Soapbox Rant: Availability of Filofax Models

The Bookish Things post scheduled for today has been interrupted so that I can bring you the following Soapbox Rant.

If I go into my local McDonalds Restaurant, I can purchase a Big Mac sandwich and know that it will contain two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions - all on a sesame seed bun.  I also know that if I go into another state, cross the border into Canada, or cross the Atlantic and visit the U.K., I am going to be able to get a Big Mac sandwich made in the same manner as the sandwich I can get at my local McDonalds.   I do realize that there are a few exceptions, such as the following:

• The Double Big Mac available in Australia, China, Egypt, Ireland, Japan, Turkey, Singapore,Pakistan and Thailand., which consists of four patties;
• The Big Big Mac available in Europe (Finland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Italy), which consists of quarter pounder patties;
• The Maharaja Mac which is made of lamb or chicken and is available in India; and
• The Chicken Big Mac which is available in Pakistan.

However, with the exception of India where cows are revered as holy, you can purchase a Big Mac sandwich that is identical to the Big Mac sandwiches available across the world because the Big Mac is a wonderful example of American capitalism which has permeated the world economy and tantalized the taste buds of billions upon billions of people.

Unfortunately, worldwide availability is not a business model practiced by U.K.-based Filofax.  Suppose you live in the United States and wish to purchase an A5 Ochre Malden - sounds easy enough.  I am aware of two online sources of these planners - Filofax USA and Pens and Leather.  You eagerly check Filofax USA and discover that they only have the A5 Malden in purple.  Agitated, you then check out Pens and Leather and learn that they are all sold out of A5 Maldens, no matter what the color.  Frustrated, you check out the UK website and see they only have the Ochre available and you also learn that Filofax France has Grey, Ochre, and Purple available. 

Finding a Finsbury is even worse.  In the US, you can get a Finsbury in black, raspberry, red, blue and yellow and in the UK, you can get grey, black, raspberry, pink and yellow.  And if you desire the Emerald Finsbury, you can only purchase that from Filofax France.   

Why does this discrepancy in product distribution exist?  Why are ALL Filofax products and colors not available in ALL countries where Filofax planners are sold?  If I desire an A5 Emerald Finsbury, I should be able to purchase it in the US and not worry about ordering it from France and paying exorbitant international shipping charges.

Filofax, please wake up and standardize your product availability!

Comments

[Wendy]

I'm not sure what is up with filofax. I notice that they tend to discontinue popular planners which still have high demand too. Doesn't make much sense to me at all.

[Joseph David Quinton]

I agree with you, Wendy. I find it exasperating at times to locate the model and color of Filofax that you are looking for. Filofax USA has discontinued carrying the Malden....one of the most popular Filofax planners around....don't understand their logic.

[Smile]

I totally agree. Why is the Baroque out of the collection, why has it never been made in A5? Or the purple Finchley in A5. Sigh...

[Sj26ben]

If you ring one of the filofax stores in London and pay over the phone, you will often find they have a larger number of models available than shown in the website! USA is probabely the same !