The Fountain Pen Network > Another puzzling one from eBay

addio6

Mar 6 2007, 01:23 PM

I promise this isn't turning into a habit

This is just another one that caught my eye. Randomly going to eBay is starting to become a study in the oddities of human tendency. (If I were still writing college psych papers, I'd be all over that website with a ton of 'applied theory'..).

This just stuck out to me because the seller seems to slightly know what they're talking about, and if that is legitimate--it looks like a pretty groovy pen.. but then there's the 'picture shows all' aspect with a tiny little montage picture.

Box, papers, starting at $0.99?? Does anybody else get an odd reaction from this one? or is this sort of stuff normal?

Richard

Mar 6 2007, 01:59 PM

Looks legit. Starting at 99¢ is a good way to get bidding started quickly and drive the price up. it's now over $50.00.

Elaine

Mar 6 2007, 02:01 PM

ooooooh, pretty. gonna bid.

addio6

Mar 6 2007, 02:06 PM

QUOTE (Elaine @ Mar 6 2007, 08:01 AM)

ooooooh, pretty. gonna bid.

Yay.. I'm glad my random musings did some good!

(Good luck, btw!! I have officially got my fingers crossed for your bid

)

Elaine

Mar 6 2007, 08:21 PM

I went a little higher than .99

Jeff L

Mar 6 2007, 09:01 PM

Just curious. What is it that struck you as odd about this?

Johnny Appleseed

Mar 6 2007, 09:43 PM

Congrats Elaine (I think).

Do you know what size it is?

John

auscan

Mar 7 2007, 02:05 AM

When ever I sell on ebay I always start at $0.99, I find it does get more people following the auction, They always end up fetching a good price, a great price if a few people start a bidding war.

Elaine

Mar 7 2007, 02:22 AM

QUOTE (Johnny Appleseed @ Mar 6 2007, 04:43 PM)

Congrats Elaine (I think).

Do you know what size it is?

John

from the description:

QUOTE

ize about 5 1/4 inches long closed up and 6 3/4 inches long posted and ready to use, about 11MM in diameter

addio6

Mar 7 2007, 05:07 AM

QUOTE (Jeff L @ Mar 6 2007, 03:01 PM)

Just curious. What is it that struck you as odd about this?

I think mainly that it was just so understated.

I know if I would have had something like that and known a little bit about it at the same time, I'd be all over the place with the pictures!!

Although, I have to admit, it is super cool that it wound up getting into a good set of hands! (Congratulations Elaine!!)

Johnny Appleseed

Mar 7 2007, 05:23 AM

Sorry Elaine - what I meant was the size, not the size.

IE - the nib size. I did not see the nib size or model number listed in the post, and I couldn't make it out from the nib shot. If this was a 12, well - it's a nice set and I wouldn't fault you for spending that much, but it is on the high side for a 12. If it's a 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18 then the value goes up in that order. Anything larger than a 12 is usually worth at least twice a comperable 12. An 18 in that condition would probably fetch at least 3-5 times what it went for.

Ironically, one of the single most important factors in the value of a Waterman 1x eydropper is the nib size - which is the one thing the seller left out. I was assuming that you or someone had asked.

John

Elaine

Mar 7 2007, 11:54 AM

QUOTE (Johnny Appleseed @ Mar 7 2007, 12:23 AM)

Sorry Elaine - what I meant was the size, not the size.

IE - the nib size. I did not see the nib size or model number listed in the post, and I couldn't make it out from the nib shot. If this was a 12, well - it's a nice set and I wouldn't fault you for spending that much, but it is on the high side for a 12. If it's a 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18 then the value goes up in that order. Anything larger than a 12 is usually worth at least twice a comperable 12. An 18 in that condition would probably fetch at least 3-5 times what it went for.

Ironically, one of the single most important factors in the value of a Waterman 1x eydropper is the nib size - which is the one thing the seller left out. I was assuming that you or someone had asked.

