Looks vs Function
Just my observations, not intended to be taken out of context.
I see lots of handsome pens here on this forum. I originally did lots of slim line and trim line with my own sculpting to them. I went for ergonomics with looks and better refills than what came with the kit and they worked out. People liked the way they felt in their fingers. I noticed that many if not 99% of you are doing Majestic's, Areos, Bullets, Fountains, Atrix, Vertex, Stratus, and others not mentioned. So I bought one of each, used a blank that complimented the plating and finish.
I polled 5 coworkers, two of them being department managers. I would hand them my custom trimline and a higher end (either a Majestic, Wall St, Stratus, Vertex, Bullet) pen and ask to use them for the day. All had the same opinion at the end.
What they didnt like on the high end kits: The shiny ones were slippery, the Bullet was top heavy and awkward, the Majestic was too heavy and not something you take to work to use other than to show it off, Wall St just uncomfortable overall, Stratus and Vertex a definite no. All my coworkers were impressed by the looks but none of them would buy one only because they were (A) too expensive to have sitting on a desk doing nothing, (B) didn't feel the pen was comfortable. I then asked would they buy one for $25 they all said no.
What they liked: the simpler more useful slimline-trimline, two with my trumpet bell at the nib, and the comfort grip pen (especially the acrylic) rather than the gaudy fat unbalanced ones with exotically named blanks made of materials only pen makers are familiar with.
Certainly there is a wow factor amongst us when we post creatively done pens. I can almost hear the Tim Allen caveman grunts by the comments.
In my world I can't write with looks. There has to besome practicality to it. To the sales orientated folks as long as it sells that's a plus. $600 for a pen? Congratulations. You hit the jackpot. People with money to burn don't care as long as they buy that pen nobody else has. It all depends on what market you are catering to I guess.
When you live among the $2.99 for a 10 pack of BIC crowd like I do there is a world of difference between what I see and read on this forum as opposed to the world I see around me every day. If they are going to drop $20 on a pen it's a big deal and has to be useful, look cool, and write well.
Photos show the ones they really liked. The red one piece, the comfort grip acrylic and Buckeye burl sold that afternoon. All sold for $20.
Whick makes me wonder, I offered up the Majestic for $25 and they said no.......
Just my observations, not intended to be taken out of context.
I see lots of handsome pens here on this forum. I originally did lots of slim line and trim line with my own sculpting to them. I went for ergonomics with looks and better refills than what came with the kit and they worked out. People liked the way they felt in their fingers. I noticed that many if not 99% of you are doing Majestic's, Areos, Bullets, Fountains, Atrix, Vertex, Stratus, and others not mentioned. So I bought one of each, used a blank that complimented the plating and finish.
I polled 5 coworkers, two of them being department managers. I would hand them my custom trimline and a higher end (either a Majestic, Wall St, Stratus, Vertex, Bullet) pen and ask to use them for the day. All had the same opinion at the end.
What they didnt like on the high end kits: The shiny ones were slippery, the Bullet was top heavy and awkward, the Majestic was too heavy and not something you take to work to use other than to show it off, Wall St just uncomfortable overall, Stratus and Vertex a definite no. All my coworkers were impressed by the looks but none of them would buy one only because they were (A) too expensive to have sitting on a desk doing nothing, (B) didn't feel the pen was comfortable. I then asked would they buy one for $25 they all said no.
What they liked: the simpler more useful slimline-trimline, two with my trumpet bell at the nib, and the comfort grip pen (especially the acrylic) rather than the gaudy fat unbalanced ones with exotically named blanks made of materials only pen makers are familiar with.
Certainly there is a wow factor amongst us when we post creatively done pens. I can almost hear the Tim Allen caveman grunts by the comments.
In my world I can't write with looks. There has to besome practicality to it. To the sales orientated folks as long as it sells that's a plus. $600 for a pen? Congratulations. You hit the jackpot. People with money to burn don't care as long as they buy that pen nobody else has. It all depends on what market you are catering to I guess.
When you live among the $2.99 for a 10 pack of BIC crowd like I do there is a world of difference between what I see and read on this forum as opposed to the world I see around me every day. If they are going to drop $20 on a pen it's a big deal and has to be useful, look cool, and write well.
Photos show the ones they really liked. The red one piece, the comfort grip acrylic and Buckeye burl sold that afternoon. All sold for $20.
Whick makes me wonder, I offered up the Majestic for $25 and they said no.......
I love the elegance of a beautiful, burl Gent, or a flashy, chatoyant Majestic, but I know I would never pay what I ask for them...
Oh, and anyone who has Majestics for sale at $25, let me know!!!:biggrin::biggrin:
Rather hang on to it until you get your asking price?
