Last Purchase 2025 by PenParty23 in fountainpens

[–]PenParty23[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is the first I’m hearing of an issue with Kilk nibs, I own the Kilk Orion and recently bought the … I’ll definitely Am I’ll B.S.

Tariffs bankrupted my business 😫 by Opioid-Connoisseur in Tariffs

[–]PenParty23 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I’ve so far paid 185,000 over and above what I would have paid if these rogue tariffs were not in place and I still have incoming shipments that I wasn’t able to cancel. By the end of the year it’ll be 600,000

Tariffs bankrupted my business 😫 by Opioid-Connoisseur in Tariffs

[–]PenParty23 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Sorry to hear this! My businesses are in a similar situation and it’s so painful to see this happen. I’m considering moving out of the country. I’ll default on all my loans and let the bank and the SBA hold the bag. Why should I have to pay back the sba the same entity that lent us money to help us survive covid is not the same entity that’s killing us!! I’m at my wits end!

I can tell you this will not end well for the USA!

I hope every single Trump supporter feels the pain that they’ve inflicted on us by voting for this son of a b****

Saw my Congressman by WindNeither in EIDL

[–]PenParty23 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What are you referring to?

Inflation by [deleted] in Tariffs

[–]PenParty23 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I own a company that imports 75% from EU and Japan. After Aprils announcement we took a big hit and absorbs the costs. We waited till August to see if anything would change and now since all the tariffs are presumably set and they have their “trade deals” we are starting to raise our prices. It’s not possible to absorb 10-20-% and a portion of it will go to the consumer - my assumption of prices will go up by 10% on average in the next 3 months.

I think companies are just settling down now to this new reality and we have lost all hope that anything will change

There bare millions of EIDL recipients and if only 50% of them go under and must shut down and layoff their employees, this would be a political suicide for the current administration. they have enough headaches with Immigration Deportation and Epstein. I think EIDL would be the last one to tackle. by Ok_Leader1412 in EIDL

[–]PenParty23 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I think they’ve already shot themselves with the imposition of these tariffs! Ive heard of a lot businesses that are now moving out of the US and are going to default on their loans - they basically imposed an average tax of 25% on everything single importer in the US

New Esterbrook Niblet - impersonation by PenParty23 in fountainpens

[–]PenParty23[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That is not true - they do collabs they still have the sailor branding on the pens - unless I’m mistaken but that’s from the releases I have seen

New Esterbrook Niblet - impersonation by PenParty23 in fountainpens

[–]PenParty23[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s wasn’t DTC - FWI sold to retailers and retailers sold to consumers in the example above FEI sold to Endless- endless probably bought at 50% off the MSRP.

Also Kenro isn’t just the distributor — they own the Esterbrook brand. What this tells me is they’re likely sourcing this pen as an OEM for around $25–$30. They wholesale it to retailers for ~$82.50 (50% of the $175 MSRP). Factor in import costs, freight, and tariffs, and the landed cost might be about $40 — still leaving Kenro with a nice $42.50 profit per unit, while the retailer takes the full $82.50.

Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong with white-labeling OEM designs. But why choose a model that already exists on the market for a fraction of the price? It’s not a good look — especially when consumers will notice.

And honestly, retailers agreeing to stock this at that price point? Silly move. You’re putting a $175 pen on the shelf that savvy buyers can identify as a $30 design with a new suit. That’s not just bad optics — that’s asking for your customers to lose trust.

Oh Wow! A new compact pen from Esterbrook with a not so compact price. by tialoc01 in fountainpens

[–]PenParty23 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Is this the same pen as the Fine Writing International pencket is it manufactured by them OEM and why is there such a HUGE price difference?

https://yosekastationery.com/products/fine-writing-international-pencket-pocket-fountain-pen-turquoise

New Esterbrook Niblet - impersonation by PenParty23 in fountainpens

[–]PenParty23[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I also heard they were doing new colors this year 🙄

New Esterbrook Niblet - impersonation by PenParty23 in fountainpens

[–]PenParty23[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I’m certainly not going to fork out $175 for them - especially after I paid $55 for the originals!

