Pen Blank Trade?

[maxwellsmart007]

Mar 22, 2010 17:51:58 GMT -6 Leo Voisine said:

2) International shipping can be expensive. The person that needs to ship international (like to Canada) will need to be "willing" to do that.

That's exactly why I'm not going to go in on this, Leo - shipping a flat rate box up here is only about 10 bucks more than down there, but I don't want anyone to have to go to extra expense for my sake...

Coupled with the fact that I have a ton of blanks that I haven't used yet, and it's just simpler to back out of this one - so no need to worry about international expense!

[Leo Voisine]

It sure is fun to recieve a box in the mail.......

I have flat rate boxes at home already.

I will put a beginner package together this week. I will take pics of it and post it.

I can plan to ship on Monday 4/12/10 - if everyone is ready.

I will include an envelope with a paper outlining the rules.

Whoever receives the box should be limited to a specified time to keep it before shipping it out. I would say - it will need to be shipped within 7 days after it is recieved. That way it is not stuck somewhere.

Does anybody - desire - to be the coordinator? If not I will do it.

If you are interested - start by PM'ing me you name and mailing address, please include your email address. Please include you username, just so I can keep things clear and organized.

Just before 4/12/10 - I will put all the names in a hat and shuffle them, than draw then out to make the list. I will then post the list.

Trip - I don't want to take your idea away from you. Do you want to change anything?

Jason - I would say - go ahead and post it up.

Let's do this!!!

[triplefreak]

Well, Leo, all I was going to do was pass it along, and write down the addresses of anyone who wants to get in on this.
We can keep it going for awhile, & if we can get everyone on board, we can all end up with some decent pen blanks we normally couldn't get.

I do think we should keep our addresses among the PM's, because there's always some a-hole out there skimming addys for spam purposes.

[monty]

Count me in. Do the blanks have to be wood or can home made acrylic be included? How about a combo wood/acrylic blank?

[Leo Voisine]

Monty,

Can be anything related to pen making. You could even slip a small bottle of CA if you wanted to.

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I would not post email addresses or street addresses - however I see no problem with emailing addresses.

I have sold and bought many hundreds of items through ebay and as many more through many other places. Emailed addresses all over the world - never had a problem

However, if anyone is uncomfortable I am sure we could make other arrangements.

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I strongly suggest the Flat Rate Box 11"x8.5"x5.5" @ $10.70

The smaller box 8-5/8x5-3/8x1-5/8 @ $4.95 is really too small

The envelope is really not gonna work.

I have all the sizes here on hand. Like I said, I ship stuff all over the world.

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So far, there are -0- names on the list.

3 weeks to go before we kick this off

I have the box sitting right here in front of me. I will be filling it about 20% with stuff this week.

[Leo Voisine]

OK - this is what I am thinking -- please critique away.

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First WOW pen making swap

There will be a USPS Flat Rate box full of materials related to making pens, traveling through the contiguous United States.

1) The box is a 11” x 8-1/2 x 5-1/2 USPS Flat Rate Box postage is $10.70. This box must not be replaced with a different box. It can be replaced with a new box of the same dimensions, and be a Flat Rate Box if the box received is damaged beyond use.

2) Upon receipt of the box the receiver must take pics and post about what they have received with pic. The pic can be waived if you don’t have a camera. If you need software to edit the pic or need help posting we at WOW will help in those areas.

3) The receiver must repackage and ship to the next person on the list within 7 days after receiving the box.

4) As best as you can – label the material you put in the box – and add your name

5) Put into the box – anything – related to pen making. Pen kits, CA glue, Micromesh, pen blanks, finished pens, etc.

6) Take out of the box anything you wish to take. Put into the box anything you wish to put in. Don’t be bashful – and don’t be selfish. (Don’t take all the best).

7) The box will contain the list of names in order of shipping. Cross your name off and ship to the next on the list.

8) Be sure to post that you received – and shipped – so that the box does not get hung up anywhere.

[Doug B]

Sounds great Leo. I'm in. I checked a small flat rate and it will hold 20 3/4" x 5" pen blanks. That seemed like plenty for someone to have to come up with all at once, but I mis-understood how this was supposed to work. It makes more sense now after reading your last post. The box comes with all kind of goodies in it but you only take out what interests you and replace it with something you have that you want to share. So you do not have to keep everything in the box and refill it with your own blanks.

That's a good way to do it and I think everyone should be able to do that with no problem. I like the idea of sending something you make on to the next guy too, but that might be tough for some folks to accomplish in 7 days.

One suggestion, throw a small notebook in for everyone to write something in like what they removed and what they put in. What they plan to use it for or whatever ramblings they want to make. Date it and sign it. That way nothing gets lost if the box has to be replaced.

And one question...how will someone who wants to join in get added to the list? I'm sure someone will want to join in after seeing the pics and reading about the traveling box. Will there be an official place to sign up to get added to the list?

I think this will be a good thing for the forum and hopefully will continue for as long as there are WoW penturners and stopper turners. I think the bigger box should allow the possibility of stopper blanks too.

I'm sending you a PM with my address info to put in the jar, Leo.

[Leo Voisine]

I think we will learn after doing this.

I did a swap with Family, and I know the box we start with will get jammed full of stuff.

I think we will be able to add names after the start, but it might get confusing - we will feel that one out.

To make a pen - well - maybe add one that is already made - or start now - there are several weeks before you even get the box - and it takes less than a couple of hours to make a pen.

So Far -- there are two names on the list.

[maxwellsmart007]

They did it at Penturners, Leo, by just adding names to the bottom of the list - the box just keeps perpetually moving around that way, with every new person getting added to the end...eventually, I guess it could go around again...

Hope you all have fun with it - you need a lot more to join up, however!

[monty]

Mar 24, 2010 10:06:38 GMT -6 Leo Voisine said:

...So Far -- there are two names on the list.

So who is on the list so far? How about posting a running list.

[Leo Voisine]

So far,

Me
Zac
Doug
Trip

I guess we can have a perpetual shipping list.

Still - we should keep it moving

Andrew - I think we can add you in - as long as it is known that shipping to Canada is going to cost more than the flat rate.

Last year I had to ship to Canada with a pen swap similar to this one. The box was oversized and it cost me $47.00 to ship it. That is what I am trying to avoid.

[sachbvn]

Don't we have someone that lives way north and they could just meet at the border or something?


Zac

[maverick31]

pm sent leo, I am definately in.

[monty]

Did I miss how to sign up? posted earlier to count me in.

[Leo Voisine]

The list:

Leo Voisine
Zac
DougB
Triple Freak
Maverick31
Monty



If you want to be on the list

FIRST read the rules above

Then send a PM to Leo with your Name, username, address, phone number, and email address

If you did not sent me a PM you are not on the list.

Kick off date - April 12, 2010

[Leo Voisine]

Pen swap list

The list:

Leo Voisine
Zac
DougB
Triple Freak
Maverick31
Monty
Mapleman



If you want to be on the list

FIRST read the rules above

Then send a PM to Leo with your Name, username, address, phone number, and email address

If you did not sent me a PM you are not on the list.

Kick off date - April 12, 2010

[mapleman]

PM sent, count me in baby!!!!

what about stopper blanks - since the box will be big enough? or just pens? just thinkin' that stopper blanks could be, if done properly, cut down to pen blanks if'n a person wanted that... or do we want SOLELY pen blanks and pen related supplies? if so, that is cool with me...

thanks,
john

[sachbvn]

I think stopper related stuff would be just fine - that's my vote anyways.


Zac

[Leo Voisine]

Sure - sounds good.

[mcbryde]

Count me in, I sent you a pm Leo.

Emerson