the face of any strong blow of shred. It is convenient to place it inside the desk drawer or always inside a case to avoid contact with direct sunlight.
@@ericarevalo5005 La resina de Montblanc es muy frágil, porque si es limpiado con químicos como siliconas, lustra muebles, se altera su química y se coloca quebradizo, se astilla, solo hay que limpiarlo con agua y un paño para limpiar anteojos. Y exponerlo a la luz solar directa también es dañino para la resina.
Damn those pens are extremely expensive and exclusive, it's like a Rolex from pencils. It is very scary to disarm it, you risk losing 1000 dollars if it breaks.
if u pay a dollar a day ...its yours 500 days later ....that seems like a bargain for something that will will still work when your long gone but daaaaaaaammmmmnnn what do i know ..?
Obviously your comment is intended to fund fault. Whats the matter with you boy? Mommy and dadda not teach you any manners? You expect a perfect world on the internet? Thats a rough road to be on pal....good luck with that. What a crappy spot to be in,......gotta find fault wherever it may be.....you must be miserable
You keep pronouncing "Montblanc" as "moonblah" and it's seriously irritating. Even with your heavy accent, you should be able to do better than that. In French, the consonants are softened compared to Dutch/German/English but they are not completely omitted ... "Montblanc is the most counterfeited pen in the world". This is true and what's funny about that is if you get a good counterfeit you have as good a pen as a genuine Montblanc. Maybe even better because the counterfeits don't seem to have the cracking problems that real Montblanc pens have. I have both genuine and counterfeit and surprisingly the counterfeits write as well or better than the real thing. In order to create a copy that's good enough to counterfeit a high-end pen like a Montblanc, it is still necessary to make a very nice pen. To tell the difference between the counterfeits and the genuine article is well beyond the scope of a casual encounter. People in a boardroom, classroom, and office are going to see the Montblanc snowcap on your pen, seldom is anyone who in any manner approaches being a real expert on Montblanc pens going to examine your pen in detail. So as long as it writes and writes well, you can "fake it 'till you make it" with a Montblanc counterfeit if that suits your budget and your temperament. The cost of a copy is a tiny fraction of the real thing, if you stay in the $20 US range you're going to get a good pen. I have a sneaking suspicion that is in the ballpark of what the genuine article is actually worth too. It's probably not going to be an heirloom for generations to come but then neither is a genuine Montblanc without service and support. There's a reason for Montblanc's sterling customer service and that reason is you're going to need it eventually. The really important thing about these counterfeits vs. genuine pens is not so much a matter of cost or quality, it's a matter of not being robbed. It's one thing when you buy a counterfeit knowingly and intentionally, it's a whole 'nother critter when you buy a fake thinking it's genuine and you PAY the price of a genuine Montblanc for a Chinese knock-off copy. That's something to be very wary of. The old "If it seems to be too good to be true, it is" adage applies in spades here. You're not going to get a $500 pen for $125 on eBay or Amazon or anywhere else. You're going to PAY $100 more than the pen is worth if you try to do that. It is virtually impossible to tell from pictures if a pen is genuine or not and there's no reason why the less-than-honest can't just post real pictures of real Montblanc pens and then ship you a counterfeit. It's an unfruitful risk to deal with strangers over things like this on the internet. If you want a copy then go buy one intentionally and knowing what you're getting. If you want a genuine Montblanc pen don't buy it anywhere except through a genuine Montblanc boutique or an authorized dealer like Appelboom appears to be. I've known people who have failed to heed that very sound advice and have been both mortified and heartbroken when they took/sent what they thought was a genuine Montblanc in for service and found out the pen they paid a bundle of money for is a fake.
I agree completely when it comes to how Montblanc robs people with their marketing, I was wondering if you are willing to share some of the links of the fakes with me because I would not like to break the bank with these pens.
@@ashy6731 Just do a search for "dhgate" on Google. That's a Chinese wholesale marketing company that has all kinds of stuff. On that site, search for "mb fountain pen". Do your due diligence, read the reviews, don't go with the cheapest option, etc. I can't give you a link because that's a wholesaler, when item lots sell out they're replaced with new lots that might be different or the lot that I link to might be sold out and expired when you check it. That's enough information for you to find what you're looking for.
