A youtube review of a pen turner.

I am fairly new to pen turning I watched a review on youtube of a guy that has been making pens for about the same length of time as me. All though to give him his due he is making kitless/bespoke pens. I could not believe that people are buying them for £125 plus.
I am obviously doing something wrong. The question I asked myself was knowing what I know would I pay £125 for one of his pens. NO.
Don't get me wrong good luck to him. I wish him every success. But I am gobsmacked that he can get that kind of money for his product.

Dave,
there a few pen turners on here that have sold their pens for above that price (not me)

Dave

Salesmanship is a cultivated art and circumstance,location sometimes an influence. Facebook has found the high flyers. I simply just love pens not trying to set any records.

Peter.

Any thing is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it!! Why are empty bottles or thimbles collected? Why are some old cars worth more than new??.... Its a perennial question.....
The more usual is "I turn slimline pens and sell at £6 but my mate sells at £12 and can't keep up......
A bespoke kit less anything is 'worth' more, Again No not necessarily... It costs more to produce in time materials and tooling so that needs to be recovered, Is more desirable being unique? Again No not necessarily, people pay strong money for an all black fountain pen( mont blanc) that are all identical....
What I am trying to say is price can and often is market led, if the area your in(sell within) is affluent office workers with disposable income then they will pay more than other more rural areas or family and friends, but it still has to be a quality product......
I know a few people who regularly sell pens in 3 figures and
Yes I have sold at over £100, on kit pens...... I have sold slimline at £60+ and have repeat customers......
Always produce the best you can, find 'your' best market and price accordingly

Not to take anything away from turners that make pens using kits, but the more parts you make yourself the more unique it is. I’ve seen some excellent kitless pens that well deserve the high asking price.
In reality most of us are only “half pen makers” the other half is manufactured in China!

I don’t make kitless pens but if I did I’d want a good price for them.

Location can be big factor in pricing your work.

Hello Dave do you have the link to the youtube video? any help I can find on kitless pens the better

James
PS got my collet chuck now

I agree with Mark's comments. I have the business skills and acumen of an amoeba as a result of never having to work within a selling environment.
I have made thousands of pens, most of which I give away or donate to charities etc. Everyone who sees or takes a pen comments on how good they are and how clever and brilliant I am and that I should sell them. I was charging £12.50 for one of Phil's pens and they still wouldn't sell.

It all boils down to "You have the skill or you don't" Anyone want a pen?

Happy New Year to everyone and thanks Uncle Phil for running the forum. I hope next year is much better one than this. It's best to consign 2020 to the bin.....but there must be something good to come out of it. Let's see.

Cheers
Frederick

Tiny James said:

Hello Dave do you have the link to the youtube video? any help I can find on kitless pens the better

James
PS got my collet chuck now

Click to expand...

Congratulations on the new chuck.
Just do a youtube search type in kitless pens there are lots of videos covering the subject.