? Felt Tip Pen Help ?

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65GTMustang

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Joined
Mar 3, 2010
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547
Location
Taylors, South Carolina
I had a request to make an Apollo Pen (PSI Kit)
The twist is that they only like to write with a bold felt tip style pen.
I have ordered the Schmidt Felt Tip Refill but fear it may not be "Bold" enough.
I have also purchased a couple of the Sharpie refills, but these babies are big!
The length alone is just as long as the lower barrel to the Apollo and that measuring from the end cap to the nib. It is also a thick refill so I would have to make major modifications to the gold front nib piece if it would work at all. My first thought was to modify the lower barrel by turning it as a closed end pen and find a coupler that would be large enough to fit the threads on the sharpie refill. The trade off with using the sharpie refill has to be that there will not be a gold contoured nib tip.
It would be super easy if the Schmidt refill is bold enough – that's a simple exchange of refills.
Can anyone help shed some light on my "opportunity" to solve this problem…?
Thanks
Kevin
 
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I try to get the customer to "spec" the refill. Let THEM go to the Staples, Office Max, Office Depot, etc and find the refill they like. Then, build a pen around it.

We are pen makers, not refill shoppers. AND, they will always like it better if THEY selected it. Anything you find will not be PERFECT!!! Their definition of "perfect" gets much looser, if they have to do the research. By the fifth store, they will find something they want--if you do five stores, they won't be thrilled with the same solution.

Just a "study of human nature"---no charge!!
 
Hey Kevin--

Let me refine that a little--I DON'T say NO.

I say, "Mr Jones, that really sounds like an interesting project and I am sure we can make exactly what you want. My next show in this area is (about 60 days from now) at (wherever you will be, near here). Why don't you write down your contact information, name, phone, etc. here (give business card, use the back).

I'll give you a call in a couple weeks, meanwhile if you can locate EXACTLY the refill you like at the usual places--Staples, OfficeMax (whichever ones are in your area) or even if you find it at KMart (chuckle), we can then work on building a pen around that refill and deliver it to you at that show.

If they ask for a price, give a range, depending on how much you will have to modify your existing product to suit his need.

I have done projects where I made two prototypes as well as the finished pen--customer saw all three pens, so he was aware of the work that justified my price.

He LOVED the resulting pen---but then, we knew he would like the refill--HE selected it.

Hope this helps you make a fortune!!!
 
ed4copies said:
Hey Kevin--

Let me refine that a little--I DON'T say NO.

I say, "Mr Jones, that really sounds like an interesting project and I am sure we can make exactly what you want. My next show in this area is (about 60 days from now) at (wherever you will be, near here). Why don't you write down your contact information, name, phone, etc. here (give business card, use the back).

I'll give you a call in a couple weeks, meanwhile if you can locate EXACTLY the refill you like at the usual places--Staples, OfficeMax (whichever ones are in your area) or even if you find it at KMart (chuckle), we can then work on building a pen around that refill and deliver it to you at that show.

If they ask for a price, give a range, depending on how much you will have to modify your existing product to suit his need.

I have done projects where I made two prototypes as well as the finished pen--customer saw all three pens, so he was aware of the work that justified my price.

He LOVED the resulting pen---but then, we knew he would like the refill--HE selected it.

Hope this helps you make a fortune!!!
Click to expand...

Very good way of involving the customer in the building of their pen. And because they were able to contribute in the process, they will cherish the final product that much more!
 
The "refillable" felt tip market is less than 1 percent of the total "sharpie" market. To the point that both Sharpie, Schmidt and Mont Blanc may very soon discontinue these refills. The ENTIRE felt tip market represents LESS than 3 percent of the entire pen market... Upscale, throw away, "Flair", etc.

If this works out to be a niche for you, let me know and I'll send you the names all 4 of those customer's that I couldn't please with "replaceable" felt tips.

Personally, I'll continue to concentrate on pleasing customers with products that I can make well. IMHO, ALL of the felt replacement cartridges dim in comparison to my $.30 Sharpie.

Sometimes we just have to know when to say "uncle". Don't EVEN get me started on calligraphy sets.

Respectfully submitted and good luck. I have way too much time and gray matter in pursuit of this elusive unicorn.
 
I still think you can use Eds advice. I'd call the customer and tell them you've been looking for the correct refill but have come across a number of possibilities, then ask them if they could go out at their convenience and choose the correct refill for them. My gut feeling is the sharpie tips would be much bigger then they really want.

AK
 
I will have that discussion -
From the beginning I did suggest that he look at local office stores to tell me a pen type or refill type he would like to use.
He kept insisting that he simply liked a bold felt tip, he wanted large writing, something he could see, and that he would leave all that up to me???
I guess I will just send him my results and go from there?
 
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