@k k YYSSW. The copies come with converter filling. Big deal. Irrelevant nitpicking doesn't make you look smarter, it makes you look like an irrelevant nitpicker.
Je suis francophone de naissance et rien que de voir Joost essayer de dire le mot Montblanc est déjà beaucoup. Je ne peux dire à quel point ce genre de raisonnement est la raison même pour laquelle les non-francophone n'essaient pas plus de parler notre langue ce qui est une perte en soi. Nous sommes si peu sur la planète à parler français! ... ACTS, maybe you don't speak french, I don't even know... Congrats Joost, good job on those videos! 😘
@@stephanielaberge7393 People don't speak French that aren't French because of several reasons ... 1. You people are insufferable snobs about your French language. 2. French language isn't important to anyone but French people. More people around the world do not speak your language for exactly the same reason that more people around the world do not speak Danish or Polish or Bantu. 3. France sucks. I lived there for two years and hated it. Some of the people were nice but they were few and far between. Most of them were rude and condescending. Everyone from taxi drivers to shoe store salespeople were total asses and I was trying to be nice to them. I finally realized it was a national trait for the French to be rude and gave up on trying to be nice thereby. You would not find the same to be true of Americans if you lived in America for two years. Most of us would be nice to you in any sort of social setting.
Thank you for the extensive information on all things Montblanc Meisterstück! A lot of time and effort went into this, thank you!
Our pleasure!
My pen collection includes a 149 which I have owned for 45-50 years and with a 14 k nib along with Waterman, Pelikan & Parker but my absolute favourite is the Montblanc Leonardo da Vinci. The nib & inkflow of mine is just perfect and the size, weight and balance feels tailor-made for my hand.
What a fantastic, informative video. I learned so much over the last 24 minutes. Thankyou!
This is a great video. Thx a lot. Now I know what fountain pen I want. The 146 seems to be perfect for me. Good job!!!!!!
Wonderful and very informative video Mr.Joost. Meisterstuck indeed is the most premium and amazing in the range of Fine Writing instruments. Wonderfully made video and Appelboom Penen is the best.
Kunal Gupta thank you for the support Mr. Gupta!
I must compliment you on the comprehensive & professional knowledges on the montblanc's writing instruments. Very informative. 👍👍👍
Bravo !!!! Bravo !!!!
Great video. Thanks
Awesome video presentation of the Meisterstück collection!
With a few video editing issues (certain parts of the audio/video repeat), the video is itself succinct, informative, and explains the entire range perfectly, including the luxury service Montblanc gives to its flagship series of pens.
As a very recent Montblanc owner (last two days!), I bought the gorgeous MB Meisterstück Le Petit Prince Classique Fountain Pen (145), with its 14K rhodium-plated gold medium nib that has a Prince, Fox, and stars engraved on the nib!
I love the very dark yet deeply pretty blue precious resin body, engraved fox heads on the cap, a line from Le Petit Prince book, and the enamel golden star on the platinum plated clip.
A wonderfully designed and gorgeous pen, with incredible writing abilities, this is a beautiful compliment to my Namiki Capless Raden Water Stripes Fountain Pen (in 18K rhodium-plated gold medium nib)!
I use the official Montblanc Royal Blue Ink for my 145, though in the future will use Pilot's Iroshizuku Asa-gao.
My Namiki has Sailor's Kiwa-guro black ink for EDC use.
instagram.com/p/BrugFSlHOos/
Each one a masterpiece! Thank you.
I just love your accent, sir. Lovely and articulate presentation.
Thank you!🙏
Great video in all respects. Thanks to Appelboom!
Background Music: Bach's Prelude In C
Excellent video and professionally presented.
Tyler Quandt thank you for the support
There is a reason why 14 carat gold has always been the standard as far as nibs is concerned; the alloy provides the best balance between durability and flexibility. 146 trumps 149,
in my experience.
