Parker .7 Gel startup problem

[Fargo]

I've bought about two dozen Parker .7 Gel
refills, and about 15 of them seem to be
defective. They skip drastically, and no
amount of cleaning, wiping, heating, dipping
in solvent or anything else clears the
initial skipping. I return them to Office
Depot with no problem and obtain
replacements. The same percentage of
the replacements skip as well. I have to
go through 3 or 4 to get a good one.

Anyone have the same experience, or
is there a trick I don't know to start these?
I love 'em when they work right.

[JimL]

If the same store gave you replacements, they were probably from the
same defective factory shipment. If you have had good luck with the
product before, buy elsewhere. And even write to the factory. With a
bulk order I think they would want to know of your experience.
Generally the packages have some kind of serial number which would tell
them the date, assembly line, etc.
.
I have written to manufacturers of various products and they have
shipped me replacements gladly. They want to stay in business.

[Virtual Gordon]

I've had so many similar problems with the Parker gel refills that I've just
given up on them. The folks at Parker even sent me some free replacements
(they do have great customer service) and a quarter of those did not work. I
took a lead from this group and purchased some Staples brand CLX gel pens.
One can just strip them for the Parker style refill and they are less than a
dollar each. Just toss the pen body. So far so good.

Gordon

[r***@aol.com]

Post by Virtual Gordon
I've had so many similar problems with the Parker gel refills that I've just
given up on them. The folks at Parker even sent me some free replacements
(they do have great customer service) and a quarter of those did not work. I
took a lead from this group and purchased some Staples brand CLX gel pens.
One can just strip them for the Parker style refill and they are less than a
dollar each. Just toss the pen body. So far so good.
Gordon

What I do with gel refills that come with a new Parker pen is to throw
them away and buy a blue or black medium Parker refill at Staples or
Office Max. It is annoying and a bit costly, but to write with what
you prefer to write with is absolutely priceless as the Master Card
commercial would attest!

My fear is that the gel refill could leak inside the pen and in my
shirt pocket. That's why I do not use them. Ditto to their usage in
vintage Jotter pens as who wants ink to set on the plastic or
rubberized bodies.

Hopefully, Parker will stop making gel refills and stick to what they
have made so far that work so well.

James Goodwin

[mp3]

Post by r***@aol.com
Hopefully, Parker will stop making gel refills and stick to what they
have made so far that work so well.
James Goodwin

What a dumb post!
I have been using Parker Gel Refills for a few years now, it's the best
gel refill by far - smooth, wet, doesn't smear and the colors are
intense.
I had a few bad ones, Parker acknowledged it and sent the replacements
- great service!

[Fargo]

mp3 wrote:

...

Post by mp3
I had a few bad ones, Parker acknowledged
it and sent the replacements - great service!

Thanks to all who responded. I looked over the
previous posts here on the same topic (d'oh!),
and contacted Parker. They state that it's a
shelf-life issue causing dried ink from which
there is no resurrection, and promise to
replace all returned refills. Can't do much
better than that.

[mge]

What colors were you using from OD.

Post by Fargo
I've bought about two dozen Parker .7 Gel
refills, and about 15 of them seem to be
defective. They skip drastically, and no
amount of cleaning, wiping, heating, dipping
in solvent or anything else clears the
initial skipping. I return them to Office
Depot with no problem and obtain
replacements. The same percentage of
the replacements skip as well. I have to
go through 3 or 4 to get a good one.
Anyone have the same experience, or
is there a trick I don't know to start these?
I love 'em when they work right.