I eagerly open my mailbox and there is the padded envelope. I check the return address. Yes! It's the vintage pen I purchased through an online auction. Like a five-year-old on Christmas morning, I tear into the package.

I've repeated this mailbox scene many happy times. But when the pen hasn't matched my expectations, the experience is more like reliving April Fool's Day than Christmas.

I've bought a number of pens online, usually with success and satisfaction. I've also made some mistakes and learned a few things the hard way. Here are the questions I've learned to ask.

1. Do you know that the price is right?

   If you're buying the pen in an auction, search for auctions with the same or similar pens in like condition and watch the bidding. Use an Internet search engine to find various places where the pen is offered and compare prices. If you aren't in a rush, monitor other auctions for the kind of pen you have in mind, and see what amount is usually paid. A friend of mine knows he got a great value on a Waterman Edson set in one auction because he saw it sell for $200 more in another. Patience and a little research can protect you from overspending on impulse.

2. Can you trust the seller?

   Major auction sites provide a feedback rating for each buyer and seller. The rating is prominently displayed on the front page of each auction. For instance, it might read "957 with 99.6% positive feedback reviews." This tells you that the seller has been involved in 957 transactions and that 99.6% of them received positive feedback. By reading the recent feedback, especially the negative entries, you should get a good sense of the seller's reputation.

3. What about shipping?

   While I've been repeatedly satisfied with purchases from at least five countries outside my own, some international sellers have poor reputations. Problems such as failure to ship, unreasonable delays, inaccurate descriptions, poor packaging, and counterfeit pens (especially Montblancs) are notoriously common in certain parts of the world. Legal recourse is virtually impossible if a seller halfway across the planet defaults on your purchase. On ebay, the seller is required to state both his "Location" and "Country." Be wary if the two don't match. Again, read the feedback on the seller. If people have had problems, they will register their complaints.

   Also, make sure you know the cost of shipping before you purchase. Some sellers pad their profits with exorbitant shipping charges. This applies both to domestic and international purchases. Part of the measure of the bargain is the total cost of getting the pen into your hands, not just the auction price.

4. What are the accepted methods of payment?

   Occasionally, I've started to bid on a pen that seemed to be a deal that many had overlooked, then I realized that the seller was demanding a form of payment that (1) requires a special trip to acquire; (2) adds even more to the overall cost; and/or (3) makes it more difficult for a dissatisfied buyer to get a refund. Buyers who have a payment preference should be sure the seller will accept it before bidding.

5. Do you know the length of the pen?

   Photos can be deceiving. Many vintage pens came in various lengths that looked quite similar otherwise. I'd been casually watching for an old hard rubber pen with a woodgrain look. I found a Conklin on eBay that appeared as though it had never been used. The bidding was intense, and I paid a little more than I'd hoped, but I knew a classic beauty was worth it. When the pen arrived, it was barely 4 inches long. I could hardly believe it was the same pen I'd scrutinized on the screen. I have big hands and like big pens; if I'd known the pen's true size, I wouldn't have bought it. It looks great, but I almost never write with it. Sellers often note the length of a pen, but if there's any doubt, ask before buying.

6. What is the pen's condition?

   Are there cracks, chips, dings, bite marks, engravings, discoloration, brassing or missing parts? It's impossible to determine the condition based on pictures alone. A pen that looks great on the side facing the camera may have damage on the other side. Look for comments about these things in the description, then ask questions, just to be safe—especially if something in the photo raises suspicions.

7. Have you seen a clear close-up of the nib?

   Make sure the tines are not separated, nor one higher than the other, and that the tip is undamaged. Twice I've unwittingly bought pens with bent nibs because photo angles didn't reveal the flaws. Other times, I was ready to buy until taking a closer look or asking about nib damage. Many pens are auctioned by honest people who know nothing about pens. They aren't aware they should show a photo of the nib and wouldn't know that a slightly bent nib isn't normal. A small percentage of sellers know better but realize that they'll get less for the pen if they show the nib close-up. Most people are willing to take a special photo of the nib upon request and send it by e-mail for serious bidders.

8. Do you know the composition and size of the nib?

   Sometimes this is the first thing I check. Other times, I'm so attracted by the beauty of a writing instrument or so excited to finally find a particular model that I almost bid before realizing that has a nib I don't want. Once, I thought I'd gotten a steal on an uninked, fire engine red, 50-year-old Conway Stewart. I figured no one else wanted was bidding because it would have to come all the way from Australia. Only after it arrived did I realize I'd bought a cheap, steel-nibbed school pen.

9. Is the pen in working order?

   The answer affects not only the immediate usability of the pen but also your total investment. Sometimes the seller's description will make plain whether the pen needs a new sac, or other work, or is ready to write. Unless the seller says otherwise, assume that the pen needs some service. It never hurts to ask.

10. What about repair or restoration?

    Is it a simple repair, such as a bent clip or sac replacement, or something more involved? Will you have to pay to ship it off for restoration? I bought a great vintage pen by a well known maker that appeared to need only a slight repair. Neither of my local pen restorers would touch it; that could violate any warranty still in effect. On their advice and as a last resort, I sent it to the manufacturer's service center. The repair estimate was about six times what I'd paid for the pen, far more than it is worth. With a sigh, I opened a drawer and threw another potentially terrific writer into in my fountain pen junkyard.

Anyone who's bought a few pens will tell you that it takes awhile to know what to look for. It's true with pens that can be held, turned in the light and written with; it's even more true with vintage pens offered online. So, ask a few simple questions and minimize mistakes. Now if you will excuse me, I'm going online and see if I can find a bargain on an old Swan with an extra-flexible nib.