What Is Happening With Prinz?

I ordered 2 Prinz stockbooks and received them yesterday from the one and only Prinz dealer of our country. Oh boy am I depressed?

I use the Prinz 2025 classic stockbooks black page, with padded covers.

The first thing I notice, the padding is not there anymore. Mind you the retail price has gone up in this year that is 2011 for these stockbooks.

One of the stockbook has a torn interleaving and a mal punched strip. Never expected of a German manufacturer. The Prinz logo is not there on the front. At the back it is not written "Made in Germany".

The strips are not properly glued at the page edges. They are wavy!

The quality of the cardboard pages are not the same as well.

I will be returning these asap but, why such a quality compromise from Prinz? Any reason or are they suffering business loss?

I don't know exactly about Prinz, since its quite rare here, but I'm finding some issues with lighthouse stockbooks as well. The interleaf is sticking to the cardbord making me rip it no matter how carefully I try to remove it. its quite the issue as I don't like it like that.

I am having a hunch, these manufacturers are making their stockbooks in China or some place else to save cost. I will contact Prinz on this issue.

I personally do not use Prinz supplies (I prefer other brands). However...

If it does not have the Prinz brand name on it, and doesn't say Made in Germany on it, then it isn't a genuine Prinz stockbook. You got a knock-off or an unbranded 2nd from your supplier, and you should express your displeasure to your supplier. Hopefully, it will simply be a case of the wrong stockbooks being sent to you. I don't think it has anything to do with Prinz.

Hope it works out well for you -- I know those stockbooks aren't cheap.

Regarding the Lighthouse stockbooks -- all the major manufacturers will unintentially produce a small fraction of stockbooks with flaws. Usually, these do not pass the original QC inspection and get repackaged as unbranded 2nds (minor defects), and later get sold at a substantial discount. I've noticed in the past 10 years that the QC has been significantly less rigorous, resulting in a number of stockbooks with minor but annoying defects (annoying because of the price I paid). In fact, in the past 5 years, I've bought exclusively unbranded 2nds (these will also include overstock/discontinued stockbooks). Amazingly, I've noticed that percentage-wise, I've actually gotten much better results buying the unbranded 2nds/overstock/discontinued than paying retail price for the branded stockbooks! In the process, I've saved a ton of money. For those in US/Europe, you might want to consider this option. Some of you have already noticed that Amos (Scott) has also started selling their scratch'n'dent and clearance catalogs in the past few years.

So when buying stockbooks, don't hesitate to ask your supplier if they have any 2nds or clearing out any overstock/discontinued items. You could save quite bit. My last 30+ stockbook purchases were 48-page clear strips on black pages (9x12) that cost me $12-$16 each (including shipping). I only recall barely noticing defects in about 2 of them. The rest were as good as or better than my previous branded retail purchases. Just a thought...

Here are some pictures - comparision.

Previous 2025s.

Strips are smooth at edges.









Current I got:
Strips are wavy at edges. Looks like they have been stressed when glued.



No "Made in Germany"


No logo


Thinner pages.

Khj,

The options of buying a stockbook in India are very narrow. I get your point but the problem is, in India people will sell you those 2nd items as normal items and keep the extra profit.

I am looking for an international store who would offer a reasonable shipping to India and I will buy some stockbooks. I think I am probably done with this headache I am having related to stockbooks. May be I should just shift to those Vario pages for better.

God help me!

It's not just Indians. There are plenty of Americans and other nationalities that will do the same.

It does look like a Prinz stockbook. If so, then yes it does look like they downgraded their specifications. And yes, you definitely got a 2nd. You can tell not only by the poor strip packing, but also by the ding in the corner. Either that or it is a poor quality knock-off.

Why don't you email Prinz and ask them if they have changed their specs on the 2025? You can show them the pics.

I can understand your disappointment. I remember once I paid significantly extra for a high quality "luxury" stockbook only to receive a defective one.

Khj, I wish I bought them as a 2nd, but no, these were bought as originals. The meet all the specifications of Lighthouse Brand and there is nothing missing from the covers. I really wish I knew where I could get 2nds, it would be much cheaper for me.

It can't hurt to ask any of the large supply dealers every once in a while.

In the past, I got mine from Subway (the stamp store, not the fast food). They usually have one clearance/2nds sale every year, typically on G&K stockbooks. These may not have the wonderful padded covers, but I find them to be just as good (on average) as the Scott/LH... when I factor in defective books that made it through QC. It's been a couple of years, and I know the clearance prices on the stockbooks went up a bit. But like I wrote, I paid $12-$16 in the past for the 48-page clear strips on black. If you subscribe to their monthly email, you will get notice of the clearance sales.

Just an update:

I talked to Prinz on phone and it is indeed a quality issue. The best thing, is they will replace these for me with the older stockbooks if they have in stock. Fingers crossed till tomorrow.