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I agree with Eamonn's comments - we are all allowed to make pens for our own reasons and all allowed to sell them or give them away according to out own whim

I would just add this. If you take the nib out of the equation, what is the difference between a Montblanc fountain pen that sells for maybe £1000 and a Lamy that sells for maybe £30? Perhaps that's a bit unfair. What about a Montblanc and a Visconti for a couple of hundred?

Before anyone answers the question and says "quality", yes quality does come in to it - of course it does, but there are only two ways of making a pen. Firstly, if the material from which it is made will not support threads, then a tube is used and components are pressed in to it. That's the way most of us do it, and it's also the way that Montblanc and all the others do it too, or is some cases the decoration, such as enamel is applied directly to the tubes. The second way is if the material will support threads, then the barrels can be made directly from that material without the need for tubes. That's the way kitless pens are made and also how Montblanc and all the others do it with the rest of their pens. It doesn't matter if you a multi million pound global brand or a hobbyist in a shed, all pens are made in the same two ways.

So again, what is the difference between the Montblanc and the Visconti - is there really eight hundred quids worth of difference in the quality?. Of course not, but there is a huge difference in peoples PERCEPTION of the quality.

I know, I know, Dart is rambling on again, but the original question was how much to sell a slimline for, presumably on the basis of making a profit. With respect to Tom, he struggles to sell them in Cornwall for a fiver, whereas I suggest that if Tom asked £15, 18 or maybe even £20 for them, suddenly the perceived value is greater and I strongly suspect that he would will sell more. If you price them cheap they are perceived as cheap - if you price them higher they are perceived as desirable, or maybe even aspirational. Ask Montblanc - they know.

<blockquote data-quote="Phil Dart" data-source="post: 270021" data-attributes="member: 735">I agree with Eamonn&#039;s comments - we are all allowed to make pens for our own reasons and all allowed to sell them or give them away according to out own whimI would just add this. If you take the nib out of the equation, what is the difference between a Montblanc fountain pen that sells for maybe £1000 and a Lamy that sells for maybe £30? Perhaps that&#039;s a bit unfair. What about a Montblanc and a Visconti for a couple of hundred?Before anyone answers the question and says &quot;quality&quot;, yes quality does come in to it - of course it does, but there are only two ways of making a pen. Firstly, if the material from which it is made will not support threads, then a tube is used and components are pressed in to it. That&#039;s the way most of us do it, and it&#039;s also the way that Montblanc and all the others do it too, or is some cases the decoration, such as enamel is applied directly to the tubes. The second way is if the material will support threads, then the barrels can be made directly from that material without the need for tubes. That&#039;s the way kitless pens are made and also how Montblanc and all the others do it with the rest of their pens. It doesn&#039;t matter if you a multi million pound global brand or a hobbyist in a shed, all pens are made in the same two ways.So again, what is the difference between the Montblanc and the Visconti - is there really eight hundred quids worth of difference in the quality?. Of course not, but there is a huge difference in peoples PERCEPTION of the quality.I know, I know, Dart is rambling on again, but the original question was how much to sell a slimline for, presumably on the basis of making a profit. With respect to Tom, he struggles to sell them in Cornwall for a fiver, whereas I suggest that if Tom asked £15, 18 or maybe even £20 for them, suddenly the perceived value is greater and I strongly suspect that he would will sell more. If you price them cheap they are perceived as cheap - if you price them higher they are perceived as desirable, or maybe even aspirational. Ask Montblanc - they know.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Phil Dart, post: 270021, member: 735"] I agree with Eamonn's comments - we are all allowed to make pens for our own reasons and all allowed to sell them or give them away according to out own whim I would just add this. If you take the nib out of the equation, what is the difference between a Montblanc fountain pen that sells for maybe £1000 and a Lamy that sells for maybe £30? Perhaps that's a bit unfair. What about a Montblanc and a Visconti for a couple of hundred? Before anyone answers the question and says "quality", yes quality does come in to it - of course it does, but there are only two ways of making a pen. Firstly, if the material from which it is made will not support threads, then a tube is used and components are pressed in to it. That's the way most of us do it, and it's also the way that Montblanc and all the others do it too, or is some cases the decoration, such as enamel is applied directly to the tubes. The second way is if the material [I]will[/I] support threads, then the barrels can be made directly from that material without the need for tubes. That's the way kitless pens are made and also how Montblanc and all the others do it with the rest of their pens. It doesn't matter if you a multi million pound global brand or a hobbyist in a shed, all pens are made in the same two ways. So again, what is the difference between the Montblanc and the Visconti - is there really eight hundred quids worth of difference in the quality?. Of course not, but there is a huge difference in peoples PERCEPTION of the quality. I know, I know, Dart is rambling on again, but the original question was how much to sell a slimline for, presumably on the basis of making a profit. With respect to Tom, he struggles to sell them in Cornwall for a fiver, whereas I suggest that if Tom asked £15, 18 or maybe even £20 for them, suddenly the perceived value is greater and I strongly suspect that he would will sell more. If you price them cheap they are perceived as cheap - if you price them higher they are perceived as desirable, or maybe even aspirational. Ask Montblanc - they know. [/QUOTE]

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