Amazon Basics Fountain Pen Unboxing and Review
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- This is one of the first Amazon Basics released by Amazon in Canada. A friend sent it to me for me to review. It is the Amazon Basics fountain pen and in this video, I will unbox it, talk about the parts and features of the pen, provide some size comparisons and measurements and then do a writing sample. After the writing sample, I will talk about what I like and what I don't like about the pen. Please feel free to use the timestamps provided below to skip to various parts of the review.
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Timestamps:
Unboxing
Parts and Features
Measurements and Size Comparisons
Writing Sample
Likes and Dislikes
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Thank you for the video. The commentary at the end was spot on, in my opinion of course. I've been amazed at the amount of attention this pen has gotten. I'm at a loss as to why that should be the case. The fact that it is such a smooth writer and packaged well at lease removes the feeling that it is just a simple market dump leveraging their distribution channel. They are taking over the world but as you noted, if others aren't willing to step up and provide similar service and options how can they be faulted.
Thanks for the cogent comment John!
@@InkquiringMinds Great video, thanks. Bringing matters up to date to JULY 2023: The packaging is identical. The pen’s cap and body is completely changed to a slimmed down cigarish shape and the cap does not post. The Amazon Basics branding is still on the clip but not so obvious. 3 cartridges still supplied as standard (with one lurking in the barrel and no prior indication that it is!). I bought a converter (from Amazon) which works OK. You can, as you say, swap out from a Jinhao or some others. Writes as smooth as smooth could be. Medium nib seems to be the standard from Amazon in the UK at any rate. It’s nice and I wouldn’t want to change it, but it is possible. The metal section is changed to being painted and It seems shorter.
I think some people are put off by the ‘Basics’ tag which is a shame. It’s a good quality pen at a bargain price, delivered next day on Prime. 👍
@LANCSKID Thanks for the update!
@@InkquiringMinds 17.77 Canadian dollars as of today!
Viewer James confirms via SBRE Brown, that Standard International cartridges leak where Jinhao’s do not. And viewer Bogdan confirms that Parker cartridges will fit. Thanks guys!
UPDATE: I have had an international cartridge in my Amazon Basics pen for five days alternately stored nib down and then nib up, with no signs of leaking.
I got one of these about a month ago with a "fine" nib ... which seems to be more of a medium to me. It definitely writes better than it should (seems I read somewhere that it's essentially a Jinhao 95). Thanks for the info about standard #5 nibs. I'll try to find one in EF. This could end up being my new leave-it-at-work pen.
Thanks for the video, I will be looking at the moonman and the Jinhao FPs, but after your review of the moonman!
The M800 is a winner.
I agree with you Doug... What I look in affordable fountain pens (apart for its price) is reliability on my writing and certain resistance in the materials for my use on my workplace... and what I learned in the brief time in the fountain pen hobby is about the importance of being well informed and maintain our expectations in check to make a sound decision at the moment we decided to make any purchase. Saludos desde México Doug 👍
Soludos, Jorge! :) Being well-informed while shopping helps take away that "oooh I gotta have it" feeling and helps make a more balanced choice.
@@InkquiringMinds Yeah, being an educated consumer is the best practice on this hobby 😅👍
Works with Parker style cartridges and convertors
Yes it does!
For some reason I can’t wright with the correct end of it I have to draw on the black thing on the end pointing up
Great intro 👏
I'm glad you like it!
Arrgh! Another metal section. Fully agree on your rant of Amazon and B/M stores. As you point out there are many excellent Chinese pens for a lot less, but I think the idea of having to "wait" for them turns the person who would want one of these off. Can't wait for your next video! FYI, German ROT has a long "O" the correct pronunciation is like boat but with an r. Have a nice day and keep safe
Thanks for the pronunciation guide, pete! That helps. That's all she "ROT" hey? :)
@@InkquiringMinds You got it!
Good review as usual. One of the few pens I will avoid. At top of clip is CHINA. I saw that in your video. I agree with your rant. We've watched buying & selling evolve at an ever-increasing rate. We may or may not like it but change will continue, Thankfully I can enjoy the change.
Thanks, Chris. In my mind, I look at this pen and think, for $4US more, you get a Penbbs 308 in a lovely turned acrylic and a great #6 size nib. No brainer.
There is no marking of "CHINA" anywhere on this pen.
