Done with the Mexican Prismacolors

[George924]

I love my Prisma's that I stocked up on but the POC product that they are making in Mexico is junk...I was trying to figure it out and after some heated debates with the Newell Rubermaid Office Products...800-323-0749 I finally got my answers...they have drastically went to crap...wood breaks constantly, color is offset in the wooden case, probably why it breaks constantly. The formula changed on the CP and reacts totally different with my older stock...I will use up what I have and curse every breath of it. Dang it though I love my Prisma's off to the FC Polychromos ...

[evartpat]

When did they start making them in Mexico?

I have some I bought about 6 months ago and they seem fine. Is this a real recent thing?

[thearne]

I noticed that on my tin of prismas. I recently switched to derwent graphite from prisma graphite because of quality issues except the 5H. If you find a comparable brand that you'd recommend as a replacement, please post it.

[George924]

Not sure when but on my bar code that they insisted putting on each and every pencil is stamped MEX...any way I just received this order of indigo blue, tuscan, and the peach colors I use...I'll have to wait and see but five out of five pencils were breaking at the wood and 4 of them I used were off center... Highly disappointed...

[bedazzledx2]

That's not good news George. Have they changed the appearance at all? IOW is there any way you can tell the newer ones just by looking? I'm not sure which ones we are getting in Australia but I have noticed some splitting on the wood casing in some of the open stock which makes sharpening an absolute pain! Any thoughts on the Dick Blick pencil?
Deb

Just saw your reply...we must have been posting at the same time! Have checked mine and no Mex on the bar codes. Will look out for that thanks George.

[pezk]

george, you are so right. this new set of prismas that I bought were made in mexico. The pencils are terrible. They look and feel like FCs but they break so easily. I was never a fan of the old prismas but the new ones are so much worst.

[RobinZ]

Please let them know! They have been pretty good at responding to complaints in the past.

I buy all open stock and I bought a ton of them a month ago and used them with no problems. I don't see MEX stamped on them, though.

[George924]

the look is a bit different, some of the indicator colors I had to look twice at...I have talked to them and they say it is not an issue and there are sometimes a flaws...I am sending them some of the problems and detailing the reasons. I'll let you know what they say about it...I really don't want to switch, I have way to much stock to go through...I'll probably stick with them as long as I can but it's just not the lead breaking that's an issue now...WHAT TO DO? not all of them have the MEX on them they're mixed...throughout my order...I'm calling Dick Blick tomorrow and see what they can do. I buy most of my years supply at the beginning of the year and my budget for CP is pretty much spent...if the whole order is like this I would estimate running low about late July...Just in time for the Christmas Blitz...I really hope that what they told me is true, that sometimes flaws happen

[Mettaphorica]

Deb
I have two sets of Prismas; one a small 12 colour that I keep at work, and the other, a 132 set for home. I have hated Prismas fairly soon after I got them, even though I did a pencil test against Derwent and FC before I bought a set. Perhaps I was lucky and just got a good pencil.

Looking at my work tin (I'm at work right now, about to finish), it says made in Mexico. There is no barcode on individual pencils. I will check the home tin, but I have had some problems with splitting, but mostly breaking very easily, despite care with sharpening.

I got mine from The Art Shop in Melbourne, in FTG. They are a great, friendly store.
Hope this helps
Donna

[PlaysWithPencils]

I have had my set for over a year now, I put them away then got into cp.
Half were mexico half were not. They are lower quality since moving to Mexico. What a shame they took the work from the US citizens, that alone makes me grrr. They should change Prisma to a Mexico company not a US pencil.
I don't plan on them being my main pencil when this set is gone.

[afkar]

I have also had great service from The Art Shop & was surprised I wasn't more impressed by the Prisma apart from a couple of colours. Luckily I only bought a couple so may just get the odd colour that I haven't seen elsewhere. At the moment I am getting a few pencils of different brands to see what I like most. Am not overly impressed by Derwent so am looking elsewhere. Thank goodness for open stock!

[jcpope]

If you're having troubles with your Prismas, try the Dick Blick brand. I, too, found that some of the color formulas had changed, the pigments were scratchy and whether using a powered sharpener or a manual on, the pencils were breaking. I even have some where I can pull the complete core out. I superglued them at the top, but that only last for a while. Poor quality all around. I have Derwent Coloursofts too and I like them as well. But the Dick Blick brand is soft and blendable like the Prismacolors. Good colors as well, some of which are not available in the Prismas. I also have a set of the Jerry's Soho. Some folks like them, but I probably will only use them for work in a sketchbook. They are harder than the Prismas and sometimes the colors don't work well on colored paper.

[dougmccallum]

I only use a few Prismas and only buy them open stock locally so I can check each one. Frequently they aren't straight and cores aren't centered. I much prefer my Polychromos and Lyra Polycolor. They are harder than Prisma but have good color and layer well. Other brands that are good (if you aren't in the USA where they aren't sold) Bruynzeel Design Colour and Talens Van Gogh.
Van Gogh doesn't do open stock.

Everyone has their favorites. With the problems Prisma is having, you would think one of the others would try to take advantage of that.

Doug

[TheEYE]

They started manufacturing Prismas in Mexico a few years ago now. They just changed their manufacturing process in the past few months though, I noticed this last week when I went to get some open stock. The barrels are completely different from the previous Mexico stock I got just last month. I have been seeing the lead offset issue as well, and there are lots of warping issues as well lately.
I find that I have to pick and choose through the available openstock to find decent pencils, and that at least 75% of the pencils I look at arent up to what I have come to expect as Prisma standards.
I am really hoping they smarten up, I'd hate to have to change brands with the significant investment I have made on Prisma stock.

[George924]

I Love Prisma's and I will probably stick with them but the polychromos are eventually going to take over my stock...I received this e-mail from Sanford:

Hello Mr. Minor,

Thank you very much for reaching out to us about our Prismacolor® Thick Lead Art Pencil. It causes us great concern to learn of your experience with our product and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

As stated on the back of product packaging, Sanford guarantees complete customer satisfaction and replacement. Anytime you are disappointed with a new Sanford product drop it in the mail in a padded envelope with a brief description of your experience. If you do not have the product or prefer a refund, you may send in a receipt or the packaging as proof of purchase. We would also be happy to reimburse your postage, simply request this in your correspondence.

Please mail your product to:
Sanford Brands
Attn: Consumer Affairs
2707 Butterfield Rd.
Oak Brook, IL 60523-1278

We appreciate your taking time to return the product to Sanford for it will be inspected by our Quality Assurance Department. This feedback helps us identify quality issues and areas for improvement; without invaluable feedback from consumers like you this would not be possible. We appreciate your partnership in improving our products and ensuring that any future purchase of Sanford product will be of the quality that you have come to expect.

Sanford has been making and selling high quality ink products since 1857 and pride ourselves on the brands we manufacture. Thank you contacting us and your continued support of Sanford products.

Brad Kelly
Sanford Consumer Affairs

I will be sending them a detailed compliant with my concerns and hope they will understand product quality is everything...

also, I will be reading all of your concerns as well and relating them to the company...I would say if they get enough complaints they may get back to the quality we all know and love about Prisma.