What is the ballpark pricing for the engraving? This guy wants each groomsman's initials on a pen.
That's a difficult thing to answer. It seems like it would be easy, but
I know several engravers who claim not to be able to do it. Not because
they can't... but because it just isn't worth the time it takes. (either to
the engraver or to the pen turner) and they don't want to insult the
customer with a realistic price.
The time it takes to do the actual engraving is minimal. But the setup is
not. If they charge for actual time, they'd have to include things like
answering emails back and forth
artwork/font approval mockups and approval
Receiving, order tracking
Equipment changeover to do rotary engraving
Testing (prior to blasting your pen!)
the actual engraving
packaging
billing
shipping / tracking
Now, if someone is set up to do this full time, it is much easier. They may
not have to change over the equipment, need less testing etc. But you
can see it is a LOT more than "press the button and gimme some money"
No matter what the price is, it is usually way too much for the
turner, and way too little for the engraver. So I can see why someone
would phase out this service. It just isn't worth it to either party unless
someone doesn't put any value on their time. (or they're sneaking in
orders in between other people's work.. and getting paid for their time
anyway.)
