Sales Advice Needed

[jmk]

Hi all,

 

I'm looking for some advice/help with thinning down my pen collection. I started about 20 years ago and had a focus on Montblanc and ST Dupont. I've thinned them down before by selling some of the pens that don't really fit what I keep on ebay. Those days I had a little fewer than 100 pens. Now I have over 250 pens and some really unique ones, too! Most of my collection pens have never been inked. For example, I bought the Montblanc Copernicus when it was released. I'm considering letting it go because of the amount of money tied up in it. I have two really unique ST Dupont pens - the Leroy Neiman Golf pens - the rollerball and fountain pen - number 001/400... first ones made! I bought most of my Montblancs at our boutique and ST Dupont between two authorized ST Dupont dealerships. These are 3 pens. I'm planning on selling about 100, many of my Pelikan, Visconti, and Loiminchay to name a few. I really let things go and want to reign them back in, free up some cash and purchase some that fit what we had in mind back when we started.

 

If you have any ideas that can help us sell about 100 of them, I'd appreciate it. We can go ebay, but I'm not sure how cost effective it is anymore. Thanks in advance for your advice and help.

 

Joe

[PAKMAN]

eBay is of course an option. Since you are a gold member on FPN you could sell in the FPN classified but limited to 3 a week and 24 a year. https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/blog/7/entry-85-classifieds-rules-october-28-2013/ Another good option, since you have such a large number to sell and they are high dollar pens, would be a premium membership on FPN which would allow for putting the pens on the market at a faster rate. https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/store/category/6-premium-accounts/

[playtime]

Classifieds likely a choice to pursue, as pakmanpony suggested. Or you can search for an established vintage pen dealer and sell on consignment (Gary Lehrer springs to mind) - but you will be paying a fee for that option,

 

How quickly were you hoping to move your pens?

 

J

[Tylerjordan]

I'd recommend using FPN to list your pens as well. eBay is always a crapshoot. Sometimes you get more than then pens' worth or you get a lot less. You're also charged something around 15% seller fees and have to pay extra to add reserve prices or a fixed-price only auction.

 

FPN allows you to set your own prices, make your own deals. It's 'safer' for the seller.

 

 

edit: As Parkmanpony said, you'd most likely want a premium membership to move so many pens but I would assume paying the premium here is a lot less than you'll be paying eBay for so many sellers' fees. The problem is that with the most expensive membership you can only make 50 new listings a month, so you'd have to wait about 3 months total to get all of them listed.

Edited July 24, 2014 by Tylerjordan

[usk15]

I guess the best option is to sell it here. To people who know what you have. Selling on E-bay expensive pens you don't have any warranties, the buyer always can ask for a refund from various reasons, ending loosing money, time and your pens...

[77kath]

I'm finished selling pens on eBay. It is not worth the aggro. I agree with those who suggest selling here, if you are not in a hurry.

[jmk]

You all are great! Thank you very much for your suggestions. I was really surprised when selling them here on FPN. I don't know why, but I'd never given it a thought. I'm not in a hurry at all. The selling limits are ok, at least to start. I will look into the premium membership and its benefits. In the meantime, I can list 3 and go from there. I was figuring on doing something like 3 pens every other week. I work a bunch of time, so I probably can't spend a lot of time with pictures, packing, etc. Perhaps this will turn into a job for my wife with some help from me along the way!

 

As far as quantities go, what would you think about selling the two ST Dupont Golf pens? I bought them separate (through ST Dupont authorized dealer), but serial number 1 of 400 of both the rollerball and fountain pen seems to place them in the unusual category. That makes me tend to want to sell them together. What would you say? I'm also having a difficult time finding out what the first pen of each type should bring. Another unusual feature. Any thoughts?

 

Thank you very much again!

[Ipsum_Dolor]

I look forward to following your classifieds! Best of luck.

[Ghost Plane]

I've used Bryant Greer at Chatterley Luxuries to sell on consignment for me. If you check his website, you'll see he's handling a good quantity of 1 of xx pens. He got good results on the whole and handled all the international packing and shipping. Well worth the commission.

[jmk]

I've used Bryant Greer at Chatterley Luxuries to sell on consignment for me. If you check his website, you'll see he's handling a good quantity of 1 of xx pens. He got good results on the whole and handled all the international packing and shipping. Well worth the commission.

Thank you! This looks like a good idea for a few of my lower numbered and low production pens (I have # 7 of 18 Loiminchay Qian Jr. pens with green/white milky Jade hand carved clips. Advertised as the highest quality Jade.)