@@billinrio No markings do not indicate where pen was made. Most pens do not have markings on where made.
I purchased the Amazonbasics fountain pen 2 weeks ago. I agree posting makes it back heavy in my hand. With the pen I ordered Schneider short international cartridges (which Amazon have recently DOUBLED in price). Only having replaced the orig. amazon cartridge with the Schneider, I haven't experienced any leaking so far. But I have noticed a touch LESS flow, not a detriment, I have a fine nib that was writing med. with the amazon ink and is now a bit finer with the Schneider. All that being said, I find the pen, overall, of decent quality.
(please note the annotaion) As to who makes the pen FOR Amazon...I believe it's the Jinhao Y5, with a different cap, diff. nib and diff. finials. The section on the Y5 also looks 'brushes' as opposed to the Amazon's 'polished' section. Because EVERTHING about this pen 'looks like the Y5 (barrel/section). I can't confirm this at the moment, my Y5's from Amazon won't arrive until Xmas Eve. The Amazonbasics pen has a tapering, rounded cap while the Y5 is more square. The Y5's are a set of two for nearly the price as the Amazonbasics pen. Sadly, had I known I would be purchasing the Y5's, I wouldn't have ordered a converter with the Amazon pen (the Y5's are supposed to come with Jinhao converters, each). But oh well.
***(Annotation) Having now received the Y5s, they are VERY similar to the AmazonBasics fountain pen, but NOT the same in many aspects. The Y5s are thinner (diameter) and the cap is completely straight. The threaded part of the section is longer (and thinner, as mentioned) so none of the pen parts are interchangable (haven't tried switching feed/nib). The barrel/cap of the Y5s does feel like laquered metal, there's no 'plastic' feel or sound to them. The nibs are the same size as the Amazon, with engraving (minimal) that the Amazon lacks. And of course, given I got TWO Y5s for what the Amazon cost for ONE...the Y5s can be expected to be lower quality. However, I still believe the Y5 is a better value (for a first pen). Although they don't come with any cartridges (and they ARE Jinhao, not exactly International Standard short, but ISshort fits) they DO each come with a converter. So anyone that finds the AmazonBasic fountain pen to be a little 'big' in hand, try the Y5. And the Y5s posted aren't as off balance in my hand as the AmazonBasic, indicating the cap on the Y5 is significantly lighter than the Amazon's cap. ***
The Amazon description of the Y5's doesn't mention the material the pens are made from, so I'll confirm that after I receive them. But at this point, if anyone is considering the Amazonbasics Fountain Pen...currently, I believe you're better off saving some money and purchasing the Jinhao Y5 (in what ever configuration they're offered, 2/pk, 3/pk WITH included converters). This assumes the Y5's are the same material as the Amazon pen (IF the Y5's are lesser material, I'll annotate this comment)
Over all, I've used up ONE amazonbasics cartridge and enjoyed the pen so far. I don't regret paying MORE for it, than if I'd ordered the Y5's first. It's still a NICE pen for a decent North American price. And the fact is, I prefer the Amazon pen's styling over the Y5 (I like the tapered cap), and I got to choose the nib on the Amazon pen, not an option with the Y5's.
***(annotated) My plan is to use the AmazonBasic as my 'regular' writing fountain pen and put red/blue ink in the the red/blue Y5s (colour matching ink to pen). As such, the lower quality won't make much difference given the Y5s will be used less often (hope the ink doesn't dry out with the irregular use). Just as a note, I ordered Monteverde ink cartridges for the Y5s. I expect, with the irregular use of these two pens, that 6 cartridges of each colour will last me a LIFE TIME; plus I have the converters. And given the converters, the Y5s will make nice pens to try bottled inks...and I will still have the AmazonBasic pen for regular writing.
Again, overall...I'm enjoying the AmazonBasics fountain pen. I've written PAGES with it so far (tore through TWO cartridges already). Short of the unbalanced feeling (so I tend to write UNposted) still quite pleased with the pen at the price.***
Thanks for this! Excellent information!
I love the video, been waiting to pull the trigger on this one. Wanted to see your thoughts on It first, thank you.
Thanks, Scott! Yes, they are very serviceable writers.
