My HONEST Reaction: Archer & Olive March 2024 Subscription Box
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- Опубліковано 2 кві 2024
- Hello Crew.
After giving myself some time to work with the new fountain pen and inks from this box I finally have my full review of the March Subscription box. As of this moment in time the box is sold out, but keep your eyes out for new items in the future... and hopefully one will be a fountain pen.
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The subscription boxes just keep getting better and better.
Each is really so special
Wing Sung is one of the big players on the 'affordable' end of Chinese fountain pens. Been around for ages... so suggesting the pens are being made for A&O by this brand. The converter is a pretty standard style of converter for a Chinese fountain pen. Cheaply made, available in large quantities as a low price, but pretty reliable and super easy to fill and clean. Thanks for the video.
Oh good to know. It makes sense that they might go a little cheaper knowing this is just a first go at it. Nothing wrong with affordable pens - but I’m just really not a fan of this converter - I’ll look to replace it
@@markyourpagesimo the brand is way too expensive to go that cheap
The smell that permeated out of the box as I was opening everything was very off-putting. Loved the B6 journal and the others ones as well. I too was surprised at the apparent flimsiness of the converter. Glad to hear it's been good for you. The inks are lovely - that green is just beautiful. Thanks for doing it on the two pages so we could see how the ink reacts on other papers. Loved the ruler. All in all a good box!
Oh no! Glad to know it wasnt just me, but also - ugh I feel your pain. I did ask and they said it is likly the glue - that if they box the notebook too soon after gluing it the smell will stay with it.
My favorite was the sketchbook 100 percent! I broke that out and started using it on day one! I wasn't expecting much from the fountain pen. I gave it to my husband who is into fountain pens, and he gave it back to me, lol! Filled with the green ink that was my favorite color but that says something because I could tell he didn't like it much. I love the acrylograph colors too. For me, this was a strong box because of the beautiful notebooks, the wide washi, and the beautiful stickers that are soooo cool!
Omg. I’m cracking up that he gave it right back ☠️
@@markyourpagesI think this subbox is one of their best! I like towrite with fountain pens like you do and was first a bit nervous because of the converter but it works great. Yes, the ruler is nice,too. I haven’t started with the sketchbook but will in the next couple of weeks…
I am with you about the design on the back of the notebook 😍
So good right? I just need a few with that look in the future.
I love this fountain pen. It feels good in my hand, writes smoothly and reliably every time. I am not new to FPs and i give A&O 5 stars for this . I am very happy to have it
That’s so happy to hear.
Yay! I can finally watch this now 😝 - I'm with you; the debossing technique is super cool. Our thoughts are similar on the fountain pen as well. I just wouldn't pair it with their paper, unfortunately, for a top-notch writing experience.
Your video was spot on. i loved the indepth look you did
I was happy with this box. I have been wanting to try a fountain pen and just didn’t bite the bullet. So this is a nice way to try it out.
Yay! So fun
I absolutely love this sub box. They really have stepped their game up on the appearance of their journals. I love fountain pens and this was a pretty nice surprise. One can never have too many fountain pens. I’ll forever be an A&O supporter.
Loving the notebook designs a lot recently. Great designs and innovative approaches
Your comments about being able to refill the sketch book are so on point , I made the same comment with regards to the notebooks with the beautiful leather and metallic binding that they need to make separate different colors refills, said they were considering it, still waiting
They best thing to do is ask about it. :-)
It was my first sub box from A&O and I loved it!!!
Mine too! Looking forward to June!
oh yay!!! Great one to start with
I just heard June is going to be something else.. meaning very cool. Cant wait
I love the sketchbook. I agree with you, i want to see a cover similar to that where i can replace the notebook inside. I would love to see a sketchbook like this again with deckled edges. That would be perfect! I liked the fountain pen. I have better, but wasn't expecting the best in the first place. The washi was perfect for what I'm doing now. The sheet nusic washi. I love the antique color. Hands down the sketchbook was my favorite though! Love your honest reviews!
