Montgomery stationery - Ebay seller

[Bennington1967]

This guy is selling loads of pens on Ebay at 'buy it now' prices. The only problem is that the 'buy it now' prices are WAY over market value! Is he serious about selling or just hoping he'll find enough suckers to buy some of his pens?

[RayMan]

Unfortunately, the overpricing of "Buy-It-Now" items has become quite common on EBay. Increasingly, that feature seems to be directed to impulse buyers.

[MYU]

You'll find that Montgomery Stationery will occasionally sell pens at open bid and there can be some decent prices had. But you can easily overpay if you don't do your research. For example, they often sell a Pilot VP nib assembly for $29.95, but Swisher Pens sells it for just $24. No brainer there.

[JohnS-MI]

Is it ONLY "buy it now" or can you bid lower and kick it into an auction.

I bought two pens from the guy and have been happy with them. Since

I generally "snipe" at the end of an auction, someone had already started bidding on them.

[donwinn]

I have purchased pens from them, but not at the buy it now price. I have sniped some pretty good bargains, such as a $9.75 plus shipping Phileas F, and a $9.85 plus shipping Pilot Crystal F. I hardly even look at their buy it now items.

Donnie

[Ghost Plane]

I was able to find my beloved sea green shimmer Carene there in a B nib when everyone else was out. Dunno why the heat at their prices. If things don't sell at the Buy It Now, they'll be auctioned later. Patience is the key to a pleasant eBay experience. I get sniped a lot by people with bigger budgets. But every now and then folks aren't paying attention and I get lucky.

[Bennington1967]

Is it ONLY "buy it now" or can you bid lower and kick it into an auction.

I bought two pens from the guy and have been happy with them. Since

I generally "snipe" at the end of an auction, someone had already started bidding on them.

 

 

Well, the rarer pens are all 'buy it now' ones. One example is a Duofold Lapis International that he sells at $485, with the rollerball at $389. And a Waterman Man 100 Sterling at $775!

[Bennington1967]

I have purchased pens from them, but not at the buy it now price. I have sniped some pretty good bargains, such as a $9.75 plus shipping Phileas F, and a $9.85 plus shipping Pilot Crystal F. I hardly even look at their buy it now items.

Donnie

 

 

I'm sure he is OK for the more common, lower end fountain pens, but anything out of production and in mint condition and the prices shoot up.

[donwinn]

I have purchased pens from them, but not at the buy it now price. I have sniped some pretty good bargains, such as a $9.75 plus shipping Phileas F, and a $9.85 plus shipping Pilot Crystal F. I hardly even look at their buy it now items.

Donnie

 

 

I'm sure he is OK for the more common, lower end fountain pens, but anything out of production and in mint condition and the prices shoot up.

 

Sounds like free enterprise supply and demand. Demand is what really plays though, when supply dries up, especially on discontinued items. A mint 1958 Edsel would not bring a large price, but a mint 1958 Ferrari of any model would. Either Montgomery is getting the prices they are asking, or they will lower them until they do, or they will just hold for an investment. If I were in the pen selling business, that is what I would do, and most of us would do the same, or go out of business. If you enter the pen business and structure it so that everything is a bargain, with no regard for profit, your business will not last long. Fair prices are actually what people are willing to pay, rather than what we would like to pay. We always want to be the sumgai, but somebody has to pay for that, if it is a loss to the seller, and that would be the rest of us.

 

My opinions are probably colored somewhat by the fact that I do not spend a lot of money on an individual pen. The most expensive pens I have cost under $75 total, including shipping (a Pel M200 and a Parker 51). I would love to own some of the higher end pens, but do not have the disposable income to afford them.

 

Donnie

[Ghost Plane]

I didn't think I could afford the higher end either until I found my pen goddess - Pam Braun @ Oscar Braun Pens.

[CharlieB]

They have one of the largest collections of NOS pens from the 1970s through the 1990s anywhere to be found. Their Buy It Now prices are always on the high side, but if you need a Lapis Duofold Centennial on short notice, they're likely to have one. My advice is to shop around. They often put pens out for regular auction.

[RayMan]

I didn't think I could afford the higher end either until I found my pen goddess - Pam Braun @ Oscar Braun Pens.

 

Oscar Braun is located not far from me. I've seen several posts praising that store. I believe they have a small B&M in addition to their website. I'll have to check them out.

 

[jonro]

I've bought a couple of pens from them and they shipped quickly. As others have noted, their buy it now prices are high, but you can get some decent deals from their auctions. About 6 months ago I picked up a VP for $85 plus shipping. Personally, I think the buy it now price is more of a marketing ploy. If you see an item at a high buy it now price, you might be willing to spend more for it in an auction.

[ramshacklemann]

A lot of the times, what Montgomery stationery does is buy pens from Lewertowski and then resell them at 100-200% markup. For example, Montgomery stationery buys Parker sonnet Pink Gold fountain pens from Lewertowski (Pink Golds usually go for between 80-120$ including shipping) and then marks them up at $275 +shipping.

 

Just my opinion based on what I've seen.

Edited September 16, 2007 by ramshacklemann

[Ghost Plane]

I didn't think I could afford the higher end either until I found my pen goddess - Pam Braun @ Oscar Braun Pens.

 

Oscar Braun is located not far from me. I've seen several posts praising that store. I believe they have a small B&M in addition to their website. I'll have to check them out.

 

Do. Pam is an absolute darling and their service is fantastic. [No connection other than blissful customer] I wouldn't have "The Precious" without her assistance.

[tulipa]

A lot of the times, what Montgomery stationery does is buy pens from Lewertowski and then resell them at 100-200% markup. For example, Montgomery stationery buys Parker sonnet Pink Gold fountain pens from Lewertowski (Pink Golds usually go for between 80-120$ including shipping) and then marks them up at $275 +shipping.

 

Just my opinion based on what I've seen.

 

 

Not only does Montgomery stationery buy pens from Lewertowski, this seller bids on most of the low starting price pens that can be found on ebay and resell them at much higher price. You can see that by going through its feedback as a buyer. I never bought anything from them in the past. And I don't think I ever will. I just don't appreciate this kind of practice. That's my opinion.

Edited January 25, 2008 by tulipa

[John Cullen]

gotta agree with tulipa. there is something cheesy about purposely buying up all the good buys so you can monopolize the market and resell them at higher prices. I know people will say this is just business. I am not saying it is illegal.

[Jimmy James]

Back when it seemed to me Montgomery's prices were better (and coincidentally I was buying mostly ballpoints instead of fountain pens), I didn't notice much in the way of buying from their account. I don't have a problem with what is going on, but it does make it a bit frustrating when it happens on an auction you have been stalking. Montgomery will generally bail at what I estimate is 75-80% of the going rate, but it does mean it's unlikely that auction will end up being a steal for you.

 

ETA: I don't think the prices on the BINs are excessive, they are what I'd consider high. The auctions can be decent deals, but Montgomery isn't letting go of rare stock for half of the BIN price at auction. Montgomery fills a very specific niche, and I appreciate that about them.

Edited January 25, 2008 by Jimmy James