What makes Indian FPs so expensive to buy from Indian sellers and get them abroad?

[subbu68]

Nearly 40% of my little collection of FPs are Indian pens - Camlin, Airmail, Wality, Gama, ASA, Beena.... I was trying to get some more Indian FPs to add to my collection but found that most Indian sellers on eBay are quoting exorbitant prices even with extra for shipping. Shipping extra is understandable and BTW India Post is quite reliable at least in my experience getting stuff to UAE. 

 

• I got Airmail pens for INR 450 or so when in India but are in the range of INR 1300 to even INR 2000 on eBay from Indian sellers. 
• Camlin Elegante that I purchased for  INR 200 recently is sold at up to $50 or >INR 4000!!!
• Bril ink costing maybe INR 30 sold at USD 15!!! 
• Rs.90 Camlin Trinity goes up to USD 45 😬

 

Are the sellers required to pay any export duty or some other charges that prices shoot up much more than the MRP there or just cashing in on the view outside India that Indian pens etc. are cheaper relative to Japanese and European ones?

 

Even if I have to be patient till my next visit to India to buy a few pens it seems worth waiting than give 3 to 20 times normal price to these (should I say greedy?) sellers in foreign currency. Or look for someone travelling from India to UAE and get the pens to them and save my money. I can save on the shipping too. 

[K Singh]

Don't buy Indian pens from eBay. They are often ridiculously priced over there. ASA pens might help you with some of these other pens as well, you can try asking them. Also check penhouse.in, which ships internationally also I think. 

 

No one should be buying those Camlin/bril products at those prices. Not worth it IMO.

[subbu68]

57 minutes ago, K Singh said:

Don't buy Indian pens from eBay. They are often ridiculously priced over there. ASA pens might help you with some of these other pens as well, you can try asking them. Also check penhouse.in, which ships internationally also I think. 

 

No one should be buying those Camlin/bril products at those prices. Not worth it IMO.

Lesson learnt...

 

Local Lulu sell Trinity at Rs.120 or so. Camlin ink at Rs.80. 

 

I have bought all my Airmails, Gama and ASA pens earlier from ASA Pens. Quite good service. Now I found the website not the same and limited options. I have many of their models already. 

 

Penhouse.in did not respond to my emails. Will try again. 

 

Penworld.com  seems to be reasonable too. They convert INR to UAE Dirham straight though could not get what I looked for. 

 

There are some other websites too (not naming here) but are also now "very intelligent" that they detect your location and quote in inflated USD or even hide the option to pay in INR.  

[K Singh]

35 minutes ago, subbu68 said:

Lesson learnt...

 

Local Lulu sell Trinity at Rs.120 or so. Camlin ink at Rs.80. 

 

I have bought all my Airmails, Gama and ASA pens earlier from ASA Pens. Quite good service. Now I found the website not the same and limited options. I have many of their models already. 

 

Penhouse.in did not respond to my emails. Will try again. 

 

Penworld.com  seems to be reasonable too. They convert INR to UAE Dirham straight though could not get what I looked for. 

 

There are some other websites too (not naming here) but are also now "very intelligent" that they detect your location and quote in inflated USD or even hide the option to pay in INR.  

ASA don't update their website often, but they can provide you with other models as well, which show out of stock on site.

 

Even some Indian penmakers like Lotus and Ranga show inflated prices in INR on their website, but if you are from India and directly message them they sell for a lower price. Atleast most, if not all of the Indian penmakers, prefer to sell via FB/WhatsApp here in India, so they don't bother much with keeping an up-to-date website. 

[subbu68]

37 minutes ago, K Singh said:

ASA don't update their website often, but they can provide you with other models as well, which show out of stock on site.

 

Even some Indian penmakers like Lotus and Ranga show inflated prices in INR on their website, but if you are from India and directly message them they sell for a lower price. Atleast most, if not all of the Indian penmakers, prefer to sell via FB/WhatsApp here in India, so they don't bother much with keeping an up-to-date website. 

