Hi all, I have just won a solid gold NOS parker 51 clip from a seller in Pennsylvania.

The problem I have is they want $25 for shipping!?!?!?!!?!

They state that will only ship overseas via express mail.

Does express mail from Pennsylvania to New Zealand cost $25!!

Again $25 to ship a cap clip??? its nuts and outrageous

Maybe the seller just doesn't like Kiwis?

A solid gold clip rocks. But...

Ask them to ship by Registered Air Letter Post instead of EMS. It should cost about US$15.00 including bubble wrap and a box, and it's far safer than EMS. If they won't do that, AND IF THE SHIPPING WASN'T EXPLAINED CLEARLY IN THE AUCTION LISTING, then I'd say you would be within your rights to refuse the sale on grounds of unreasonable shipping restrictions. If you do this, the seller may dump negative feedback on you. You should withhold your feedback until the seller has put up feedback for you. If he slams you, you can slam him back, and that will open the door to eBay's setup whereby mutual agreement can wipe away swapped negatives.

OTOH, if the shipping was laid out in the auction listing, you have no leg to stand on and will have to suck it up and pay what is required.

Insured tracked express yada yada postage to that region- from what i recall- does run around $25. Packing costs a bit too

regards

david
www.vacumania.com

Ouch!

for a clip!

The auction did state express mail, I'll try Air Letter Post otherwise I'll have to wear it.

Thanks guys.

And FYI, I'm Cornish. Kernow!


Edited due to typo.....again!

I won't paid for 25 for a shipping. Most of the time I rather have a Neg feedback than to pay to be a fool for that kind of shipping......Don't support such seller such ways of making money habits.

I admit some confusion.

Express mail to NZ, plus basic shipping material, indeed would seem to run $25. One may opt out of course, but i see no abuse of dollars here.

best

david

I have paid the rather excessive $25, I hope the packaging has postage of at least $20 otherwise its gonna get ugly


The last time I paid excessive shipping - $20 for a pen tray it arrived with only $7 of stamps! I complained to the seller and they mailed out another pen tray for free.....


It does seem to be a growing ebay trend to over charge for shipping and supplement the gain, this should be a service and a choice for the buyer not a compulsory levy.

I have many pens shipped form the States to New Zealand and from $3 to $8 is the normal charge, anything over this IHMO is excessive.

That is why a Neg feedback is given to me when I totally refused to pay for the "Kind" shipping charges.

The problem in this case is that I really want the clip....

I'm had by the balls......so to speak.

That's all well and good, but the description said Express Mail for overseas. As long as the seller does use Express shipping, you have little to complain about.

Actually, I just ran it through the USPS postal rate calculator, and a 6 ounce package sent Global Express EMS to New Zealand is $18 US. So the seller is charging $7 extra for packaging and handling, which is a little steep. (Unless you are talking NZ dollars, in which case I am not sure of the exchange rate).

John

Most of the shipping boxes i use to ship anywhere cost me about $3 per box, iirc. Peanuts and tape, i have not calculated. Not sure i've ever had an express to Australia/NZ come in under $20, but i don't insist. Even at $18-22 range for shipping, plus cost of box (to me at least), we are at the stated cost. At very worst, we are at a $4 or so "abuse" of shipping fees. I would imagine the lament is not about shipping costing $25 vs $21 but rather the whole $20-something vs. an imagined $5.

This is not a huge deal by me. I just note that given the stated form of shipping, at worst we are debating a couple-few dollar spread, not a $15 spread or $20 spread from what should be "expected". Shipping to NZ indeed added significant cost on this item, which BTW is worth well more than what was paid, but does not represent the abuse label which perhaps we abusively are heaping upon the seller. :doh:

david

Oh yeah, if anyone doesn't want the solid gold clip for $25, i'll be happy to grab it. Bruce sold it? Would be just one more nice thing i've added to my collection from his auctions. Damn thing was a bargain and i was too busy to set a bid for it.

david

Sorry, I sold my left kidney to finance the clip and its ALL MINE (in a crazy looney voice)

I'm not sure it was a bargain though - $138 plus $25 shipping

What would you have paid for it, or what do you think it is worth???

well, my apologies on that front. For some reason i thought it sold for opening of bid of $25 plus $25 shipping.

