I found the prices higher than I see say on even Rick's site (which I wouldn't call bargain pricing, you pay for Rick's expertise and it is worth it.) Perhaps haggling was expected and built in to the prices listed, but I didn't find vendors attitudes inclined toward haggling. (Mostly they'd just wave their hand toward the price tag, some even discouraged touching the pens which I found off putting.)
Granted, I'm not a big collector, I'm not well known in the pen world and likely never will be. I own perhaps 40 pens, and while some will go and some will come I'm never going to be like David here! But I'm not uneducated, I spend a lot of time watching various auction and collecting sites, reputable collectors here and on FPN, European auctions (since I lean toward German pens) and one particular pen I was interested in (which isn't rare, just not a dime a dozen) I found at the show marked $400. I'd seen it reliably online (not just on eBay as a beater) for $200 or there-abouts. When I acted surprised the vendor offered a payment plan. (really.)
I'm an introvert and a small unassuming gal without big money to throw around. That likely has an impact. I LOVED getting to sit down with Pendleton at the show and talk pens and church and get a nib ground. I loved the one vendor with just 20 or so flex pens (all inked) who encouraged sitting and playing with the pens as long as you wanted before buying (or not). But once into the bigger vendors... I guess I didn't have the right attitude (I also hate haggling, hate it with a passion. I love TRADING, but no one was interested in trading, everyone wanted money and I am just an awful haggler.)
I'd love, love, love to find a real pen swap sometime. Putting together a three way trade, and that sort of thing, that's fun! When real money gets involved the fun goes out, likely cause I just don't have wads of it!
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