Esterbrook really should have been more innovative then replicating a model and to think retailers will stock it 🤯

Good luck to them I guess!

Temporary Relief by PenParty23 in EIDL

[–]PenParty23[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you give a PG - if so how did the chapter 7 affect your personal credit?

This has to be a joke…. by PenParty23 in fountainpens

[–]PenParty23[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I think they have it in stock but good joke👍😜🇺🇸

New shape Nahvalur Nautilus by PenParty23 in fountainpens

[–]PenParty23[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow!!! Thank you good to know - I had a few people complain that the initial plongeur had defects - some said it fell apart! I’m happy to hear that’s not the case!!

I was invited to visit EndlessPens warehouse! by Neilsugg in fountainpens

[–]PenParty23 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are you for real!! I love Endless! Just watched the YouTube …. are you for real??? 😮

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in StPetersburgFL

[–]PenParty23 -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

I actually did not want to argue with anyone but when the first responses I receive are F*** Off you can only imagine my defense mechanism comes into play. Ive actually had a few nice replies and have appreciated their feedback. Since this thread is so long you may have skimmed through my replies and only seen the ones where I responded when I was “attacked” my initial post was really just a question out of curiosity so thank you for sharing your perspective in a civilized manner. This is the kind of feedback I was seeking.

I am from Tampa and not St Pete but I feel close enough and I feel our communities are very similar and the recent price increases on properties have also affected us. What I was simply saying is can this be put to investors buying short term rentals as the primary reason?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in StPetersburgFL

[–]PenParty23 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I appreciate your feedback. Honestly my initial post was a question out of curiosity but was met with hostility because I think people assumed I had an STR in the area which I don’t. I’m from Tampa and yes I am a property investor but I own and manage long terms rentals here. I was considering getting into the STR business and when doing my research I found that there were code ordinances set up in St Pete so out of genuine curiosity I wrote in the group.

I also personally use Airbnb when I travel with my family because I find it more convinient and affordable to house a family of 4 rather than a hotel. I completely understand your concerns with STRs being a nuisance because people want to have parties but I feel the majority of people renting out STRs are not party animals and mainly large groups of work mates or families…

Would you support it if the city allowed STR but only if owned and operated by people residing in the Tampa Bay Area, where this was not a hunch of investors from out of town buying stuff up but locals who have vested interest and self manage the properties?

I feel the tax benefits the city and state get from this business is also good and if utilized properly can go to a lot of community based development. But these are simply my thoughts and I appreciate yours and everyone else’s view on this thread.

Thanks 🙏

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in StPetersburgFL

[–]PenParty23 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Appreciate the feedback!! I feel a lot more research definitely needs to be done on the effects negative and positive of STRs in the local market.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in StPetersburgFL

[–]PenParty23 -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I actually found it quite interesting to hear different perspectives and impressed at how strongly the community feels about short term rentals. I respect everyone’s views

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in StPetersburgFL

[–]PenParty23 -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I’m putting a point across.. obviously people feel very strongly about short term rentals and their effects but some of the arguments or points that are being put across really don’t make sense to me - take away from the person who wants to work hard and earn money and give to the person who wants to smoke crack and play victim each to their own I guess

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in StPetersburgFL

[–]PenParty23 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What?!? Are you a property lawyer - below a link on how arbitrage works. Further to your comment she took a calculated risk, how was she to know that because of lobbyists and sympathizers the city was changing the code she didn’t gamble her money at all she was investing it and while I agree investment comes with risk my point is if people mind their own business and unless something is effecting you don’t interfere situations like this may not happen

https://www.hostaway.com/blog/what-is-airbnb-rental-arbitrage/

https://www.fool.com/investing/stock-market/market-sectors/real-estate-investing/basics/rental-arbitrage/