Best Way To Sell New Out Of Production Fountain Pens

[BrianWM]

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I have six out of production fountain pens that are new in the box and decided to sell them.

Should they be listed as NIB or NOS?

 

As for pricing, I think the best way would be to base the price on concluded sales of the same pen. Any other suggestions regarding pricing?

There are no pen shows where I live (SE Nebraska) and the closest listing I've found is for Chicago which is too far to drive. So that eliminates selling them at a pen show.

I've read about some issues with ebay where buyers request a refund for not receiving the item even with proof of delivery. Has anyone had any experiences like that?

 

It looks like online is my only option.

 

Any recommendations for sites to use ? Any sites to avoid?

thanks,
Brian

[sandy101]

You can advertise the pens in the classifieds here.

 

NOS suggest that the pens have not been sold before. They've been sitting in a shop and have not been sold.

 

NIB - tells us the pens have been sold, but have not been used. Unused is a good descriptive term - as it also tells the seller that you have not tried the nib.

[BrianWM]

Sandy101,

 

Thanks for the clarification. I was unaware of the distinctions you mention for the terms.

 

I will make sure to use NIB and unused in my descriptions.

 

thanks,

Brian

[Says]

Out of Curiousity, What pens are we talking about here?

[BrianWM]

Says,

 

Since you asked here's the list.

 

Omas Paragon Old Style Black Celluloid Fountain Pen, Gold Trim, 18K Two-Tone Medium Nib.

Omas Ogiva Vision (Demonstrator) Piston Fill, Gold Trim, 18K Gold Broad Nib.

Waterman Le Man 100 Sterling Silver Godron Fountain Pen, Gold Trim, 18K Two-Tone Broad nib with Globe.

Pelikan M800 Demonstrator, Gold Trim, 18K Two-Tone Medium Nib.

Rotring 600 Black, Knurled Grip, Knurled Nib Size Twist Ring, Steel Broad Nib. Made in Holland.

Rotring 600 Silver, Steel Extra Fine Nib. Made in Holland

 

Thanks for asking,

Brian

Edited August 26, 2020 by BrianWM

[Parker51]

It appears you have been "spell checked" in regard to your Waterman.

Oh the stupidity of the way some systems work, automatically creating word hash.

[BrianWM]

Parker 51,

 

Spell Checked it is, my bad. Thanks

[Parker51]

No, just another victim I expect of the software which tries to eliminate any word or name it doesn't have in its data set.

[corniche]

Welcome, Brian,

 

Usually, the quickest and easiest way to sell pens around here is to look me up and sell them to me.

 

But being a new member, you may have a problem; you have to have so many posts to your credit and have been a member a month or two before you can sell.

 

 

- Sean

 

 

PS: And they can't be "nuttin" posts, either, like "My dog ate my homework"; or "I'll kiss ya later, I'm eatin a tomata." I posted the latter phrase 37 times to build up my profile. (I didn't really, but I thought about it.

 

Edited to add PS.

Edited August 26, 2020 by corniche

[corniche]

Hello, again, Brian,

 

Now that I've looked over your profile, I'm pretty sure you've met the burden to sell.

 

 

- Sean

[BrianWM]

Parker 51,

 

Yes it was the spell check software that changed my spelling, but it was my error not to check it before I posted.

[BrianWM]

Corniche,

 

Thanks for the introduction and offer (I think ). Yes that's the way it looks to me too, I can sell.

[Discombobulate]

Ive never had the eBay issue you mention but have heard others be concerned about it.

 

Where things become tricky at the moment is the sometimes significant delays with international shipping. Ive ordered stuff from the USA and Europe (private sales and stores) and postage that would normally take 2-3 weeks to reach Australia is taking 6-8 weeks currently.

 

This might mean some international buyers will try to lodge claims for non-delivery. On expensive items I would be taking photos and documenting the entire process if possible - from packing the item to sending at the post office. Tracking numbers are key. Payments made by PayPal have upto 180 days to lodge a claim - so hopefully the shipping delays wouldnt mean you will get premature claims

 

eBay will take a 10% fee on whatever your sale price is - including any shipping costs. (This was to stop some sellers rotting the system who sold a $100 item for $1, and then charged $99 shipping, and would only pay 10c, rather than $10)

 

 

payment by PayPal Goods and Services provides a degree of protection to the buyer and some places (like Reddits Pen Swap sub) require all transactions to use PayPal goods and services. This will means the seller will also cop roughly a 4% cut to whatever the buyer sends you. Its not uncommon (and entirely reasonable IMO) to ask that the buyer covers this cost

 

I have had a fair bit of experience buying and selling a range of hobby items over the years, and never had any issues with either PayPal or eBay. No missing shipments (some delayed); no false non delivery claims.

