Santa Fe Pens — Attraction in Santa Fe

Santa Fe Pens has some lovely, albeit a limited supply of, pens. We found two pens we wanted to consider as a gift for a special friend, but the salesperson did not want to get them out of the case for us to see. Coaxing her into taking them out was just the beginning of the ordeal because she had no clue about prices. Only a few of the pens in the store had prices attached. After flipping angrily through a stack of papers and making several phone calls, she gave us a price for each pen. When we asked to see a third pen, her reply was, "You're kidding me!" When I assured her that we were not kidding, she heaved a huge sigh and finally removed a third pen from the case. As we compared the three pens, she quoted different prices for the original two that we were considering--and the prices were higher! I asked why the price change, and she said that she was looking at the price (on her stack of papers), and "that's what it says!" She pointed at the price on the paper, but I had no faith that the price she quoted corresponded to the pen we were considering.

Needing some time to process the price switch and the entire experience, we told the salesperson that we wanted to think a while before purchasing a pen, and she again responded with, "You're kidding me!"

My husband returned 15 minutes later to purchase one of the pens, but he came back empty-handed. The price had changed yet again--an increase of about 40%--and she said that a box of about 8 ink cartridges cost $75.! Staples carries the same cartridges for less than $10.

This salesperson apparently is not at the store full-time, so perhaps other employees are more competent and less rude. Unless I need a good scolding or want to be baffled by seemingly capricious price changes, I will not be returning...

Everything is over priced go to Amazon and get it 20 dollars cheaper.

RESPONSE TO OWNER

I get it you have been charging full retail price for 30 years, so now the world just owes you a round of applause and a steady stream of customers who ignore better prices, convenience, and reality? Newsflash: nostalgia isn't a business model. Maybe instead of whining about Amazon and blaming the cost of rent, you should ask why people would rather buy from a faceless warehouse than walk into your store. If your biggest selling point is "we've been here forever," don't be surprised when...

Shawn is a very knowledgeable staff member who apparently teaches penmanship. As a result, she is gave excellent advise on what to look for in my next pen—she was patient and genuinely enthusiastic to let me try out lots of different pens, and I was able to confidently walk out with a new Pilot Vanishing Point. As an engineer, I am excited to have this pen as my new everyday writer and, as a pen enthusiast, I am excited to have discovered this hidden...