Alternatives to ebay for buying vintage pens

[Marco63]

Good morning, I'm beginning to think that ebay auctions for fountain pens are becoming too expensive for no apparent reason. The other day there was a nice pen for sale that kept a price of 17 GBP for a whole week. It started creeping up slowly a couple of days before the auction and the day before somebody just banged it up to 200+ GBP. Now the scope of an auction is to win the object at a reasonable price while bidding for it. If I want an object at a good price I'm not going to bid 200+ a day before the auction ends I wil do it before it expires. Anyway the pen went for over 300 GBP. I will probably see it again on ebay at a higher price not too late.
So the question is where else, specialised online shops apart, can one look for vintage fountain pens on the internet ? I go to live auctions as well so I know what I'm talking about.

 

[tankerjohn]

Yeah, I've also noticed Ebay is not the best place for vintage pen deals. It seems to me that many of the antique dealers think every fountain pen is a Montblanc and price accordingly, hoping to rope in a sucker. In that industry, product turnover is pretty slow and its no big deal to sit on inventory for a long time until someone pays top dollar. Its definitely frustrating when you see a particular pen and know its not really worth what they're asking, especially since its likely unrestored. And to make matters worse, even when an Ebay vendor does list a pen for a low price, the pen people who know what it is will invariably drive up the bid sharply. I found an unrestored Sheaffer PFM for around $50 with 3 days to go. That intrigued me, so I followed it. Sure enough, it ended up selling for about $200.

I don't know what the best route for you would be in the UK. I can say what's worked for me here in the States. I like Etsy and have scored a few good deals there. I recently scoped up a Sheaffer Triumph vac-filler for cheap, and its off getting overhauled at the moment. I'll post pics when I get it back. Etsy's great because, for one thing, there's no auctions. If an antique vendor lists a pen for a steal, you just have to be the first to snap it up. Secondly, there are a handful of vendors selling restored pens for very reasonable prices. I assume they must be retired-types who restore pens as a hobby. I'm seriously tempted by a Parker 51 I saw, but I'm trying to show a little restraint. At least until I get the Triumph back.

 

[Hercule]

Fora like the Fountain Pen Network and FPGeeks have market places and you can often find something affordable. You can also see what you can find on Etsy. I bought some vintage pens via Fountain Pen Recycler and from another vintage FP dealer in France (sorry can't remember the name off hand). There are a lot of vintage FP sources out there, it just takes a bit of searching on the web.

 

[Lefonque]

I have picked up some nice pens on Fountain Pen network. A good place if you like pens. All kinds of information along with a lively buy swap sell.

 

[jar_]

There are quite a few dealers that have quality older fountain pens. There are also once again pen shows across the country. Look for one near you. Also check to see if there is a pen club in your area.

 

[Marco63]

All, thank you very much for your suggestions. There is the London Pen Show on the 25th of July. London is 'only' 80 miles from where I live but I don't think I will go at this event, maybe the October one. Traveling by public transport is not what I want in this Covid times. I've checked on PFN and FPG but still haven't looked into their malls properly. I'll have to investigate how the mall works on this forum as well.

 

[Silky Glide]

Try pen swap on Reddit - I bought a nice Karas Kustom fountain pen there for a pretty decent price!

 

[tankerjohn]

All, thank you very much for your suggestions. There is the London Pen Show on the 25th of July. London is 'only' 80 miles from where I live but I don't think I will go at this event, maybe the October one. Traveling by public transport is not what I want in this Covid times. I've checked on PFN and FPG but still haven't looked into their malls properly. I'll have to investigate how the mall works on this forum as well.

I hear ya. I live 50 miles from the biggest pen show in the world and haven't been yet. Maybe this year. One thing about online vintage pen hunting - it takes persistence! Like thrifting for nice clothes. Any given forum will nothing good one day and exactly what you've been looking for months the next.

As far as the BST here on B&B, I don't recall seeing much pen stuff. Obviously, its very shaving-centric and, to be honest, I haven't spent much time there since I'm fairly sorted on the shaving side of things. I did, however, buy my first Esterbrook by posting a "want to buy" there. So, who knows? Maybe you can get some traction depending on what you're looking for.