 

I tend to do my homework and have avoided sales with some red flags

[sirgilbert357]

I'd just list them in the classifieds here...

[BrianWM]

Sirgilbert357,

 

Most likely I'll post them in the classifieds once I get my act together on pricing.

 

 

[BrianWM]

Discombobulate,

 

Thanks for the through and specific answers, I appreciate your advice.

 

What do you consider red flags on eBay sales?

[Discombobulate]

eBay is generally pretty good - but as an example I saw some Omas pens listed and described as medium nibs. they had multiple photos, including photos of medium and broad nibs. When I asked the seller they said they had multiple pens for sale.

 

It might well have been true, but that gave me pause for thought - that I couldnt be satisfied that the pen advertised for sale would be the one I would get in the mail.

[Parker51]

My suggestion for checking on the legitimacy of Ebay sales are the pictures.

 

All the pictures need to have been taken in the same setting and it should not appear to be a professional setting such as what a manufacturer advertisement would have. The listing is supposed to be by a single person, or a small,company, not a large Corperation with an art director, professional photography and a variety of settings to highlight the product.

 

And, all the pictures for the diferent listings (of pens) by that seller need to be either made in the same, or complimentary settings. Sometimes a given listing may appear to be consistent and represenative of an individual listing a pen because the losing was copied in its entirety from a legitimate one, but this breaks down if the fraudulent seller doesn't steal from the same seller for all of their listings so when you compare them, each looks diferent.

 

Also, the number of listings should correspond to their feedback score. Someone with a 100% rating is great, but if they have this based on 10 sales and they are now listing 2000 items at once, something is wrong, especially if their photographs appear to be pulled randomly from a variety of websites by some automated system and the account is an old one. It appears to be more likely a stolen account than someone new getting into selling pens.

Edited September 1, 2020 by Parker51

[A Smug Dill]

My suggestion for checking on the legitimacy of Ebay sales are the pictures.

 

All the pictures need to have been taken in the same setting and it should not appear to be a professional setting such as what a manufacturer advertisement would have. The listing is supposed to be by a single person, or a small,company, not a large Corperation with an art director, professional photography and a variety of settings to highlight the product.

I'm afraid I must disagree. If the private seller on eBay happens to be an art director for a large corporation in his/her day job, or otherwise has access to the skills of one (through practice as an amateur/enthusiasts, or having enlisted the help of a neighbour in exchange for a six-pack of lager, etc.), then there is no compelling reason why the 'original' images of the item on offer ought not show the item in the 'best' light to appear favourable and fetch a good price, possibly 'undermining' the sort of candid and unadorned state that a prospective buyer would (like to) see from his/her perspective upon receipt of the item. No seller is selling — at additional expense, or a complimentary value-added service — 'analysis' or 'due diligence' from an individual prospective buyer's perspective.

 

I haven't put a fountain pen on offer to sell for a while now; but if I include a writing sample produced with a pen — preferably (to me, and I'm quite certain some prospective buyers will agree) with the type of ink and type of paper clearly stated in the presentation of the writing sample — it just means with the technique I choose to use to show the performance of the pen in the 'best' light I can (honestly!) produce such writing, but it doesn't mean the writing outcome with their personal repertoire of techniques is what any other individual would be buying.

 

So, to me personally, the more a seller is aware what he/she can do to show the actual item on offer in the best light (to a variety of faceless and unidentified prospective buyers out there), then the more he/she knows the item as well as 'understand' the customer base, in terms of what is sought in terms of writing outcomes (as opposed to what is sought in terms of information).

 

I don't like to — or need to — lie to others to maintain my 'living' or protect my best interests, but in the age of 'rights' and 'truth', I think it's best if we all allow everyone 'enough rope' to misinterpret what is honestly and factually presented (without other guidance), and make 'mistakes' and bad decisions if they think their perspective is 'king' and they control the narrative.

[Estycollector]

If I view a pen and the seller never shows a photo of the clip, that is a red flag. If the photo is fuzzy, that is another red flag especially if the discription says to view all photos to determine condition. I really like estate sales where the seller is not an pen seller. However, I have gotten pens from pen sellers.

 

The more knowledgable the buyer the better chance of having a good result. For example, my Sheaffer Crest is a lever fill. Had it been a snorkle fill, I would have passed because I do not want to have to spend more to restore the fill mechanism.