Which Writing Mode Is Best for You?

Ball Pens
Rollerball Pens
Mechanical Pencils
Fountain Pens
The Care & Feeding of Fountain Pens

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Us
Packing & Delivery Information
Standard Shipping Charges
Is Part of Your Order on Backorder?
Your Money Back Guarantee
Shipping to Multiple Addresses
To Notify Us of a Change of Address
Forgot Your Password?
Check The Status of an Order
Forms of Payment
Gift Wrap
Personalization of Purchases - Engraving
Pen Repair

BALL PENS
Ballpoint pens have a thick paste ink that is long lasting and does not dry out when the point is exposed. This is why most ball pens do not have caps. The points are activated by either a push-top or twist mechanism. The hard metal ball that distributes the ink makes the ball pen useful when writing on glossy surfaces or for making multiple copies. Ball pen refills come in a variety of ink colors with fine or medium points. Some manufacturers also offer broad points. There are now also gel ink refills and soft roll refills that use a water-based liquid ink, combining smooth and vivid writing of a rollerball with the convenience of a ball point.

ROLLERBALL PENS
Rollerball pens differ from ballpoint pens in one important area. The rollerball uses a liquid that has a smooth and fluid flow, much like a fountain pen. Most rollerball pens have caps to keep the fluid ink from drying out. Make sure you always replace the cap of a roller ball to keep the ink from drying out prematurely. Because of increased ink flow, rollerball refills run out faster than ball pen refills. Rollerball refills are usually available in fine or medium points. They generally have a broader offering of colors than ballpoint refills.

MECHANICAL PENCILS
Most of the mechanical pencils made today are equipped with self-feeding systems. The lead is usually filled into the pencil by removing the cap or eraser. When not in use, the lead can be easily retracted. There are many sizes of lead available and you must be sure to load your pencil with the correct size or the lead may become jammed inside the mechanism. The most common sizes are 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm; 0.9 mm can be found in a few pencils. There is also a new generation of pencils with leads as wide as 5.5 mm, perfect for sketching and drawing.

FOUNTAIN PENS
Even though they require some care, the expressive writing of a fountain pen is well worth it! Most fountain pens use ink cartridges or a converter; some have piston-fill systems that use bottled ink only. A pen becomes a very personal possession for most people. The grace and style of the fountain creates a certain aura that is difficult to describe but appeals to many, especially in our fast-paced culture. Touch pen to paper and experience the unique pleasure only a fountain pen creates. Selecting a fountain pen is much like choosing a pair of glasses. You must take into account your aesthetic and technical needs.The ideal pen is a perfect marriage of form and function; it should fit your handwriting style. If your handwriting is small or condensed, select a fine nib. Broad nibs are great for signatures, but can be a little temperamental. Nibs must be held flat and not rotated when writing. This will keep the ink flow feeding the point sufficiently.Remember that like any fine mechanism, a pen must go through a two to four week breaking-in period. Treat a pen properly and it will last a lifetime, paying the dividend of enjoyable writing.

THE CARE AND FEEDING OF FOUNTAIN PENS
We are frequently asked about the proper way to clean and care for a fountain pen. Here are a few tips that will ensure the best performance from your fountain pens:

1. Always use fresh ink. If your ink is over a year old, buy a new bottle.
2. Ink cartridges are fine, but a self-filling pen or the use of a converter with bottle ink will offer fewer problems.
3. If your pen is to be out of use for several weeks, clean it by flushing in cold water.
4. Never wash a pen in hot water or alcohol! Use cold water only. If the pen is really dirty, use a mixture of one part non-sudsy household ammonia to 2 parts cold water and allow the nib section to soak overnight. Flush the nib in cold running water until it runs clear and dry with a soft cloth.
5. If you value a fine pen and it is suited for your hand, do not let someone else use it. You could be asking for trouble.
6. Cap the pen properly. Hold the pen upright and place the cap on top of it. Do not drop the pen into the cap or you may end up with ink in the cap.
7. Before you fly in a plane, either fill your pen all the way or leave it empty. A sudden change in cabin pressure may cause the pen to leak if you don't follow this rule.

CONTACT US
If you have any questions regarding your order or need additional product information/shopping assistance, you can email our customer service department at custserv@fahrneyspens.com.

