Zen Pen

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wolf creek knives

wolf creek knives

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Wolf Creek Montana
A few years back I bought several pen kits from Exotic blanks that were Zen Pens. Really nice pen kit, and a bit pricey. But I've been asked to make another one for a friends daughters graduation. He wants to pay me for my work but I have refused but he asked me for a selling price. I have no idea of the worth of these pens but I'm pretty sure it's kinda high. These pen kits In current pricing start at $27.95 for SKU EK-050-4428 on Exotic Blanks website. So my question is, has anyone reading this made one? I've made three so far but that was several years ago. What was your selling price? My friend is a really good neighbor and like I said, this is a gift for his daughter so there will be no charge...at all.
Thanks in advance for any help.
 
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wolf creek knives said:
A few years back I bought several pen kits from Exotic blanks that were Zen Pens. Really nice pen kit, and a bit pricey. But I've been asked to make another one for a friends daughters graduation. He wants to pay me for my work but I have refused but he asked me for a selling price. I have no idea of the worth of these pens but I'm pretty sure it's kinda high. These pen kits In current pricing start at $27.95 for SKU EK-050-4428 on Exotic Blanks website. So my question is, has anyone reading this made one? I've made three so far but that was several years ago. What was your selling price? My friend is a really good neighbor and like I said, this is a gift for his daughter so there will be no charge...at all.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Click to expand...
I use the Dayacom kit which is expensive but excellent quality in Chrome or Black Titanium roller ball or fountain pen. As I can't get them in Australia I have to pay shipping and import charges as well. At the end of the day the material used on the pen and the time taken to make and finish the pen matters a lot. So for timber I charge about AUD 160-185 depending on the rarity or cost of the timber. Then for Fantastic Feathers which are so rare these days to get the blank I charge a lot more, for the Aboriginal Art pens I charge 350. So it all depends on the cost to you for the materials and the labor. For example I have to pay the Aboriginal Artist for her hourly rates which are expensive too, and I don't want to undercut her in any way as this is her livelihood and she does incredible work. Sorry its not a straightforward answer. If you check my webstore you can see the prices based on the material etc: seangeorgepens.com

Cheers,
Sean
 
I do not want to hype any specific kit retailer so I would suggest that you use a search engine on your browser and look for "Zen Pen Kit".
I saw them for $9.95 (all coatings). DM sent to you.
I have made them in the past and they are one of the easiest kits to make with only a single straight (or bulged if you want) blank. At that price a give-away isnt all that bad.
 
things like this are tough.... You'd like to just give to your friend for his daughter and he's insisting on some form of a payment, correct?

I've had a couple situations like this and what I've done is have them cover my material costs along with a couple bucks to cover consumables and "contributed or donated" the labor.
 
There are at least TWO Zen pen manufacturers (as has been discussed here before).
The original is made by Dayacom and is, indeed costly! (Especially in "high-end" platings)

An alternative "knock-off" comes from Rizheng and is much less expensive (again, as has been stated on IAP several times in the past)

Our pricing is lower than any competition I could find for either of the above pens. But realize we offer OVER 2000 pen and plating choices, so we don't have time to price shop every day.

What you charge your customer depends on your own calculations--I have opinions that I share in a presentation at MPG. It starts with me telling the world there is NO price carved in granite--especially when making pens for friends and family. Charge what you think is reasonable.

Thanks for reading!!
Ed

BTW, I agree with Kent.
 
ed4copies said:
There are at least TWO Zen pen manufacturers (as has been discussed here before).
The original is made by Dayacom and is, indeed costly! (Especially in "high-end" platings)

An alternative "knock-off" comes from Rizheng and is much less expensive (again, as has been stated on IAP several times in the past)

Our pricing is lower than any competition I could find for either of the above pens. But realize we offer OVER 2000 pen and plating choices, so we don't have time to price shop every day.

What you charge your customer depends on your own calculations--I have opinions that I share in a presentation at MPG. It starts with me telling the world there is NO price carved in granite--especially when making pens for friends and family. Charge what you think is reasonable.

Thanks for reading!!
Ed

BTW, I agree with Kent.
Click to expand...

Thanks Ed, that means a lot
 
As Ed has already indicated, there are alternatives to the ZEN kit from Dayacom and I have made many of them and have used them for extended periods as personal carry pens without any issues. Most suppliers market them as Eco Zen, or by another name like the Magnetic (Crooked Mill), but some don't. Granted the original Dayacom version is undoubtedly a higher quality, but I don't think that it is 300% higher like the price is. - Dave
 
If you look at Ed's website, you can see he has the Dayacom Zen with various platings for roughly the same price as the rest of the market.
It looks like he has the other Zen (Zen Eco) at the lowest price available online.
So, if you want to spend a little or a lot, he can help you.
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I turn both the Zen and the Eco Zen and both are nice pens that typically sell well in my area. There is a noticeable difference in the magnet strength between the two kits other than that they look very similar. When I am turning higher end pens for shows I only use the Dayacom Zen primarily because of the better magnet and what I can only imagine is a better quality plating.

My price depends largely on the material used. A good share of my Zens are priced at 3 times the kit and material cost. The ones that are not priced per that costing model are usually higher because I know the market in my area will hold that pricing.

CSUSA currently has the Black Titanium and 10K gold Zen on sale for 18.82 and the chrome for 12.97
 
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