Cheap pens skip and die after one refill. This German pen writes smoothly for years, pocket-sized.
Why Not Just Buy the Cheap One?
Kaweco's brass internals and engineered ball-socket design eliminate the skip-and-drag problem that kills Bic and Paper Mate pens after a few months of pocket carry. The refill mechanism actually works reliably across ink changes, unlike cheapo ballpoints that suddenly decide to write like a crayon.
The Buy-Once Math
You'll buy a new dollar-store pen every 3-4 months—that's $15-20 yearly just to have something that barely works. A Liliput costs $25 once, takes $2 refills, and you'll still be using it in five years. Do the math: cheap pens are a subscription you didn't ask for.