Do You "binge" Purchase?

[dascoyne]

My name is dascoyne and I have a sickness.

 

My collecting pattern is characterized by long latent periods (sometimes lasting years) between shopping binges. I'm presently in my worst binge yet. In the past two months I've purchased:

 

2 Large Dupont Olympios

Dupont Amber Chairman

Dupont Guilander

Dupont green mini-ballpoint (what a delightful little pen!)

Platinum #3776 Briarwood - broad

Platinum #3776 Century - broad

Platinum Maki-e Phoenix - medium

Sailor Sapporo snow white/rhodium - medium

Sailor Pro Gear w/ Naginata Togi - medium

 

and I'm still waiting to snipe a few on eBay

 

I know I'm sick. Tell me I'm not alone here. I need a hug.

 

What's your worst or current binge?

Edited November 30, 2011 by dascoyne

[farmersmums]

Sheaffers, Sheaffers, Sheaffers! I've been really bad about grabbing every Touchdown and Snorkel I can find on eBay lately. Probably because I've recently taken the time to learn how to restore them, and it's fun to make em work right.

 

Binges do happen from time to time, and mostly for that same reason. I figure out how to fix a certain pen and then buy a bunch of 'em to put my newfound knowledge to work. Sounds like you're more into the new pens, though, so you're really shelling out the big bucks!

[Chevalier]

This reminded me of the the first time I heard the term binge eater. The reporter wasn't a native English speaker and I understood something really nasty and asked myself why those people are doing that to the poor bins. :roflmho:

 

I am buying different stuff every buying binge, usually stuff I might use later anyway, so it doesn't turn out too much of a burden. My weak spot are scents, incense and perfume. My worst binge of buying precious resins (lol, not that kind of precious resin), woods and expensive incense sticks from Japan ripped a really big hole in my pocket, like "I could have bought a car instead big". Only one piece of rare aloeswood (Kyara grade) was that expensive, I could have bought a really nice pen, or 10 different vanishing points, instead.

 

You see ... you are not alone.

Edited November 30, 2011 by Chevalier

[Lorna Reed]

The only binge buying I've done was earlier this year when I bought five MBs in a short time. Four on the Bay and one from a fellow FPN member. They are all great pens and I haven't felt the need or desire to buy any pens since then. The binge cost me more money than I could really afford at the time, but has completely satisfied my appetite.

[Soot]

dascoyne, that's some binge purchase there! <hug> for you~~

 

But you're not alone, I am CURRENTLY in the binge phase right now; when I am in Lagos I get that binge because there's nothing to do here.

 

Here's my haul since July this year:

 

1. Craco Silver Overlay
   
2. Goldfink by Tom Westerich (yet received)
   
3. MB 149, 234½ PL, 236
   
4. OMAS Filarmonica
   
5. Pelikan 140, 400, IBIS Green Marble
   
6. Soennecken 111 Extra, S19, 2, 1306 Blue Marble, Schulfüller, 510S, 444 Superior
   

I think that's about it...

 

Hmm... where can I find Fountain Pen Anonymous?

Edited November 30, 2011 by Soot

[mmahany]

I haven't spent quite the money you all have, but considering I bought my first fountain pen on accident less than 2 months ago at a garage sale, I'd say my interest has grown exponentially. This is just my collection at home too. I keep 4-5 everyday use pens at work as well.

 

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b186/mmahany/2011-11-30125138.jpg

[Keye Skware]

1. Pelikan M800 Demonstrator
   
2. Montblanc 146
   
3. Safari Alstar Ruby Red
   
4. Safari Pink (for my daughter)
   

 

I'm entering the guilt-phase which will keep me from buying anything for 6 months.

[dascoyne]

I ought to blame eBay more than anything else for fueling this binge. I've been getting these for about 1/3 MSRP.... how can I just walk away?

[DrPJM1]

From the Columbus Pen Show:

http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy241/DrMonzon/IMG_5214.jpg\

Never bought so many pens in one show.

 

Bought 25-30 pens at an auction to get these:

http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy241/DrMonzon/IMG_5144.jpg

Kept the OS Balance and traded the rest for a red-veined marbled grey OS Balance.

[Silas]

Perhaps commiseration CAN be of use!

 

I have to admit, a few weeks ago, I bought my first Esterbrook from a fellow FPNer. NOS Black SJ set of pen and pencil. Loved it!

 

Then, thought I needed the bigger "J" model. Bought a Red one, then saw a Blue one come up. Both from FPNers.

Then I had to have a couple of fun nibs: bought 3.

 

Recently, decided I needed a Desk Set: bought 2 of those!

 

I think the "Estie Madness" is about over....still waiting for the Blue one and Desk sets to come.

 

My Paypal account is taking a hit.

 

Thanks for sharing your "minor obsessions!"

[sph33r]

I am absolutely a binge buyer. I went on a binge a year or two back, then I took about a year and a half off, then suddenly I am back in the buying mood. In the past 3 weeks, my collection has grown by the following:

 

Sailor 1911M Blue Medium

Sailor 1911M Yellow Broad

Lamy 2k Broad

Pilot VP Medium

A super clean Parker 51 that I nabbed off Ebay.

Pilot 78G BB

An M400 nib for my M200

A new pen case to hold all these new things.

.... I think that's it? I'm bidding on a few more things on Ebay so it'll probably go up.

 

This will taper off and I'll be fine for a while, then I assume it will come back. That's the way my hobbies work it seems.

[The Scribbler]

In the last year and a half...

