Re: [ZossPens] Where have all the bargains gone?

From: PoohcornerPens@xxxxxxx
To: sweiserw@xxxxxxxxx, pens@xxxxxxxx, fptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 22:57:06 EST
In a message dated 2/12/2007 7:44:44 P.M.  Pacific Standard Time, 
sweiserw@xxxxxxxxx writes:
Hi all,
It's been almost  a year since I began collecting pens, and now I have around 
50 that I could  safely call collectible. Whew (sigh of relief, of 
satisfaction, of new-found  poverty ... )
Most of my pens come from eBay. Yes, I know, that marketplace  is frowned 
upon by some, but it does offer pretty heady excitement for a  newcomer, and -- 
in the past, at least - some landmark deals. Is it just me, or  were fountain 
pens going for less last spring and summer? Is the used/vintage  pen market 
seasonal in any way? Or is this something that happens to every  collector: 
"ah, 
the good ol' days of [name your first year]."
Thanks for the  feedback,
Sylvia

Hi Sylvia,

We've talked about this thread a  bunch, and like many things in Pendom, 
there are varying opinions as to the why  and the how.

I'll just give you my 2 centavos. Pen collecting, as a  hobby, is cyclic, and 
like most economic engines, is driven by supply and  demand. I've sold the 
same pens, both on the boards and on Ebay by amounts that  vary from 100-300% 
over the years. This in fact is what drove me from selling on  Ebay. I had 
several UK and European suppliers who all of a sudden realized that  they could 
sell on Ebay rather than to me directly, and my source of pens dried  up faster 
than the udders on Aunt Martha's cow. That left me to fend on Ebay  like 
everyone else.

I just became unable to procure pens at a price that  I could invest the time 
and effort to refurbish and sell at a price that people  would pay.

Most of our highly successful pen collectors, that have  been at it awhile, 
as well as the hobbyists turned professional, have inroads to  finding vintage 
pens at very good prices, thus making their time and material  outlay 
worthwhile, in order to resell the pens.

Couple this with  attending many pen shows per year, and you have what 
separates us mere mortals  from the "gods" of pendom. Not to mention having 
extra 
cash available to suck up  the deals when they are to be had.

In the end, and this is the last  comment I'll make in this rendition, pen 
buying/selling is mainly as I said  supply and demand - What will you pay for 
the pen I want to sell? What will I  pay for the pen I want to buy?

So, keep your eyes and ears open, and  maybe you'll luck into a box of Sumgai 
pens, that you can pick up for a  pittance, and then brag about it on the 
boards, and make me feel bad :-)   Pens have been like fish with me; the big 
ones 
seem to always get away. Oh well,  I'll just eat my minnows be happy.

Cheers
Jim  

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Re: [ZossPens] Where have all the bargains gone?

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