What Am I Paying For When I Buy A 150$+ Pen Vs A <40$ Pen?

[TestTube]

I'm sure this has been asked a million times by a million different people and I apologize for that. I even watched a few videos "answering" my question...but honestly their reasoning didn't justify the massive hike in price to me.

 

I just got into fountain pens and absolutely fell in love. I have a Pilot Metropolitan in medium and I just ordered another in fine and have 40 different ink samples to play with.

 

The thing is, the Pilot Metropolitan seems very well made. It doesn't feel cheap at all, it writes beautifully (although I have nothing to compare it to in person and video or picture comparisons surely don't do the comparison any justice), it doesn't skip, doesn't leak, etc. Pretty much, I see absolutely nothing wrong with the pen.

 

I don't have any places I can purchase fountain pens anywhere close to me so unless I want to drive 75+ miles I have to purchase all my pens and accessories online; which means I can't test them out in person.

 

So, aside from the obvious such as a Pilot Falcon with a gold nib; where the price hike is obvious, what am I really getting when I spend $150+ on a fountain pen that my Pilot Metropolitan doesn't already provide?

[Mastiff]

Gold nib, more diverse design variations and sophistication, brand name, better material (in many cases) but above all self satisfaction.

[LizEF]

Hi, TestTube

 

One thing to point out is that the Pilot Metropolitan is probably under-priced for what you get. Pilot can afford to do this because they're massive. They're just shifting (some of) the expense of the Metro onto other pens as a marketing strategy. This, in part, might explain why there's not as much value difference between a Metro and a $150 pen.

 

Otherwise, the answer totally depends on the $150 pen in question. As Mastiff mentioned, there are lots of variables - material costs, design, brand name (aka status symbol). I would add labor costs (generally, a pen built in the third world will cost you less than a pen built in the first world), automation vs custom, craftsmanship / build quality (though this isn't always the case, as you've observed with the Metro).

 

Personally, I think the pens I've bought were (mostly) worth what I paid - and that might be the stripped down truth of the matter. Yes, a manufacturer needs to charge enough to cover costs and make a reasonable profit, but they'll also charge as much over that as the market will bear; and they won't make it at all if they can't get what they consider a reasonable profit.

[TestTube]

Hi, TestTube

 

One thing to point out is that the Pilot Metropolitan is probably under-priced for what you get. Pilot can afford to do this because they're massive. They're just shifting (some of) the expense of the Metro onto other pens as a marketing strategy. This, in part, might explain why there's not as much value difference between a Metro and a $150 pen.

 

Otherwise, the answer totally depends on the $150 pen in question. As Mastiff mentioned, there are lots of variables - material costs, design, brand name (aka status symbol). I would add labor costs (generally, a pen built in the third world will cost you less than a pen built in the first world), automation vs custom, craftsmanship / build quality (though this isn't always the case, as you've observed with the Metro).

 

Personally, I think the pens I've bought were (mostly) worth what I paid - and that might be the stripped down truth of the matter. Yes, a manufacturer needs to charge enough to cover costs and make a reasonable profit, but they'll also charge as much over that as the market will bear; and they won't make it at all if they can't get what they consider a reasonable profit.

 

Thanks for the thorough response. I'm going to stick to the Metropolitan for now and possibly in the future think about getting a real nice one to last me forever.

 

If anyone else wants to chime in please feel free. =)

And a quick question to you or whomever else is reading:

Has anyone purchased a relatively high end/expensive pen only to find out that they preferred a pen they already owned that was a fraction of the price? If so, what were the pen(s)?

Edited June 2, 2018 by TestTube

[Driften]

I do think the Metro would cost more if it come from another company that did not also make the same pen as a ballpoint/gell pen which increases production number and cuts the cost per unit. I don't see it as a great pen for me. I don't like the step down and design and mine dries out easy. My other pilot pens are much better and cost much more. My other Pilot's do all have gold nibs which does raise the price. Part of what you get is better design. You are not going to buy a Vanishing Point for $20. It costs more to make then a Metro. You are not going to get a Pilot 92 or any number of Pilot pens that cheep. I am just using Pilot as an example.

 

If you are happy with your metro, great keep using it and be happy. But since you are trying to see what you get in a next level pen you can't be fully happy or you would not asking the question.

 

As you go up in price the differences are smaller at each level. It takes more experience to care about the small gains in performance. Just like a beginner at playing guitar will not fully get the difference between a $100 model and a $1000 model. A pro can make anything work, but the midlevel player notices how some models sound better or are easier play and more fitted to their hands.

 

Sometimes added price is just from more expensive materials or paying for marketing on low volume production which make no difference to the writing experience. But that is normally in the area of $500 vs $1000 pens.

[Driften]

 

Thanks for the thorough response. I'm going to stick to the Metropolitan for now and possibly in the future think about getting a real nice one to last me forever.