John

This is why I avoid eBay. I get struck with the "ooooh pretty" It's kind of strange that the final bid was exactly my top bid. I didn't think it would go that high. I'll let you know about the nib when I get it.

Edit: value aside, my preference would be the 12 nib

david i

Mar 7 2007, 02:44 PM

I start all my ebay auctions at 1¢.

Keeps things interesting.

d

Alriel

Mar 7 2007, 03:42 PM

QUOTE (Elaine @ Mar 6 2007, 04:21 PM)

I went a little higher than .99

Congratulations, Elaine!
My friend who is getting acquainted with fountain pens first saw this and saw the opening bid was at $0.99. I quickly pointed out that it would be going for much higher than that.

Let us know how it writes and if it meets your specifications!

Al

Edited for egregious spelling errors.

Johnny Appleseed

Mar 7 2007, 04:02 PM

Elaine:

QUOTE

This is why I avoid eBay. I get struck with the "ooooh pretty"

Make no mistake Elaine - that is one nice looking pen, and for a 12 with gold or gold-filled bands and what appears to be excellent color, plus box, plus papers, I don't think you overspent. If it turns out to be a 15, then you made out quite well.

Isn't it funny when we win by our max bid. It means we really did win by a few cents.

Alriel - like that Avatar! I have a love the old 2nd tier companies. Is that a Welty music nib?

John

Alriel

Mar 7 2007, 06:28 PM

QUOTE (Johnny Appleseed @ Mar 7 2007, 12:02 PM)

Alriel - like that Avatar! I have a love the old 2nd tier companies. Is that a Welty music nib?

Hello John,

More often than not, I win an auction at my limit. but hey, that is what I was willing to spend on the item(s) but I often wonder why that happens to me so often!

Thank you for the compliment and yes, it is a Welty Music nib attached to a Sleeve filling pen made for Rexall. The nib is very flexible and has a generous, but not too wet, flow. I just don't use often because the broad line it makes is not as practical for taking notes at work.

Elaine,

Bring the pen to the next NJFPC!

Al

Elaine

Mar 7 2007, 06:38 PM

QUOTE (Alriel @ Mar 7 2007, 01:28 PM)

More often than not, I win an auction at my limit. but hey, that is what I was willing to spend on the item(s) but I often wonder why that happens to me so often!

That seems strange to me. It seems to like it would be a fluke. I'm wondering if there's some shill bidding or something like that going on?

We should have a NJ Pen meeting!

Johnny Appleseed

Mar 8 2007, 08:43 PM

QUOTE

Edit: value aside, my preference would be the 12 nib

Well, I am not sure, but I just put a 12 up to a ruler and the barrel looks to be closer to 9mm, the cap around 10mm, just eyeballing it. Now, a 12, 13, and 14 are all essentially the same size pen with a #2, #3, or #4 nib, so I am guessing that if this pen actually is 11mm, then it is at least a 15, possibly a 16 (depending on whether the seller measured the body or the cap). That may be part of the calculation that made it go so high. When I first looked at it I thought it looked a little chunky for a 12, which is partly what made me ask about the model/nib size.

I assume you are familier with these, but if not you may be a little surprised at how thin they are. 12s are really thin - almost exactly the size of a disposable bic.

I am not sure whether it was shill bidding or just a common thought. The underbidder looks like they collect a lot of nice Waterman pens, Waterman ads and ephemera, Vintage Waterman ink bottles and Carter's Ink and ephemera. Also, I was wrong about you winning by pennies - that is only in the low-end auctions I usually bid on

. At the level of your bid, the bid incriment is higher, so you actually won by $1.79. It looks like you both bid $150 plus a little bit extra to beat out the other bidders bidding $150 - only your "little bit extra" was more.

It sounds like a really great pen. We expect a full report when you get it.

John

DWL

Mar 17 2007, 07:55 PM

So what did it turn out to be Elaine? Enquiring minds NEED to know...lol.

Dennis

Johnny Appleseed

Mar 28 2007, 10:59 PM

We're waiting. . .

John