How much success are you having posting in this forum?

I have asked for a few things here and not had a single bite.

Are you having more success?

Before you sell a pen do you think of looking in here to see if anyone is looking for one? What about if it doesn't sell on the Marketplace, do you then look here?

I've sold several pens using this forum. And the buyers have been very happy with their purchases (at least that's what they said). Probably because they are getting the exact item they wanted in very good condition at a reasonable price.

Maybe the items you are looking for are more rare or esoteric. Or perhaps they are the kinds of pens that once you own it, it's a permanent part of your collection. I have pens that I will not sell. At least not for market value.

Maybe you should include in your post the amount you'd be willing to part with for a particular item. I would just 'bump' your posts once a week or so and eventually the right person will see it...

I have had moderate success.

I posted to ask for a Pilot Capless body, a raw Densho, a Sheaffer Prelude Rainbow, and most recently a MB 149. I got my Capless body and Densho from this forum.

purpledog

I have posted here asking for fairly common pens, like BCHRs, and had gotten no replies. Meanwhile, people posted FS threads for the very same pens I had been asking for without even checking here.

But this is not unique to the WTB forum. In my signature there is currently a link to a "Vintage Wanted" list, and nobody has ever contacted me regarding any of the pens on that list (which again, are fairly common). The list is convenient for sellers with whom I have an ongoing buying relationship, but that is all.

I've had three WTB's for out-of-production Bexleys in the last month and I've been quite successful, but I've been quite persistent: four pens on my list and one that wasn't. The old bank account now needs time to recover. I too have seen Bexley models that were on my list come up in the FS without the seller having contacted me.

No luck in this forum but it is an extra step for the seller to check here first.

No success either. It is hard though when one has a WTB out for some time and then the exact pen comes and goes in For Sale in about 14 minutes.

Philip

Andy, as far as asking for certain pens, not a lot of luck. I have asked for a Stipula Saturno, and received no replies.

I had also planned on asking for a Danitro Wakasa Nuri, or raw ebonite, but I see from your post that this might be futile.


As far as selling pens goes, I have to admit that over the last few months I have been exceedingly blessed.

I have probably sold 30 to 40 pens that have funded my grail or close to grail pens. I did salt this a little by 1) having asking prices that were very low, and 2) offering a 'freebie' with each pen. In some cases I got comments back that said how much they loved the freebies with out commenting on the ones they actually bought.

I am running out of pens to sell (after buying pens over 30 years), but I feel that I have done the right thing by getting the pens I wanted in the first place. This has been a great community to talk to, and I feel like I have actually made friends during this time.............................

I frequently check this WTB forum and I try to help out where I can. I've replied to 5 WTB requests here and sold 3 pens through this particular sub-forum.

I think it'd be nice if sellers would check this forum before posting any FS post as that is what I try to do. I also hope that people would reply to the WTBs that I myself have posted too but no luck there sadly. It is a bit of a wild stab in the dark.

Andy,

I think most people either take the path of least resistance, which may not be the best way, and simply list a given pen FS, or they're busy – everybody is busy – and they don't take the time to scan/read the WTB posts. It really is a hit or miss game; align buyer and seller, from different geographic points, on a particular pen at a particular point in time and come to agreement on a buy/sell transaction. Imagine tying to do it without this, or other, such forums!

Great question. Keep trying.

John

If you say: " I want this model of this brand and I will pay between X and Y $, € or £ "...
Would be easier. Because I don´t like to ask money... It´s hard to understand, but I am as I am!

Notwithstanding the success I've had with my WTB, I've had no success when responding to an WTB. In most instances I've not heard back from the person posting the WTB. A bit surprising.

I've had very little luck posting in this forum. Several posts have had hundreds of lookers but virtually no offers.

Jack

I have been watching the forum just in case someone wants something that I am not using any more. Three pens have recently been sold in response to WTB postings. Unfortunately for those watching, it has all been done via PMs or email. The FS and WTB forums are complements. If you're watching one, you should watch both. But, of course, not everyone does this.

Tim

I think I have sold 4 or 5 pens at least to buyers posting want to buy posts here. I scan the WTB posts on a fairly regular basis. I have also answered a few only to be told by the prospective buyer that they don't want to pay for a new pen so they keep reposting.

If you post a want to buy notice here and have a limited budget, do the prospective seller a favor and state the top price you will pay or budget ahead of time. I am flexible and will negotiate, but to be told that my price is outrageous when it is far less than what I paid doesn't make me want to do business with that person.

That could be why some people don't get a reply to their WTB post.

I have had little success with this forum and my attitude is pay what they are asking unless they are being ridiculous. I am often here so I know what pens are selling for. If someone offered me a bog standard VP for $200 I would walk away. They often go for $80-90 including shipping here. If it was a bog standard VP in a colour that I wanted then I would pay more than that. Stealth VPs don't rate as bog standard!

Recently though I have had success with people contacting me through requests in my sig, after weeks of no bites at all. I have for instance got a MYU on the way at a sensible price through using the sig at the bottom of my posts. I have had other items too. Perhaps the sig idea might work for you too.

I had much more success finding people who have shown or talked about their collections on FPN and then PM'ing them asking whether they would like to sell this or that. I did it a few times asking about items I posted in my WTBs earlier (with no responses).
So, a more pro-active approach works a lot better for me than this subforum.

Bought and sold many!!!!!!

Jim

I posted a WTB yesterday and got a PM on a perfect match in two hours. Thanks julikko!

I never expected such success.

The only post I've made was for virtually any Waterman 5x pen in BCHR a while back, and I've yet to receive a single response/offer.

Maybe my Duofold post will attract more people.

Neither pen is particularly rare or obscure. Odd.

Not particularly surprising, IMO.... many people just don't think of looking here when they have something to sell.
I noticed an interesting WTB yesterday, in the New Posts...probably wouldn't have seen it otherwise.
Must remember to visit more regularly!