Central Massachusetts Pop-Up Pen Show

[toggle67]

Hello all!

 

I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm hosting a pop-up pen show in south central Massachusetts on September 16, and we're going to have some extraordinary sellers, especially of vintage fountain pens. Here's the info:

 

Central Massachusetts Pop-Up Pen Show 

Lots and lots of pens, vintage and modern, inks, pen accessories and other cool small things! 15+ tables with:

Paul Erano
Lindsay Rand 
Jim Knight 
Jeffrey Krasner
Andy Beliveau
Myk Daigle
Scott Jones
John Corwin
David Nishimura 
Kevin Soucy

Admission: $5. Free parking.

Saturday, September 16, 2023  9 AM – 5 PM

Unitarian Universalist Parish of Monson
177 Main Street, Monson, MA

We hope to see you there!

For more info email Todd at toggle67@yahoo.com
 

[random_display_name]

Any information on forms of payment that will be accepted? 

[Gloucesterman]

Hi Christina, welcome if we haven't met previously at the Commonwealth Pen Show or Boston Pen People meetings.

 

In response to your question about payment methods:

Cash is acceptable, of course, and probably preferred by most sellers.

Some seller may take various credit cards.

PayPal, checks, Zelle, Venmo perhaps are accepted by some, probably not all.

 

Looking forward to "sharing the floor" with you in some form on the 16th of September.

 

Feel free to PM me if you like.

-S-

[toggle67]

On 8/8/2023 at 7:36 AM, christinaofvermont said:

Any information on forms of payment that will be accepted? 

What Gloucesterman said is essentially true. Admission to the show is $5 cash, and I'm fairly certain that the vendors all accept cash and prefer it generally, and that most probably take various forms of payment, including check, PayPal, Venmo, Cash app, Square, or some other payment service. To be safe I would bring cash, some checks if you have them, credit and/or debit cards, and a smartphone or similar device if you need it to transfer funds or to use some other online money transfer or payment service. Just to be super safe I would rely more heavily on cash and checks than online payment options because I cannot guarantee the quality of your phone reception at the venue, although you could just move your phone to another location to make a transaction if absolutely necessary. 

[random_display_name]

17 hours ago, Gloucesterman said:

Hi Christina, welcome if we haven't met previously at the Commonwealth Pen Show or Boston Pen People meetings.

 

In response to your question about payment methods:

Cash is acceptable, of course, and probably preferred by most sellers.

Some seller may take various credit cards.

PayPal, checks, Zelle, Venmo perhaps are accepted by some, probably not all.

 

Looking forward to "sharing the floor" with you in some form on the 16th of September.

 

Feel free to PM me if you like.

-S-

Hello!  Thanks for the cordial welcome!  My one and only pen show was the Commonwealth Pen Show in 2019...and I hardly spoke to anyone because sorry to say I'm terminally shy...

 

This venue is of great interest to me since I'm within 60 miles of Monson MA.  I'm trying to make arrangements to attend.  I'm going to a WooSox game two weeks prior so two road trips in close time proximity might be tricky.

 

Cash is good.  I was going to make that assumption.  I have a smartphone too.

 

Best of luck with this show, Gloucesterman!

Edited August 10, 2023 by christinaofvermont
Edited for name of town

[random_display_name]

10 hours ago, toggle67 said:

What Gloucesterman said is essentially true. Admission to the show is $5 cash, and I'm fairly certain that the vendors all accept cash and prefer it generally, and that most probably take various forms of payment, including check, PayPal, Venmo, Cash app, Square, or some other payment service. To be safe I would bring cash, some checks if you have them, credit and/or debit cards, and a smartphone or similar device if you need it to transfer funds or to use some other online money transfer or payment service. Just to be super safe I would rely more heavily on cash and checks than online payment options because I cannot guarantee the quality of your phone reception at the venue, although you could just move your phone to another location to make a transaction if absolutely necessary. 

Thanks, Todd.  I figured cash is good in any event.  I usually use a debit card, though.  Thanks for the warning re phone reception.  I do usually have a smartphone on me, but won't assume its utility.

 

Very best of luck with this show! 

[random_display_name]

4 hours ago, christinaofvermont said:

 

Monson I meant to say, duh on me.

[Gloucesterman]

3 hours ago, christinaofvermont said:

Monson I meant to say, duh on me.

I wanted to send you a PM but could not figure out how to do so. Did you turn off that capability?

Meanwhile, I will have a table at the "Show" so stop by and say "Hello".

If you tell me what color inks do you like I will bring a free sample or two, if I have something.

What kind of pens/nibs do you like?

 

[random_display_name]

Hello again!  I might have PM off,  I don't remember doing it on purpose though.  Sorry about that, will look into it. 

 

I used to have a collection of Pelikan M640s and unfortunately hocked them all, but I am thinking about reacquiring one or two...or darn it all of them.

 

I used to favor EF nibs but now like fine to medium and beyond.  I'm pretty well set up with inks, I think, but then one is always saying that...

 

I really look forward to a show to refill on inks/small doodads, to look at things I've only seen before online, and also to support the vendors and tradespeople.

 

I'm looking forward to buying something serendipitously that I didn't know I'd find...

