Try Before You Buy - Test-drive one of my sample pens for a week for the price of its return postage!

What is "Try Before You Buy"

If you would like to try our products for yourself, you can "test drive" one of our demonstration pens.  This allows you to try the pen out in the comfort of your own home for up to a week.  Do you like the look of a pen but are not sure of the build quality?  Would you like to see how a pen feels for balance and size before you order one?  Well, now you can.  Please read through the simple rules below, then take a look further down the page for a list of pens that we currently have available as samples.

Rules

1. All pens must be tried, tested and returned within seven days.
2. Before borrowing the pen, you must lodge with us a Paypal payment or a cheque for the specified "deposit" amount.  This will usually be the purchase price of the pen chosen.  Paypal payments will be refunded when the pen is safely returned, and cheques will either be destroyed or returned to you.   We will also need your name, address, e-mail address and/or telephone number.
3. Whilst the pen is in your care, please feel free to use it and get a feel for it, but I would ask that you treat it with care and respect and take care not to damage it.
4. You are responsible for return postage and for ensuring that the pen reaches us in the condition in which it was sent out.  I recommend you use Special Delivery as this is a fully insured form of posting.  We will include a pre-addressed Special Delivery slip that you can use when returning the pen.  In most cases, you may be able to re-use the outer packaging that we sent the pen to you in.
5. Before the pen is returned, it must be emptied of ink and flushed through when possible, with cold water.  Please do not return the pen full of ink, and please make sure that all packaging and papers (e.g. instruction sheets, guarantees) are included.
6. Please e-mail or call before returning the pen so that we know to expect it.
7. When the pen arrives back, I will check it over and either e-mail or call to confirm that we have it safe and sound.
8. As we only have very limited numbers of sample pens, there may be a wait before we can send your chosen pen out to you.  We will advise you of any such delay at the time.
9. For the time being, the Try Before You Buy scheme is only open to residents of the UK.

E-mail me at:  andys-pens@ukhome.net
Or phone me on: 07886 326048
to request a "Try Before You Buy" test drive.

My Sample Pens

Below is a list of my current stock of sample pens.  Each pen is illustrated, and to the right of the picture is the "deposit" amount that needs to be lodged to secure the loan.  

Lalex Linea Grande Sterling Silver Cap and Barrel.

Lamy 2000 with Medium Nib.

The LAMY 2000 has been writing its way into design history since 1966. Even today, many people regard it as one of the world´s most modern writing instruments.  A combination of fibreglass-reinforced Makrolon and stainless steel with a brush finish. Spring-mounted, solid stainless steel clip.  This pen has a beautifully smooth writing 14 carat gold nib.  It is excellent value for money and a real style classic from its textured surface to its piston ink filling mechanism.

Pilot Capless with Medium Nib.

A unique retractable fountain pen fitted with a 14 carat gold nib.  

Sailor Sapporo Standard with Zoom Nib.

Sailor's zoom nib is one of their specialty nibs.  It has a specially shaped tip that produces a thicker or thinner line depending on the angle that the pen is held.  A steep angle produces a thinner line, whilst a shallow angle produces a wider line.  The Sailor Sapporo Standard takes over from the similarly sized and prices 1911 pen as my best-selling Sailor pen.

Visconti Van Gogh Maxi, Turtle Celluloid, Medium Nib.

The Van Gogh pen in the new Turtle colour is possibly the most beautiful pen I have seen in a long while.  Made from vegetal celluloid, both cap and barrel are semi-translucent and infused with colours from dark brown, through honey colour to an almost pure white.  The Maxi is a large pen, with excellent balance and a good heft.  The enormous 14 carat gold nib is splendidly smooth and is a terrific writer.  Excellent value for money.