Impact Of Shrinkwrap On Value Of A Patron Pen?

[zaddick]

I'd appreciate your opinions on the impact of the original factory shrinkwrap on the value of a discontinued Patron of the Arts pen. Would you pay more for a pen that is still sealed and, if so, how much more? I am specifically asking about the POAs because the pen itself would still be sealed. I'd think without some sort of x-ray, a buyer might wonder if there was really a pen inside or not.

 

Let's please not get into the "pens are for using, so just remove it" answers. I agree with that philosophy, but I am still curious what others might consider the value shrinkwrap adds to the purchase price. Does it add a lot? A little? Nothing? Would it be a deterrent for you since you can't see inside?

 

Thank you in advance for your guidance.

[Joe in Seattle]

Just my two cents, I think that shrinkwrap adds something, but not much. Shrinkwrap can be redone.

[BrandonA]

Just my two cents, I think that shrinkwrap adds something, but not much. Shrinkwrap can be redone.

 

I think the last point in very valid. Unless you know for sure that it is MB shink wrap then regular self wrapping would add no value.

 

When I buy my WE pens my local boutique hands me the scissors and let me break the seal on the outer packaging. I don't have any POA pens but I do love being the only one other than workers at the MB factory to touch my pens.

 

How much more would I pay for a wrapped pen is hard to say. At least you know that is has never been used and not just well cleaned

[Pen Nut]

For me shrink wrap ,eams nothing at all as its going to be ripped off, literally, within 30 seconds of getting home. I do, however, know a collector who does have three or four shrink wrapped examples tucked in his strong box and never intends to open them. Accompanying x-rays confirm contents ( but were you there when they were taken ! ) and he is happy with his 'commodities'

 

Paying a premium for them, as always, lies with the buyer.

[Kalessin]

Unfortunately, there's no magic in shrinkwrap. For any opened item, all one needs is similar shrinkwrap, the right way to cut it (a hot wire cutter, which seals the edges), and a heat gun or shrinkwrap tunnel that heats it so it shrinks. I'm suspicious of high-value items on eBay in boxes in shrinkwrap (where you can't see every detail), as it could be re-wrapped and hiding problems with whatever's inside.

 

Part of a job I had in a collectibles store long ago was to shrinkwrap art, magazines and record albums, just to protect them in the racks in the store. After a lot of practice, my work on record albums was almost indistinguishable from factory original.

[Pen Nut]

Unfortunately, there's no magic in shrinkwrap. For any opened item, all one needs is similar shrinkwrap, the right way to cut it (a hot wire cutter, which seals the edges), and a heat gun or shrinkwrap tunnel that heats it so it shrinks. I'm suspicious of high-value items on eBay in boxes in shrinkwrap (where you can't see every detail), as it could be re-wrapped and hiding problems with whatever's inside.

 

Part of a job I had in a collectibles store long ago was to shrinkwrap art, magazines and record albums, just to protect them in the racks in the store. After a lot of practice, my work on record albums was almost indistinguishable from factory original.

 

Note to self. Avoid buying unopened shrink wrapped pens off Kalessin

[CS388]

For me shrink wrap ,eams nothing at all as its going to be ripped off, literally, within 30 seconds of getting home.

 

It would add no value for me, either.

 

But, as BrandonA points out, there may be a pleasure gained from ripping off the shrink-wrap and being the first consumer to handle the product. I guess that has a value, to those of that mindset.

 

I just bought a new Macbook, which was shrink-wrapped. I think it gave me some peace of mind, before I tore into it.

However, I am talking about new products, here. I'd be less than convinced buying anything from the used market which was shrink-wrapped.

In fact, I'd be happier without the wrap, so I could examine whatever I was buying (x-rays or not).

 

Just musing.

Enjoy.

[meiers]

It makes no difference to me.

[meiers]

The reputation and trustworthiness of the source (vendor) makes a huge difference to me.

[penmanila]

living out here in a corner of asia where counterfeit goods are sold in the open pretty much anywhere you go, stuffing used gadgets in original boxes and then shrinkwrapping them to make them look new is SOP. ("oh, yeah, we can do that, no problem!" one iphone seller even boasted to me.) shrinkwrapping would literally be the flimsiest guarantee of newness that i would take. the thought of buying and keeping a product, unseen (maybe x-rayed, but what does that show you but a shadow) to me seems rather silly. i'm also a collector and do keep a number of fine pens uninked (largely because they're duplicates), but there's no way i'd have bought these pens without opening the box to visually verify their authenticity and condition. so shrinkwrap on a box would do nothing for me and i wouldn't pay an extra dime for it, because i'd be ripping it off very soon.

[zaddick]

Thank you for all your answers so far. I just wanted to make sure my plan to remove it was not going against the gain.

[Chrissy]

I place no value whatsoever on shrink wrap. I would much rather see the pen I'm about to pay for than have to assume there actually is one inside a shrink wrapped box. I wouldn't trust an X-ray either.

 

I know there are trustworthy sellers, but even they might be fooled. I wouldn't want the hassle of returning something because there was something wrong, so I would want to see thew actual pen I was buying even if it was only in a photo.

 

I know of a couple of pens that have left Montblanc in their boxes, then turned out to be a different pen. It maybe remote, and unlikely, but there is the merest possibility.