The Best Selling Pens on Amazon After the Back to School Season – Pilot G2 Keeps Coming Back
So I like to keep an eye on where the Pilot G2 falls in the ranks of Amazon’s Top Selling Pens, because quite frankly I don’t understand why it sells so well based on the poor performance I’ve seen from it. Based on this screen shot from 9/25/2012, it looks like the back to school season shopping has again secured the Pilot G2 as one of the top selling pens on Amazon. As you can see, three of the top four selling pens on there are some version of the Pilot G2, even with all of its erratic performance with random glops of ink left behind, people still buy them enough to keep them ranked this well. At least Uniball has cracked the Pilot G2 dominance with their Uniball Signo 207 which is a direct competitor to the G2.
Personally, if I had to pick an “off the shelf” every day work horse pen (ie. easily found at a domestic retail office supply store or Amazon) I’d go with either the Uniball Jetstream, Pilot V5, or the Pilot G-Tec-C. These three options are all far superior (althugh slightly different types of pens) to the G2, I’ll never understand why they dont outsell it by far. Maybe one day I’ll stop complaining about the G2, but probably not…sorry.
No, please don’t stop complaining about this pen. This pen is AWFUL!!! I have no idea why it is so popular. It skips, blobs and is not a smooth writing pen. I know that people say that the pen feels good in their hand to write with, but for me, if what comes out of the tip isn’t what I need how the pen feels when I hold it is moot.
The only reason I can fathom why it is so popular is because it features so predominately on the shelves of stores like Wal-Mart and people just aren’t looking to see what is better. They stick with what they know.
I’d take that Signo 207 over a G2 any day. My 0.5mm G2 doesn’t blob, but it’s very scratchy and it skips.
OK, you got it, I’ll keep on it! Maybe it will get someone to actually look at it and try to improve it at Pilot. You are probably right about it being so popular because it is so readily available.
Glad to know I’m not the only one that values the 207 over the G2, thanks for your feedback.
I have to agree with the consensus on the Pilot G2. I am quite partial to the Pentel EnerGel Deluxe Retractable Roller Ball Pen. It’s the only pen I’ll use except for fountain pens.
I personally write with the .38mm G2 pens and I think they write way better than the other G2 refills, they are also much harder to find than the standard .5mm or .7mm. I do like the ink and I like very fine pens in general but I think I’ve boiled it down to the click of the pen is what I like.
I love how you tear this pen apart then when I read over at Economy Pens, he’s gushing about it. Anyway, I wouldn’t trade my Signos for anything. Won’t go anywhere without my Signo MF3. While in my experience, the Signo will skip once in a while, it’s nowhere near as bad as the G-2…
Thanks, I try to be honest an only write negative things if I have writing samples and testing to visually back it up, which in the case of the G2 I definitely have. Lifehacker has a write up on pens today, you should check it out. I left my two cents in the comments there about the G2.
http://lifehacker.com/5947513/five-best-budget-pens?post=53103499
Agreed, I di dtry the .38mm version of the G2 and it was better. http://officesupplygeek.com/pen-review/gel-pens/pilot-g2-38mm-ultra-fine-refills/