11 Bexleys

4 Edisons

8 Pelikans

6 Stipula Passaportos

8 Esterbrooks

2 Sheaffer Preludes

4 Twsbis

6 Lamy Safari/AL-Star/Vista

8 or 10 Noodlers (flex and non)

and a few others.

 

Does that qualify as a binge?

[dcpritch]

OK, dascoyne and others, I think we could all use a support group. In the past six months I've managed to knock down a fair number of pens. June 1 - November 30:

 

• Bexley BX802, sent to pb2 for an M stub nib
• Kaweco Sport with 6mm custom nib by Nathan Tardiff
• Waterman Thorobred, Ideal No. 2 Manifold nib
• Mabie Todd & Co. Swan 3260, 14k wet noodle nib
• Wahl-Eversharp Equipoise
• Conway Stewart 12
• Parker Vac Major, sweet flexy two tone nib
• C.E. Levi Pens "Nox", vintage Swan flexible No. 2 nib
• Wahl Oxford, flexible 14k No. 7 nib
• Pelikan 100N, flexible 14C BB nib
• Stilnova (1940s Italian celluloid), flexible F nib
• Visconti Portofino FPH L.E., factory stub nib
• a couple of restored Eversharp Skylines. Okay, more like four, all with flexy nibs
• Ferrari da Varese Yesterday, 18k B nib superbly stubbed by pb2
• Parker 61, stiff EF nib
• Eversharp Symphony No. 714, flexible stub nib
• Waterman 54, super-flex F nib
• Danitrio Densho Raw Ebonite, flexible stub nib
• Lamy Safari with 1.1mm CI nib, gifted away
• Pontiac, super-flex steel Stilnova nib
• Jefferson, Salz, Banker, Kreko, Imperial, Nupoint, Strand and a few other 3rd tier pens
• OMAS Ogiva Guilloche, factory B nib
• YOL Viceroy Grand Lined, smooooth Masuyama stub B nib
• Stipula Modello T, Ti-Flex nib
• Kaweco Sport with BB nib
• Goldfink-Liebling, semi-flex steel OM nib
• DrGoretex custom tortoise shell acrylic pen
• OMAS Society sterling silver L.E., B stub by Greg Minuskin
• Bexley Americana in Yellowstone acrylic
• Noodler's Ahab (still in box)
• OMAS Revelations L.E. with factory stub nib
• Stipula Passaporto FPN L.E. with 1.1mm stub nib (not arrived yet)

I guess those are more pens than a fellow really needs, but I've been selling some, really I have, though I used all the proceeds from pen sales to buy ... ink and paper and other pens :embarrassed_smile: . Haven't mentioned pens sent off for grinding and re-tips - suffice it to say I am on a first name basis with several nibmeisters. And I don't want to mention what went on the six months previous to June, because, you know, people read these posts!

 

 

 

 

My name is David, and I have a problem.

[fourseamer]

In the last year and a half...

11 Bexleys

4 Edisons

8 Pelikans

6 Stipula Passaportos

8 Esterbrooks

2 Sheaffer Preludes

4 Twsbis

6 Lamy Safari/AL-Star/Vista

8 or 10 Noodlers (flex and non)

and a few others.

 

Does that qualify as a binge?

 

Yes, and I'm approaching that level myself. :embarrassed_smile:

[Brian C]

Wow! You guys buy more pens than I ever thought of buying! I feel good reading this thread.

[Torculus Resupinus]

I've been on an Italian binge. It all started on 17 August when I stumped up for one of the FPN LEs from Stipula: a Model T. Then on 25 September I ordered a black stingray-skin Nero Muse (my free-lance business is called The Stingray Office) from the maker's eBay store; on 5 October a Montegrappa Harmony parchment from Pensinasia; on 7 October a Visconti Divina Desert Springs; on 6 November an Omas Milord Arco; on 13 November an Aurora Optima in brown celluloid with a black celluloid cap; and on 20 November a Montegrappa 1930 Extra Black Bamboo. None of these (except the FPN pen) were list price, but still . . . :embarrassed_smile:

 

I'm pausing for a while while I get used to writing with these.

[toomanypelikans]

45 pens, 65 nibs and 75 inks in 13 months for me, of that the worse binge was ordering the full set of iroshizuku inks in one month...

Latest impulse buy was ordering a Mottishaw custom M600 BB nib to 1.3 CI with aid of iridium wire because someone here had it done.

 

Oh well earn money spend money I say...

Edited November 30, 2011 by justdaveyb

[BrandonA]

I'm a believer in quality over quanity. I don't see the point in buying 5 cheap pens which you will get bored of or not even like from the start. Instead I'd rather buy a fewer number of quality pens. As a result I can't afford to binge buy. This year has been my most prolific but I've only bought 5 pens, on two occasions though I bought 2 within a week of each other.

[dascoyne]

Oh, I forgot to mention a couple of eBay snipes:

 

Xezo Maestro Sea Shell FP - medium (new $85 on eBay)

Sailor Somiko - silver/black - broad (New in box $36 on eBay)

Edited November 30, 2011 by dascoyne

[fabrimedeiros]

I'm a believer in quality over quanity. I don't see the point in buying 5 cheap pens which you will get bored of or not even like from the start. Instead I'd rather buy a fewer number of quality pens. As a result I can't afford to binge buy. This year has been my most prolific but I've only bought 5 pens, on two occasions though I bought 2 within a week of each other.

 

What do you mean by quality? > $400? > $1.000? > $ 5.000??? For another people, quality means a good pen around $50 like a TWSBI, or a Paker 51 in excellent condition. I understand your view point, however I think everybody here really wants quality pens, but depends on how much the one can afford.