Overall value is vague. There are couple 51 style caps known to have option of 14k clips (and bottom tassies) and finding the gold clip enhances value and cachet today.

But, of course i'm a poor wee bottom feeder these days in any case. Still, here are some of my recent finds. I have been known to buy a pen or three here n there.


SOLID gold Wahl set in combination hand-engraved and engine turned pattern



SOLID gold overlay Waterman 552 1/2 V



Glorious "Brazilian Green" Wahl Deco Band (OS) flattop Personal Point Gold Seal set



And, a wee SHeaffer Balance Junior is desirable Roseglow color



regards

David
http://www.vacumania.com

Are you trying to upset me waving that pen candy under my nose?

Got any more?

I think it is very naughty of davidi to tease you in this manner.

The clip has just arrived - the postage is $18............$7 pays for what????

It arrived in a 6"x6" by 4" deep box - a bit overkill......

Whilst I feel I have been overcharged for shipping I really lack the energy to pursue this with the seller, I am just going to avoid this seller.

I will point out only that in avoiding the seller- if it is who i think it is- you avoid one of the few serious finders of pens in the wild and one of the few knowledgable pensters on ebay willing to use the knowledge to advertise honestly described pens.

I currently own about 1400 collector-grade (a bit arbitrary, i admit) vintage fountain pens. A fair bunch of the best came from that source.

best

david
www.vacumania.com

I'm just sore about the shipping - the reality is if someone comes up with the " I gotta have it" pen I am likely to buy...........I have purchased from this seller before but the shipping was never so high.

I have now fitted the clip and it is v. nice but its yellow gold does not match the tassie ring which is a more rose gold filled finish, I also had nice surprise - the original clip which has now been displaced by the new gold clip is gold filled over silver……

I’m quite fussy sometimes and am tempted to put the old clip back on – just a better match on a cordovan/lined stirling DJ P51.

Unless someone has a 14k gold tassie ring???????????????????? Please…

I only own one DJ P51 and a gold clip just does not fit on the single jewelled 51’s…

Before I get offers for the clip – sorry I’m hanging on to it…….

So when do we get to see a pic of the clip?

Bob

Where on God's earth does that guy find all those pens he has for sale on eBay?!!!!!

I'm with you there, all I ever find on my searches are beat up junk.

Here are the ebay pic's, I'll post some of the pen with clip later......

I don't know much about "51"s, but my recollection is that a 14K clip is not correct for a lined sterling cap, if that helps you justify putting the original back on.

--Daniel

You are right, just appealing to have a gold clip - no brassing etc....

Makes for a more durable daily user.

True that, as the kids say. But I must add that gold filled "51" clips seem quite durable, and I would guess that the major risk is not mere use, but over-zealous buffing. If you have a GF clip in good condition, I would say it will serve you for decades if you care for it. I see a *lot* of "51" caps (and the ones I see tend to have had hard lives), and most of the GF clips show no brassing at all, which is remarkable.

--Daniel

---Where on God's earth does that guy find all those pens he has for sale on eBay?!!!!!---

Long time collector/dealer. Hours and hours networking in the antiques wilds of Pennsylvania. Occasional old jewelry store close out. Rather knowledgable about both pens and other collectables.

Fun to hang out with at pen shows too.

regards

david
http://www.vacumania.com

They do indeed seem pretty rebust - but a solid gold clip has that appeal..

The original clip has very light brassing to the egdes of the bend area, almost level with the blue diamond. Shining though but hard to see is silver.

This is the cap I'll be sending over for some TLC very soon.

Oh - Daniel, do have any gold tassie rings kicking around??

Nope -- I have the unglamorous stuff you don't see (and can't get out!) -- inner caps and clutches. Ernesto's your man.

--Daniel

Hey, c'mon, cut me some slack, it's getting crowded down here!.

Serious collector/dealers often build relationships with local antique dealers and estate liquidators. The pen guy knows what is worth what and is willing to pay what a pen is worth. The antique/estate guy knows they can get a fair price with a phone call to one person, rather than go to the trouble of trying to value and put it up for sale themselves, when their specialty may be furniture.

Look at the recent discussion that came up over a victorian slide pen a while back. The owner was looking for valuation, and several people told him to check out David Nishimura. When you get your name out, people bring their pens to you.

John