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

[Rufus]

As usual, I'm a flip-flopper on a topic.

 

If I didn't get a nice box and the money went into the pen design/quality, as others have suggested, I'd be happy.

If I could choose the nice box when "gifting" a pen, I'd be happy.

I don't use the boxes I have unless I sell the pen.

 

here's where I flip-flop

 

When I saw the box for my Piazza Navona I was struck by it's quality and color. I have no use for that oversized silly box but I love brown and it is just too purdy.

 

K :meow:

 

Off topic: I'm glad you put inverted comas around "gifting", but what happened to the perfectly good verb, to give?

 

[daveg]

I cringe when I hear folks saying they just toss the boxes. You should always save the box and any paperwork, instructions, etc. See what an in the box HR Duofold Sr with all the paperwork and the original box will cost you, as opposed to just the pen.

Some day those 'modern" pens will become "vintage", and the box and papers will add significant value, especially on the higher quality pens.

 

I had a Lost in Space playset as a kid that now sells for $5000, but you have to remember that if you kept all that junk, you would have had to buy a bigger house to hold it all and then you might not even break even for the few things that turned out to be worth a lot of money. A lot of old junk just remains old junk. Besides, the only thing that makes the old box valuable is that most people threw it out. If you convince everyone to keep it, it won't be worth the cost of storage.

[KCat]

As usual, I'm a flip-flopper on a topic.

 

If I didn't get a nice box and the money went into the pen design/quality, as others have suggested, I'd be happy.

If I could choose the nice box when "gifting" a pen, I'd be happy.

 

Off topic: I'm glad you put inverted comas around "gifting", but what happened to the perfectly good verb, to give?

 

heh. Why use a real word when you can waste time with quotes and the latest trendy expression instead?

 

I probably saw the word "gifting" in another post and that's what spilled onto the keyboard.

[Hoarder68]

I really like for an expensive pen to be in an impressive box, but they could be impressive without the exaggerated size some have.

[KCat]

I really like for an expensive pen to be in an impressive box, but they could be impressive without the exaggerated size some have.

 

There is some purpose to that - sets.

[diplomat]

I store my biggest pen boxes in a closet.

However I do appreciate when a pen is nicely packed with some paperwork and so on. Especially if it is a vintage one.

 

Moreover, I am afraid that in my last "impulsive" last-minute bid purchase on ebay (mea culpa, mea maxima culpa... :embarrassed_smile: ) the box had a role... it's a Parker Duofold International Pinstripe... what a beautiful box!

Currently I store all my pens in home made felt rolls, but I plan to swap the Duofold inner pen stand and to use the drawer for carryng my top 4 pens of the week.

 

I will run the contest weekly, needless to say!!

 

 

[Tberry010]

It seems many keep the box in case they decide to sell the pen later. So, while Goodguy asked about 'new' pens, what about not so new? Do you like to get a box with a used pen? Does it make the difference in whether you buy the pen? Do you believe there is more likelyhood is is not fake, or perhaps has been taken better care of than a pen owned by someone who throws away the box?

Edited December 10, 2007 by Tberry010

[daveg]

It's the same situation - until I know whether it's a keeper, it's something to stash someplace. However, since the next guy might want it, I expect a significant discount if the box isn't part of the deal. Hmmm... The box is kind of like a fruitcake. No one really wants it but it keeps getting passed around.

[Kalessin]

Philistines, the lot of you who discard your pen boxes! Naw, I'm joking, really.

 

I've kept all my pen boxes. I like them. I suppose when my collection gets larger, this could be more of a problem, but right now I have around twenty pens, ballpoints and pencils. I also use the boxes for long-term storage of pens that I don't write with as much. I haven't actually sold any pens yet, but if I did, it's nice to be able to sell them with the box.

 

I also agree that the current habit of extreme over-the-top packaging for expensive pens as a possible attempt to increase perceived value is the kind of marketing I dislike. Luckily, I just don't have the kind of money required to buy those pens...

Edited December 11, 2007 by Kalessin

[Ray]

It's the same situation - until I know whether it's a keeper, it's something to stash someplace. However, since the next guy might want it, I expect a significant discount if the box isn't part of the deal. Hmmm... The box is kind of like a fruitcake. No one really wants it but it keeps getting passed around.

 

Er... I'd like a fruit cake.

 

Ray

[WhosYerBob]

... how important is the box for you ?

It's not. Period.

 

Of far more importance is whether it lays down the quality of line that I'm expecting. Nothing else matters.

 

I have one expensive pen that I really think is ugly, but it has the best chisel point and wet flow I've yet encountered. Box was nothing to even think about, as I deep-sixed it as soon as I removed the pen.

[John Cullen]

A box should be sturdy and look nice, but in my opinion these fancy super boxes are a waste of money and just dressing that fools people into paying higher prices. If a person wants a nice box to look at, he should go buy a box. All this packaging beyond what is needed to have a sturdy, pleasant looking box is a waste. j

[Huffward]

Let's get real. Over-the-top presentation boxes are for two purposes:

 

1) For presentations at which the recipient would rather have received another £1000 a year in pension.

 

2) To impress the impressionable.

Edited December 11, 2007 by Huffward

[AndyHayes]

Let's get real. Over-the-top presentation boxes are for two purposes:

 

1) For presentations at which the recipient would rather have received another £1000 a year in pension.

 

2) To impress the impressionable.

 

How very true!

 

I wold rather have a piece of fruit cake than the box!

 

[Rufus]

Hey, let's not knock fruit cake; I actually like it and eat it with gusto (no relation) at Christmas. On the other hand, fancy boxes are a frippery and I'll take fruit cake, thank you very much.

[AndyHayes]

I think that it is about time people started publishing pics of their "best" box.

 

I will show you mine. Now let me see yours

 

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb177/shetlink/Mikado2.jpg

[Susanna]

There are boxes that are just luxurious and beautiful, but normal, like the new Aurora's polished wood boxes, for example.

And there are boxes that let you astonished for their beauty or particularity.

I remember two, most of all:

 

the old Visconti Taj Mahal :

http://www.giardino.it/pens/visconti/IMMAGINI/confTajM.jpg

which had the cover completely cut-out with indian filigree design;

 

and the new Tibaldi Da Vinci Code,

http://www.giardino.it/pens/tibaldi/IMMAGINI/CodiceCofan.gif

which box is the cryptex.

Edited December 11, 2007 by Susanna

[I am not a number]

OK, having made a stand as being generally uninterested in the box that the pen comes in, I do rather like this example that I bought some years ago...

 

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/photoboris/51Box1400.jpg

 

because it holds these...

 

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/photoboris/51Box2400.jpg

 

Edited to show slightly smallerer pics.

Edited December 11, 2007 by I am not a number

[steersbylitning]

Not at all important. That's not to say that a beautiful box isn't appreciated; but that the box (or lack thereof) does not factor into my decision about whether to buy a pen or not.

 

Debbie

[Garageboy]

I wish they didn't make a box, so I'd be less hesitant to use my NIB pens