pen pricing

Re: pen pricing

Fred in NC

>That is the $64 question! It will depend on the kit, wood, labor, and what the market in your area can bear.

My basic pricing formula is 3 times the cost of the kit, plus the cost of the wood, plus a reasonable amount for your labor.

A basic slimline kit costs $1.50 to $3.00. Based on this, I make many slimlines that sell at about $20. Most people can afford that.

I rather give away a pen than sell it too cheap. It is very unfair to those selling pens.

Re: pen pricing

William Young

>Fred;

I agree about different areas bringing better prices than others. Small rural areas wont usually bring as much as can be charged in large cities with upscale shops and boutiques etc.

But I also agree that it is not fair to pen makers that do have a good market area , to discount or de-value pens regardless of style. I will not sell a pen for less than $19.95. Like you , I will give it to someone as a gift first. Most of my pens go from $19.95 to $49.95 and I live in a small ecconomically depressed area. I am happy for ones that can get much more for them in their area than I can here. They do make lovely gifts. I gave away more than 20 at Christmas time and my sales were also quite brisk . Sometimes the appreciation and nice comments from the people that received them as gifts is just as rewarding as if there had been money exchanged.

W.Y.

Re: pen pricing

nathan murphey

>thanks this is what I was looking for I was thinking $15-20. I don't want to make money just trying to fair to people that actualy sell them. I don't buy to many kits at a time so my cost is around $5 plus labor,etc.

Re: pen pricing

John Carr

>I sell a plain-Jane Slimline for $30. Euro style ballpoints are $40, and Americanas are $45. Fountain pens or rollerballs are $2-$5 higher and I add $2-$10 for really fancy or exotic woods, composites, Corian, etc.

Those are my central New England craft show prices. I'd price them higher in a major city like New York, Boston, Chicago, etc.

Newbie Pen Parts Question

Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida

>Does anyone sell really high quality pen parts? Just browsing the catalogs and web sites, it seems that everything is in the $3-$10 range. Is that the best there is?

Re: Newbie Pen Parts Question *LINK*

Fred in NC

>Not by far, Don! I don't know what kits you have tried or which suppliers you have looked at, but there are very nice KITS available. Individual pen parts are not so easy to get.

Some of the under $10 kits are actually very well made, with high quality platings such as rhodium, which is even better than platinum.

I put a link to the supplier I use for most of my best kits. No affiliation, but very happy customer.


Bill Baumbeck - Arizona Silhouette

Re: Newbie Pen Parts Question *LINK*

John

>Try Berea Hard Woods -- call and get their current paper catalog -- it seems more complete than their website.


Berea Hard Woods

Re: Newbie Pen Parts Question

Wood Spinner

>I have some I will discount to $ 25.00 ea. Just let me know how many you need and I will order from BHW or AZ.S. {:

Price is not that different on any pen parts. Not that much to be different. BHW and AZ.S have good quality at the right prices.

Good turning and be safe

Bill in Casa Grande, AZ.

Thanks - catalogs ordered.

Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida

>

Re: Thanks - catalogs ordered. *LINK*

Tom Mullane

>Don, you can find kits with Rose Gold, Platinum, Sterling Silver and other high grade platings, of course you will pay a lot more for them also, but they are worth it on high priced pens or special presentation pens..

Take a look at Arizona Silhouette's website to see some of them from CSU and Berea and some that he produces himself..


Arizona Silhouette

Re: pen pricing

Joe Pack

>I'm in the northcentral Ohio area. I sell my titanium slimlines at $20, perfect fit, Euro and American upgrade gold for $25, titanium/platinum fountains and rollerballs for $35-$40, plus a $5 upgrade for extra fancy figures/burls, etc.

I sold about 150 last year at four small shows. A couple of pen turners were mad at my prices...said one, "I sold a pen like that last week for $60." I told him I wanted to sell 50, not one. I had less than $5 in it, made it in 10 minutes and sold it for $30. Not bad profit in my book.

If I had a "high class" market, I might sell for more, but the working class folks I live among have set a price point that I either meet or make very few sales.