 

Right now, it looks like I can attend so I look forward to dropping by your table!

[toggle67]

On 8/10/2023 at 8:49 AM, christinaofvermont said:

Thanks, Todd.  I figured cash is good in any event.  I usually use a debit card, though.  Thanks for the warning re phone reception.  I do usually have a smartphone on me, but won't assume its utility.

 

Very best of luck with this show! 

You are most welcome, and thank you, too! I hope to see you there! And if you have any friends who'd like to come, please spread the word to them! I'll probably be alternating between working the door and walking the floor, talking with everyone and no doubt buying more than anyone really should!

[MissCellany]

Oh wow, a pen event that I'll actually be able to attend? Phenomenal- thank you so much for putting this on and sharing, I'll be sure to be there!

 

A question regarding etiquette: I've never attended a pen show before, and have four pens that I've been hoping to sell (but hesitant about doing so online as the classifieds board is no longer). Would it be remiss of me to bring my pens to the show in hopes to sell them? If not, what would be the acceptable way to go about that?

 

Either way, I'm looking forward to attending and meeting new friends

[Gloucesterman]

It is absolutely acceptable to bring your own pens to sell or trade to dealers for others pens or cash.

 

I did that a few years ago at what was then "The New England Pen Show" and sold a bunch of pens to Pendleton Brown for cash and a 580 TWSBI with one of his stub nibs. I still use and love the pen and the way it write. Please be considerate of others and recognize that we, the sellers, are paying money to be at the show and sell our pens.

 

Keep in mind that if you want to sell any/all your pens to a dealer/seller at the show the amount they are going to pay you will be (possibly) much less than you might think the pen/s are worth. They have to inspect, clean, polish and, ultimately guaranty the pen they buy from you when they sell it. AND they might not sell it for a while. For them it's an investment rather than a simple buy/sell situation.

 

Oh, about it being your first pen show, if you go on YT or Richardspens.com (Richard Binder's site) and probably other prominent pen resource site you can find videos and additional advice on pen shows in general and "Your First Pen Show" specifically.

 

Most of all have fun, enjoy yourself and meet (lots of) new people.

 

[toggle67]

deleted

[toggle67]

On 8/15/2023 at 3:25 PM, MissCellany said:

Oh wow, a pen event that I'll actually be able to attend? Phenomenal- thank you so much for putting this on and sharing, I'll be sure to be there!

 

A question regarding etiquette: I've never attended a pen show before, and have four pens that I've been hoping to sell (but hesitant about doing so online as the classifieds board is no longer). Would it be remiss of me to bring my pens to the show in hopes to sell them? If not, what would be the acceptable way to go about that?

 

Either way, I'm looking forward to attending and meeting new friends

Looking forward to seeing you there! If you'd like to bring a few pens to sell, that shouldn't be a problem, but please keep in mind that the vendors are there to sell, and unless they're buying for their own collections, will be paying with profit from resale in mind. This should be the perfect show for you to dip your toes into because it isn't huge, but there will still be plenty of pens and pen related merchandise to tempt you, I'm sure.

 

There are multiple strategies to attending and getting the most out of pen shows, and there are articles and YouTube videos about it. I would say that, generally speaking, it makes sense to make a list of what you're looking for and to set a fairly modest budget beforehand so that you can add to the budget at the show if (and much more likely, when) you find something that you want that you hadn't already budgeted for, and when you're at the show, survey what is where, and then go back to the tables that have what interests you to get a closer look and ask questions, and try out pens and inks and papers and such, and to buy said stuff. You don't want to buy everything, of course, but you don't want to blow through your budget and then find dozens of other things that you didn't realize you'd want and find at the show, either. Also, ask vendors if it's okay to handle their merchandise before touching it, be considerate, and ask questions.

 

This is going to be a blast! Have fun, and I can't wait to see you and everyone else there!

[Gloucesterman]

Just bought 17 "new" pens at a flea market.

Now i have to clean and sort them for the "Pop-Up" pen show in Central Massachusetts on the 16th of September.

Looking forward...

See YOU there

[toggle67]

On 8/27/2023 at 11:03 AM, Gloucesterman said:

Just bought 17 "new" pens at a flea market.

Now i have to clean and sort them for the "Pop-Up" pen show in Central Massachusetts on the 16th of September.

Looking forward...

See YOU there

How fun! I can't wait to see them. I have a feeling that I'm going to obliterate any semblance of a budget. Looking forward to seeing you and the pens! 

[Gloucesterman]

Special Offer to all the FPN members Attending this show

 

When you identify yourself as an FPN member

I will provide you with a free gift when you make a purchase of more than $25.00.

 

 

 

[Gloucesterman]

Bump to remind people

[toggle67]

5 hours ago, Gloucesterman said:

Bump to remind people

Thank you so much, and I'm so glad that you're coming to the show 

[Gloucesterman]

Looks like the Hurricane (Lee) won't have a lot of influence around the central Massachusetts area on Saturday. Just a couple of hours worth around 10 A.M.

 

Just overcast/cloudy weather forecast for the day. In fact, I will be driving away from the winds and rain - so I am good with that.

See you (all) on Saturday. Remember my offer...