IJ Instruments’ Lindsay Wilson is weighing a US-specific surcharge as the cost of sending handmade pencils to American customers changes. In an August Instagram update, he said he had already tried to absorb additional import costs through higher prices, but questioned whether that approach was sufficient—or fair to buyers elsewhere.
Wilson’s post raised a possible future surcharge. He explicitly said he was making no change at that point and would give customers advance warning.
Who carries the cost?
The dilemma is between three approaches: the maker absorbs the expense, the general product price rises, or US orders carry an additional charge. Wilson’s objection to a general increase is that customers outside the US would help cover the cost of American shipments.
That is a discussion of pricing policy, not an announced checkout change. The post also does not provide a before-and-after price list from which to calculate a pencil price increase.
The current pencil prices
IJ’s shop, checked September 28, lists the stainless-steel, brass and aluminium Number 9 family from £150, and the titanium Number 9 at £250. These are product listings in pounds sterling, not delivered-price quotations for US orders.
The maker’s design notes explain the underlying approach: custom metal bodies built primarily around Pentel P200-style mechanisms. The shipping question concerns the economics of getting those established pencils to customers, rather than a new model or mechanism.
