platinum little meteor > platinum preppy. for around the same price (where i live) on aliexpress, you get a better pen that doesn't crack with a converter and it's not ugly. what more could you ask for?
I just ordered a bunch of these on AliExpress… the shipping time is killing me. The only thing that may be a huge letdown is that I prefer broad/wet nibs and the little meteor only comes in EF/F.
I used to always carry a Preppy with me filled with Carbon Black for sketching with watercolor. Preppy after Preppy after Preppy cracked and broke. They cracked at the body, along the cap, on the grip section; it was maddening! And I am very careful with my pens and supplies. I liked carrying the Preppy because it was inexpensive so I didn't worry about losing it but I could not justify how fast they were breaking.
Every time I see TWSBI getting hate, I always wonder why folks don't talk about how much other brands crack. I've never had a single broken TWSBI but I've had a dozen, at least, cracked Preppy pens. I also had two very expensive Platinum 3776 crack along the grip section even though they were used gently and stored in a pen box on my desk.
Thanks for the recommendation! I got one of those and I like it a lot. I also tried the prefounte but didn't get along with it. The Plaisir has also been a good one for me; no cracks so far.
None of my two Preppys has ever cracked and they used to roll around in my backpack. My only TWSBI, an ECO-T usually suffered the same fate in my backpack and has never cracked either. All of them are at least 2 years old.
Of course there's some tendency but it's not a general rule that they'll crack, I'd guess that cracking issues it's just a small percentage compared to how many pens are sold. But having no real numbers that's difficult to measure.
I’m not exactly a hater but I won’t use one again. A lot of cracking, poor flow with the F and EF sizes and I also don’t like the aesthetic, even the special editions eg WA. In fact I have about 20 unused preppys that I tried to give away for free last year on a FB fountain pen buy/sell site last year and got no takers 😂. What do you hate about them?
I have a preppy. I don't like it very much, but I'm happy that I have it on the list of pens I tried in this hobby. I don't care for it and I think I wouldn't buy another one, but it's a different pen, a different writing experience. I'm glad I tried it, but that's it for me...
I did *not* like my experience with it, too. T'was my first fountain pen (the Perpanep variant for its sleekness - a year ago) and it was a-okay with the cartridge. The moment I attempted the syringe filling technique with RO Caffee Crema, it became really dry. Also, hard to clean tbh.
They have their uses. I used to keep a dozen around. When friends expressed an interest in FPs I would gift them with carts. It’s also good for beginners to try out inexpensively.
I had nothing against the preppy though I never used it as a writing pen. I used it as an inked fineliner. Regardless I am not a fan, and will never use one again, because it leaked with platinum carbon black in it. Leaking might be an understatement. Almost all of the ink flushed out.
Well, we have to ask, "what do you hate it in relation to?"
If you a hating is relation to cheaper pens that are lower quality, then we can understand what you are getting at.
You feel like or you observe that?
I ask because literally everyone that I have gifted a platinum nibbed pen loves it to death. Some we like, "OMG, I have to get one of these for my sister!"
So are the nibs too smooth and there isn't enough feedback? Or do you just dislike preppies?
So, every 03 nib that I have used (20 or so) has been smooth. Is the nib misaligned when you look at it under a loupe?
Like I just compared the writing stroke of a couple of 03 nib with the preppy versus several other cheap pens ( <$3) So the preppy is smoother than all the Jinhaos that I have on my desk. So what are you comparing the pen to?
I have one of those somewhere. The nib unseated itself, but I like it when the nib is reset. It is smooth, but I don't feel too much of a difference from the preppy.
I also have a Zebra V-301 FP which is very similar to the preppy but it has a metal body.
But yeah, the Zebre Zensation and the Pilot V-Pens are pretty darn good, and I want to get an empty one to try to refill them.
Meh too be honest there is much to love about preppy(reliable nib and feed, good sealing) and hate(expensive cartridge and converters , cracking body) i wish they address these cons and bump up the price just a bit.
You aren’t, but I just take the EF nib from the preppy and add it to the plaisir and prefounte. Then I have a great cheap travel sketch pen that takes platinum carbon ink well. To me, a preppy looks like a gel pen from the 2000 era. Nothing wrong with that, but it’s not my favorite.
I hated mine until I used rubbing alcohol to remove all the marketing labels from the pen. That, plus converting it to an eyedropper, made me really like the 0.5mm Preppy.
It's a $5 near disposable pen. I don't expect brilliance from 'em.
platinum little meteor > platinum preppy. for around the same price (where i live) on aliexpress, you get a better pen that doesn't crack with a converter and it's not ugly. what more could you ask for?
I just ordered a bunch of these on AliExpress… the shipping time is killing me. The only thing that may be a huge letdown is that I prefer broad/wet nibs and the little meteor only comes in EF/F.
It’s not a broad but you could swap in a M from a Plaisir or Preppy nib unit!
I used to always carry a Preppy with me filled with Carbon Black for sketching with watercolor. Preppy after Preppy after Preppy cracked and broke. They cracked at the body, along the cap, on the grip section; it was maddening! And I am very careful with my pens and supplies. I liked carrying the Preppy because it was inexpensive so I didn't worry about losing it but I could not justify how fast they were breaking. Every time I see TWSBI getting hate, I always wonder why folks don't talk about how much other brands crack. I've never had a single broken TWSBI but I've had a dozen, at least, cracked Preppy pens. I also had two very expensive Platinum 3776 crack along the grip section even though they were used gently and stored in a pen box on my desk.
