Who Buys Those Expensive Pens
As I read the current issue of Stylus pen magazine I notice in advertisement after advertisement, high-end, very expensive pens were being profiled. At my office, I hear the gasp when I tell them that one of my pens is $500 or $600 or $900. I also hear a little voice going off in my head when I say the big numbers. So when I see advertisements for pens in the couple of thousand dollar range, well it begs the question: who is buying these pens?
The pens range from classic, such as the Laban Diamond Storm, a black pen with 216 diamonds studding the body and cap, for a cool $3,000 to the Harivamsa Victory pen at $14,000.
I have talked to a few pen store owners about this question and I am told that some of those expensive pens seem to fly out the door.
Typically there is a customer wanting a specific pen. Other times the big dollar pens are sold in response to an order received by FAX or Email. The order received, the pen is packaged and sent. After the sale, little is heard again.
Who are these people? While I am not interested in names, I am wondering about the profile of who spends many thousands of dollars on a pen. I am told they are often surgeons, lawyers, executives. Store owners tell me it is both repeat customers as well as one-time purchases.
Okay, so then I wonder, do the people that buy the extremely expensive pens actually use them? Are they going to be found on an ebay listing as "never inked", or "in original box with papers". Is the pen going to be one of those writing instruments that you can see has been used, used with the care expected of a fine writing instrument, but nevertheless, used and enjoyed?
So I asked questions like: How many come back for repair? Do you get specific requests when the order is received?
It seems that very few come back for repair. If repairs are needed and if they are, it may be a case where the individuals send the pens back directly to the manufacturer.
They may be used as there are special requests. Pens being send to customers in Asia typically are requested with Fine nibs. Well, that could mean the pen is being used, or just considered the best selection for re-sale value. The broad nib selections tend to go more to the North American customers.
So if you use one of these limited edition, high end pens I would be interested in hearing from you on if the pen is actually used or is it retained for a future use? Send me an email I would be interested in hearing from you.