When buying a new expensive pen how important is the box for you ?

[goodguy]

You you buy a new pen that cost a pretty penny how important is the box for you ?

 

As some of you aware I bought the Delta Israel 60 Special LE and after spending fundreds of dollars on a pen I expected to get a box that will match this LE pen.

 

As I wrote in my review I was very disapointed from the box.

 

When I buy a new pen for 100$ the box isnt a big deal but when a pen is much more expensive the box is an integral part of the pen and as so I expect it to look good and impressive.

I put the pen in my pen cabinet so I want the box to look good in the cabinet and not like a piece of paper box.

[jmkeuning]

not important at all. I cannot write with a box.

 

Perhaps a unique case or stand could be included.

[Hoarder68]

I agree. A high priced pen should be in a high class box.

[yachtsilverswan]

Because I store my pens in a Venlo display case, and not in their original packaging, that original box isn't that important to me.

 

HOWEVER, if I was giving the pen as a present, I think a nice box makes a big difference in the presentation as a whole. A nice box re-enforces the notion that this is a fine writing instrument, not a disposable Bic stick pen.

 

I'd really like the option of upgrading or downgrading the packaging depending on my intent. If it's a gift, I would spend an extra $50-$100 for a really nice leather casket, or even several hundred for a highly polished rare wood casket to showcase a high end limited edition.

 

If the pen was for me, and destined for a separate display, I'd like the option of low balling the packaging and savng a few bucks (which I'd probably spend in the same store on ink, paper, or accessories).

Edited December 9, 2007 by yachtsilverswan

[Sousy]

I put the pen in my pen cabinet so I want the box to look good in the cabinet and not like a piece of paper box.

 

Probably more important, and like buying a musical instrument, I would want the box to protect the pen from unnecessary damage for a long period of time. (e.g. something that holds the pen firm should the box/case be knocked on the floor, etc.)

[Belan]

I couldn't care less about the box. I'm buying a pen, not a box. Save the money that's wasted a fancy box and either pass the savings on to me, or enhance the pen.

[southpaw]

Not at all. Personally, I wish pen companies would go back to packaging pens like they were in the FP hay-day: a simple and small cardboard box just large enough to house the pen and the instructions.

[Ghost Plane]

Not important at all. Outside of my Yard O Leds, where the box makes a nice place to put them when I'm not using them, I have a pen case so I can keep all my darlings in one place at once. So the boxes they come in go in the closet against the day I might ever sell one of them.

[wdyasq]

The seller can use the box as a suppository, as far as I care.

 

Ron

Edited December 9, 2007 by wdyasq

[jmkeuning]

The seller can use the box as a suppository, as far as I care.

 

Ron

 

:ltcapd:

 

I imagine that you don't want it to be sent to you after that?

[Greg D]

The only reason I keep the box is just in case I ever decide to sell the pen. I can't write with the box and I don't keep the pen stored in the box, which means I just have to store the box itself, which I hate because I am a minimalist. Actually, the best writing pen I own did not come with a box (Pelikan M1000) and that doesn't lessen my appreciattion for it one bit.

 

Greg~

[tnt]

You you buy a new pen that cost a pretty penny how important is the box for you ?

 

As some of you aware I bought the Delta Israel 60 Special LE and after spending fundreds of dollars on a pen I expected to get a box that will match this LE pen.

 

As I wrote in my review I was very disapointed from the box.

 

When I buy a new pen for 100$ the box isnt a big deal but when a pen is much more expensive the box is an integral part of the pen and as so I expect it to look good and impressive.

I put the pen in my pen cabinet so I want the box to look good in the cabinet and not like a piece of paper box.

 

When you talk about special additions the box is extremely important as it often tells the complete story the pen only symbolises. If I were buying a Montblanc Generations pen (and this isn't a knock I LOVE Montblanc) and I could save $20 by not getting the box I would jump all over it!

Edited December 9, 2007 by tnt

[errantmarginalia]

I really couldn't care less about the box. What matters to me is the pen. In fact, I suggested to nibs.com that they keep the monster box for my OMAS Lucens, but they thought I was insane. In my case, the box ends up being either put away in a closet or discarded altogether; why should I care what it looks like? Best,

David

[Zoffoperskof]

Yeah, a box isn't that important to me. The fountain pen store I frequented while living in Atlanta (Artlite) always had a huge case full of pens that had been used for in-store testing and didn't come with boxes. If given a choice between the new, boxed pens, and the slightly used, boxless ones, I'd almost always choose the used, as they were considerably cheaper. This was IMHO one of the best things about the store.

 

I thought this was standard practice for FP stores, but since I moved to LA I haven't seen any stores that do it.

 

Mike

[Opus104]

The box is not vital to me, and actually a bit annoying to store after the fact. That being said, I really do agree with goodguy that a special, limited edition should come as a complete package. The investment deserves the celebration.

[Shangas]

In my mind, very important. If the pen's going to cost lots, it should at least be presented in a nice box, and the box should be both pretty and functional.

[PAKMAN]

I don't store any of my pens in the original box so all of the boxes are stacked up in a bureau just in case someone wants the box if I ever sell the pen. When I go to pen shows and plan to try to sell a pen I will bring the box in case it is wanted. A box should be substantial enough to protect the product until I get it but has no use for me afterward. A well made stiff cardboard box would do fine! I see some pens being sold in boxes that would sell for $100 on their own, so it is no wonder modern pens have become so ridiculously expensive!!

[bgray]

As a penmaker, I'm glad to hear that most of you don't care too much about a box.

 

My pens start around $140, and go up to $200+ with a steel nib.

 

Then if you want a gold nib, tack on more $$$.

 

If you want a nice box on top of that, then tack on another $20-50.

 

I think that people who want the box will order it.

 

And I also think that people who want to get the most pen for their money appreciate a maker who doesn't charge more for stuff like boxes as standard.

 

I don't want to raise my overall prices just to cover my box costs.

 

I can't see making my pens more expensive just for the cost of a box.

 

That being said, I work on a much smaller production schedule than major pen manufacturers....if I want to put a box into every order, it would cost me a lot more than if a big company wanted to buy 5,000 boxes.

 

[Lloyd]

As a penmaker, I'm glad to hear that most of you don't care too much about a box.

 

My pens start around $140, and go up to $200+ with a steel nib.

 

Then if you want a gold nib, tack on more $$$.

 

If you want a nice box on top of that, then tack on another $20-50.

 

I think that people who want the box will order it.

 

And I also think that people who want to get the most pen for their money appreciate a maker who doesn't charge more for stuff like boxes as standard.

 

I don't want to raise my overall prices just to cover my box costs.

 

I can't see making my pens more expensive just for the cost of a box.

 

That being said, I work on a much smaller production schedule than major pen manufacturers....if I want to put a box into every order, it would cost me a lot more than if a big company wanted to buy 5,000 boxes.

I wish more manufacturers offered a boxless option. I don't use the boxes and, as such, they're just clutter.

[Jimmy James]

As long as it's a paper-based box, it's probably something I will just throw away. Therefore, they'd might as well not put too much effort into it. The same honestly goes for cheap looking plastic. Those containers should be designed to protect the pen on its way to me and to sell the pen on the shelf. I'd say that works for anything under around $200. If I ever buy a pen more expensive than that, I'm going to hope for a nice looking plastic container or, at a high enough price, a wood box. I'd keep those around.