The sketchbook was def a highlight. And you are right, wasn’t expecting a perfect pen… but I was expecting something a little nicer. Not toally mad at it
Fountain pen and ink lover here. Yes, the ink converter is a bit cheap. Other than that, I am amazed. This has become one of my favorite fountain pens over some of “the big dogs.” I adore the ink. The shading is outstanding. I hope they make more.
I totally agree! Love the shading on these
I definitely prefer the same color embossing over the gold all the time. I am not a fan of gold and hope they start including silver or just same color.
Me too! The designs are so cool without any foils.
Wing Sung like Jinhao are Chinese pen companies that make a variety of mostly affordable pens. I would assume that besides making this nib, they also make the pen as a whole. Thank you for letting us know since it was one of my questions from a previous video.
Thanks for the info. Make sense for this pen on this situation.
Having just picked up some half inch and narrow washi today while wishing for something really wide, those patterns have caught my eye. They are prints I would definitely use.
Sounds great! They are fun patterns for sure
I love the pen!! My biggest complaint is that the inks aren't labeled except for the colored dot. No ink name? No color? That bugged me a bit.
I know! I would love having the color names!!
Yes. They name the pens, let’s trust in the ink colors.
So far I've tried the Teal and the Green. The teal is awesome and my fave so far.@@markyourpages
My friend inspired me to use the B6 as my "National Parks" journal! So excited to start!
Oh nice!! Let me know how that size feels for you
I love the ivory pages for the A5 notebook, but the design doesn't speak to me. I do wish they would add ivory to their selection though :)
I know a number of people who are with you
I’m a newbie fountain pen user and I think it’s a good first pen so far. I love the designs. The dark Victorian vibe washi is my favorite. I do wish they would show more love to B5 users. Like a ruler that is just big enough to fit a B5 would be amazing. It would probably be more expensive to produce though so I get it.
I’ve felt the same about B5 sized rulers. I hate having to stop and move my ruler. It’s never a straight line.
@@markyourpages After using the pen the ink does not seem to last to long. Is the A&O ink just super wet or is that typical for the size of the reservoir?
I am using teal ink right now and love the color. I am really enjoying using the pen.
Good choice!
I really like this subscription box. The first thing I did was use the fountain pen. I have been using it every day for my Morning Pages and it is really comfortable to use. The nib is, I think, a medium size when compared to other Chinese pen nibs - I have 7 in various thicknesses, rather than a European nib. I have a few European medium nib pens that are much thicker. The inks are really nice too. I have filled some other fountain pens with those, so I don't have to faff about changing ink colours. The slide fill is actually more comfortable for me to use than the twist converters. I have carpal tunnel so any small twisting micro movements can be challenging. The notebooks in this box are perfect. I have been using the wrap-around sketchbook because the mid-tone paper works really well for the work I'm doing at the moment. The smell disappears almost as soon as you take it out of the box.
Thanks for sharing. It is such a nice box. Love having it and all the cool stuff
I enjoyed this box and was pleased to get a fountain pen since I thought it could be fun to use one sometimes, but not enough to do any research or go out and buy one on my own. For the B6 notebook situation, I am starting to feel kind of torn. I am moving to more quarterly planning for my goal setting. I can fit about 6 months in an A5 or a B5. I don't do enough things to do a quarter per notebook at that size, but I think I could do quarterly planning in a B6. Of course all that cool notebooks I've been getting lately are B5 and Square (those full cover designs look so good in those sizes). I'm working out a system that might let me use some B6s in conjunction with the others. I guess I have until June to make a decision since that's when my current journal (that I mostly use for tracking life and writing things) will run out - I'm a set it all up at once person so my entire Jan-June is all setup already.
Thanks for sharing your new approach. Quarterly planning is very "in" right now. I know a few people who are taking it on this way, and honestly, it really sounds promising.
