Benz Collection

[deitic_nib]

I know this may sound very stupid, but what is the Benz collection?

And why does everyone poke fun at it??

I am confused..

[HesNot]

Everyone pokes fun at the Benz collection as that seller uses what can only be described as fanciful descriptions of the pens he lists. The first issue of course is whether there really is/was a Philip Benz (likely not) - and then the extensive narratives, complete with exceedingly poor grammar and spelling, tend to get a few laughs. And the "collectors" value is often not only exagerrated, but outpaces the real value of the pens by factors of 100-1000 times the real price.

 

Not exactly a scam per se, as the items do appear to be real, but he stretches the limits of a fair description at minimum.

[Kelly G]

Go to www.ebay.com and search on this item number: 280102400039

If you are still confused after, let us know.

[pilgrim]

QUOTE (HesNot @ Apr 12 2007, 02:37 AM)

and then the extensive narratives, complete with exceedingly poor grammar and spelling, tend to get a few laughs.

hope you are little more indulgent towards us - non native english speaker - here on FPN

Edited April 12, 2007 by pilgrim

[Renzhe]

QUOTE

The first issue of course is whether there really is/was a Philip Benz (likely not)

Phillip Benz was Karl Benz's father. Karl Benz is credited by many as the inventor of gasoline-powered automobiles.

[TunaFish]

QUOTE (Renzhe @ Apr 12 2007, 06:59 AM)

QUOTE The first issue of course is whether there really is/was a Philip Benz (likely not) Phillip Benz was Karl Benz's father. Karl Benz is credited by many as the inventor of gasoline-powered automobiles. Does the Philip Benz Collection is the collection of the father of the founder of Benz automobile??????   I believe so of the items is relatively modern..........   Which yearl the father of the Mr. Benz die???   Sorry for my poor English. I am not an English speaker......

[JimStrutton]

The real funny part of the auctions on Fleabay is that the seller never ever says just exactly who Mr Benz is or was. In some ways it is like somebody selling some Parker "51"s on eBay and saying they are from 'The Exclusive Obi Won Wd-40 Collection'

 

It is all a really silly marketing hype and as Renzhe and Tunafish point out, if it was the father of Karl Benz, then why was he collecting modernish pens when he may well have been dead?

 

The whole thing is a scam, but in some ways it is so outrageous that it is very funny, to pen collectors who know even the most basic stuff about Fountain Pens.

 

Jim

[lisa]

QUOTE (pilgrim @ Apr 12 2007, 05:32 AM)

QUOTE (HesNot @ Apr 12 2007, 02:37 AM) and then the extensive narratives, complete with exceedingly poor grammar and spelling, tend to get a few laughs.  hope you are little more indulgent towards us - non native english speaker - here on FPN I'm afraid HesNot.

[Col]

QUOTE (Renzhe @ Apr 12 2007, 07:59 AM)

Phillip Benz was Karl Benz's father. Karl Benz is credited by many as the inventor of gasoline-powered automobiles.

"Oh Lord, won't you buy me some Mercedes Penz

My friends all drive Mont Blancs, I must make amends..."

[kissing]

5 DAY AUCTION STARTING AT 5 CENTS WITH NO RESERVE FROM THE PHILLIP BENZ COLLECTION IN PERFECT WORKING CONDITION. H2O TESTED FOR FEEDER FLOW AND NIB CONSISTENCY. PROTECTED AGAINST THE ELEMENT!

 

SUPERMINT, COLLECTED, PRESERVED AND PROTECTED, 1959 GENUINE PELIKAN 200 GRAY TORTOISE FOUNTAIN PEN. FINE NIB . PISTON ACTION FILL. LIMITED PRODUCTION COLOR COMBINATION DETAIL. ORIGINAL PRESERVED FROM THE ELEMENT.

 

DARK EBONY CAP WITH GOLD FILLED TRIM IN THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE DAY IT WAS PRODUCED. MULTI COLORED DOVE GRAY TORTOISE BARELL.

 

RARE TO FIND THE PELIKAN 200 IN SUCH MINT CONDITION. AN IDEAL FIND TO SERIOUS COLLECTORS OF THE PELIKAN PEN. DO NOT MISS THE CHANCE.

 

PLEASE READ ENTIRE TEXT BEFORE BIDDING, THIS ITEM IS VERY COLLECTIBLE, IT IS IMPORTANT YOU BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THIS ITEM.

 

MY FEEDBACK OF SATISFIED COLLECTORS/BUYERS WORLDWIDE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. MANY OF MY ITEMS ARE BOUGHT BY DEALERS FOR RESALE.

 

THIS ITEM IS FROM THE PHILLIP BENZ COLLECTION. BUYER RECEIVE A 90 DAYS GUARANTEE ON ANY PHILLIP BENZ COLLECTABLE SOLD FROM THE COLLECTION.

 

MOST ITEMS SOLD AT A FRACTION OF THE REAL VALUE. (STARTING AT 5 CENTS WITH NO RESERVE)

 

MEASUREMENTS: 5.125 INCHES CLOSED OR 12.775 CM 6.750 OPEN 5.770 INCHES OR 14.5 CM X 1.57 CM O.D.