Hello. Once again you have provided an interesting and informative review. Thank you. I have a question about the converter you used, is it possible that it was a Baor? I am interested in this pen so I’ve watched several videos on it. Dodoolebud, (I’m sorry for not spelling it correctly), used a Jinhao and found it to be a little loose. Oh I just realized, if a Baor Converter fit does that mean they make this pen for Amazon?
Not necessarily. The converter on the Amazon Basics is standard international in size. That means that most any international size converter will work. I say "most", because that doesn't mean all of them will. Some may be "standard international" in their opening but they are too long or the body is too fat. Clear as mud.
Excellent treatment of a prickly issue. My experience with other Basics products is that some are great value for money, and others are simply, well, cheap. It is good to know that this likely falls into the former category. It is also the case that I won't be getting one because of the slippery grip. My hand is especially allergic to metal section grips (I had to sell a lovely Pineider for that reason.)
Thanks, Joel! :) I was really interested in that unbreakable Pineider but that curvy, metal section turned me off. Too bad they can't make the section out of the resin.
The honesty is greatly appreciated. Indeed, you can get pens of the same quality or better for less, and I do see a reseblance to the baoers especially. Amazon definitely did not make the pen themselves. It's amazing how much pen can be had for so little money from China.
I remember hearing that there was Chinese restaurant who was suffering with very little business because of Covid-19. If one were to think rationally, given the location and time of the restaurant, it would be somewhat unlikely to have caught the disease, or as vulnerable as other restaurants. A lot of Chinese people in the UK have stayed there and remained there for a long time without traveling, but are still being pointed at. I'm not willing to call it racism just yet, but there is a resemblance. It's worth noting to some people that even the Chinese are trying to protect themselves.
Thanks, Willtato! And, no, it IS racism. Italy is in lock-down and in crisis and yet I don't see people avoiding Olive Garden or slamming Italians.
@@InkquiringMinds Olive Garden sucks, and their salad is a toxic waste dump! There, how's that!
James McCarty LOL
I have the Covid Moonman 800 on the way as well. This Amazon pen looks good enough outwardly, but, like you, I suspect the slim slippery section would not suit me well. Thanks for the review!
"Covid Moonman" LMAO Thanks, Mark.
Despite their plans for world conquest, I credit them for not charging more and packaging well. Makes me chuckle when I hear that a pen is a clone of such and such; I wouldn't know. O, Canada! Thanks, ay.
Thanks, David!
Works with Kaweco cartridges as well.
Thank you, Manny!
Thanks for the useful review. Is there space for an extra cartridge at the bottom? This is possible is my Jinhao X450.
Yes. The pen will take one in the section and one spare in the barrel.
@@InkquiringMindsThanks. That's a very important functionality.
Love your honesty, I think that there is a lot of ignorance regarding Chinese provenance. Most pc hardware is Chinese, so why the hate for Chinese pens, you have proven and demonstrated alongside other RUclips pen enthusiasts that the quality of these writing instruments are of a great manufacturing standard and that they are willing to develop and create new models at a very good price, the Q.C is sometimes lacklustre but in the main quite good. As to the Covid 19 comment, this virus could have originated from any country, it so happens that it came from China, so do we label everything Chinese contagious? These times are meant to show humanity at its best, coping fraternally to overcome these global events and not reaching down into the barrel for racist bigoted comments with little or no profound knowledge. Doug another great informative video, excellent.
Very well said, lusitania! Thanks!
how do you change a cartridge ? what if it leaks ?
Pull the old one out and push a new one in.
How did you remove the nib from the pen? Trying to align the feed and nib on mine, and at a point where with rubber grippy pulling/forcing the nib out hasn't worked.
The nib and feed are not part of an unscrewable nib unit. You put them out by gripping the shoulders with an elastic and pulling straight out. You put them back the same way.
Thanks@@InkquiringMinds ! Just needed more patience and perseverance on my end. Got it out and gave it my first attempt at tuning.
Great video as always. Now tell us How U really Feel....LOL..! The same crap happens here in the States. Customer Service is gone when it comes to brick and mortar (BaM) shops and some on-line shops as well. Good luck trying to get some one to help find a product in a BaM store if not just the matter of trying to even get someone to help you at all. it's really just the sign of the times we are currently living in and unlike the COVID-19 virus that is going to get worst before it gets better - Customer Service is not going to get better. Sad but true.
Thanks, Ben. Unfortunately, everything you say is true. There are some good spots; retailers who actually get it, with good customer service and informed staff. They are rare.
Can put Amazon nib in Parker frontier?
I don’t have a Frontier.
Ooh, can't wait to see the horrible rip off tomorrow. Greetings Doug!
Hey, Stacy! Greetings! I'm just uploading it now. You'll like it. :)
Re: Online vs Brick N Mortar retailing: Sorry to hear about Chapters Stores not Price Matching with their Online site but... it's a matter of cost, pure and simple. Right now the shift to online retail use by consumers is accelerating the decline in BNM use, because the cost of running a retail store is inflating whilst most workers' incomes have been stagnating for years. Most of the cost inflation is in commercial property rental. Unless you are one of the big names, you are likely to be faced with a lease that has above inflation rent increases and a fixed lease period locked into the contract. That's a big ask for any retailer to generate the sales to make a reasonable profit like that. Nevermind asking them to absorb the loss by price matching their online prices. Chapters management probably sees their website competing with Amazon online, and their stores with other high street booksellers, hoping that the higher profits from online will subsidise their stores. After the pandemic, such a distinction may not be tenable, as more consumers will have got used to shopping online for things they don't need or wish to examine, or might willing to return via the returns distribution networks recently set up to cope with Amazon and other online retailers' returns. I for one will not miss schlepping through shopping centres, packed to the gunnels with noisy shoppers, that are a long walk away from public transport, or any transport at all for most things. Where I miss the immediacy of human contact is in specialty outlets, run by small retailers and not the corporate giants. You could build relationships and get knowledge and information from them. These however, were in decline years before and the pandemic might just finish them off too. Times of transition are hard, and I don't know if the future will be as good but, there's one benefit. As I don't have a local expert running a pen store nearby, I can turn to content providers like you, and that's a good thing.
Thank you, BigHenFor! Excellent information. I sold guitars at a national chain of stores (75+ across Canada) and customers could shop online and choose an item to be put aside from stock in a particular location. We would take the order and put the item aside for the customer to come and pickup. It was the same price in the store as online. Other stores like MemoryExpress and BestBuy do the same thing. Everyone is having to compete with Amazon, and I try to buy at Chapters before Amazon, but when I have to pay 10% more AND pay for shipping, or pay 10% more and wait a week for a book to be delivered from Chapters in Toronto to my local Chapters 10 minutes away for me to pickup, knowing that my local Chapters has 20 copies sitting on a shelf the entire time, it makes me think Chapters is missing the boat.
@@InkquiringMinds I get where you are coming from. It should be "a sale is a sale is a sale" but, that's down to who's making those decisions. They're usually people with no front line retail experience like accountants that see everything as a cost centre, rather than as a human-based activity. I see it in my industry too, and the disincentives that created that put off customers. And nobody above is listening to the front line staff, who will of course be the first to suffer once profits fall. It becomes a chase to the bottom. I no longer enjoy shopping because it's now an alienating and frustrating process. In fact it feels like work. Lol
@@BigHenFor True.
⭐💯🧡🤠
wow, that nib looks smooth and wet! I need to get one
I was surprised it was so smooth!
Heard these do not take standard international.... But do take Jinhao cartridges....Hmmm ? 🔍
They DO take standard international, in that they fit. I haven't extensively tested it to see if it leaks over time. The Jinhaos should fit perfectly.
@@InkquiringMinds I thought the same, haven't ordered one as of yet.
@@InkquiringMinds In his review, SBRE Brown demonstrates that the standard international cartridges leak, whilst (since you are in Canada) the Jinhao cartridges don't.
James McCarty Thanks for that James. I wondered about the standards. They fit , but not tight
Really, are they serious? For a company that is striving for "World Dominance" in their business, why didn't they go for standard international short/long cartidges, but for the slightly different Jinhao`s, where all over europe and supposedly most parts of the world, the odinary non-fountain-pen enthusiast will unlikely find converters/cartridges easily for and will dump his new ten-dollar-toy fast and frustrated, maybe forgetting bout fountain pens after it at all...
Some "small light" in the marketing/design department will be the unlucky scapegoat in the end, I fear... *sigh*.
Always the same, big companies greenlight non-well-thought-out, fast-made-decisions, and then a poor guy working hard and barely being able to make a living from his wage is the unlucky last in line.... 0_o