I completely agree with your assessment of this box. I love the fountain pen and have been pleasantly surprised with it. The nib size does seem to be in between a fine and a medium point and I actually am finding that the perfect size for many things. I have used the converter several times now and I like it. It’s worked really well. And it’s super easy. (My favorite fountain pens tend to be TWSBI and Visconti). I love the washi tapes, acrylograph colors and the notebooks are gorgeous. I also would love to see a refillable option for the sketchbook. Great idea!! Thanks for the video!
A great box all around. Thanks for checking out the video and sharing
They really came through me this time. First box was damaged broken bottles of inks damaged fountain pen . I reached out to customer service brand new box within 2 days
Oh no!!!! The mail service didnt handle that carefully at all. So glad they got you a new one out quick
Same here. It was my first box and I was so disappointed. But customer service was wonderful!
I have a pair of Wingsung vacuum filler, and liked the nibs (F and EF) you can replace that converter for a standard one from Jinhao (that one saved my Pilot Metro). I think is a gorgeous box this season!
Oh good to know about the converter !! Thank you
The fountain pen definitely writes like a fine nib, in my use of it.
Thanks for sharing. It seems to vary a little around hearing from others. a good size though
I like the box. It does not top the library box :) I am afraid of the massive mess I know ai’m bound to make with inks, so I haven’t opened them or the pen, but I am very interested in the pen, so I broke out another one I had been gifted that comes with cartridges and that was not so scary once I got the cartridge in (I wasn’t pushing hard enough). I don’t seem to write that well with it though, I keep getting all these stray dragging lines that I’m not used to with other pens. Hopefully I can figure out how to make that stop.
Nothing will top that library box haha
I want the washi!
It’s pretty cool being this big.
I like the pen! I do not really like the ink, though. I have two other kaweco fountain pens, so not a substantial collection by any means, but the ink from them sits very evenly and smoothly on the page, while the A&O ink seems heavy and settles unevenly. In painting, I love that quality. In my pens? Not so much... I would be eager to try a different brand of ink in the pen, because the pen itself is quite nice. Thanks for your honest feedback as always, Mark!
I personally like the shading that’s happening, but that it very much a preference of inks - I hear you and only recently started to like like the “uneven” look. Def let me know how your other inks work out. I’m curious to try too… once I run out - cause I did a heavy draw ✍🏻
I find that the more regularly I use a fountain pen, the better it works. So my impulse to have a bunch of pens filled with different inks that I use randomly based on mood (Today I'm feeling purple broad nibbed!) means that I'm not getting the best experience. If I leave them sit too long they dry out a bit- not enough to stop working, but they just aren't as smooth. Can I learn to commit to one fountain pen at a time? Maybe. I do like this pen. The color is lovely and it goes so well with the inks they chose. Also, I love a sketchbook with toned paper. Adding highlights with a white gel pen is just so fun.
Dip your nib in water to restart it smoothly. Rotate the pens often.
I am right there with you. I fill a few and then don't use them as much as I need to. Then like a month later, I'm like... time for a clean :-)
I’m confused-you mentioned that you can use the calligraphy ink from the previous sub box in your fountain pen, but I’ve always read that you should never use calligraphy ink in a fountain pen because the ink is made differently (using ground up solid pigments instead of dissolved dyes) and so can clog and damage the feed system in a fountain pen. I thought those types of inks should be reserved for glass or metal dip pens (like the glass pen included in the box with that ink) where there is no feed to clog. I know shimmer particles, even in fp inks, can play a little roughly in fountain pens so using those types of inks takes more effort and some special care, and you mentioned that concern in the video, but not the ink pigment particles themselves. I have and use fountain pens and fp inks, but I’ve avoided calligraphy inks since I don’t own any dip pens. Are you saying that it’s okay to use calligraphy inks in fps in general, or is the “calligraphy ink” from the previous A&O box really fp ink in disguise and okay for fps because their formulation is different than most calligraphy ink?
