Initial dissatisfaction with a new high-end pen is usually not a wrong purchase but a question of getting used to it and of the surrounding conditions. High-quality gold nibs react sensitively to paper quality: recycled paper with short fibres or rough sorts noticeably slow the nib, while the often glossy demo paper in shops distorts the writing feel. With start-up and ink-flow issues a cleaning often helps. An M, F or B nib should work fine on usual quality paper; a settling-in time of weeks is normal. Push-on caps are seen critically over time, as they can become loose or split; screw caps and a protective sleeve are more practical for daily use. Cross gives a Lifetime Warranty on its products, although long-term lacquer experience with the Apogee series is scarce.