Blue Sharpie Pen Blues

My original Sharpie Pen review is easily the most viewed page on this blog, and because of that, it is still drawing frequent comments that most of you are unaware of.  One item has recently appeared in the comments section of that page that I had to bring up, because it is just too good to let wither away.

Pen Addict reader and commentor Stunod7 has seen some of the same issues that many of us have with the shade of blue in the Sharpie Pen being too light.  I never persued it any further, but luckily for the rest of us addicts, Stunod7 did.  I'm going to repost some of the comments here so you can see the chain of events:

August 25, 2008 9:37 PM
Stunod7 said...
    Here is what is crazy. I've bought several packs of these pens and have the same complaint about the blue color. I've bought 10 pens total and 2 of them are a deep, dark, very rich blue. The rest are this namby-pamby light blue color that I hate. I trying to get some kind of resolution from Sharpie. I've sent them a message and I'll give them a call if they don't respond because I love the way the pen writes but I'm a blue person and this light blue won't cut it.

August 26, 2008 3:51 PM
Stunod7 said...
    So far the only thing I've gotten back was an address that I can ship the pens back to and they will replace them. I asked them to clarify the color for me because I wasn't interested in getting back pens of the same color ink.

    The investigation continues....

August 27, 2008 4:55 PM
Stunod7 said...
    According to a Sanford Consumer Affairs Associate that I spoke with these pens should be producing a deeper blue. They are replacing the... 8 or so pens I've purchased and sending me an additional 2 as well.

    They actually requested that I scan and eMail them the samples of my specific issues, which I did. Also posted them on Flickr (see below)
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/stunod7/sets/72157606984074337
    Am I taking this too far... Am I that much of a pen addict...

Stunod7 went on to exchange emails with the Sanford Consumer Affairs Associate, which he has forwarded to me, noting their willingness to make things right for their customer.  Channeling my inner Consumerist, nice job by the Sanford team for going above and beyond, and thanks to Stunod7 for sharing his tale.

And yes Stunod7, you are that much of a pen addict!

Ink Links

-- More great school supplies from the gang at Stickers and Donuts  (Stickers and Donuts)

-- Dave is a fan of the A.G. Spalding line  (365 Journal Entries)

-- JetPens August Newsletter - I have samples of both the Pilot Symmetry and Uni-Ball Power Tank that I will post next week  (JetPens)

-- JetPens has also started a contest in their Flickr pool - read the details right here and get snapping!

-- Review: The New Sharpie Pens  (Amateur Economist)

-- Review: Quo Vadis Habana  (The Pen Hunter)

-- Speedmaster too!  Review: Quo Vadis Habana Notebooks  (Amateur Economist)

-- A fresh take on a classic - Roma Lubimov's CMYK pen  (Behance Network)

Updated Favorite Pens List

It is about time for me to update the sidebar with my current favorite pens.  Nothing has changed in the top three spots, but I'm moving the Pilot G-3 0.38mm into the four spot, and the Sharpie Pen into the five.  They replace the Zebra Sarasa 0.4mm and the Uni-Ball Signo RT 0.38mm, respectively.

Here is how the current top five stands:

1. Pentel Slicci 0.3mm
2. Pilot Hi-Tec-C 0.4mm
3. Uni-Ball Signo DX 0.38mm
4. Pilot G-3 0.38mm
5. Sharpie Pen

I'm not sure how long the Sharpie Pen will be there though - I think these new Copic Multiliners I received may knock it off the list pretty quickly.

Sharpie Pen Review - Back to the Top

Sharpie is putting on the full-court press with their new advertisements featuring David Beckham, and possibly because of those ads, I have been receiving lots of hits, emails, and questions concerning the Sharpie Pen.  Just to bring any new readers up to speed, here is the link to my original review on the Sharpie Pen, and the subsequent chain of comments.

Lots of people are starting to pick up on it, and almost all of the reviews are positive, so go check them out!

Review: Bic Mark-It Permanent Marker

I like the design and the price point of the Bic Mark-It permanent markers, but they really can't hold a candle to the Sharpie permanent markers. After marking up a few cds I had just burned, the tip was already going soft, and there is now a squishy feel when writing, which drives me nuts. I'll stay strictly in the Sharpie camp from now on.

Review: Sharpie Pen

The Sharpie Pen caught me by surprise strolling down the aisle at Wal-Mart, and being the Pen Addict that I am, I just had to pick up a two-pack of black and a two-pack of blue. If you are familiar at all with the Pilot V Razor Point pens, then you have a good reference point for this pen. It is very similar, and I like it a lot. The black Sharpie Pen lays down a very solid, sharp line, and the blue does the same, although I would prefer a bit deeper shade. The tip is very firm and soild, and I haven't seen any signs of breaking down just yet. All in all, this is a great pen.