You are correct! Do not use calligraphy ink in your fountain pens!
That was my bad on that - i forgot that it was not fountain pen ink and was calligraphy ink.
Ah, got it!
Yes, I've seen those kind of converters on cheap Chinese fountain pens before. Wingsung is also a cheap Chinese brand. not impressive but it's what I expected. Happy to hear it is working ok :)
Wingsung makes decent nibs for the price point but I definitely agree with you on the converter. Not impressive but since it's not my first rodeo with Chinese fountain pens, I wasn't surprised either.
I really liked this box. I agree about the leather cover, I wish I could add my own notebook to it. The one thing I disliked about this box was the rough edges on the paper. I very much like a nice smooth neat look to my notebooks. I am not an artist, so I will likely gift that notebook. I love the pen and the inks. This is my first fountain pen and my fingers are stained blue but I blame myself for that.
I hope to get a new cover in the future like that. It would be so neat
Wing sung is a cheap pen not awful but not one i bought twice either, a jinhao would have been a better choice, but I do wish they would have included the color and manufacturer of the ink because I really like the colors
A lot of us have asked about the inks and names. It maybe they will be making more in the future - so this was their first dabble into the ink space as a preview??? But I still need names for my cataloging and swatching
I need to know where you got the paper and wooden holder for your ivory paper you used to swatch. New to your channel by way of Jess!
That's from my buddy over at amarillostationery.com/
I agree that the fountain pen won't stand up to actual fountain pen companies and their manufacturing but I agree wholeheartedly with you that it's not the intent and personally, as someone who also uses fountain pens more often than not, I don't think even I want them to. I know the community has been requesting it but I was always iffy on it because it's a difficult area to break into especially if it's not your focus. I keep it with my everyday carries but my other two pens are in the $100-$200 range that I use all of the time. I was definitely not expecting this to stand up to those but I do think it's good enough to use alongside them to have another color of ink. My other two are a Sailor Lecoule and a Nahvalur Voyage.
I just ordered my first Nahvalur yesterday. Can't wait to get it in the mail
@@markyourpages I was incredibly lucky to get my hands on last year's limited edition Pride pen where the profits went towards... IIRC the It Gets Better Project. It's a gorgeous pen and I got it with a medium nib. I believe they only made 223.
I have really enjoyed the fountain pen. I have just purchased other and more ink. What type and brands of converters fit with this pen?
Someone said that the PLatinum converters will work with this pen.www.atlasstationers.com/products/platinum-silver-fountain-pen-converter?sca_ref=3335172.a7E5mq6Ghx
Ooh, so you can use converters from other fountain pens? I have a converter for another fountain pen floating around somewhere and am thinking I’d like it way better than the one that came with this pen. Overall, I like the weight of the pen, but I do find that the ink doesn’t seem to come out as well after I’ve been writing for a few minutes. I’m new to fountain pens, so maybe I’m doing something wrong, but as I write, the ink gets lighter and lighter!
Yes, it does work with other ones - but you have to make sure that it’s the right size end so it fits and you dont have any leakage. Some pens are just a bit finicky - so you have to make sure it’s clean and free of any paper fibers stuck in the nib. That is what gets me in trouble a lot.
@@markyourpages thanks so much for the tip! I never thought about paper getting into the nib. I foresee this as a pain point for myself as well - I tend to put off cleaning things, but I’ll get over it!
I usually start there and work backwards from there.
Platinum preppy has that converter and other generic fountain pens
Ah, thank you. I havent seen it before now. But sounds like its the cheap way to go with pens
i thought the pen would have been at least average... i'll try it out but that converter's looking reaaally rough.
the inks are really pretty though, in colours i didn't have before!
