How much of a discount due to flaws

[BoonareeBurl]

How much of a discount would you apply to an otherwise nice matte finish camphor burl with some scratches and shoulder burn on the cap and a small dent on the body (see pics)? The hardware is a Broadwell Nouveau Sceptre chrome and gold rollerball. Assume you'd price a flawless example at $125.

For example, would you price the flawed pen at 50% off ($62.50)? 20% off ($100)? 10% off ($112.50)? Something else?

 

[hcpens]

I would not sell it. Give away to friends.

 

[its_virgil]

Do you really want to sell "Flawed" pens? Think about it. I would not. Disassemble and repair or remake the pen. I actually do not gift "Flawed" pens. That Broadwell Nouveau Scepter would definitely get remade or repaired. Other less expensive pens would get remade or repaired or used by me personally, but not away from my own shop/office.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

 

[Valleyboy]

I wouldn't sell it. I'd either fix it or keep it as a shop/office pen. I like having reminders of things I did wrong.

But cant you fix this? it looks like you could without too much effort.

Cheers
Ash

 

[KenB259]

I don't sell or give away flawed pens. Only what I consider my best gets sold or gifted. I don't need someone showing off an example of mediocre work.

 

[walshjp17]

As others have said, I would not sell or gift a flawed pen. Your products are a reflection of your work. I woud not want to be known as someone who sells flawed products. I would either turn down the material to save the tubes, repair it or put in the shop drawer.

 

[RunnerVince]

I haven't sold a ton of pens, but I have to disagree with others who've posted. In my experience, when someone purchases a "scratch and dent" item, that's part of their story.
The people they're showing the damaged pen to will get the whole story. "Check out this pen! I got it for half off because of this tiny dent. But other than that, can you believe how awesome this thing is!" Potential customers will see the quality of your work, appreciate that you don't try to sell your mistakes for full price, and be just about as likely to purchase as they would had the pen been perfect.
The biggest drawback I see is that you might attract others who want the scratch and dent price on your non-damaged product.

 

[KenB259]

I haven't sold a ton of pens, but I have to disagree with others who've posted. In my experience, when someone purchases a "scratch and dent" item, that's part of their story.
The people they're showing the damaged pen to will get the whole story. "Check out this pen! I got it for half off because of this tiny dent. But other than that, can you believe how awesome this thing is!" Potential customers will see the quality of your work, appreciate that you don't try to sell your mistakes for full price, and be just about as likely to purchase as they would had the pen been perfect.
The biggest drawback I see is that you might attract others who want the scratch and dent price on your non-damaged product.

To each his own but I respectfully disagree with you.

 

[DavidD]

+1 to not selling.

But understanding there may be circumstances and/or strong motivations to sell... I'd price somewhere at or around the cost of parts. Basically, "I'd rather get my money for parts back than disassemble and make more" mentality.

 

[jrista]

I wouldn't sell anything like that. You sell em, it goes to your reputation, which, if you want this to be a business, is very important. You can disassemble, buy a new set of tubes, and re-make the blank. This is one of the things I factor into the cost of my pens. A percentage of blank and kit loss for each pen. IT happens. I had my first blank break on me last week...a TruStone sodalite...almost had it drilled through, and I wasn't even going all the way through (planned to leave a bit to cut off at the end to reveal the hole), and it still cracked. Expensive little blank to lose, but...its just one of the costs of doing business. I bought some new tubes and cut up and drilled another blank. A day after assembling the pen...that blank cracked as well. I decided to just keep the pen as my own. Sometimes it just happens.

 

[penicillin]

If the pen is flawed but functional, then I donate it to the local public library. They always need pens for library use, and it is far better than sending them to the landfill. The staff appreciates the donations very much. Our libraries live on a shoestring budget as it is.

I have my own "flawless" pens (mostly pen/pencil sets) for desk, shop, laptop bag, and an office-in-a-zipper-clipboard-with-pockets thing that I carry. I made pen/pencil sets for myself, of course. "Flawless" really means "as good as the pens that I make for others." My friends tease me for making straight cylinder pens without any real shaping, but that's what I prefer to write with. Nothin' fancy, just good working pens. I have had the same "personal" pens for years.

 

[Woodchipper]

Put it in your pocket and keep it. Someone will look at a pen, put a dent in it and then expect a discount.

 

[jrista]

If the pen is flawed but functional, then I donate it to the local public library. They always need pens for library use, and it is far better than sending them to the landfill. The staff appreciates the donations very much. Our libraries live on a shoestring budget as it is.

I have my own "flawless" pens (mostly pen/pencil sets) for desk, shop, laptop bag, and an office-in-a-zipper-clipboard-with-pockets thing that I carry. I made pen/pencil sets for myself, of course. "Flawless" really means "as good as the pens that I make for others." My friends tease me for making straight cylinder pens without any real shaping, but that's what I prefer to write with. Nothin' fancy, just good working pens. I have had the same "personal" pens for years.

I usually make em strait, too! You can still do a lot with simple to make pens more interesting, too. What you pair the blank with. Segmenting. Engraving. Laminates. Etc.