I see quite a few folks here knocking Chinese made pen kits and extolling the virtues of those made in Taiwan...Well which is better.
Before I go any farther, I sell Fancy Slimline Pen kits made in China. I have access to and occasionally sell kits made in Taiwan. I might soon be selling some kits made in Taiwan (the problem is I need to buy a minimum of 500 kits to even make a trial run).
Here is my take as it applies to Fancy Slimline kits.
1) Taiwan made kits sell at retail for about double or triple what I charge for the Chinese kits I sell. And if you are buying kits for much less than double what I charge I'll give bets they ain't made in Taiwan. I just checked prices with a major Taiwanese supplier and their kits are double FOB Taiwan what I pay delivered. (500 kit order).
2) The Taiwan made kits that I have used were a little easier to assemble..taking a minute or two less per pen than the ones I sell. The fit and finish around the cap/clip is a bit better.
3) The packaging (plastic bags that you throw away) is a little better on the Taiwan made kits so they are a tad better protected during shipping.
4) Eye appeal of the finished product...well beauty is in the eye of the beholder isn't it. I give away a lot of pens to friends, relatives and others and I let them select from a case that has pens made with kits from both places. The wood used to make the pen has a lot more to do with the selection than where the kits were made. A nice piece of wood, turned well, goes fast regardless of where the hardware came from.
5. Selling price. My friends who use Taiwan made kits get about the same price I do.
6. Conclusion. I think "ya pays yer money and takes yer choice" It depends on what you want to do. If you are a starter and want to get a lot a practice, a dollar a kit makes a lot of difference. If you are selling your pens for $50/$75 (and not many slimlines are selling for that kind of money) a couple of bucks more for the kit won't make much difference to you.
7. You can check my prices at www.smittyspenworks.com
Before I go any farther, I sell Fancy Slimline Pen kits made in China. I have access to and occasionally sell kits made in Taiwan. I might soon be selling some kits made in Taiwan (the problem is I need to buy a minimum of 500 kits to even make a trial run).
Here is my take as it applies to Fancy Slimline kits.
1) Taiwan made kits sell at retail for about double or triple what I charge for the Chinese kits I sell. And if you are buying kits for much less than double what I charge I'll give bets they ain't made in Taiwan. I just checked prices with a major Taiwanese supplier and their kits are double FOB Taiwan what I pay delivered. (500 kit order).
2) The Taiwan made kits that I have used were a little easier to assemble..taking a minute or two less per pen than the ones I sell. The fit and finish around the cap/clip is a bit better.
3) The packaging (plastic bags that you throw away) is a little better on the Taiwan made kits so they are a tad better protected during shipping.
4) Eye appeal of the finished product...well beauty is in the eye of the beholder isn't it. I give away a lot of pens to friends, relatives and others and I let them select from a case that has pens made with kits from both places. The wood used to make the pen has a lot more to do with the selection than where the kits were made. A nice piece of wood, turned well, goes fast regardless of where the hardware came from.
5. Selling price. My friends who use Taiwan made kits get about the same price I do.
6. Conclusion. I think "ya pays yer money and takes yer choice" It depends on what you want to do. If you are a starter and want to get a lot a practice, a dollar a kit makes a lot of difference. If you are selling your pens for $50/$75 (and not many slimlines are selling for that kind of money) a couple of bucks more for the kit won't make much difference to you.
7. You can check my prices at www.smittyspenworks.com