 

If anyone else wants to chime in please feel free. =)

And a quick question to you or whomever else is reading:

Has anyone purchased a relatively high end/expensive pen only to find out that they preferred a pen they already owned that was a fraction of the price? If so, what were the pen(s)?

 

Not at the under $50 vs $150 range. All of my over $50 pens feel and preform better then my under $50 pens. When you get to the over $200 price bracket the Pilot 823 performs as well as my pens in the $500 range. It does not mean I would give up any of the pens I had that cost more then the 823, it just means it brings me as much enjoyment as other pens in the rotation.

 

As you continue you will find there is not one pen that will work best for every need you have. Some pens are better pocket pens, some are better for long writing sessions at your desk. Then you have pens you use for different inks or papers, or italic vs round nibs, or different levels of softness or flex in a nib.

 

If you are happy with one pen, great. If you are happy with cheep pens, great. Some people live in that area. I am just not one of them.

[Shannon]

For me, there seems to be a point about the $200 range where the law of diminishing returns kicks in. These pens seem to be the 'nicest' with gold nibs and higher-end materials. Paying much more than that, IMHO, will get you something with a name, a reputation, a limited edition, a collectible.... but not necessarily something more usable.

[Inky.Fingers]

[max dog]

It really depends on the user and how they use their pen.

I will use an analogy here: If you just drive in the city to and from work or the mall to buy groceries, a Hyundai Elantra will appear to do everything a BMW M3 can do. But if you are a long distance highway driver or often go cruising over mountain passes, the extra $$$ for the M3 may be more worth it.

 

I find at about $200 to $300 the law of diminishing returns kicks in.

[Karmachanic]

Here ya go: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/333810-what-am-i-missing-about-expensive-pens/

[alexwi]

Hi,

 

To me, it's about balance. You put how much you like a pen on one side, and how much it will cost you on the other side, and see which way the scale tips.

 

Cost and value are relative. Some people are happy to spend $600 on a pen, and others balk at spending more than $50, so what can be afforded varies widely and wildly. The most I've spent on a pen must've been about $280 on a Carene, which I liked, but wasn't crazy about, $350 on a Sonnet that I ended up returning because it skipped like crazy, some $250 on a Paradise Pen pen that was great, except a drop of ink would form ON the nib (about half way between the hole and the tip), that I hated (nib creep, it's called). I remember absolutely hating having to return this pen because, I really, really liked it, but it would drive me bash-pit crazy.

 

I try to stay below $150, which nowadays I only pay for pens that I find uncommon and are likely to have their value stay or go up with time. Last year I got into Parker 180's and acquired about 5, in different finishes, only because I wanted a small but respectable collection of those (and I'm eyeing one more, and as I write this, I have to repeat to myself that after this one, that's it). Actually, I just remembered that it's two, but then, that's it. Really. I think that, on average, I paid about $85 per pen.

 

Each pen has its own "personality," to put it somehow, and you'll find, after using one for a long time, that you'd like to go back to another one (if you have several) and use that one for a while, regardless of which one is better (if there's such a thing).

 

My only rule is that I will only keep pens that I like a lot. Otherwise, they go, so the pens I buy tend to perform similarly to the pens I already own, regardless of price.

With that in mind, most of the pens I have (about 50?) I like. Why most? Because I have a few cheap ones that I don't like and are too cheap to justify the time it would take to sell them on ebay.

 

To answer your question, an expensive pen doesn't necessarily perform better than a cheaper one - I have a Montblanc Noblesse Oblige ($150 or so?) that is as great as a $15 Sheaffer No Non-sense. The Montblanc is definitely prettier than the Sheaffer, but aesthetically, I think I like my $50 Parker Arrow better right now.

 

Hope I've confused you enough :-)

 

alex

[TSherbs]

...So, aside from the obvious such as a Pilot Falcon with a gold nib; where the price hike is obvious, what am I really getting when I spend $150+ on a fountain pen that my Pilot Metropolitan doesn't already provide?

 

Less money in your savings account.

[TSherbs]

 

...As you continue you will find there is not one pen that will work best for every need you have. Some pens are better pocket pens, some are better for long writing sessions at your desk. Then you have pens you use for different inks or papers, or italic vs round nibs, or different levels of softness or flex in a nib....

 

true

 

but we all know that "need" is not really what we are talking about here

 

fountain pens, for the most part, are discretionary purchases, some of them luxury purchases

[alexwi]

You also get variety from having several pens at hand. Sometimes you might feel like writing with a broader nib, or a heavier pen, or one that's smoother, or one that looks nicer.

 

I believe you can get all those variations without spending a fortune, so it's not about what you get by spending more, but whether it will cost you more to get a particular pen that you like better than a Metropolitan or a Safari, to add another excellent inexpensive pen into the mix.