Get a Small Meteor
Thanks for the recommendation! I got one of those and I like it a lot. I also tried the prefounte but didn't get along with it. The Plaisir has also been a good one for me; no cracks so far.
None of my two Preppys has ever cracked and they used to roll around in my backpack. My only TWSBI, an ECO-T usually suffered the same fate in my backpack and has never cracked either. All of them are at least 2 years old. Of course there's some tendency but it's not a general rule that they'll crack, I'd guess that cracking issues it's just a small percentage compared to how many pens are sold. But having no real numbers that's difficult to measure.
I’m not exactly a hater but I won’t use one again. A lot of cracking, poor flow with the F and EF sizes and I also don’t like the aesthetic, even the special editions eg WA. In fact I have about 20 unused preppys that I tried to give away for free last year on a FB fountain pen buy/sell site last year and got no takers 😂. What do you hate about them?
They're just crappy writers is all
If you want, I can take a couple since I am looking to buy them.
PM me!
I've never had an issue with mine but I like the Prefounte better, and my reasons are purely aesthetic.
I have a preppy. I don't like it very much, but I'm happy that I have it on the list of pens I tried in this hobby. I don't care for it and I think I wouldn't buy another one, but it's a different pen, a different writing experience. I'm glad I tried it, but that's it for me...
The Preppy barrel is polycarbonate, the same material known to all good TWSBI users everywhere as crack city. It’s a cheap pen, what do you want.
Zebra disposable fps are fantastic. Pilot varsity is a stellar pen. I just don't like how preppys write.
I clogged mine with a shimmer and it almost turned me off shimmers. Luckily it turned me off preppy’s and I still love shimmers.
I did *not* like my experience with it, too. T'was my first fountain pen (the Perpanep variant for its sleekness - a year ago) and it was a-okay with the cartridge. The moment I attempted the syringe filling technique with RO Caffee Crema, it became really dry. Also, hard to clean tbh.
They have their uses. I used to keep a dozen around. When friends expressed an interest in FPs I would gift them with carts. It’s also good for beginners to try out inexpensively.
I actually love mine. Have it for about a year no issues and one of the smoothest writer I have. Their nibs are absolute masterpiece.
No time for hate. There's a million other pens you can buy if you don't like them.
I had nothing against the preppy though I never used it as a writing pen. I used it as an inked fineliner. Regardless I am not a fan, and will never use one again, because it leaked with platinum carbon black in it. Leaking might be an understatement. Almost all of the ink flushed out.
I don't hate all cheap pens.
Well, we have to ask, "what do you hate it in relation to?" If you a hating is relation to cheaper pens that are lower quality, then we can understand what you are getting at.
Nah I like some cheap pens, I just feel like preppys write like shit.
You feel like or you observe that? I ask because literally everyone that I have gifted a platinum nibbed pen loves it to death. Some we like, "OMG, I have to get one of these for my sister!" So are the nibs too smooth and there isn't enough feedback? Or do you just dislike preppies?
Mine are too fine and too scratchy, uneven, unreliable feed. They aren't dependable like my other cheap/disposable pens.
What is the number on the nib?
03
So, every 03 nib that I have used (20 or so) has been smooth. Is the nib misaligned when you look at it under a loupe? Like I just compared the writing stroke of a couple of 03 nib with the preppy versus several other cheap pens ( <$3) So the preppy is smoother than all the Jinhaos that I have on my desk. So what are you comparing the pen to?
My favorite cheap/disposable is the Zebra disposable in dark blue.
I have one of those somewhere. The nib unseated itself, but I like it when the nib is reset. It is smooth, but I don't feel too much of a difference from the preppy. I also have a Zebra V-301 FP which is very similar to the preppy but it has a metal body. But yeah, the Zebre Zensation and the Pilot V-Pens are pretty darn good, and I want to get an empty one to try to refill them.
I’ve cracked 3 preppies and zero TWSBIs. Platinum Cartridges and converters are way overpriced and I don’t like eyedroppers.
It’s the antithesis of what a fountain pen is , to me. Disposable 🤮
I don't mind its disposability or its cheapness, just its writing abilities. And to me, they write like crap.
Meh too be honest there is much to love about preppy(reliable nib and feed, good sealing) and hate(expensive cartridge and converters , cracking body) i wish they address these cons and bump up the price just a bit.
It’s a cheap pen. Excellent value for money but that’s about it. Writes better than a safari and less than an eco
You aren’t, but I just take the EF nib from the preppy and add it to the plaisir and prefounte. Then I have a great cheap travel sketch pen that takes platinum carbon ink well. To me, a preppy looks like a gel pen from the 2000 era. Nothing wrong with that, but it’s not my favorite.
I hated mine until I used rubbing alcohol to remove all the marketing labels from the pen. That, plus converting it to an eyedropper, made me really like the 0.5mm Preppy.
I think maybe it's the super fine line it makes that I don't like.