Thank you all. In answer to some of the questions...
I'm selling upgrade Gold, although I haven't always - and I haven't had a set of either come back. Yes, slimlines are in sets, but Monts are single pens. Most are selling with boxes, but am not paying much for the boxes in qty - buying them from Novel. One shop has a display case and they don't want boxed sets. Most of the slimlines are less expensive rosewoods, etc. The Monts are exotics and stabilized burls. I finish with CA/Walnut oil (it's clear and doesn't muddy the grain like BLO). On very tight grain woods like maples and rosewoods I sell some with only friction polishes, but most get multiple coats of CA/Oil with the final polish being a friction finish. I have sold a few acrylics, and the shop owners like them but I don't like turning them because I think they don't look as nice as woods. I do sell a few specials for more money - ones made from highly figured cocobolo, stabilized and/or dyed burls, exotics, etc. and they always have better quality boxes.
I appreciate the feedback. I'd rather sell fewer high quality pens than focus on quantity sales, it's just the shops prefer having more stock than I'm willing to turn. It is after all, a hobby I want to sustain by sales not a business I want to live off. I've got one shop that only wants high-end, they pay to $75 and mark up to $150, but they only buy one of maybe ten presented, and mostly burls. They love the black TiN coat parts with ebony wood and maple rings or inlays, but I don't like working the ebony because it is so heat sensitive and splits easily when hot. Drilling it is always a challenge.
Thanks again for your feedback!