16 replies to this topic

[brando090]

Im not sure why this went as high as it did, please inform me of the potential reasons, besides a bidding war...

http://www.ebay.com/...=p2047675.l2557

[Roger W.]

Im not sure why this went as high as it did, please inform me of the potential reasons, besides a bidding war...

http://www.ebay.com/...=p2047675.l2557

Aluminum in the 1920's was a valuable metal and would be used on a top end piece which this appears to be though I am not familiar. And then just look at it - that is one stunning pen.

Roger W.

[David Nishimura]

I'm afraid this is one of the more persistent myths. Aluminum was no more valuable at the time that pen was made than it is now.

The period in which aluminum was considered precious lasted only until the early 1880s. Soon thereafter its price plummeted to the level of copper.

You can read the full story here.

[brando090]

I'm afraid this is one of the more persistent myths. Aluminum was no more valuable at the time that pen was made than it is now.

The period in which aluminum was considered precious lasted only until the early 1880s. Soon thereafter its price plummeted to the level of copper.

You can read the full story here.

I didn't know it was that early, but thanks for the education.

[brando090]

Im not sure why this went as high as it did, please inform me of the potential reasons, besides a bidding war...

http://www.ebay.com/...=p2047675.l2557

Aluminum in the 1920's was a valuable metal and would be used on a top end piece which this appears to be though I am not familiar. And then just look at it - that is one stunning pen.

Roger W.

It is nice, but its a Sphinx which i just learned was a 2nd/3rd tier German brand with a hit and miss on quality. I will say ive never seen an aluminum pen engraved (except this(have the same pen coming soon)), but at no such standard as this. I would of said $250-300, but $600! Im not sure if this is a $800+ pen at retail...

[david i]

It is nice, but its a Sphinx which i just learned was a 2nd/3rd tier German brand with a hit and miss on quality. I will say ive never seen an aluminum pen engraved (except this(have the same pen coming soon)), but at no such standard as this. I would of said $250-300, but $600! Im not sure if this is a $800+ pen at retail...

Are you sure its a $40 pen at retail?

-d

[Rick Krantz]

Im not sure why this went as high as it did, please inform me of the potential reasons, besides a bidding war...

http://www.ebay.com/...=p2047675.l2557

Aluminum in the 1920's was a valuable metal and would be used on a top end piece which this appears to be though I am not familiar. And then just look at it - that is one stunning pen.

Roger W.

It is nice, but its a Sphinx which i just learned was a 2nd/3rd tier German brand with a hit and miss on quality. I will say ive never seen an aluminum pen engraved (except this(have the same pen coming soon)), but at no such standard as this. I would of said $250-300, but $600! Im not sure if this is a $800+ pen at retail...

dude....

the seller on this ebay auction did everything right... cool pictures, great writing sample (if you buy this pen, you can write like this) used the word rare a few times, etc... even posted it with a MB 139 buy this cool pen, and other cool pens, like this MB 139 will come your way)

I don't think the pen's price is overboard, but obviously, the buyer wanted it and someone wanted it *almost* as bad.

I am confused tho, where you question the $600 selling price, then state, that you are not sure that this is a $800+ pen at retail. I can only look at that observation and offer that (and this is our secret, don't share) that there are a few people out there that will pay full retail and then some on eBay, and they are not looking to score for resale.

Now, I like to sell pens just as much as the next guy, but I have been known, even as a reseller/dealer/whatever to pay retail PLUS for a great pen, because here are occasions that I actually plan to keep the item.

Hope my take was helpful. Happy hunting!

[brando090]

Im not sure why this went as high as it did, please inform me of the potential reasons, besides a bidding war...

http://www.ebay.com/...=p2047675.l2557

Aluminum in the 1920's was a valuable metal and would be used on a top end piece which this appears to be though I am not familiar. And then just look at it - that is one stunning pen.

Roger W.

It is nice, but its a Sphinx which i just learned was a 2nd/3rd tier German brand with a hit and miss on quality. I will say ive never seen an aluminum pen engraved (except this(have the same pen coming soon)), but at no such standard as this. I would of said $250-300, but $600! Im not sure if this is a $800+ pen at retail...

dude....

the seller on this ebay auction did everything right... cool pictures, great writing sample (if you buy this pen, you can write like this) used the word rare a few times, etc... even posted it with a MB 139 buy this cool pen, and other cool pens, like this MB 139 will come your way)

I don't think the pen's price is overboard, but obviously, the buyer wanted it and someone wanted it *almost* as bad.

I am confused tho, where you question the $600 selling price, then state, that you are not sure that this is a $800+ pen at retail. I can only look at that observation and offer that (and this is our secret, don't share) that there are a few people out there that will pay full retail and then some on eBay, and they are not looking to score for resale.

Now, I like to sell pens just as much as the next guy, but I have been known, even as a reseller/dealer/whatever to pay retail PLUS for a great pen, because here are occasions that I actually plan to keep the item.

Hope my take was helpful. Happy hunting!

It was, and thank you;

I by no means am trying to hurt this ebay seller, as they have some great pens to offer, and i was interested in this pen, but this was too much for my wallet. When i stated the sold price of a little over $600, i was meaning that's whatever this pens would sell for, for retail, i wasn't sure if there would be much money for retail. Im not sure if this is a $40 pen or a $4000 pen, and this pen brand doesn't have a big market, so it's possible none of us know the going price at retail for this brand of pen. I mean, what do you think this pen would be at retail? I not a big fan of the hike up for "super-flex,flex,etc," but if it comes with it, so be it. I was being pretty generous at a $800 retail, and at that im not sure if anyone would get bites...