I was referring to ASA website of 2016 or so when I last purchased from them.

 

Anyways would wait for the next trip to India or if any of my colleagues is going for vacation and ask him to get what I eye now. As such we living in Gulf are fleeced by our good friends in airlines, local desi grocery etc.that are mostly unavoidable. 

[tommym]

On 9/14/2023 at 6:53 AM, subbu68 said:

Nearly 40% of my little collection of FPs are Indian pens - Camlin, Airmail, Wality, Gama, ASA, Beena.... I was trying to get some more Indian FPs to add to my collection but found that most Indian sellers on eBay are quoting exorbitant prices even with extra for shipping. Shipping extra is understandable and BTW India Post is quite reliable at least in my experience getting stuff to UAE. 

 

• I got Airmail pens for INR 450 or so when in India but are in the range of INR 1300 to even INR 2000 on eBay from Indian sellers. 
• Camlin Elegante that I purchased for  INR 200 recently is sold at up to $50 or >INR 4000!!!
• Bril ink costing maybe INR 30 sold at USD 15!!! 
• Rs.90 Camlin Trinity goes up to USD 45 😬

 

Are the sellers required to pay any export duty or some other charges that prices shoot up much more than the MRP there or just cashing in on the view outside India that Indian pens etc. are cheaper relative to Japanese and European ones?

 

Even if I have to be patient till my next visit to India to buy a few pens it seems worth waiting than give 3 to 20 times normal price to these (should I say greedy?) sellers in foreign currency. Or look for someone travelling from India to UAE and get the pens to them and save my money. I can save on the shipping too. 

 

In the USA, inks from India are all but impossible to procure. I would hope that one day, companies like Bril, will reach out to some of the better-known international online pen/ink stores and make their product line more readily available to the rest of the world at a more affordable price range. 

 

Tommy

[Karmachanic]

Generally things produced and sold on this side of the planet cost more on that side of the planet.

[MuddyWaters]

They probably know that Westerners are ready to pay higher prices and that is why the prices are set higher. Ranga for example is charging more and more, and they are putting themselves in competition with higher priced Western brands, which is fine because their materials and construction is unparalleled, but with all due respect, their ergonomics lack behind and that is why I have had to stop spending my money with them. 

[K Singh]

5 hours ago, MuddyWaters said:

They probably know that Westerners are ready to pay higher prices and that is why the prices are set higher. Ranga for example is charging more and more, and they are putting themselves in competition with higher priced Western brands, which is fine because their materials and construction is unparalleled, but with all due respect, their ergonomics lack behind and that is why I have had to stop spending my money with them. 

Well said. And some of these penmakers also charge higher prices here in India as well, because they have got used to selling these pens at higher prices to international audience. Earlier it was easy for me to recommend all these penmakers, but now I prefer those who charge more reasonably here. 

[subbu68]

8 hours ago, Karmachanic said:

Generally things produced and sold on this side of the planet cost more on that side of the planet.

On one side Indian manufacturers want to sell abroad and the other side they keep the price insanely high. Even in UAE many resellers (online - not brick and mortar) charge double or triple the prices in India and charge extra shipping - not just pens, 'most everything.   

 

And I am not even on the other side of the planet 😲

 

7 hours ago, MuddyWaters said:

They probably know that Westerners are ready to pay higher prices and that is why the prices are set higher. Ranga for example is charging more and more, and they are putting themselves in competition with higher priced Western brands, which is fine because their materials and construction is unparalleled, but with all due respect, their ergonomics lack behind and that is why I have had to stop spending my money with them. 

 

That's right. Not all are Rangas - even cheap school pens.  

 

2 hours ago, K Singh said:

Well said. And some of these penmakers also charge higher prices here in India as well, because they have got used to selling these pens at higher prices to international audience. Earlier it was easy for me to recommend all these penmakers, but now I prefer those who charge more reasonably here. 

 

Found one seller though penworld.com who convert Indian prices to USD or for me UAE Dirham and charge shipping separately. They don't seem to spike the price.