Pen Kits

[Garno]

What is your absolute favourite pen kit of all time?

If all kits were ended tomorrow except one what would that kit be? it has to be a currently available kit and not one that ended production when William Shakespeare died.

The reason I am asking is to see if price governs our way of thinking about a kit, if we have 2 similar looking kits do we go for the cheaper one as we can sell them faster (Truth is we may not) or stick with the more expensive kits and sell fewer pens at a higher price.

 

[flexi]

My all time favorite kit in rollerball has to be the Sirocco and probably black
For fountains it's the jnr George in antique....
Tbh I don't worry about the price of the kit, I am more concerned about the quality of the kit at the end of the day we pass all the costs on to the customer and if you use cheap cr@p kits they won't sell but quality will:wink::wink:

 

[Garno]

My all time favorite kit in rollerball has to be the Sirocco and probably black
For fountains it's the jnr George in antique....
Tbh I don't worry about the price of the kit, I am more concerned about the quality of the kit at the end of the day we pass all the costs on to the customer and if you use cheap cr@p kits they won't sell but quality will:wink::wink:

I fully agree with the quality as it's so important to build a good client base

 

[silver]

I’m much the same as Mark, Price of kit doesn’t really matter as it’s the quality that does.

If you sell one poor quality pen then the customer will always remember that. Good quality always brings back customers.

If you really want to see a price of some kits have a look at this.

Dayacom Jr Great Palace Vine

 

[Garno]

I can safely say that is out of my price range.

How much would you sell a pen for with that kit? (Plus one of your boxes of course )

 

[Bill Mooney]

My favourite f/pen r/b pen is the Mistral then the TMZeta ballpoint.

 

[silver]

Sorry, I didn't answer the full questions.

I don't have a "go too" pen kit. Only what the customers buy and need.

For me it's always been down to sell as few a pens as possible and get the greatest return for them. I have said before I would sooner sell 2 pens (it doesn't matter what type of kit) a year for £100 each than sell 20 for £10 each.

That's why I developed the bespoke boxes, sell them as a gift rather than a pen.

So, it doesn't really matter to me what kit it is. Now moving in to an area I have never approached before so will see how those pens go, it seems to be where the disposable income is!

 

[Geoff Kent]

Hard question to answer.I sell quite a few pens at craft fairs ranging from slimlines and Europeans to upgrade Leveche.If I had to choose one kit it would currently be the Leveche in fountain and rollerball.Mind you, the Etesia,Tempest and Headwind come close as does the Mysterious sky.Hells bells,I have lots of faves!

 

[Neil]

I’m much the same as Mark, Price of kit doesn’t really matter as it’s the quality that does.

If you sell one poor quality pen then the customer will always remember that. Good quality always brings back customers.

If you really want to see a price of some kits have a look at this.

Dayacom Jr Great Palace Vine

Eamonn, I will ask you to make the box to accompany this pen when I eventually turn one of these, love to do it, selling price, min £400 plus another £75 for the box?

 

[Neil]

Horses for courses, get the right price and they will all sell. It’s getting the right price for the right kit that sells in reasonable quantity that matters, and on that point, it’s the customer appeal more than excessive good quality that counts. Obviously if it’s absolute crap it isn’t going to sell, and quality is only a perception.

 

[Penpal]

My goto kits remain predominately Slimline with Streamline centre bands,been making pens for over 40 yrs feel there is heaps of snobbery and strange reasoning behind purchases that is like peoples taste in motor cars that I have a weakness for. My recent upgrade Mercedes ml350 a 2007 model like showroom condition. Bear in mind I do not seek out sales rather live within my means using affordable kits. I agree there is a lot of crap out in the pen world. A while back I indulged in a variable 1/4 inch reamer for slims cost 135 aussie pesos,I look for the very best in equipment.I measure my brasses with calipers and have the fun of cork making still.Been an age pensioner for 25 yrs now.

 

[alpha1]

My favourite kit is the Mistral fountain pen.
Then the Zephyr
Athena88 MK2
Etesia
Alpha fountain or rollerball.
Omega
Ares
Keltoi
That is pretty much a list of the pen kits I tend to buy and turn.
I am not keen on rollerballs I tend to turn fountain pens or ball pens or Mistral pencils. I will turn a rollerball if asked but I am not a fan.

 

[silver]

Eamonn, I will ask you to make the box to accompany this pen when I eventually turn one of these, love to do it, selling price, min £400 plus another £75 for the box?

No problem Neil, but 3 times the pen cost (take that as £189 rather than $) would be for a pen only. I would market it at 4x with the box.

No problem making a box

 

[Garno]

selling price, min £400 plus another £75 for the box?

You are joking I assume?

Fully agree with the £75 range for the boxes but if I were selling the pen it would be in excess of £1000 (and it will be £100's over) :wink:

 

[flexi]

You are joking I assume?

Fully agree with the £75 range for the boxes but if I were selling the pen it would be in excess of £1000 (and it will be £100's over) :wink:

You'll have to buy them off Neil for £475 and add your percentage

 

[Leatherlass]

My absolute fav pen kit has to be Phils Mistral especially the FP and RB (hubby Kelvin would also agree I'm sure), to us they ooze quality and reliability and are such a classy looking pen. I also love that you can have the full set of the four if needed. I don't know of any other kit design out there that has that option.

 

[pittswood]

Ditto to the above. Every time I can guarantee the quality of the Mistral kits. The only other kits I prefer, is the Omega, a clean kit, few parts to go wrong and solid handling pen kit.
Kelvin

 

[Garno]

You'll have to buy them off Neil for £475 and add your percentage

That thought did cross my mind to be honest

 

[TonyMilner]

While I'm mostly turning slimline kits at the moment, my favorite is the TM Zita & Keltoi. Once I've finished the few commissions I have, boxes & a bowl mostly, I'd like to have a go at a fountain pen kit.

 

[wm460]

My favorite ones are the ones that I sell.
Doesn't happen very often.