Kits from USA

[Buckeye]

As some of you may remember I bought some kits from http://www.smittyspenworks.com on a "Trust Smitty" deal which is where he sells a mystery package for a set amount of money, you have no clue what is in there and have to trust smitty that it will be a great deal, it always is. I wanted some Janis Joplin Stamps to do a special stamp blank and asked Leroy aka Smitty if I had the stamps sent to him would he put them in the box he was sending to me. In the end I couldn't buy the stamps because I didn't have a CC registered to an American address so Leroy bought the stamps and put them in the box for me and just charged me the cost of the stamps, great and unexpected service.

Anyway I have just bought some more kits from him and I forgot to put in a code that gives a 10% discount to IAP members and I had an email from him saying that if he can find a cheaper way to send to the UK he would refund the difference to the 40$ I paid for postage and that he would refund me the 10% for the code I didn't use, that's brilliant service and makes such a difference, I am so impressed with Leroy.

These are the kits I bought this time.

http://www.smittyspenworks.com/pd-spw-jr-great-palace-vine-by-dayacom--fp.cfm
http://www.smittyspenworks.com/pd-spw-jr-morgan-rb-by-dayacom---black-titanium.cfm
http://www.smittyspenworks.com/pd-pkmaftpjr---majestic-jr-fp-in-black-tn-rho.cfm

I am so looking forward to the Jr. Great Palace Vine as I have someone in mind who will slobber all over it, but only after she has paid for it

Peter

 

[brody2123]

That's exellent service indeed Peter. I like the jr Morgan especially

 

[Phil Dart]

That's great customer service Peter.

It just goes to show what can be achieved by those US suppliers who value their customers, compared to the cynical approach displayed by several others. The big names have had it their own way for far too long, and it's about time that some of them are given something to think about, with a great tale like yours.

In an age where we all have instant access to sellers worldwide, sometime all that small companies like smittyspenworks (and Dan's and mine) have to compete with, apart from products and pricing, is exemplary customer service and going the extra mile. I imagine the Smitty will go from strength to strength. A reliable supplier with a great attitude towards its customers is worth it's weight in gold in today's market in my view.

 

[Buckeye]

That's great customer service Peter.

It just goes to show what can be achieved by those US suppliers who value their customers, compared to the cynical approach displayed by several others. The big names have had it their own way for far too long, and it's about time that some of them are given something to think about, with a great tale like yours.

In an age where we all have instant access to sellers worldwide, sometime all that small companies like smittyspenworks (and Dan's and mine) have to compete with, apart from products and pricing, is exemplary customer service and going the extra mile. I imagine the Smitty will go from strength to strength. A reliable supplier with a great attitude towards its customers is worth it's weight in gold in today's market in my view.

You are so right, both you and Dan have given great service and it's great service that gets recommendations passed on to others. It is more surprising when it happens with a US supplier as lots of us have had bad experiences where we don't even get an email enquiry responded to.

Peter

 

[flexi]

Its good to get great customer service....i use Classic nibs from that side of the pond as his service is good too.
I wish i was in your league for affording the 1st pen....let alone my customers being able to buy the completed pen....good on you sir!!

 

[Penpal]

Wonderful to hear of a good deal from the US after the sad ones depending on the total order the freight seemed normal for us over here speaking of us though we restrict our buys from there with our dollar devalued making our local suppliers ever so much more economical. Internal in country purchases of blanks although from long distances are very reasonable. Our mail service has broken down through letter posting they now concentrate on parcel post depots. So many people buy out of Australia.

Peter.

 

[Buckeye]

I forget to say that if you have previously bought from smittypenworks you can join Smitty's Club as they are taking on new members until the end of the month http://www.penturners.org/forum/f218/smittys-club-taking-new-members-138950/

Basically what that entitles you to is the lowest price on the penkits i.e. if you buy 1 pen you will get it for the same price as the highest quantity price break, so for the Jr Palace Vine the single rate is $97.95 the 20 rate is $85.00 so you would get one of those for $85.00 and during the IAP Bash Smitty put up a code for 10% discount on the IAP site which takes the $85.00 down to $76.50.

Peter

 

[Jim]

Nice customer relations there Peter, also some quality pens on show also ..

 

[wm460]

he put on some good deals there.

 

[EStreet]

I have posted about the great palace vine on this forum not that long ago.

As for the "trust me" past that reminds me of the old saying .... A lot of babies have been born that way.

 

[Buckeye]

I have posted about the great palace vine on this forum not that long ago.

As for the "trust me" past that reminds me of the old saying .... A lot of babies have been born that way.

Your enmity towards Smitty is well documented, but if Smitty knocked you up while you weren't looking just say so. Can you tell us why Smitty is untrustworthy, as you implied?

Peter

 

[Bill Mooney]

It's nice to hear of satisfied customers.

 

[EStreet]

Your enmity towards Smitty is well documented, but if Smitty knocked you up while you weren't looking just say so. Can you tell us why Smitty is untrustworthy, as you implied?

Peter

Never implied he was untrustworthy. Using the distasteful 'trust' phrase is what I mentioned, that method is most commonly used by used car salesmen and you will not never find any high caliber quality companies using terms like that for the same reasons.

 

[Jed Baxter]

I would give you the samr service if you was paying me that amount for a pen kit.

 

[Buckeye]

Never implied he was untrustworthy.

Yeah, right.

I would give you the samr service if you was paying me that amount for a pen kit.

The first time I bought from Smitty it was only about $50 plus postage and yet I got the same great service, It has nothing to do with price it seems.

Peter

 

[Penpal]

I appreciate your telling us of your good experiences dealing with purchases Peter pleasant memories last. I always appreciate Eds thorough comments on products and his exceptional back up producing quality pens.

Thanks are due to so many contributers on the forum IMHO they make my day every day.

Peter.

 

[Buckeye]

I appreciate your telling us of your good experiences dealing with purchases Peter pleasant memories last. I always appreciate Eds thorough comments on products and his exceptional back up producing quality pens.

Thanks are due to so many contributers on the forum IMHO they make my day every day.

Peter.

I've seen too many threads on IAP where his posts cause no end of problems, seems he stopped posting there and started here.

Peter

 

[Penpal]

I've seen too many threads on IAP where his posts cause no end of problems, seems he stopped posting there and started here.

Peter

THe first contributions on the IAP made me respond straight way over time I have developed respect for Ed I am sure his so thorough approach and search for perfection must make him restless. I sent him a pm at the time pleasantly surprised by his honesty. Both Ed and Smitty go for the long haul replies and hang in there. Their way of speaking.

Peter.

 

[Buckeye]

Any thread I have seen him in becomes tedious, very quickly. I don't fawn over him and he does prefer supplicants.

Peter

 

[chas_41_uk]

Well it looks like a good buy to me