Official Edison Group Buy

[bgray]

OK, everyone.

 

I wanted to get thing rollings with this group buy, and allow everyone to know how I’m thinking we can do this.

 

I will say this from the very beginning....I've done group buys in the past that were not organized well, and they were logistical nightmares. I want to make sure this doesn’t become one of those, for your sake and mine.

 

So bottom line, I'll spell out exactly how this will need to happen. I’ll do my best to accommodate the wishes of as many people as possible, but ultimately this group buy has to be something easy for us to provide, otherwise we can’t offer the pens at the prices you’re hoping. So I will take all factors into consideration, but ultimately the final guidelines and "terms" for how this will be done will be set by me.

 

So here's how this will run...

 

1. There will be no official FPN involvement, other than allowing us to run some logistics within the forum. (THANKS MODS!) I've spoken with the moderators, and everything is still settling with the recent FPN LE pens, and they understandably are not ready to get involved with another quite yet.

 

2. Distribution of pens and handling of funds will happen through Brian and Rachel of the Goulet Pen Company.

 

3. In order to participate, you will need to pay in full prior to any manufacturing. We will have a set time period when payments will be accepted. Once this time period has passed, we will have a total number of pens. After this, we will not accept any more orders. We will then order materials. Once they arrive, we will start manufacturing. Understand that this means that there could be 1 to 3 months between when you pay and when you receive your pen. I'm giving 1-3 months as a ballpark. The actual time involved will depend on how many pens we are making. Once we have a final number, I will have an accurate (albeit still estimated) timeline.

 

4. You will see a prototype version of the final pen prior to making any commitment.

 

5. The pen to be made has already been decided via the group poll. It will be a clipped Pearl, cartridge/converter.

 

6. Ebonite can be done, but price will be higher than acrylic, as ebonite is very expensive. Price is yet to be determined, but I would anticipate an acrylic pen to lie between $160-175, and an ebonite pen to lie between $175-195.

 

7. Steel nibs only. If you wish to have an 18k nib, then you will need to buy the pen with the steel nib, and then contact me after you receive the pen for an 18k upgrade (nibs unscrew to interchange).

 

8. There will be no nib customizations available. Only XF, F, M, or B. You will need to handle any nib customizations aftermarket.

 

9. The pen will be engraved as a Numbered Limited Edition. Exactly what this pen will be called is yet to be determined. Probably something like "2012 Pearl LE #XX of XX".

 

10. If no more than 35 pens are paid for within the designated time period, then we will not do the project. We aren’t able to commit the time needed to manufacture this pen unless we can have at least this many sold. If we are at this point, we can possibly extend the time period if needed. If we still don’t sell more than 35, money will be refunded to those who payed.

 

11. Requests for a specific number within the edition will not be honored. You cannot request #1, or any other specific number.

 

12. In addition to the cost of the pen, there will be shipping charges, of course. International friends can certainly participate, but appropriate international shipping fees will apply.

 

I think that's it.

 

Here's what will happen going forward...

A. I have attached a poll to this thread. Simply click "Yes, I Would Do It", or "No Thanks". You are not committed to anything by voting, but please try to be honest. We are trying to gauge the scope and size of this project with this poll.

 

B. In about a week or so, I will start a poll with materials choices, both ebonite and acrylic. The material with the highest number of votes will be the pen.

 

C. We will then have a time period when pens can be purchased. You will pay the Goulet Pen Company in full. Once this time period has passed, we will have a final count. No orders will be accepted after this time period, no exceptions.

 

D. Materials will then be ordered.

 

E. Manufacturing will begin. I will start a thread that will give regular updates on the project. I will include progress photos and also perhaps videos so you can watch your pens being “born”.

 

F. Once the project is complete, all pens will be shipped to The Goulet Pen Company for distribution to each of you.

 

Sound good? Any questions? Please vote in the poll above, and like I said, please try to be honest and accurate to your true intentions. We need to get a good idea as to the size of the project.

 

Thanks

 

Brian

Edited February 28, 2012 by bgray

[Brian C]

Yup, I'm in.

[GardenWeasel]

I'm in!

[GouletPens]

We're happy to be able to help. We'll cover some of the logistical stuff a little bit later once it looks like there is enough interest to actually make this pen happen. If anyone has any questions, you can always feel free to email or Rachel or me.

[smodak]

The price does not seem too enticing.- I am out. Sorry and Good luck with the endeavor!

[The Scribbler]

I'm in! Woo-hoo!!!

[PenandDesign]

Hmm...

 

That price is a bit too much for now!

Sorry!

Edited February 28, 2012 by PenandDesign

[Trillium]

Of course, I am in!

[Brian C]

Of course, I am in!

 

Got excited there?

[Ravenlunatic]

I am in. To get a non-stock pen for this price is an excellent value. Even the stock pens are an amazing value. :bunny01:

[Joe in Seattle]

Not for me, thanks, I'll order a custom pen later.

[Yuki Onitsura]

Probably going to have to rule myself out of this one. I do look forward to seeing the final product though!

 

Yuki

[pelicanachic]

Pen material matters to me. Only ebonite. I think I will make a decision when the pen material is chosen

[The Scribbler]

With either acrylic or ebonite, this is going to be a great value. And how exciting is it that in less than an hour we are a third of the way to the minimum commitment to proceed with the project?

[kcoen52]

I will have to wait until I know what the final pen is going to look like and the material before I can honestly commit; I will however watch the threads with interest.

Edited February 28, 2012 by kcoen52

[xspect]

Ebonite would be the only choice for me. I assume we will get to choice the color scheme.

Edited February 28, 2012 by xspect

[777]

I'm in too. I've been wanting an Edison for so long - this will be fun for my first one.

[79spitfire]

I'd like an Edison pen, but at this point I cannot commit the funds. I'm sure the final pen will be fantastic, and I am also sure I will be envious, But both cars need tires!!

[Laura N]

I'm in, so long as I like the material. There were some materials that were pictured in that thread that aren't for me. But with both ebonite and acrylic choices, I think there are a lot of good possibilities. So I'm voting yes.

[Jimmy James]

There are essentially three ways I might be a no, but I think I'm a yes.

 

1) I really dislike the material/how the material looks on the prototype for whatever reason

2) In the time this takes to happen, I fall in love with making my own custom Edison or with a production line pen as a better option

3) Something comes up and I just don't have the funds (but I don't foresee this at this point)

 

Those seem pretty standard and make me a pretty sure yes.

 

ETA: I am impressed by both Edison and Goulet for the professionalism and attention to us that is being paid in possibly making this happen.

Edited February 28, 2012 by Jimmy James