I usually pay between 25 and 60% of the retail price for a hardly used or new fountain pen. Depending on luck and the desire I want a specific pen.

Fountain pens in Europe are more expensive than in the US, however.

How about you?

If you mean MSRP, then I pay around 60% usually for a new pen.

For a used model here, it is usually around 45% of MSRP. Once that new pen smell is gone, the pen depreciates pretty rapidly.

Yes, I mean MSRP.

I've never paid less than double the MSRP price for a good pen-- Snorkels, "51"s, US-made Watermans, that sort of thing... and yet I feel I've gotten a bargain with each one.

edit- actually, that's not true. The vac-fill Crest I have I paid $15, which is less than the MSRP $17.50.

You're right Ernst, I definitely overpaid for my Sheaffer Craftsman for which I paid $4.25. The barrel is clearly marked $3.50

I would pay about 60% of retail for a new / nearly new fountain pen.....

if it's used.....about 40 - 45% of it's retail price....

But I can never imagine that new fountain pen prices will get cheaper or stay the same....they will always rise in the future.....thus second hand pen prices will also rise...

therefore if you have your eye on a Limited Edition.....it's probably worth picking it up now.......

I usually wait until everyone else gets tired of a pen and sells it to get something new. So I shoot or %40 or less of retail.

usually won't look unless it is under 70% and can be made very happy with 40-50%.


Kurt

Hmmmm. That's a tough one. You see, I am a compulsive bargain hunter. After all, what's better than a new fountain pen? TWO new fountain pens at half price!

If I am looking for a specific pen, I usually will bite the bullet and buy it from one of my favorite discount retailers, Pam Braun or Chuck Swisher. I also check the websites - Fountain Pen Hospital, Fahrney's, etc. - for closeouts and specials.

But my best deals come from my e-bay bottom trawling: I consider paying 20% of retail an exceptional deal. A few success stories - all new in boxes - include a $62.76 Visconti Kaleido Voyager, a $9.99 Sheaffer Targa 1001, a $66.66 Cross Townsend Jade, and a $69.99 Platinum #3776 Kodaichiyu (PTB60000N#48) maki-e.

I must confess that I also recently scooped up a handful of inexpensive (i.e., cheap) pens from a seller offering free shipping. I know that Chinese labor costs are extremely low, but my cost for the pens was less than the buyer's shipping cost from Hong Kong!

Great score on that Kaleido!

It takes at least 50% off to make me consider a new or near mint pen. An used pen should be more then 50% off.
This is combined with a total price limit of about 100 Euros. There are many pens out there that I will never own

I don't really care about what it costs.All that matters is the feel and how I like it.One cannot write with money.

Dieter

indeed, but in the FP world, one can't write without it, either i try to look for bargains of at least 40% off on new pens, and i do find them, usually online.

For my new MB pens I pay about 80% of retail price.
For everything else usualy 30%-60% of retail price.

You are right and some of my best writers are plain black vintage German pens with a broad stubbish 14C nib (e.g. Kaweco, Geha, Faber-Castell, Lamy) I have bought for 10 - 15 Euros.

But there are some beautiful pens out there that are simply not within my price range like a Parker Duofold or some Italian pens. I cannot bring myself to spend a significant amount of money for a single pen. This pen would never become a daily user. Too precious. And a pen that does not qualify as a daily user is not worth my money.

And still, they are SO BEAUTIFUL

20 to 62% new or NOB in my store.
Online, I haven't bought anything yet.

Mike