Thought the following may be of interest for the more seasoned members of this forum:


Benz - now in Europe!

Massive collection...

Perhaps soon we will be able to visit Benz stores in our local shopping mall???


G.

Man, I'm glad that collection is finally being broken up-- not only because it's getting AMAZINGLY RARE super-ambered celluloid vintage pens and knockoffs of Hero pens into the hands of more people, but that many pens in one place must have been putting an extra wobble into the planet's rotation. They've sold something like sixty-two million pens thus far, haven't they?

$400.00 Esterbrook?


Ebay Item number: 250201502813

I see what you guys men about the Benz Collection. Wow!!!

Thing is, he is still SELLING (instead of just advertising) pens, so he is not being forced to modify his listings to be accurate.

Sounds like his marketing plan is working.

I hope the English don't blame the US for this like every thing else.

NOtice that none of his feedback is as a seller... only as a buyer...
I have no doubt it is the same person, but now claiming to be situated in Europe...
I would love to see the postmark on the first item being shipped by him...
Of course with the millions of dollars that "the collection" must be worth, it is possible that he decided to move to Europe

It's possible he (they) decided to move to Europe just to get away from their "known" NY location. Remember all the "grave" information a few months ago? Time to dump one "alias" and pick up a new one. Wonder where the "original" Benz will be buried now?

simple, the Benz Collection never sold anything:). Was there actually a Philip Benz or is he an urban myth in pen collecting circles.

He may or may not have existed, he may or may not have had a vast collection but he definitely is remarkable in his ability to continue to add to his collection after his reported death

Wonder if the english version is a fanchise from the US seller. It seems a pale copy. Not as much puffing and only one photo.

Maybe someone hijacked the idea. Who would you complain to?

Jim

But now I am curious, what is the brand of the prototype he is selling?

Genny

Well it's nice to see that he is doing so well he has franchised to Europe, prior to taking on the whole world. At least now if I buy anything I won't get stung for $25 shipping and possible VAT/Duties etc.

Andy

Two thoughts here people:

One: just be a tad careful about what you say here as we know that the man reads this board

Two: what if this has nothing to do with Benz, but is a scammer who has ripped off his ideas and even the photos? The irony of that is probably way too much to contemplate.

Jim

Nobody ever relocated an estate worth millions to Europe for the advantages of the tax laws. Maybe there are issues of political persecution, a desire to visit the ancestral homeland, or simply that it's so much more convenient to live in Europe while selling pens in the United States. And, if Esties are now worth $400, I think I know how I'm finally going to be able to afford a Ferrari.

Had the same thought. Can you imagine the e-mail between the two?

That pen looks suspiciously like a bunch of kit pens I have seen advertised.

The pen can't be from the real Philip Benz collection - it hasn't been "protrcted from the elements".

The "Benz" Seller is nothing more or less than a totally honest hard working pen enthusiast who is trying to sell wonderful rare pens at remarkably great prices to the Fountain Pen loving and collecting masses!

At least that is all I am told I can say about him!

in my opinion, he is a clone of the benz guy.

Nope, not in Europe anymore! Back in US, (New Jersey).

1950 PARKER VACUMATIC DIA. PEN $975.00 VALUE JEWELED XF, Item no 270205256589 on the bay.

Man, this guy uses so many adjectives that we might experience a worldwide shortage soon. I'm off to stock up.....

(dresses up for protection against the ELEMENT)

Wow...we need to figure out where he was in Europe, it was apparently a very technically advanced nation. He doesn't even use INK...he found some special dye and H2O to test his pens.....

~~King

I don't know what all the fuss is about!
I thought it was great when he visited us all here in the U.K. as wading through 4000+ fleabay items every now and then you can get a little jaded and his advert prose always brought a little light relief.
Now this seller has swallowed his dictionary and left our shores I will have to go back to .com for a fix of 'Benzedrivel'
We should perhaps all applaud his industry and dedication and his success.
Study the seller figures and everyone may see from the publicly published feedback that he has about 30% repeat business so many customers are pleased enough to go back at least once ! There has only been one registered identity change in eight years which would indicate that he ain't trying to hide!
There are only around 20 mutual withdrawals recorded! [ I had previously thought that was an unsafe contraception method which took place after someone got S*****d!] As visible feedback left for buyers seems to swing between effusive praise of buyers [who always seem to pay considerably less than the sellers own carefully appraised values] and vitriolic retaliation against any who offer public criticisms, perhaps my previous thoughts were not so incorrect!
So in the face of such patent success perhaps we should smile a little less!
The seller appears to acquire some desirable merchandise and I only wish I had access to the same sources in order that my collection could grow to the fantastic size of the one advertised!
I say 'Keep up the good work' and let the entertainment re-commence!

The real Benz guy is in Tenafy NJ and is a wonderful marketer. I think his buyers, however, are well educated enough to pay fair market prices for the items listed notwithstanding the "Value price". You have to read the descriptions and draw your own conclusions. And most of us have worked it out.
His presentation is fantastic, except for the spelling.
But Google "Benz" and there ain't nuthin there.
Good for him, I figure he acquires stuff all over and remarkets it well.
At least he is not dangerous like another seller who I won't discuss in public (back channel if you want). This guy puts up seeming high value items with pictures of "similar" items and vivid historical data, but you can't see the pictures he has taken. Somebody, somewhere, is going to spen a lot of money on an item that is completely misrepresented.
But eBay doesn't seem to police these listings.

So long as he doesn't use DHMO to test the the pens.