Hello. I have been in the Pen Business for about 55 of my 76 years now. (Yes, I know that sounds like ancient history to some of you young bucks!).

But, One good experience I have learned over time, and through just plain buying and selling. How to tell if what you are buying is real, worth the Hundreds of dollars, as we think they are when we are bidding.

• Trying to get a good deal on auction, like the rest of us? Well, here is a helpful way to do just that. Most of what I am going to share with you is common sense, so please do not be bored when I reveal something that I feel was enlightening to me,when discovered!
• First, let's look at the Seller's feedback. Is it good? Has the same seller sold similar or the same items and the buyers happy?
• Next, let's look at the price of the items being sold. Is this a $400 pen, and the Seller has repeatedly listed and sold many of them for final bids of $40-$90? We all get some good deals on closeouts, and discontinued items, but not that good. A seller buying pens for $225-$250, then selling them for $90, will not be in business long!
• We're going to do this in several parts, as this is almost an Art, to distinguish the Real ones, from the Not real ones. IN this section, we will go over the real Montblanc box and the Reproduction copies. This is a real tell tale sign for your purchase!
• As a matter of fact, in the estimated 30 bad sales I've come across, If  I would have looked closely at the boxes in the photo, I could have saved myself a lot of time,trouble and hassle. Not to mention, all the emails to Ebay and paypal to  untangle the mess!
• Now, let's look at the Ebay ad itself & LOOK at the Box! YES, the box of the Montblanc pen you are buying. This is so VERY IMPORTANT to our Discovery!
• There are many logos, tips and techniques that the Repro people (as I call them), simply cannot reproduce, as they do not have the proper dies or molds.
• In photo number 1 below please note: the Montblanc box when opened, should have the MB white star on it. The white star is almost always shown in white on a black background! SO, you are looking for a WHITE Star on a black background. The Repro's are the reverse. They are the black star on a white background!  Go ahead, look at some Ebay auctions right now: you will see the ones with the black star on white, then look at the cheap price, then the sellers background,feedback. It will amaze you!
• In photo number 1,is the Authentic Montblanc box
• In photo number 2,is a close up of a real montblanc Prestigious Logo Star!
• Now, at the very bottom we see photo number 3, and what do you think this is? Of course, the Repro box & pen! It is from an auction where the pen is selling for $15, it is supposedly a $600 pen, by the way! Notice: the Black star, not white, on the white circle. This is a reproduction.

Well, thanks for your time. I hope this was helpful and informative to all. In the next issue, we will go over the actual pen & all of those tips and techniques, so YOU cannot be Fooled!

Thank You & Peace. Vito.