# Reputable Online Pen Dealers? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 25, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reputable-online-pen-dealers/597575 "2011-09-25T18:29:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Caractacus\_Pott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reputable-online-pen-dealers/597575/1 "2011-09-25T18:29:11Z")
I’ve finally gotten sick of dealing with my Cross pens. The last straw is paying $6 per refill plus overseas shipping costs and having the plastic threads fail well before the ink runs out. I’d bop down to a stationer or office supply shop to see what’s new in the handwriting world but I’m in a country that doesn’t have either. Online it is! There are so many sites I can’t figure out which are trustworthy. If it makes a difference, I’m looking for ball point pens. The sites don’t have to ship overseas. I have a friend in America who’ll forward purchases to me. _Help me Dopers, you’re my only hope!_ ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reputable-online-pen-dealers/597575/2 "2011-09-25T18:38:38Z")
[noparse][http://www.penisland.net/[/noparse]](http://www.penisland.net/%5B/noparse%5D) ? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reputable-online-pen-dealers/597575/3 "2011-09-25T18:42:22Z")
I have had excellent experiences with [www.jetpens.com](http://www.jetpens.com) . I’ve never bought from them, but [www.Levenger.com](http://www.Levenger.com) is reputable as well. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reputable-online-pen-dealers/597575/4 "2011-09-25T19:32:12Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > [noparse][http://www.penisland.net/[/noparse]](http://www.penisland.net/%5B/noparse%5D) ? 😉 Damn. Beat me to it! 😃 (Was that site real, or was it a big inside joke?) ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reputable-online-pen-dealers/597575/5 "2011-09-26T05:23:50Z")
> **[Fountain Pen Hospital - Celebrating 70 years as the world's showcase of fine...](https://www.fountainpenhospital.com/)** > > Fountain pen hospital has been the source for fine writing instruments for over 65 years. Dangerously addictive site, for pen lovers like myself. ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reputable-online-pen-dealers/597575/6 "2011-09-26T05:25:30Z")
> [@antonio107](#): > > Damn. Beat me to it! 😃 > > (Was that site real, or was it a big inside joke?) The latter (there’s nowhere on the site to actually order pens, and all the pen descriptions are dick jokes). And now I’m mildly peeved that I was only the third person to think of that. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reputable-online-pen-dealers/597575/7 "2011-09-26T13:01:55Z")
> [@Caractacus\_Pott](#): > > I’ve finally gotten sick of dealing with my Cross pens. The last straw is paying $6 per refill plus overseas shipping costs and having the plastic threads fail well before the ink runs out. :eek: Has the quality of Cross pens taken a decline? I still have mine working after more than 15 years and it hasn’t needed an ink refill yet. If I do ever get a refill or a replacement will it likely not last that long anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Caractacus\_Pott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reputable-online-pen-dealers/597575/8 "2011-09-26T15:33:50Z")
_Penis land_, ha ha. Thanks **Hello Again** and **Sophistry and Illusion**. Between those sites I should be able to find something. The “Hospital” has a gold Parker pen I’m leaning toward, but that could change after I explore more. **Ludovic** , I bought my last set of ballpoint refills about 6 months ago. I broke 2 refills within a couple weeks of each other. When I opened the next pack, I noticed “Made in China” in small letters. Had the price gone down with the quality, I wouldn’t have minded. The pens themselves are fine but damn, I have to treat them with kid gloves. Scratch that; I have to hold them with rubber gloves so they don’t slip out of my hand onto the desk or floor. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reputable-online-pen-dealers/597575/9 "2011-09-26T16:24:43Z")
Both my mother and I have ordered from the aforementioned Levenger many times - excellent products and service. They’re good people. ---
**Author:** ![Caractacus\_Pott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reputable-online-pen-dealers/597575/10 "2011-09-27T19:45:59Z")
Thanks everyone for all your help. I put in an order for a gold Parker ballpoint at the “Hospital.”