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jttheclockman

jttheclockman

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John, I have no argument with someone selling their product at any price they think it's worth and on flea-bay it just seems most have to price their product at extremely low prices in order to move inventory and that's their right to do so. In my opinion a Jr. gent with Amboynia burl for less than $40 even though it's a Jr. Gent 1 in chrome even on ebay is way to low but it's his or her right to do so. I was a little curious as to the statement on the steampunk pen that it had a "soft feel", she/he did use a better quality Jr. Gent11 on it and the price is probably at the top of the ladder on ebay but still in my mind to low, way to low. Wish them luck.
 
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They are calling those Gents, but I think they are actually barons, looks like they have the flat sided section. If so they are cutting their margin even finer, but hey, if they are happy with it, that's their business. I don't recognize the steampunk work, but it's been out there online long enough that plenty of people can do it, even those that don't post on here (gasp!)
 
The first pen I looked at was not well fitted and I would not have purchased it even at that low of a price point. They did get a bit better as they went and I agree with Roy the price points seem low - but that is what happens on Ebay if you want to move stock now days. I remember selling antique glass jars for 4-600$ back in the day and that was excellent money - right in line where they should have been (not cheap just to move it.) The steampunk price point is pretty good for Ebay and the pen doesn't look to bad from what I can see on there... I just don't understand why use that as your primary way to sell in these times. There are better avenues it would seem to me.
 
If this is who I think it is, I do shows in Arizona and have had her at at least one as competion....really no competition people recognize low end work from high end work and are willing to pay for better quality or I wounldn't drive 1200 miles to these shows.. Do I get all the sales at shows that I have competion...no but I seem to get more than my share and have customers that will tell me that they just saw someone else with pens but paid few a hundred to me for better components and workmanship.
 
Just MHO, I see more way over priced pens than I see low ball pens. I think, and again JMHO, everyone should not worry so much about what others sell their crafts for and focus more on our own stuff. If your clients like your stuff and they pay what you ask...both parties should be happy. I know some are way more serious about making pens than others but it's still a pen. Quality goes a long ways. If you sell high end pens, that's great. But why look down on someone for selling at what they think is a fair price?

Maybe the difference is all the extras some have in a business vs someone turning pens and selling on ebay. I remember when I first got into turning pens. I thought wow, this is so much fun and I was getting good at it. Lot of people were wanting custom pens. Then one day I was at our local mall. I went in the book store and was looking around when I noticed a big display of pens. These were all maple big ben (cigar style) and had lazer engraved names on them. 100's of them just sitting there...for $8.00 each. I took one down and opened it up inside and it was the same as I was almost paying for in just the hardware.

The pens at that store and on ebay are just that....you buy it and that's the end. But if you have someone in front of you, you get the chance to tell them about the pen. You get the interaction and the ability to explain why that pen is special. It's what we do in the process to bring out the beauty. I'm not ready to call pens all works of art. I have seen some wonderful pens on this site. But most are just good looking pens. It takes something new, something special, something different to really stand out from all the pens you can find online. A google search would bring up 100's of websites selling $100.00 pens. I wonder how many they really sell online? I wonder how many that person sells on ebay?

Oh well, life's too short to worry about things I have zero control over.
 
Responces in red

Akula said:
Just MHO, I see more way over priced pens than I see low ball pens.
How would you know if they are overpriced? Have you seen the finish,felt the finish,closed your eyes and ran your fingers over the transitions? From a photo on a web site you can't really tell a well made pen from a so-so pen but you can go on the makers reputation

I think, and again JMHO, everyone should not worry so much about what others sell their crafts for and focus more on our own stuff.
Again nobody was worring about someone elses prices, as a matter of fact, it was stated that anyone should sell for what they think their work is worth.
If your clients like your stuff and they pay what you ask...both parties should be happy. I know some are way more serious about making pens than others but it's still a pen. Quality goes a long ways. If you sell high end pens, that's great. But why look down on someone for selling at what they think is a fair price?

I just reread all the post on this tread and I haven't seen where anybody looked down on those selling pens for what they think is fair

Maybe the difference is all the extras some have in a business vs someone turning pens and selling on ebay.
Very good point, most Ebay sellers are not your top of the line pen makers and are only hobbiest...Mind you I said MOST not all
I remember when I first got into turning pens. I thought wow, this is so much fun and I was getting good at it. Lot of people were wanting custom pens. Then one day I was at our local mall. I went in the book store and was looking around when I noticed a big display of pens. These were all maple big ben (cigar style) and had lazer engraved names on them. 100's of them just sitting there...for $8.00 each. I took one down and opened it up inside and it was the same as I was almost paying for in just the hardware.

All came off of an assemply line in China and are NOT hand made.

The pens at that store and on ebay are just that....you buy it and that's the end. But if you have someone in front of you, you get the chance to tell them about the pen. You get the interaction and the ability to explain why that pen is special. It's what we do in the process to bring out the beauty. I'm not ready to call pens all works of art. I have seen some wonderful pens on this site. But most are just good looking pens. It takes something new, something special, something different to really stand out from all the pens you can find online. A google search would bring up 100's of websites selling $100.00 pens. I wonder how many they really sell online?
Not as many as some would like but more than most here think

Again some good points and that's why some are more succesful selling than others and why some can get IYHO more than others can, it's salesmanship. quality and better and different materals..
I wonder how many that person sells on ebay?,
I would say in the below $50 range more than most here think.

Oh well, life's too short to worry about things I have zero control over.
Click to expand...
Totally agree, just though I needed to answere some points as we agree on some on others not so much.
 
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