I have a 149 which is 45-50 years old. They had 14 K nibs in those days
Great video! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you!
Thank you for another excellent review!
Joost another excellent video, so glad of the size explanation and the "tips" about pen size purchase makes a lot of sense. Thanks for these which are informative and interesting.
Peter Hofmann thank you for the support!🙏🏻
Made some order in the chaos.. Thank you Joost.
Now I only need to decide which one to order 🤔
Clear Obsession you can order multiple if you can’t decide...
Thank you for this very informative video, and for pronouncing Montblanc the way a French would (I am French).
Just one thing : the 147 can only have cartridges, no converter (I have one).
This has to be one of the best “commercials” for Montblanc pens.
I have bought several pens from Applebloom and find them be an outstanding retailer of fine pens.
I’m just about ready to order to order my Christmas present in a few weeks.... a shiny new 149.
Thank you for the kind words, and we are happy to help with your next Montblanc!
Excellent
Informative video
Flow of information was mild and at right velocity.
Thank you.
getgamein thank you for the support
Merci! I really enjoyed your video explanation regarding my MB 146. Is it correct that if the pen was purchased in 1988/1989 it will not have a serial number etched on it? I only see GERMANY on mine. Thanks again
Excellent
Informative video.Thank you
It would be good if you can share your thoughts on spotting difference between genuine 149’s and fake ones.
Thank you.
getgamein that is a great idea, will work on that!
what did you expect him to say, that he loves them?? Cmon bro use the brain god give you
very informative, thanks for posting.
It's amazing collections
Did they do a redesign? mine has a gold ring at the tip near the nib and always gets corroded and have to service every year until I just gave up on it. It looks like now it is a matte plastic/resin material?
Got my JFK in Tuesday, what a pen but then what would one except it's a Montblanc , the best of the best.
Larry's Fountain Pens I am glad you received it so quick! Enjoy your new JFK!
I am so happy to have found this overview. It is absolutely brilliant. I agree in theory with the size of writing instrument and hand size though I would offer one thought re: size of pen and hand sizes. I have small hands but I also have an autoimmune disease. I have Lupus. Therefore, I find the Meisterstück 149 (and 146) easier to write with than the Mozart most days or if I have a lot of writing to do.
Same here. I also have small hands, but find the larger diameter of the 149 allows me to write longer without my hand cramping. Largely because I do not feel the need to grip the 149 as tightly to control the pen.
I own some fountain pens by Montblanc and I am in love with all of them. Could you tell me if there is a rollerball pen fitting the size of the Montblanc Meisterstück No. 149?
I would be glad to get an answer which rollerball fits the 149 the best.
Many thanks to your amazing videos.
Stefan Schnitzler the best fit would be the Le Grand
Appelboom Pennen Thank you for this quick and direkt answer.
Fantastic overview, Joost, & very comprehensive, overall; only one (minor) observation - there was no mention of the Meisterstuck 147 (Traveller) - cartridge-fill fountain pen; I suppose, technically, it is at odds with the Meisterstuck range, because it is neither a piston-fill or converter-fill type (& for purists, the number sequencing, i.e. 1 - 4 - 7 doesn't seem to apply) - perhaps this is why you deliberately didn't mention same in your presentation ? I am indeed very fortunate to possess all of those later Meisterstuck's, from 144 ~ 149, as well as the 'Cardinal's Cap' 12 & 14 models. I also own earlier models (considered cheaper by comparison) - 042; 3-42; 320; 221 et al. All are exceptionally fine writers, collected over a period of more than twenty years. I do not have any of the 'Mozart' range - primarily for the reasons you cited - it's just too small for my very large hands !!