[david i]

It was, and thank you;

I by no means am trying to hurt this ebay seller, as they have some great pens to offer, and i was interested in this pen, but this was too much for my wallet. When i stated the sold price of a little over $600, i was meaning that's whatever this pens would sell for, for retail, i wasn't sure if there would be much money for retail. Im not sure if this is a $40 pen or a $4000 pen, and this pen brand doesn't have a big market, so it's possible none of us know the going price at retail for this brand of pen. I mean, what do you think this pen would be at retail? I not a big fan of the hike up for "super-flex,flex,etc," but if it comes with it, so be it. I was being pretty generous at a $800 retail, and at that im not sure if anyone would get bites...

Seriously... Who cares if there is money for retail? You don't know the retail. You don't know motivation of buyer. You don't know the buyer didn't pay "3x Retail, whadda DEAL I tell you". You don't know what "hike up" was for the nib. You don't know the next pen won't sell $100. What does "Generous at $800 retail" even mean, since you don't know retail and really don't know the pen. What value in there is pulling numbers out of your ear? How are you being generous estimating $800 when you are not sure if this is a $40 or a $4000 pen?

-d

[FarmBoy]

I bought an Esterbrook today for $16 with a tail light warranty. Did I pay retail?

[brando090]

It was, and thank you;

I by no means am trying to hurt this ebay seller, as they have some great pens to offer, and i was interested in this pen, but this was too much for my wallet. When i stated the sold price of a little over $600, i was meaning that's whatever this pens would sell for, for retail, i wasn't sure if there would be much money for retail. Im not sure if this is a $40 pen or a $4000 pen, and this pen brand doesn't have a big market, so it's possible none of us know the going price at retail for this brand of pen. I mean, what do you think this pen would be at retail? I not a big fan of the hike up for "super-flex,flex,etc," but if it comes with it, so be it. I was being pretty generous at a $800 retail, and at that im not sure if anyone would get bites...

Seriously... Who cares if there is money for retail? You don't know the retail. You don't know motivation of buyer. You don't know the buyer didn't pay "3x Retail, whadda DEAL I tell you". You don't know what "hike up" was for the nib. You don't know the next pen won't sell $100. What does "Generous at $800 retail" even mean, since you don't know retail and really don't know the pen. What value in there is pulling numbers out of your ear? How are you being generous estimating $800 when you are not sure if this is a $40 or a $4000 pen?

-d

Good point,

I do buy pens for my own collection, but i buy in an area of gray, as these brand are small and most people reject them as $5 pens. Im not saying if this is a deal or not, im just amazed by the price. Along with most pen resellers in the US, including myself, we probably dont know much about this brand, and the value following it.

Edited by brando090, 23 September 2012 - 04:20 AM.

[Roger W.]

I'm afraid this is one of the more persistent myths. Aluminum was no more valuable at the time that pen was made than it is now.

The period in which aluminum was considered precious lasted only until the early 1880s. Soon thereafter its price plummeted to the level of copper.

You can read the full story here.

David;

Well, I knew it was special sometime, I recalled quite incorrectly as to how early. Thank you, I will try and squirrel away the info. Actually, I will endeavor not to make off the cuff comments as those will always come back at me - mea culpa as the Romans had a swinging way of saying it.

Roger W.

[david i]

Good point,

I do buy pens for my own collection, but i buy in an area of gray, as these brand are small and most people reject them as $5 pens. Im not saying if this is a deal or not, im just amazed by the price. Along with most pen resellers in the US, including myself, we probably dont know much about this brand, and the value following it.

This is not a "good point". It is observation about what appears to be serious dysfunction... your habit simply to invent things. It is fairly asinine to repeatedly invent things, then to label such foolishness a trait shared with "most" of anyone. Might be time to grow up. Seriously.

-d

[Rick Krantz]

Good point,

I do buy pens for my own collection, but i buy in an area of gray, as these brand are small and most people reject them as $5 pens. Im not saying if this is a deal or not, im just amazed by the price. Along with most pen resellers in the US, including myself, we probably dont know much about this brand, and the value following it.

This is not a "good point". It is observation about what appears to be serious dysfunction... your habit simply to invent things. It is fairly asinine to repeatedly invent things, then to label such foolishness a trait shared with "most" of anyone. Might be time to grow up. Seriously.

-d

he's still fun to have around....

[Widget]

I have watched a number of this sellers auctions and his pens always go for silly money. His pens are always described as mint or mear mint and he always dismantles for his pics which are of superb quality. The pens are always from his private collection. At the moment I am watching a P45 Insignia from this seller. This is for 2 reasons I have not seen an Insignia 45 before and it was P45's that rekindled my love of fountain pens. 1 thing is for sure the end price will far exceed anything I have seen a P45 go for before.

[Jon Veley]

serious dysfunction... asinine... grow up.
-d

Nice. And that's sarcasm.

Edited by Jon Veley, 24 September 2012 - 02:36 AM.

[david i]

serious dysfunction... asinine... grow up.
-d

Nice. And that's sarcasm.

Sarcasm from the ignorati is high praise indeed.

-d