How To Package -- One Of Each Or All Of The Same Kind?

[Lindab709]

I'm selling pens for a woman whose husband passed away.. There are a few vintage pens, fountain pens, etc. But the bulk of the accumulation (er . . . collection) is ballpoint pens, some with advertising and some without.

 

Many are very nice writers, and some of the pen designs are very interesting, fun and/or attractive. I will sell them in groups of 10 or twenty, most likely on eBay.

 

My question is how to group them to appeal to ballpoint pen users and/or collectors. Do I put all the Pilot, Papermate or Zebra pens together as brand lots? Do I put all the medical advertising pens in a lot? Should I create a group with one Sheaffer ballpoint, one Parker, one Papermate and one Cross?

 

I'm a fountain pen collector myself, and ballpoints are mostly utilitarian for me. If you're a ballpoint person, do you want to buy because it writes well? Looks cool? Is a novelty? Is collectible? Is blue?

 

Do you want several of the same pen or a variety of brands?

 

I'd appreciate any insight you might have.

Edited June 28, 2016 by Lindab709

[sciumbasci]

I wouldn't sell them in bulk. Advertising ballpoint collectors do exist, but they collect them when they are free. Buyers often want a good pen for a low (this means adequate) price.

 

You shouldn't target collectors. I think you should target people that have a vague idea of what a pen is, or people that want that specific advertised pen for sentimental reasons (they worked for it? Were they related to that brand somehow?). So, probably selling in bulk wouldn't be a good idea at first.

 

Sell in bulk the items that receive low visits or have little to no interest compared to the rest of the pens you have for sale.

 

I can't see where you are from, but during my recent trips to eBay, many sellers, and many local settlers, sell ballpoint collections mostly per item, and rarely as bulk.

 

Advertising ballpoint pens are often sought after: Medical Jotters are those that tend to be sold quickly due to their low price. Please don't go nuts like some guys that think a Jotter is worth 20 because it's advertising some Dutch engineering company.

[Lindab709]

Thanks for that input! Selling individually makes sense. A "lot" may contain pens the buyer doesn't really want, so I might not get full value for all the pens.

 

I will probably still need to do some lots, as there are over 400 pens to sell. But I have a better idea on what to do now.

[MYU]

^ Yeah, 400 is a lot to go individually. I would do it by perceived quality and brand. You may also want to look at past auctions on eBay to see how some people group their pens. Do you have any of them made with metal bodies? I would sell those separately from the plastic ones. How many different well known brands are in the bunch?

[Lindab709]

I just listed 3 Parker jotters with working refills. They were separate auctions with different prices. We'll see what sells.

[RMN]

It really depends what type of pens.

 

"advertisement pens"? The pens they distribute by the 100s at a symposium? Or good brand pens a company uses as a present to faithful customers or employees?

 

I have been at a show with all type of activities for over-50-people. There was a guy with over 5000 advertisement pens. Some in whole series with different colours for one company. Collectors like that might pay if it is the one pen they are missing. But I would pay Zilch for them, as I could get a similar pen at a stand 50 meters further.

 

Of the better brands it depends on type, age and quality. Also if refills are still available.

 

 

D.ick