 

Since you just ordered your second pen, this will be quite clear to you pretty soon. I greatly recommend the Metropolitan with an Italic (or stub, I don't know) nib. I like it because while most manufacturers make theirs draw a 1.1mm line, Pilot's is only 0.7mm, so it looks great if your handwriting tends to be small.

 

If you have an art, stationery, or pens store you can go to, you'll be able to try different pens and judge by yourself. I strongly recommend that you bring samples of the paper you normally use or you might be shocked at the difference once you bring a new pen home (all store-tested pens write wonderfully, always, because you'll be trying them on some of the best papers available).

 

Alex

[TestTube]

Just like a beginner at playing guitar will not fully get the difference between a $100 model and a $1000 model. A pro can make anything work, but the midlevel player notices how some models sound better or are easier play and more fitted to their hands.

 

Haha, I love that you mentioned this. This is actually part of the reason I made this post to begin with. Playing the guitar is by far my most honed ability. I've played for over 15 years and I started off using a ~200$ ESP F-50 and "upgraded" to a 700$ guitar about 5 or 6 years into playing. I *tried* to get into it, and ended up hating and selling it because I was so used to the feel of my first guitar that I still mainly play on the same guitar I started with (albeit a new one). I've tried hundreds of other guitars and the only guitar I've ever played that I liked as much - if not more than this one - is a ~3500$ PRS Custom 24; which I'll probably never own. =p

 

The thing is, I don't know what I don't know. The Pilot Metropolitan is both the best and worst pen I've ever used since it's the only one I've ever usedB. I have nothing to compare it to in person at the moment. So I suppose my plan is to write until I feel as if I'm at a more advanced level (Just practicing my Spenserian at the moment), gain some more knowledge in general, try out some different/lower tier pens for different writing scenarios, and then take that long trip to test out some of the higher tier fountain pens and see if any feel like heaven when I put it to paper.

 

And thank you all so much for the quick and thorough responses. T'was my first post and you've all made me feel very welcome here. I've found some new friends ! =)

[Bo Bo Olson]

Well, I've only bought 5 or 6 new pens in the last decade out of 80....and they were many, mostly by far, all old name brands.

Of the new ones, 3 have very good balance being Pelikan 200's, 1 was a 600 so also has great balance posted. The MB Woolf is not in your question, but I bought it because it was pretty. Fair nib also.

 

I buy mostly old used pens.....again brand names or at least mostly vintage German brand names. They all of course have great balance.....in back then, pens were used the whole day of writing, not just a scribbled note or signature. They also have superb semi-flex or maxi-semi-flex nibs.

 

Personally vintage is balance and nib.....and one time top of the line, at prices .... of course out of date, from your $40.....most can be had now at $110 or so.

[praxim]

I'm sure this has been asked a million times by a million different people and I apologize for that. I even watched a few videos "answering" my question...but honestly their reasoning didn't justify the massive hike in price to me.

 

It has, and you have answered it for yourself for the time being. Others will find it justified, having different criteria, tastes, and options for discretionary purchases. I developed my present signature as a general response to this sort of discussion.

[welch]

Take a look at the Sailor, Pilot, and Platinum pens for $150 - $200. Sailor 1911 and Pro-Gear, Pilot Custom 74 and Falcon, Platinum Century. A company probably puts more care into the fit of the parts, the detailing, and the skill with which they design their nibs. Examples at John Mottishaw's site. Mottishaw is one of the great nib "meisters". https://www.nibs.com

[woleizihan]

Ultimately, it's because you want the pen and you are willing to pay $150 for it. You can find many reasons why that's true but they are all personal in some sense.

[Runnin_Ute]

Another thing to keep in mind: sometimes you will pay under $50 for a pen that may be as good or better than a pen in the mid to upper end of the $50-$150 range. Or even better, the pen if bought new may be one in that $100+ range. I have a few of those. (as do many others)

 

Like the Pelikan M200 Blue Marbled (old style/early 90's/late 80's) I paid $46 for on ebay. New a M200 like the Brown Marbled can be $120 or more depending on the retailer. (mine was just over that after converting from British Pounds.) A US retailer? $140 or more.

 

Many people who paid less than $100 for say a Parker 51, will say it is one of the best writers among the pens they own. Back in the day a 51 was something line $12.50-$15.00 and was the top of the Parker line. I paid under $50 for my 51 Special, and $75 for my 51 Demi Vacumatic. I have seen 51's sell for over $100. I only have one pen that approaches the $150 mark. A Pelikan 140 - worth every penny. One of my favorite pens. (if not the favorite)

 

In other words, it is easy to say, oh, over $x (150 this case) there is a point of diminishing returns. A gold nibbed vintage/semi-vintage pen such as the Parker 45 (not all 45's have gold nibs) can be had for about the price of your Metropolitan or just a little more. My first gold nibbed 45 was $15.50.