Thank you, once again, for such an enjoyable & thought-provoking video !! :D
Excellent
Absolutely a beautiful and professional presentation indeed, with well-explained details of some history of the pen, its parts, composition, and some helpful practical tips on enjoying this masterpiece of a writing instrument. I do have a concern regarding the precious resin material, as it is mentioned, it does not scratch easily, given that you carry it safely without any metal objects rubbing on its surface. How I wish MB can service free barrel replacement or buffing should the resin become laden with swirl marks that can be quite annoying, losing the material's luster within a reasonable period from the purchase? Is there buffing service offered short of expensive replacements? Thank you- Rowen T. Yolo, MD Manila, Philippines
I've seen elsewhere that Montblanc actually recommends you sending it in once a year for a service. They take it apart, clean it, make sure it's 100% and even buff out any scratches for you. I'm not sure how much the service costs, or even how necessary it is to do annually, but at least the service is available to keep your pen in tip top shape for generations.
I have 2 Montblanc Meisterstuck ballpoint pens that I received in the early 1980's. One was a gift and one I purchased at duty free Toronto airport. I do not have any boxes or receipts and I cannot see any serial #'s on the top ring. I understand that pens from the late 70's, early 80's did not have serial # engraved on that ring. Is this true? How would I know if these are genuine? One has a cap that pulls off and the other pen is a twist. Any information would be appreciated.
I think probably that the counterfeiting of this pen does not go back to the 80's......I would venture than this did not start until the 2000's
😍😍
Are there any differences between no:146 and Le Grand? Why did they need to change the 146 to Le Grand?
The 146 and Le Grand are the same, but a different name
You have all the pens on your website in your shop? When I come to Netherland I might visit your store and walk out with something. :)
Ali Sameer almost all of them! You are very welcome to visit our store and try them all
Cómo se saca la refacción de está pluma
Montblanc Meisterstuck 149 in the absolutely flag pen in the montblanc.
MontBlanc receives a lot of criticism for its high price, which isn't unfair. Their pens are indeed nice, write well, look sophisticated and above all have name recognition. The high price is for the name recognition more than anything. I own one and like their quality, but of course similar quality can be had for much lower prices.
The problem of its resin is that it is affected by the UV light of the sun and it becomes brittle and in the face of any strong blow of shred. It is convenient to place it inside the desk drawer or always inside a case to avoid contact with direct sunlight.
Ignacio Jimenez where have you heard that montblanc resin is affected by UV light? If i’m not mistaken “precious resin” is simply some form of PMMA.
@@ericarevalo5005 La resina de Montblanc es muy frágil, porque si es limpiado con químicos como siliconas, lustra muebles, se altera su química y se coloca quebradizo, se astilla, solo hay que limpiarlo con agua y un paño para limpiar anteojos. Y exponerlo a la luz solar directa también es dañino para la resina.
I'd rather have a Sailor King of Pens. It's a smoother and better pen. Doesn't take away the fact that the Meisterstuck is a legend on its own.
Yeah where's the Sailor pens !
I noticed that you did not mention anything about the oblique medium or medium broad nibs!
Damn those pens are extremely expensive and exclusive, it's like a Rolex from pencils. It is very scary to disarm it, you risk losing 1000 dollars if it breaks.
if u pay a dollar a day ...its yours 500 days later ....that seems like a bargain for something that will will still work when your long gone but daaaaaaaammmmmnnn what do i know ..?
I love that the nibs are all made by women :)
130mm unposted would be best size though .
i found a
Montblanc Patron of Art Edition 2014 Henry E. Steinway 4810 and the symbol of whit is not white any more what cuz this?
Did you guys even bother to watch the video before posting it?
Why
Obviously your comment is intended to fund fault. Whats the matter with you boy? Mommy and dadda not teach you any manners? You expect a perfect world on the internet? Thats a rough road to be on pal....good luck with that. What a crappy spot to be in,......gotta find fault wherever it may be.....you must be miserable
N
Umm it's not just mitserstruc it's Mitsersüc
whats the point of finding fault? who promised you a perfect world....
You keep pronouncing "Montblanc" as "moonblah" and it's seriously irritating. Even with your heavy accent, you should be able to do better than that. In French, the consonants are softened compared to Dutch/German/English but they are not completely omitted ...