 

[ChefJohnBoy-ardee]

Peyton Street Pens can get some good stuff on occasion.

Does Richard Binder still do his pen tray? I haven't looked at his site in a while. Granted you have to have an email pre-typed ready to fire off with a number they sell so fast...That was a bit ago. i haven't pen shopped in ages.

 

[Whilliam]

Does Nathan Tardif (scaupag) still repair, restore and sell pens?

Back before his Noodler's Ink days (about thirty years ago) he seemed to specialize in Snorkels. Got some wonderful pens from him.

Been out of that game a long time, so I don't know where I'd turn for used pens today. Maybe Pendemonium.

 

[Marco63]

Out of curiosity I went back on ebay to look for pens. The exact same pen, same seller, that on the 11th of July went for more than £300 is back on sale again. Someone with the same, i believe, handle immediately shot the price up to £55 from the £5 it was initially. Now either the pen is defective and was returned or someone is beating around the bush, a friend of the seller possibly? I'm inclined on the second possibility.

 

[Rhody]

Out of curiosity I went back on ebay to look for pens. The exact same pen, same seller, that on the 11th of July went for more than £300 is back on sale again. Someone with the same, i believe, handle immediately shot the price up to £55 from the £5 it was initially. Now either the pen is defective and was returned or someone is beating around the bush, a friend of the seller possibly? I'm inclined on the second possibility.

Odd but nothing would surprise me. Your probably right or it’s the same person relisting it.

 

[Marco63]

Like, He bought it himself for that amount only to relist it? Or he played a fast one that didn't go according to plans?

 

[Snargle]

To the best of my knowledge, neither Richard Binder nor Nathan Tardif actively repairs or sells pens. Richard is basically retired but he does occasionally attend a pen show and will work on pens and bring a few for sale, but it's strictly in-person. Nathan is 100% focused on his Noodler's Ink business.

Does Nathan Tardif (scaupag) still repair, restore and sell pens?

Does Richard Binder still do his pen tray? I haven't looked at his site in a while. Granted you have to have an email pre-typed ready to fire off with a number they sell so fast...That was a bit ago. i haven't pen shopped in ages.

 

[D.Gray]

Fountain Pen Hospital sells vintage pens.

I purchased my Montblanc 320 from them about 10 years ago, and I browse their site often to see what they have and drool.... yes I have a baby drool rag so I don't slip and fall on a wet floor.

 

[Marco63]

thank you for you suggestions. I don't do US shops and US websites. Way over priced and not too friendly when it comes to shipping costs and replying to emails. I stick to continental Europe only

 

[EclipseRedRing]

Like, He bought it himself for that amount only to relist it? Or he played a fast one that didn't go according to plans?

Surely even if you had two Ebay accounts and sold an item to yourself, you would be liable for Ebay fees which can be significant on high value items. Seems unlikely to me but anything is possible.

 

[Marco63]

I asked the seller why the pen was back on sale and if it was defective. He replied that the guy thay won the acuction didn't have the money to buy it in the end. Yeah, sure as if I believe him.

 

[Shutterbug57]

I asked the seller why the pen was back on sale and if it was defective. He replied that the guy thay won the acuction didn't have the money to buy it in the end. Yeah, sure as if I believe him.

Given eBay’s buyer protections and lack of seller support, I wouldn’t totally discount his answer. Who knows if the buyer didn’t spin a story to eBay which based on my experience, eBay would accept without reservation. I would say it’s at least 50/50 the guy told you the truth.

 

[Runnin_Ute]

Ebay is getting more difficult to get good buys, but it can still happen. Ron Zorn at Main Street Pens is a good source for Sheaffer pens. At least that seems to be his primary emphasis.

Rick Propas always has a good selection of Pelikan and usually some others as well. I bought my 140 from him. He restores, has a two year warranty if memory serves me correctly.

Both are US based, but are good sources of vintage pens.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk