This new Safari follows the trend initiated with the previous Itoya-exclusive Safari, the Copper 01 from last year (although announced December 2022). Matte finish, black nib, and a distinctive brass clip. And again with the possibility of implementing the kanji nib.
So, is this all? Yes, but at a cost. It is hard not to notice the inflation associated to these pens.
As far as I know, Lamy has produced three Safari with metallic clip—the above-mentioned Copper 01 and 02 made for Itoya, and the Green Field model marketed earlier this year. They are shown on the following pics:
From back to front, Copper 01, Green Field, and Copper 02.
All three with kanji nibs.
And then we can compare the prices:
The brass clips. From top to bottom, Copper 01, Green Field, and Copper 02. The prices are inclusive of taxes (10%), and correspond to the versions with kanji (KJ on the reference) nibs. The Copper 02 with regular (EF, F, M) nib costs JPY 6000, plus taxes.
The relative high price is in part associated to the kanji nib those particular pens sport, but what is indeed striking is the constant increase over the three pens in about a year and a half. Each of those pens is JPY 500 more expensive than the previous. And at the final price is 14% higher than the initial.
Is there a reason behind this inflation? Is this caused by the free falling Japanese yen in the financial markets? Is it a deliberate strategy to make the popular and even humble Safari a more upscale pen?
I do not have any answer, but I think an expensive Safari would lose a great deal of the current appeal among users and collectors.
Parker 50 Falcon – Sailor Yama-dori
Bruno Taut
July 14th, 2024
etiquetas: Lamy, mercado
Bruno Taut
July 14th, 2024
etiquetas: Lamy, mercado
15 comments:
I don't really understand why increasing the prices that much. I agree that is not the way to follow. They are pushing the colectors too far.
Anyway, the pens are nice, and I love the kanji nibs. Won't buy more than one, though.
Thank you for sharing and for your price analysis.
Thanks, Papish, for your quick comment.
The big question, as I said on the text, is why they do that. And as you point out, I wonder how much we collectors can be pushed into buying a plastic pen intended to be inexpensive.
Thanks for your continuous support.
BT
What a price! Great marketing for the chinese copies, like it or not
It came in as a starter fountain pen and I think it is its real power. An economic and reliable one with many nib choices and colours.
There is a world in cheap fountain pens too. Many of them are very good (beat a Preppy in its price range!) but we still think they are not because of a number.
An expensive Safari is still a Safari 🤷♀️
Exclusividad a bajo coste de producción y gran beneficio de venta. Aunque lo único que publicitan es la exclusividad. Esta entrada me hace pensar en el éxito que parecen tener las ediciones especiales, supongo que hay un nicho de mercado habitado por clientes que buscan distinguirse de los demás al precio que sea. Al precio que sea y que se puedan permitir: por 35 euros (6000 yenes al cambio, aproximadamente), puedes ser el feliz propietario de una pluma singular. Cabeza de ratón antes que cola de león. Es la ideología que reina en nuestro tiempo..; pero esta es otra historia.
Gracias por tu reflexión.
Anonymous,
Indeed a great argument to go for the Chinese copies. And that is what makes those inflationary moves all the harder to understand.
Thanks for passing by and commenting, ballenero.
BT
Welcome back, Papish.
I am happy to know I am not alone like the Safari for its affordable price.
Thanks.
BT
Waterman's 13:
Gracias por tu comentario. La idea de las ediciones limitadas como mecanismo para aumentar la ansiedad del comprador y como argumento de éxito ya la he tratado en estas páginas. Lo que es nuevo en las Safari es el hecho de que suban de precio tan rápidamente.
En cualquier caso, el precio lo decide el comprador...
Gracias por pasar por aquí y tomarte el esfuerzo de comentar.
BT
Inflation, currency fluctuations and the perception of greed seem to be the most common theories when anything goes up in price. Less frequently I see mention of the cost of raw materials (out of the control of Lamy or certainly Itoya). Cost of raw materials may be impacted itself by inflation but also geopolitical conflict or weather / disaster among other things. Furthermore, given the collaborative nature of this particular product a difference of price year-over-year could be a simple consequence born from the nature of retail. For example, Itoya could have simply placed a smaller order with Lamy thereby meaning the per-unit cost will be higher. If they did so, that itself could be for any number of reasons.
Thanks, Anonymous, for your insightful comment. The first Copper pen (Copper 01) was a big success, especially the version with the kanji nib. That makes me think of the smaller order as an unlikely possibility. About the rest nothing can I say.
Thanks gain.
BT
I think the issue is too opaque to even remotely conclude anything. The first Lamy collaboration could have been the most successful product they’ve ever sold, but if other parts of the business are failing then that could affect subsequent orders. I’ve seen very successful restaurants close down simply because the landlord decided to raise the rent by some exorbitant amount. And so on.
Back to the pens: I think they are very nice and I hope they do well.
Happy to see another chapter in the Chronicas. Yes, the name of the model is a long one, but seems like Japanese companies like the Itoya x Sailor (to suggest collaboration) and some sort of limited edition feeling. I do like the matte colors, but won't pick one up either at what seems like twice the price of the last time I bought a Safari. It would be sad if the Lamy Safari loses its place as an entry level pen that can attract first time FP buyers, like the Preppy or Pelikano... who might not be used to spending more than $5 on a pen. I think Lamy should keep it and hope new users would dream of upgrading to the 2K or other models later. But that's just my thinking and many companies seem to be taking advantage of supply issues to increase corporate profit. Of course companies are in business to make money, but major price changes seem like short sighted proftability moves that will have negative long term impact of less people coming to fountain pens or Lamy.
By the way, in case you like videos, Hemingway Jones, had a fun 20-min. video on the Safari.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifuajXgB6AU
Have a good summer. It was good to see you again recently. Cheers.
Thanks, Andrew.
In the heart of the issue lies another important question--do fountain pens have any future? I wonder which platform would be the right one for such discussion.
Cheers,
BT
Otra pregunta tentadora sobre la que no puedo resistirme a ensayar una respuesta, si es que nuestro anfitrión tiene a bien publicarla en tanto se determina la plataforma adecuada para dar curso a esta discusión.
Pienso que con la estilográfica y otros instrumentos de escritura se puede hacer una analogía respecto de los distintos medios de comunicación que han ido apareciendo en el tiempo. Para simplificar, cuando apareció la radio algunos pensaban que la prensa escrita desaparecería, no ha sido así, la prensa escrita sigue existiendo. Cuando se inventó la televisión, no fueron pocos los estaban dispuestos a levantar el acta de defunción de la radio. Pero la radio sigue viva y coleando. Finalmente, con Internet pudo parecer que prensa, radio y televisión desaparecerían definitivamente; tampoco ha sido así. Lo que ha ocurrido, de hecho, es que unos inventos se han complementado con otros. Así también en relación con los instrumentos de escritura: ahí sigue el pincel, el lápiz, la estilográfica, el bolígrafo, el rotulador... La forma es el contenido, por eso creo que la estilográfica tiene futuro, porque ofrece un modo de expresión que le es singular y que refleja un aspecto de nuestra naturaleza (esencia) que nos es irrenunciable.
Un saludo cordial.
Eres un optimista, Waterman's 13.
Gracias por el comentario.
BT
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