For a first try i can understand not going all in. But if they do anything in the future they will def need to step it up
I’m so bad at using my acrylographs also… it would be cool to have the same style leather journal cover but with elastic for acrylographs
Oh that would be a cool idea.
😂😂😂😂 I had one of those converters about 10 years ago. it wasn't from a&o, but looks just as flimsy. it broke in 2 days!!!
oh geez. This one has lasted more than 2 days, thank goodness.
It's been at least a year since I've ordered from Archer & Olive. Have they changed the way they do their inventory? I realize you don't work there- LOL- just wondering if you've heard anything since you know more about them than I do. I noticed everything is out of stock, but I remember last year there would always be notebooks available. Maybe I just hit it at the wrong time or maybe they have a much larger customer base now. I have messaged their customer service, but just haven't heard back yet.
They actually just moved their warehouse to they can be more controlled over inventory and shipping. That's why there isnt alot right now.
@@markyourpages ahhhh thank you so much!
Yeah happy to help. Hopefully I am correct
The converter on the pen is the same converter I've received on $1 fountain pens I've purchased on AliExpress and Temu. It is cheap. That being said, the converters work "fine." I wouldn't say that I would trust them to hold up over a long period of time, especially given they do not hold much ink. Because they don't hold much ink, the pen will be required to be refilled much more often which means more wear and tear on an already cheap converter.
The pen itself, imo, is also "fine". I would never purchase the pen itself so I'm okay with the fact that it came in the subscription box, but I would have liked to see a better quality pen if it were going to be branded A&O. As someone who owns many and has used many fountain pens over the years, I could have done without the pen and been perfectly happy.
As far as the inks, they seem okay. The colors are pretty and the packaging is stunning. However, calligraphy ink and fountain pen ink (even fountain pen inks with shimmer) are formulated differently. I would never encourage someone using calligraphy ink in a fountain pen with or without shimmer. The acrylic component with which most calligraphy inks are formulated will not just clog the pen. It will likely render it unusable if left to dry in the feed and nib.
I'm glad A&O is constantly testing out new products and introducing the, primarily, bujo community to tools and supplies outside the scope of what is typically seen associated with bujos.
My hope is that if they do explore this anymore they will partner with a reputable maker to ensure the quality we expect from them. But I agree with you - not mad at it since it was a part of the box, but not sure i'd buy it myself it it was on it's own.
Yes! I would love to see A&O partner with a reputable maker as well. I think they have such good potential for a really amazing collaboration.
I am just so frustrated that they hid in the bottom of an email the boxes were going to be late. Then when I followed up they were evasive.
Oh interesting. Mine was only a bit later than normal.
This is my first fountain pen. I've been doing some research before purchasing, including watching your videos, but now I have this one to try. Even as a complete newbie, I was suspicious of the converter when I first saw it. Do you know if any other converter brands fit in the pen, or are we stuck with the one that came with it?
Yes, Someone else said they tried the Hongdian converter and it worked too.
@@markyourpages Thanks very much!
That fountain pen looks so tiny in your hand I imagine you usually use a bigger pen. Was it difficult to write with and which color did you like best of the set?
Not hard to write with - and I have been using it for awhile. The blue is I think is my favorite so far.
@@markyourpages nice i always worry about smaller pens being too uncomfortable but I use a pocket pen when I'm not using my twsbi. its just a chonky pen.
Is that second item (the faux leather wrapped notebook, with string ties), available, on its own from the online store? I can’t seem to find it, where I can select and buy it on its own.
Does anyone assembled here knows?
No this only from this subscription box
It was exclusive to the March subscription box.
Hi Mark .. is the nib a wing sun or a wing sung either way I feel like they cheaped out on the nib thats so sad such a company would have gone with the cheapest fountain pen possible for their most expensive toolbox it just upets me
wingsung is what it says on the nib - and it sounds like overall this is a less expensive pen - and some that people have seen out there in the world.
