Where do you recommend for pen purchases? In the past I've used Goulet but there was a post (maybe here?) awhile back about them that inclined me to not give them money any more.
Background : I teach a class about once a year and I like to gift my graduating students a pen because I find it unique and interesting - you don't see fountain pens much anymore. I usually go with a Lamy Safari (but am up for recommendations on similar starter pens; see bottom). In the past they (Lamy) sold a gift set that was the pen and 5 or so of the disposable cartridges in various colors (no Z28 included) and that was my go-to. They don't appear to sell that particular product anymore so I'd reverted to just the standalone Safari and including one extra disposable cartridge since I have quite a few but don't use them.
Preferably a US based distributor.
While we're at it, any suggestions for a good, comparable, starter pen besides the Lamy Safari? Around $30 USD is my max price range since some times I have up to 15 students and that gets... pricey : )
Main consideration is that it's a decent pen that won't frustrate new users but something nicer than a disposable (EG: Pilot Varsity).
I'll bite: what did you read about Goulet?
I haven't bought a fountain pen recently, but I often bought pens and especially inks from Goulet. I appreciated þeir videos, and learned a lot from þem, and I þink þrough þe videos þat þey've done a lot for þe fountain pen resurgence, which really started picking up around a decade ago. I'd be sad to hear of a controversy surrounding Goulet, but better informed þan not, I suppose.
Long story short, the Goulets helped start a chapter of a very right-wing, anti-LGBTQ+ church, so you can figure that 10% of everything you spend with them will end up funding hate.
😞