23 April 2014

Looking Back: If You Like It Buy It...

I was looking back through the archives the other evening trying to decide what to write about today... but I spotted that it is just a few days more than 4 years since Laurie and I met for the first time in 2010 in London.

We discussed a lot of things that day, even with my poor memory I can still recall how we didn't stop talking about organisers whilst we walked along the London South Bank in the sunshine.

One thing we both agreed on 'If you like it... buy it' and it still holds true today.

More so now I guess, although the number of people that visit Philofaxy every day has increased since 2010, there are still people that we are attracting from our audience on Facebook and elsewhere. So there's even more people hunting around for those models from the past.

Time and time again I see messages on Philofaxy, in my inbox, on Facebook. They normally start with 'I'm looking for an x in y size and in z colour' and you don't even to look most of them up, because you know they were phased out a couple of years ago or more!

Sometimes we get lucky. I often suggest placing an advert on Ad-spot, that can often turn things up that people have hunted for on Ebay, Amazon, every possible FF site in the world and one can turn up on Adspot.

So is there a Filofax or another brand of organiser that you regret not buying at the time they were sold or being sold off?  I have a few, but I will share those with you in the comments...

18 comments:

  1. There's a long list of filos from the past that I would love to own but have never seen in real life, but there is only one that I have held in my hands and then left on the shelf. I spotted an antique rose Finsbury last year and thought it was beautiful BUT it was pocket size and I had made the decision to only buy personal size binders so I put it down and left the shop empty handed. The regret set in as soon as I got home! I do check eBay, Amazon and Ad-spot for one in personal size occasionally but I try not to do it too often in case I spot something else I just NEED ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amanda I know where there is an Antique Rose Finsbury in Personal size. Or at least it was there a few months ago when I was in the store. It is in MYER Brisbane, Australia. I dont remember the price but here is their phone number (07) 3232 0121. Their filofax collection wasnt very big and they looked like they had been sitting there for awhile. All up they had about 12-15 Filofaxes in different sizes.

      Delete
  2. I can't believe that was 4 years ago!!!! And yes, if you like it, buy it. I wish I'd bought a Malden right then, when they were buttery soft and squishy. The crinkly dry leather they have now is completely disappointing in comparison.

    Something I love about binders is they don't expire, unlike bound dated planners. So if I keep a Filofax sitting on my shelf for a couple of years I don't feel guilty, because sooner or later I'll be in the mood to use it again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. At that point in time Laurie I think I only had 4 or 5 organisers! And I didn't get my first Malden until the following year!

      Delete
    2. Wow that makes it seem like a long time ago! How things change. :)

      Delete
  3. First things first :-) that's a wonderful picture of Steve and Laurie! And recalling my last months in England that I used to live in London, hell, do I miss it. I'd like to join in with Laurie, having some spare planners that are going to be used at a later time or developing their nonTimeManagement content over time. Call me crazy but I see my Filofaxes as some kind of canvaz for just everything that I may create/collect/layout/organise in the future.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And may I add I bought a lot Filofaxes that I liked :-)

      Delete
  4. I bought a Holborn Slimline and after some thought sent it back because I was worried it was a bit flimsy, but now regret it. I don't carry a lot of paper or a year of diary or an entire address book. I could buy another one I suppose, but...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Natalie - with the phasing out of the Slimline size, the last Holborns were sold off at 40% off. It is a bit flimsy, but I've been successfully using one as my main paper organiser for several months. I've even fitted an elastic closure so that my IPhone can be held on the front. Filofax UK must have found a few more, as it's back in their Last Chance to Buy section.

      Delete
    2. True, but the fact it's still showing means they will be getting more. Simply click to be notified when it's back in stock. I've done this several times with FF and it has always worked :-)

      Delete
    3. Tim, I am quite skeptical about the state of rings of organisers which keep on "reappearing". Personal experience. But if one is eligible for free return, why not give it a try?

      Delete
  5. At one of the meet ups in Manchester I spotted an A5 Luxe in Ebony, I think it was priced at £56, I know now I should have bought it, I've not seen any that cheap since! Why the luxe well it is fairly slim with 20mm rings.
    I often umm and agh about others that come up on Adspot, one of the hazards of looking after that page! I've passed on a few... no big regrets though, no sleepless nights either!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The nearest model for me to a slim A5 was The Executive - available until around 2003. It had 19mm rings and no puffed up covers or unnecessary stiffeners. I waited as it was only available in black (not my favourite colour). Then it quickly disappeared all together!

      Delete
  6. Yes!! The A5 Sienas! They were £50 in the Filofax shop the first time I visited, and I thought they were nice, but I was under the illusion I didn't 'need' one. Pahh!! How wrong and stupid I was! I have an A5 Espresso Siena now, and I love it, but I wish I had got the Cappachino one while I had the chance!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Personal Butterfly in pewter. I was thinking "I really don't need more organisers". And now they are gone...
    And A5 Bloomsbury, but I've finally managed to get my hands on one.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I missed the Mashup.. I considered it and then thought, well, if it's still there next week...and it was gone. The one that got away...

    ReplyDelete
  9. The black Baroque in Personal size.

    ReplyDelete