Editing The Pen Addict 340/transcript (section)

== Brand Hopes & Wishes ==


'''Brad Dowdy:''' So this next topic, Myke, is half new and half follow-up. Because we have talked about our hopes and wishes for some of our favorite brands in 2019. Hope to see them do new and different things. And Pilot has just announced new colors in the Pilot Custom Heritage 91. So did you see this link that I popped in here? I did, yes. Yes. So this is good. You need to do more, Pilot. So let's talk about this real quick. So the Custom Heritage 91 is essentially their entry-level gold nib fountain pen. It's an exceptional pen. This is like the 3776 basic of Pilot's lineup. And as I saw this link and as I thought about what we talked about in the last podcast about what we want from these brands. And how much I've loved Pilot for pretty much the entirety of my fountain pen life. I don't think I bought a Pilot fountain pen last year. Like I had to really think about this. I didn't buy any of the vanishing points. I didn't buy any of the stock pens.

'''Myke Hurley:''' But it's not a surprise though when you think about it. Because you were probably waiting for something.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' That's exactly right. Like they had me on hold last year. I don't understand. Like and this is just me being me. I don't understand why they didn't say here's Navy and Orange Pilot Custom Heritage 91 for our 100th anniversary. Insta buy.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Mm-hmm.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I don't know what they... It's like they were asleep at the wheel for the entirety of 2018. Anyway, the 91 is an awesome pen at a great price point. They're announcing these at 12,000 yen, which is about $110. And that's a great price for a 14K nib. They have done this before, right? This isn't... Colors in the Custom Heritage 91 are not exactly new. They just don't have them all the time. They did a set of Oro Shizuku barrels probably three, four, five years ago where they did three different color 91s. They did the Tsukiyo, which is like a blue-green. Yamaguri, which is the brown. And Yamabudo, which is a maroon. So like I owned the Tsukiyo pen for a time and I'd sold it, you know. And they've done store-limited editions in the 91. Like I have a bung box, like a sparkly bung box one the time they went to the DC pen show years and years ago. I bought one of those. Still own that.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' It's... I want to see it in the 912. The 91 is the entry level. I understand it's a start. They've done it before. It's... It looks good. I'll buy the orange one. Like there's no doubt that I'm going to buy the orange one because I enjoy the pen. The 912 is a difference-making pen that I don't think they're utilizing enough, which, you know, you just have to go back to last episode to hear me speak on that. So I won't beat that horse. But it was... This was good. Like I was happy about this. Like this is fine. It's got to be more. I am expecting more from a company this big. They're getting trounced by Sailor and Platinum. Right now in custom and limited edition in the realm. They're getting trounced in every realm as far as I'm concerned because they just haven't kept up with the product lineup refreshes as much as the other companies have. So it stinks because the product is exceptional. And I will definitely buy the orange one when I can get my hands on it. And I'm sure I will love it. But let's go, Pilot. More. Give me more.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah, I like these colors. But like I just like them. I already own pens that look just like these and they're pro gears. Right.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' It's not super compelling.

'''Myke Hurley:''' No. I mean, you know, great. Like I'm pleased you're doing some stuff. But like this is...

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Hopefully it's a start. Hopefully it's a game plan. I'm not going to hold my breath. You know, I held it for all of 2018 and I died. So this is the ghost of Brad doing this show. Pilot killed me last year.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' So I've learned not to hold my breath with Pilot anymore. But yeah, we'll see. It's a start. And, you know, the one thing, the reason why I wanted in the 912 is because they have all the nibs there. Yeah. It's just a bigger, better, awesomer pen. Obviously more expensive. Way more expensive pen. But that's the pen that needs the focus. So we'll see what happens.