The pen I received in my sub box seems to have something wrong with it and I don't know where to start with fixing it. It feels very scratchy and the ink flow is inconsistent, so I'm often having to re-write letters. I cleaned it first thing when I got it, let it sit before I put ink in, and I've been writing with it consistently since I received it a few weeks ago but I can't stand to use it any more, it's just too annoying to have to re-write every word and deal with the scratchiness. It's a shame because I love the design and the ink. Any tips?
If it has been left uncapped a few minutes without use or if it has been a couple of days you will need to wet start it by dipping the nib in water. Also the converter could need a jiggle. Sometimes I have to 'burp' it by holding the pen nib up and pushing the air out of it. When filling it push the glider up and down a few times until it fills with little air space left.
@@robinpennell1594 hmmm. Thanks for your reply, but it's more that the ink will run both wet and dry within the same word. So the ink is flowing, but not consistently at all. I can write a word and one of the letters won't show up, for like every word I write.
That is odd to have it be that inconsistent. I have had a little skipping but nothing too crazy. You could always contact customer service and see if they have any extra to place it.
I may be in the minority here, and it could be the particular pen I received, but I have cleaned it out and put it aside for the time being. Mine wrote quite reluctantly, and inconsistently. And after a few sentences ink started to creep up to the grip area and got on my fingers. I agree that the converter will not stand the test of time. I sincerely hope that I got the biggest lemon in the entire run, because if I was a first time fountain pen user, I would be very disappointed. As it is, I have other fountain pens to use, and will be happy to have the inks that came in the box. The colors are quite nice. I hope that this does not discourage Archer and Olive from offering fountain pens in the future, as they CAN bring a next level aspect to writing in their unquestionably beautiful journals. 💗💗
I replaced the converter with a Hongdian converter. It works much better now
@@tamramyers5841 I will see if I have one I can try. It's a pretty pen... I'd like to use it! Thanks for the suggestion. 💗💗
Oh my goodness - that sounds liked a bad experience. Maybe contact their customer service to see if they have any extra. That is def not what sould be happening
What are you going to do with the floral notebook? Are you going to give it to your daughter?
Not sure just yet
@@markyourpages if you decide to give it away I'll take it 🙋🏽♀️😂
The definitely just "white labeled" and very.... inexpensive pen and just called its value as much more than it ever should be.
yeah...
I really liked this box, though I haven't tried the fountain pen yet. I agree with your comments about the box and the contents. But, from your thumbnail video, Mark, I thought you were going to be really negative in this video! Did you mean to give that impression when someone clicked on your video?
Just to pique some interest
@@markyourpagesif it's a thing you'd like to know (or maybe also done for interactions, always hard to tell) it's pique, not peak, in this context.
Peak interest, the very top.
Pique interest, to raise or gain.
@@ccpippin307 voice to text fails again. 😆 thanks
Do not put calligraphy ink in your fountain pen. It is very different and will ruin your pen!
100% did I say the wrong thing?
Nothing smells better and more natural than real leather. Nothing smells worse and more unnatural than fake leather. That has to mean something. Ignore it at your own peril.
Yeah... I also heard that it could be the glue. But stilll. It was a smell for sure
Great assessment Mark! Thank you (once again) for your thorough review of this sub box. 🙂 I agree about wishing that the kraft paper sketchbook had been designed to be refillable. Seems like A&O missed an opportunity there. Hoping you find right use for that B6 notebook. I'm a B5 person mostly, but I do use B6 also and find them useful (and portable). Also, just my opinion and I know aesthetic trends come and go, but the deckle edges on the A5 look... meh. 🫤
Thanks for checking out the video. I love my B5's too! I'll need to find a project for the smaller one for myself.
Im such a 2 steps behind person.. i didnt watch any video or read anything about the convertor on the pen.. im not going to say how long i was trying to twist the top only to finally see the little toggle on it 🫨
We got calligraphy inks in a sub box?
It’s not the most user friendly.
And these were water based inks.