PARKER Vector Ballpoint Pen, Stainless Steel with Chrome Trim, Medium Point, Blue Ink, Gift Box

This review is for ASIN=B0767X7QCG, Seller=Junipers', Title=PARKER Vector Ballpoint Pen, Stainless Steel with Chrome Trim, Medium Point, Blue Ink, Gift Box=================================1. Packaging and presentation (see photo):=================================This specific seller --> Junipers' <-- ships the Parker Vector ballpoint pen manufactured in France.Priced at $8.25 before tax. The seller packages the Parker gift box in their own white color box and puts a light 1-inch length by quarter-inch width tape over the open end. The seller's box is packaged into a a form-fitting zip-lock plastic sleeve. This packaging keeps the Parker box from getting dirty during transit.To reveal the Parker gift box, gently lift the tape from the the outer white box and remove it completely. The Parker gift box then slides out of the outer white color box.The Parker gift box has an outer black color sheath with a Parker logo and an inner tray made of thickened cardboard. Within the cardboard tray the Parker pen rests in a v-shaped channel with notches to hold the pen in place. Packaged above the pen is the Parker warranty paper, which also has the Parker logo.The overall presentation is good making it highly gift-able.================2. Pen performance:================The Parker Vector ballpoint pen is a no-nonsense writer, with good balance, weighted slightly above the center line towards the top. This balance point allows you to hold the pen in the middle, away from the writing tip, meaning one can complete a flourish with a small movement. This is good for low-fatigue writing. This pen is different from the Parker Jotter which is balanced a bit below the center line.You can easily switch the ballpoint refill with a gel refill. The caveat is that gel refills are water-based and run out quicker than the oil-based ballpoint refills. YMMV.==============================================3. Manufactured in France vs. India, and the topic of 'fakes':==============================================This specific seller --> Junipers' <-- ships the Parker Vector ballpoint pen manufactured in France.Parker pens manufactured in India are not fakes; these are Parker pens manufactured in India by 'Luxor Pens' under license from Parker and intended 'For sale in Nepal/India only'.In the last 5 years, I've observed an uptick in sellers selling Parker pens from India. These opportunistic sellers often take over older product listings created several years ago and start selling Parker pens made under license in India by Luxor Pens under the same product listing. They are buying the Parker pen in India for between $3 and $6 (depending on model and trim) and sell it for a significant markup. They will even go the extent of defacing or blacking out the phrases indicating where the pen was manufactured and the intended region of sale. So, the photos show the French-made pens, but the reviews tend to be mixed because some buyers received a Parker pen manufactured by Luxor. It all depends on the seller who ships the pen to you.If you must blame someone for this situation, blame Amazon.To be absolutely sure of the country of origin, message the seller and get a confirmation on record that the pen was manufactured in France. Sellers that ignore you should be ignored too!===============4. Well, what next:===============It writes well, it is well-balanced, and well-priced. Well well well. Hope the above information helps others make the right decision.

Saw the item on Amazon on the cheap side of price, decided to give it a shot. Was surprised at the good condition of the writing instrument when it arrived. Very happy!

I really like this pen so much!!! It looks very classy and stylish. I’m left handed and a lot of pen leaves ink on my hand, so for me very important when ink dry fast. And this pen works perfect. The flow from the rollerball is smooth, making nice line, medium thickness. Feels good in the hand with size and weight for even long writing. It is easy to put parts together and quality of mechanism likes would work for a while.Pen comes in very nice package, what makes it good for a gift.Very satisfied with my purchase!!!

The pen a great name--Parker. But it looks and feels worse than a free pen. I don't know how it writes because I prefer a black ink and immediately inserted a black Parker refill.

Terrible pen. So disappointed. The metal was thin and stamped/rolled, and the plastic body... the cheapest feeling plastic ever... like disposable party favor plastic.

I bought this pen to carry at work and if it gets lost, oh well, nothing too great is gone. It's a nice pen and pretty well made but the materials of construction are very cheapish. The metal tip is stamped stainless, very thin. It does have a brushed finish that makes it nice to grip but doesn't have a substantial feel. The barrel is molded plastic and while it is quite well molded in terms of precision, it does have a very cheap plastic look and feel. The pen itself if extremely light weight, and if that it what you want, great. But I prefer a heavier feel and I didn't dock it any points for my personal preferences. I just expect for a $10 pen it would be better than something I could steal from the Dr.'s office counter. I just remember Parker pens being a little bit better. The Cross that I purchased a year ago is a substantially nicer pen. Thought I'd give Parker a try this time around and got burnt.

Best all around pen for both written composition and art. It’s beautiful and near Mont Blanc quality at 5% the price. Been using these since the ‘90s and they’re my favorite.

Been using a Vector for years. After 20+ years of changing ink the barrel threads finally wore out, had to buy a new pen.

Pluma de calidad de puntos, fino, medio y grueso de Excelente escritura y muy liviana de tinta normal y tinta de gel.

Perfect usable pen !

Je connais Parker depuis près de soixante ans et c'est toujours la référence de qualité!

Perfeita.

Penna Parker rollerball vector molto bella. Leggerissima e scrive benissimo. Molto bello il colore. Consigliata