Editing The Pen Addict 351/transcript (section)

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'''Brad Dowdy:''' All right. This first Ask TPA isn't as much of a question as a topic I wanted to approach and one we're going to approach more with Anna on next week's episode about pen shows. But it's from Chris. He was the gentleman, which he enjoyed me calling him that, at the Baltimore Pen Show who bought the red Sailor Mosaic in Baltimore. He said, I was tickled to hear you mention the story of my buying the pen and thought it was great that my pen got a couple minutes of fame in the show notes. Then I noticed that I got even more time in the spotlight as your post picture over on the penaddict. So thank you again for the tip of where to find it. If Myke misses out and regrets it, he should contact me in case I do decide to sell. It's a lot less contrasty in person than in your picture. Yeah, my picture is actually terrible, but it contrasted out so brightly I just did it anyway. So it's not that bright in person. The way you relayed my suddenly leaving the track down the pen was funny. The experience pointed out a lesson that may be worthwhile passing on to people going to pen shows. Have at least part of a plan. So that's what I want to explore a little bit more. So let me finish this out. Then we'll explore that. I had a short list of things to see in prioritized order for how and where to seek them out. For example, at Baltimore, I was there Saturday only. So I needed to get to the Franklin Kristoff table for the 9 a.m. color prototypes. Then the plan was to go directly to Anderson's, who weren't there, to look at the red 1911 in person. I had already seen the video online, and I knew that my business with Jonathan Brooks did not have time pressure. A plan reduces the stress, sets expectations, and lends a little more control and realism for the budget. So I think there's a couple ways to take this. And I think it's important because over the years of me going to more and more pen shows, my idea of the plan or the list has changed, right? In the beginning, I thought it was super important to have a very specific list of things you wanted to make sure you saw, whether or not you bought them or not. But, you know, make sure you got to see the things you wanted to see and see if they worked for you. And over the years, my list has gone to non-existent because I continually, like, read and educate myself over the days and weeks and months between pen shows. So I have in my head so I know when the time comes, if I see something, that I'm mentally prepared. So that's, like, part of the plan too, right? It's the work I put in in between shows to learn more about products so when I see them that I understand them more. So that's kind of, like, the two sides of the plan. The one is, like, the hard, fast, written-out list, which I think for beginners and people who are going to their first pen show or even, like, their first, you know, 10 pen shows, it's great to have a list. At some point, I transitioned over to learning about as much as possible and maybe having less of a specific list but more of a general list to know when I see something that fits my style and aesthetic and needs and wants and uses that I'm able to make a good decision whether I want to purchase that item or not. So that's just kind of the point I wanted to bring up. And I definitely want to talk about this more with Anna next week on the show because between her and I, even though I've only been to one pen show this year, we've been to a lot of pen shows this year, mostly her. So, yeah, it was a good email and I thought that was a good point for Chris to bring up. Did you have anything to add to that?

'''Myke Hurley:''' I think that it is wise. I think that it's wise to also plan for parts that are surprises.

'''Myke Hurley:''' You know, build that into your budget. Like, there's going to be stuff that you would not have expected to see and things that might excite you. So, yeah, I think it's worth, like, just planning it out a little bit that you're going to see some stuff you maybe have never seen before.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yep. Yep. So, this next Ask TPA is via Seth and I pretty much died when I read the first sentence. My question is actually for Myke. So, don't get too proud about that because he does correct things later on. But, your question, Myke, is I love my fountain pens but don't use them very often. And it's not unusual for a pen to sit idle for several weeks. I'm glad he related this to you. He knows who he's talking to. Or months before I pick it up.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Most pens seem to fail this test miserably, failing to write and leaving me with a cleanup job. But my Twisby pens seem to always work perfectly even after months of sitting on my desk. Are there any other pens that could be counted on in this way or should I just plan to buy all the Twisbys? I love so much that he asked you this question.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Well, I am a good person to ask. Sailor pens. Sailor pens, pro gears. I can pick them up after not using them for a while and they have absolutely no problem for me. They work perfectly fine. I have no issue at all.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' So, the only other one I'd add is the Platinum. Any pen that they make with their slip and seal mechanism, most often found in the 3776, its job is to allow you to let your pen sit there for two months and then pick it up and start writing. That's what that cap is made for. So, they do a real good job with that too. So, I did get a question, Myke. And this is actually a really good question from Seth. And I do have a question for Brad. Why are Visconti Homo Sapiens pens so expensive? I just saw the Midnight in Florence limited edition and thought it looked fantastic, but then I saw the price. I can't wrap my head around that. Keep up the good work and know that your podcast makes me look forward to my Wednesday commute. Sorry we're a day late this week, Seth. I love this question because I just had this thought process at the Baltimore pen show. So, Kohl's of London is the U.S. Visconti distributor, so they go to all the pen shows and I'm friendly with them. And so, I went over to talk to them and we were going through some of their new products and the Midnight in Florence was on the table. So, it is stunning. It is such a good looking pen. And it's so expensive. Like, I don't know how to, like, I don't know how to justify that, Seth. Like, it's, I don't know what the MSRP is or the retail, but it's...

'''Myke Hurley:''' So, for Goulet pens have it, the MSRP is $11.50 and they've got it available for $9.20.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Okay. So, the London Fog a few years ago, I think, was around $800. And it's the same idea of this series and it keeps going up. I don't know why. That's an... I know why.

'''Myke Hurley:''' People are buying them.