 

THE NIB IS FINE MARKED PELIKAN F AS THE BOTTOM THE LETTER ON THE NIB, IT IS THE ORIGINAL NIB. MADE IN GERMANY. CAP HAS THE PELIKAN MADE IN GERMANY ON THE CENTER RING. "THIS PEN IS THE BEST OF THE BEST AS FAR AS COLLECTORS SEEKING A MINT USED PELIKAN 200 FOUNTAIN PEN".

 

COMPLETELY IN ORIGINAL CONDITION......THE FINISH IS EXQUISITE, WHAT A NICE PEN....,

 

(and bla bla bla)

 

Need more be said?

[Srehman]

You forgot the inflated value, Kissing.

[FLZapped]

QUOTE (Srehman @ Apr 12 2007, 05:58 AM)

You forgot the inflated value, Kissing.

Yeah, I'd like to get to know his appraiser! -Bruce

[HesNot]

I certainly did not mean to offend any non-native english speakers here on the board with my comments!!! In a forum of colleagues and friends attempting to learn and share information we all have a common goal (most of the time at least ) - Mr. Benz's over the top descriptions are something altogether different.

 

I can promise you that I would be barely able to communicate on a French or Russian board

 

 

[Johnson]

QUOTE (kissing @ Apr 12 2007, 02:40 AM)

ORIGINAL PRESERVED FROM THE ELEMENT.

I like Benz because he makes me laugh.

 

From week to week I lock on to a different one of his claims and they make me smile. Last month I prefered "HAS NEVE REVEN BEEN TAKEN OUT OF BOX", when he has pictures of the pen out of the box. This month, "PRESERVED FROM ELEMENT" is definitely my favorite.

 

I also like the random order he lays out his claims. His paragraphs serve no structural purpose other then purely cosmetic blocks of texts. There is no order or reason to his descriptions, very Dada.

[HesNot]

QUOTE (Johnson @ Apr 12 2007, 04:34 PM)

QUOTE (kissing @ Apr 12 2007, 02:40 AM) ORIGINAL PRESERVED FROM THE ELEMENT. I like Benz because he makes me laugh.   From week to week I lock on to a different one of his claims and they make me smile. Last month I prefered "HAS NEVE REVEN BEEN TAKEN OUT OF BOX", when he has pictures of the pen out of the box. This month, "PRESERVED FROM ELEMENT" is definitely my favorite.   I also like the random order he lays out his claims. His paragraphs serve no structural purpose other then purely cosmetic blocks of texts. There is no order or reason to his descriptions, very Dada. That Dada comment was absolutely brilliant, I literally laughed out loud in my office!   Easily the best post of the day for me!

[MYU]

Da Da Da - by Trio

 

The link explains it all.

[anniemac]

QUOTE (MYU @ Apr 12 2007, 05:33 PM)

Da Da Da - by Trio The link explains it all.

Totally off topic but that was so freaky!!!!

 

My husband, who was not really into mainstream music much in the 80s, loves that song and I've been trying to get it on download at the sites our MP3 players are compatible with, with no success.

Despite me being the Queen of the Eighties, I don't already have it.

Our last conversation about it was this morning. And then you post that!!

 

 

[Johnny Appleseed]

If it hasn't come across from previous posts, the Phillip Benz collection is the creation of an ebay seller 8time2live - he claims everything he sells is from the "Phillip Benz collection", but provides no info about who Phillip Benz is or why we should care.

 

He makes outragously false claims about the pens he sells, including overstating the condition, overstating the rarity, claiming pens are more valuable models than they are, making up complete nonsense (the item I posted claimed a marking of "141" on the nib stood for 141 microns ) and overstating the value of the pens he lists by hundreds of dollars (eg a $60 pen listed as worth $600). He covers himself with a no-questions asked return guarantee, so if someone buys one of his auctions and calls him on his false info, he just offers then a return-and-refund and sells it to the next dope.

 

We all find it funny because his descriptions are so overstated to be ludicrous.

 

John

[andyk]

I quite enjoy a good Benz sale, the problem is that whilst most of us know enough not to be fooled and some of his buyers do seem a bit dubious, there are no doubt innocent people potentially being ripped off.

 

Whilst I am a great believer in 'buyer beware' and I certainly wouldn't buy an expensive pen without at least having some knowledge of what I am buying, his feedback will give buyers a false sense of security.

 

I am sure that some people who pay close or just over the going rate for a pen thinking they have saved several hundred dollars are very happy, but I am sure that some must have paid well in excess of a fair price. Looking at some of the recent sales some prices don't seem too bad (was a bit surprised how many prototypes of the same pen he has though), but others like the Pelikan White/Tortoise and the collection of rare Parker 21s are a bit over the top.

 

In short one to avoid, but if you know what you are doing you may have a chance (probably a slim one)to pick up a bargain.

[Kaweco]

Hi Benz fans

IIRC the very early Benz offers, he was/ is a member of the Bush family. There are absoutely no relationships to the motor enginerer and inventor Carl Benz.

Col: Actually there are Mercedes pens. But they also neither have anything to do with the Benz collection nor with the Mercedes cars.

pic: My Mercedes collection

Kind Regards

Thomas