You can also call Customer Service between 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, at 1.800.336.4775 or fax us any time at 301.736.2926. If you wish to place your order over the phone, please call us any time at 1.800.624.7367. Mail orders can be addressed to: Fahrney's Pens, 8329 Old Marlboro Pike, Suite B13, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772.

PACKING & DELIVERY
Standard delivery will reach you within approximately 8 business days of our receipt of your order. The time varies according to your distance from our warehouse in suburban Washington, D.C. Two Day and Next Day delivery are available, which can be selected while checking out online or on the order form, if ordering by mail. Please include a comment if you need the product by a certain date.
Please allow 24 hours for your order to be processed. 
View more shipping information and Canadian Shipping options.

BACKORDERED ITEMS 
Fahrney's Pens makes every effort to deliver your backordered item(s) to you in a timely manner. We will inform you of the status of any backordered item that is delayed.

YOUR MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
We have guaranteed your satisfaction on all of our products since 1929. If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you may send it back within 30 days for a credit, exchange, or refund. However, unfortunately, we cannot take back engraved or custom-ordered items at this time.

All packaging and warranty cards must be returned with item. Please empty all pens before shipping. If you would like a Customer Service Representative to assist you, you can call 1.800.336.4775, 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, or email us at custserv@fahrneyspens.com.

SHIPPING TO MULTIPLE ADDRESSES
Should you care to send part of your order to another address, please call 1.800.336.4775, 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. You will be charged the Standard delivery fee for each address given unless a different shipping method is requested.

TO NOTIFY US OF A CHANGE OF ADDRESS
If you have moved and would like to continue receiving our catalogs, please call our Customer Service Department at 1.800.336.4775, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, or email us at custserv@fahrneyspens.com.

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?
We can email it to you. "Email address" refers to the email address you used when you first registered with us. We can only send your password to the email address on file.

CHECK THE STATUS OF AN ORDER
To check the status of an order or the status of your account, please click here and input the appropriate information.

FORMS OF PAYMENT
Credit card orders may be paid with the following card types: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. Mail orders can be paid by personal checks or money orders. Unfortunately, we do not accept COD’s at this time.

For your security, we verify all credit cards to a billing address. Please make sure the address you enter is where you receive your credit card statement.

GIFT WRAP
We are happy to gift wrap up to 10 items for you at no additional charge. Starting at item 11, each additional gift wrapped item will incur a $1.50 fee. This fee will be added to the total transaction after checkout is complete but before your order is shipped. We can also include a handwritten note. Please include specific instructions on the order form. Please call us at 1-800-624-PENS(7367) or email us at custserv@fahrneyspens.com with any questions.

PERSONALIZATION
Fahrney’s can engrave your actual signature, company logo, or emblem on many of our most popular pens. For more information, please call our Corporate Gift Service at 1.800.336.4775, 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. EST. You can also direct any questions about the various personalization offerings on our website to this number.

*Please allow for three days of additional time for delivery of engraved items. Please also note that personalized items are not returnable. 

PEN REPAIR
Fahrney's repair department provides our customers with easy access to reliable care and maintenance for their fountain pens and other writing instruments. However, we do not service designer and "off-brand" pens, replacement parts on vintage pens, broken vintage desk bases, or broken nib points (repelleting).

Warranty Repairs: All warranties are held between the customer and the pen manufacturer. Fahrney's sells and services many brands of writing instruments. If you have a claim that falls under a warranty, we suggest you send your writing instrument directly to the manufacturer, who may repair or replace your pen at no charge.

If you decide that you want Fahrney's to handle the repair work, our minimum service charge is $25.00, which does not include shipping. Charges for parts from the manufacturer may be additional. Repairs are done at the owner's risk.

We are happy to provide estimates for our repair work. Please send us a written note requesting the estimate. The cost for issuing an estimate is $15.50 per pen. If we do the repairs, the cost of the estimate will be deducted from your bill. If you decide not to accept the estimate and ask for the return of your pen, we charge an additional $5.75 for return shipping.

Repair Time: Turnaround time for in-house repairs is 12-15 weeks. If the repair must go to the manufacturer, please allow 10–12+ weeks.

Sending Your Pen to Fahrney's:

1. Empty pen of ink.
2. Send the entire pen.
3. Enclose a note stating the problem.
4. Include your name, address, daytime phone number.
5. Package in a sturdy box.
6. Address to: Fahrney's Pens, 8329 Old Marlboro Pike, Suite B13, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772.

We will send you an acknowledgment when we receive your pen.