Full Version: What's the extra money pay for?
Many of the higher end Pelikans don't seem to be that much more elaborate than the 200 series, and I'm curious to know what justifies the much, much higher price. Do they write better? Hard to believe. I haven't found a huge correlation between price and performance with fountain pens in general actually. In fact, I've yet to find a pen of any price that writes better than my Pilot Petit 1. Lots of pens make a very different line, sure, but better? I know with many pens your paying for the elaborate body, but a lot of the higher end Pelikans seem like pretty simple plastic affairs. So what is it? Not trying to be a smart Alec, or anything. I'm genuinely curious.
Marco,
Not a silly question at all. There are a few things to consider. One the nibs. A replacement M200 nib is 13 GBP, a M600 14K nib is 48 GBP and a M1000 18K nib is 120 GBP. So just in the nib values, right there is 107 GBP difference between the M200 and M1000. Larger size means more material. Also the M800 and M1000 have the brass inserts.
Also consider there are smaller pens that are more expensive than their larger brothers. For instance the M625 is more than the M800. But that comes down to materials. I hope this helps your curiousity. Cheers.
Not a silly question at all. There are a few things to consider. One the nibs. A replacement M200 nib is 13 GBP, a M600 14K nib is 48 GBP and a M1000 18K nib is 120 GBP. So just in the nib values, right there is 107 GBP difference between the M200 and M1000. Larger size means more material. Also the M800 and M1000 have the brass inserts.
Also consider there are smaller pens that are more expensive than their larger brothers. For instance the M625 is more than the M800. But that comes down to materials. I hope this helps your curiousity. Cheers.
I think PelikanPenman is correct here: it's mostly materials cost. The celluloid stripes in the binde rather than a plain plastic barrel; the gold alloy two-tone nibs (some much larger) rather than plated steel; the brass piston mechanism in the 800 and 1000, the higher-quality gold plating on appointments, and more apppointments as well.
I think most of the internals are pretty much the same, so it's more eye-candy and a gold nib that you pay extra for.
Edit: me no spel gud...
I think most of the internals are pretty much the same, so it's more eye-candy and a gold nib that you pay extra for.
Edit: me no spel gud...
| QUOTE (marcoleavitt @ Mar 22 2007, 10:18 AM) |
| ... I'm curious to know what justifies the much, much higher price. .... |
Sometimes questions get asked that it just isn't possible to answer. It is kind of along the lines of "... if you have to ask, you really don't want one..."
Although I collect pens, not watches, I think a watch makes a good comparison. A cheap watch will tell time and a cheap pen will write, maybe not really well but they will do what they are intended to do. Pay more money and you get a pen that writes better and is more reliable, or a watch that keeps better time for a longer period of time. There comes a point where the money no longer dictates that the item is "better" at it's main purpose. A 10k watch isn't going to keep better time than a 5k watch. Likewise a 10k pen isn't going to write better than a 5k pen. So what are you paying for and why are you willing to pay it? For me they both have jewelry type appeal with the added bonus of real function. I like the look, or the feel, or design, or materials etc. Only you can answer why you are willing to pay more for a given pen but if I just wanted something that writes I'd use a bic.
Good point John. After a certain point, it is not about how it writes any more, it is about how it looks or how rare it is. I must admit I like the silver section where I hold the pen on the M625, it gives it a very solid feel and in some ways an organic feel. Now Pelikan needs to come out with a M825, that would be a great pen. I think a M1025 would just make you tilt to one side when you carry it ...lol. Cheers.
John -- very well said
I collect both - mechanical watches and fountain pens. John's words accurately describe my attitude and why I spend what I spend on pens and watches. It certainly is not rational, but rather emotional.
Another aspect that attracts me is the craftsmanship, or the "Art of the Hand" to steal from an artice I read about vintage Omas pens. In today's "high-tech" world, its a very refreshing reminder of old-world values.
| QUOTE |
| I'm curious to know what justifies the much, much higher price. |
I don't think companies with good marketing aim to "justifiy" prices so much as to choose the right price. The right price communicates to the market that the product is also "right" ie that it will suit the market's needs. The fact that the price covers the cost of production as well is a given.
The larger Pels have a different market with different competition to the m200s. The m800 and m1000 pens are definitley in the male, executive indulgence market (to make a label
) The competition is obviously Mont Blanc and to a lesser extent the high end of Parker and Waterman etc. The choice of a price has to communicate to the market that the pen is equally luxurious and desirable. I think it is interesting that Pelikan doesn't control discounting from its retailers as tightly as Mont Blanc. This is no doubt intentional. They are priced to have a retail price closer to Mont Blanc but a street price often closer to the high end Parker/ Waterman etc. and so are perceived as good value compared to the competition i.e. Mont Blanc.As often happens the challenge for Pelikan is to make an m200 that competes well in its market but does not steal sales from the luxury line - especially where the sizes are similar. BTW, for this reason I don't think we will see m200 line pens that are the same size as the m800s any time soon.
| QUOTE (DavidM1 @ Mar 23 2007, 02:05 PM) |
| The m800 and m1000 pens are definitley in the male, executive indulgence market (to make a label ) |
I like that label, Male Executive Indulgence Market. MEIM, pronounced "me, I'm." As in, "it's all about MEIM."
Doug
| QUOTE |
| "it's all about MEIM." |
Sounds about right.
I guess I sort of knew most of this. I just wondered if there was something I wasn't getting.
Probably not, although my 805 feels more luxurious in my hand than my m215 and it looks gorgeous. I enjoy them both for different things but even with a blindfold I would have guessed which was more expensive.
| QUOTE |
| and I'm curious to know what justifies the much, much higher price |
The answer can be given in one word: nothing. The price/performance ratio is with more expensive pens (whatever brand) in most cases worse and there is, an fp seen as a tool, no justification for this. A more expensive pen is in most cases not a better one.
| QUOTE (mr T. @ Mar 26 2007, 01:56 PM) | ||
The answer can be given in one word: nothing. The price/performance ratio is with more expensive pens (whatever brand) in most cases worse and there is, an fp seen as a tool, no justification for this. A more expensive pen is in most cases not a better one. |
I would not go so far as to use the word "nothing."
Many get a great positive (internal) feeling of something or another by simply possessing high end items. Then there is the (external) joy (at the very least, boardering on the anti - social) look what I can afford and you "peasants" can't.
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