"Montblanc is the most counterfeited pen in the world". This is true and what's funny about that is if you get a good counterfeit you have as good a pen as a genuine Montblanc. Maybe even better because the counterfeits don't seem to have the cracking problems that real Montblanc pens have. I have both genuine and counterfeit and surprisingly the counterfeits write as well or better than the real thing. In order to create a copy that's good enough to counterfeit a high-end pen like a Montblanc, it is still necessary to make a very nice pen. To tell the difference between the counterfeits and the genuine article is well beyond the scope of a casual encounter. People in a boardroom, classroom, and office are going to see the Montblanc snowcap on your pen, seldom is anyone who in any manner approaches being a real expert on Montblanc pens going to examine your pen in detail.
So as long as it writes and writes well, you can "fake it 'till you make it" with a Montblanc counterfeit if that suits your budget and your temperament. The cost of a copy is a tiny fraction of the real thing, if you stay in the $20 US range you're going to get a good pen. I have a sneaking suspicion that is in the ballpark of what the genuine article is actually worth too. It's probably not going to be an heirloom for generations to come but then neither is a genuine Montblanc without service and support. There's a reason for Montblanc's sterling customer service and that reason is you're going to need it eventually.
The really important thing about these counterfeits vs. genuine pens is not so much a matter of cost or quality, it's a matter of not being robbed. It's one thing when you buy a counterfeit knowingly and intentionally, it's a whole 'nother critter when you buy a fake thinking it's genuine and you PAY the price of a genuine Montblanc for a Chinese knock-off copy. That's something to be very wary of. The old "If it seems to be too good to be true, it is" adage applies in spades here. You're not going to get a $500 pen for $125 on eBay or Amazon or anywhere else. You're going to PAY $100 more than the pen is worth if you try to do that. It is virtually impossible to tell from pictures if a pen is genuine or not and there's no reason why the less-than-honest can't just post real pictures of real Montblanc pens and then ship you a counterfeit. It's an unfruitful risk to deal with strangers over things like this on the internet.
If you want a copy then go buy one intentionally and knowing what you're getting. If you want a genuine Montblanc pen don't buy it anywhere except through a genuine Montblanc boutique or an authorized dealer like Appelboom appears to be. I've known people who have failed to heed that very sound advice and have been both mortified and heartbroken when they took/sent what they thought was a genuine Montblanc in for service and found out the pen they paid a bundle of money for is a fake.
I agree completely when it comes to how Montblanc robs people with their marketing, I was wondering if you are willing to share some of the links of the fakes with me because I would not like to break the bank with these pens.
@@ashy6731 Just do a search for "dhgate" on Google. That's a Chinese wholesale marketing company that has all kinds of stuff. On that site, search for "mb fountain pen". Do your due diligence, read the reviews, don't go with the cheapest option, etc. I can't give you a link because that's a wholesaler, when item lots sell out they're replaced with new lots that might be different or the lot that I link to might be sold out and expired when you check it. That's enough information for you to find what you're looking for.
@k k YYSSW. The copies come with converter filling. Big deal. Irrelevant nitpicking doesn't make you look smarter, it makes you look like an irrelevant nitpicker.
Je suis francophone de naissance et rien que de voir Joost essayer de dire le mot Montblanc est déjà beaucoup. Je ne peux dire à quel point ce genre de raisonnement est la raison même pour laquelle les non-francophone n'essaient pas plus de parler notre langue ce qui est une perte en soi. Nous sommes si peu sur la planète à parler français!
... ACTS, maybe you don't speak french, I don't even know...
Congrats Joost, good job on those videos! 😘
@@stephanielaberge7393 People don't speak French that aren't French because of several reasons ...
1. You people are insufferable snobs about your French language.
2. French language isn't important to anyone but French people. More people around the world do not speak your language for exactly the same reason that more people around the world do not speak Danish or Polish or Bantu.
3. France sucks. I lived there for two years and hated it. Some of the people were nice but they were few and far between. Most of them were rude and condescending. Everyone from taxi drivers to shoe store salespeople were total asses and I was trying to be nice to them. I finally realized it was a national trait for the French to be rude and gave up on trying to be nice thereby. You would not find the same to be true of Americans if you lived in America for two years. Most of us would be nice to you in any sort of social setting.